PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION
State Museum Building
Harrisburg, PA
[Special thanks to Pvt. Bill Skowronski, Co. c, 28th PA IV
for finding the
microfilm of the original diary in the Harrisburg State Archives, Harrisburg
PA; Samuel Murray was a pianist, violinist and cornet musician in the
Beck's
Philadelphia Band before and after the Civil War. The following transcription
was completed by Thomas M. Ricks, Band Historian and E-flat Alto musician
of
the 28th PA Regimental Brass Band]
MSS
CIVIL WAR
Diary of Samuel A. Murray, 1861-1862
28th Pennsylvania Regimental Band
[Beck Philadelphia Band]
| 1861 | ||
| Aug | 30 | Mustered in today |
| Sep | 9 | 5 o'clock PM left Philad with Comp M Capt Wilson reached Baltimore 2 AM. Next day left at 8 AM arrived at Point of Rocks at 2 M. |
| 10 | Captured two prisoners and received our baggage at 8 PM raining heavy |
|
| 12 | Two pieces of Rhode Island battery comp M camp at 12 midnight and alarm, Geary left with three companies and battery for Harper's Ferry. |
|
| 14 | With M
Stauffer went to see the rock thrown across the railroad received our
swords & belts |
|
| 15 | Alarm
created by signal rocket thrown by rebels at second alarm men ordered
to pack up and be in readiness nothing however occurred |
|
| 16 | Col. Geary had fight with rebels at Bolivar. Corporal Pratt Co A captured. We [sawl two Wisconsin men killed rebel Chaplain captured in evening 300 men under Maj Tyndale went to reinforce Geary. |
|
| 18 | Prisoners captured at Bolivar brought to camp rebels fired on our men while building entrenchments. |
|
| 20 | Alarm 200 men 42 pieces left camp band armed with rifles |
|
| 21 | Three rebel prisoners brought to camp & three horses. Alarm 300 men & 1 piece went up to Berlin came back the same night |
|
| 22 | Divine service text "Be strong acquit yourself like me" alarm 300 men and 1 piece left |
|
| 23 | Men and piece returned to our camp back of the [one of our] man shot by accident |
|
| 24 | Awoke to the firing of cannon, shelled houses, the men crossed and burned the [?] 100 men forded the river were ordered back. |
|
| 26 | Washing and prayer day. Divine service, text 100 Psalm | |
| 27 | Quite a hurricane tents down | |
| 29 | 2 camps & artillery left camp firing along the pickets | |
| 30 | Returned, fight at Berlin | |
| Oct | 1 | 100 men departed for Washington to bring Knapp's battery |
| 6 | Grand inspection from noon to two o'clocl Preaching 3 PM text Matthew 21, 28, 29 & 30 verse, evening red & 1 yellow seen on the rebel side. | |
| 8 | Election day in camp. voted in company S. Capt McDonough | |
| 12 | Paymaster paid off companies | |
| 13 | Evening Geary left wo companies & 1 piece fo Sandy Hook. | |
| 14 | Young man Comp B died | |
| 15 | Funeral, report Col. Geary mounted, captured 32 pounder & rebel Chaplain Corp. Pratt, Comp A taken prisoner band members stood guard in camp. | |
| 17 | Comp D, C, A, D,F & H returned to camp. | |
| 18 | Prisoners came in | |
| 19 | Comp. P came to camp, raining | |
| 22 | Raining, very foggy 1000 men left for Edward's Ferry Baker killed battle of Ball's Bluff. Union forces defeated | |
| 26 | Col. Geary returned with his men while on guard mount. beautiful sight | |
| 27 | Preaching for a young man from New Jersey. text Galatians Whatsoever man soweth so shall he reap. muster and inspection from eleven to three o'clock. | |
| 29 | Inspection & muster rolls made out, suit of colors presented by John B. Nicholson of Philad | |
| Nov | 5 | 32 pounder brought to camp. One piece left for Harper's Ferry |
| 10 | Dinner to band by Mrs. Bender and Mackley. | |
| 12 | Rebels brought to camp | |
| 14 | Rebel cavah-y seen & fired on by our pickets [we replied] | |
| 17 | Went to the Episcopal church. preaching by our chaplain | |
| 18 | Rebels seen on the top of Catelin. shells sent after them | |
| 24 | First snow of the season | |
| Dec | 6 | At 1 PM escorted Gen Banks to Sandy Hook in the evening escorted the battery into camp played over a fence. |
| 9 | Escorted second section of the battery into camp. took the [train] cars at 2 PM for Frederick arrived at 4 went to Dill House thanks proprietor. 8:30 PM went serenading Gen Banks, Major & others until 2 AM |
|
| 10 | Serenade Banks & others in the morning took cars at 10 AM arrived at camp at 12 in company with the paymaster. |
|
| 11 | Paid off by the paymaster | |
| 18 | Serenaded at Point of Rocks | |
| 19 | At 9 AM rebels shelled our camp returned fire and dispersed them | |
| 23 | Snowed all day | |
| 25 | Christmas Exhibition took part as Violin in Negro minstrelsy & palyd Paddy Day in the morning. lost my dinner of turkey etc. | |
| 28 | Received our new uniforms | |
| 31 | With M. Stauffer received my ofricer's pay | |
| 1862 | ||
| Jan | 3 | Left P.O.Rocks for Sandy Hook escorted Vice President Harbin & Gen Banks walked with [band back to] Harper's Ferry. dress parade at the depot, arrived in the evening. |
| 16 | Shaeffer shot a devil of a big rabbit [skinned and ate] | |
| 17 | Dress parade Col. Geary's [?] at Point of Rocks in the evening. mud knee deep. | |
| 27 | Went to railroad to receive Gen Banks & staff visitors sent up in baggage wagons. Conducted a theatrical music play Gust. Man Turdles & Bornbackes Fusiosi | |
| 30 | Paid off by paymaster | |
| Feb | 5 | Received officer's pay. Ed Geary presented with a sword by Group E. presented drum to Geo Cousins |
| 7 | Mr. Rink shot while under a flag of truce. Geary burned part of the town of Harper's Ferry. | |
| 9 | Second New York battery came on mount guard. | |
| 10 | Wint in with M. Stauffer & Pete Wally into [?] cabin. | |
| 11 | Two pieces of Knapp's battery arrived from Hancock building a fort on top of Point of Rocks | |
| 14 | Regiment practising firing with blank cartridges. rebel cavalry appeared sent shells after them. | |
| 15 | Snowing. escorted body of Lieut Hindman from Berlin to Point of Rocks. evening 10:30 band played in honor of the taking of Fort Donelson. grew enthusiasm. | |
| 17 | Eleven PM played again for capture of Rebel's army in Missouri | |
| 22 | Washington's Birthday 100 guns fired in the morning grand review. | |
| 23 | Sunday 2 AM regiment moved to Harper's Ferry [along with band,] guards & hospital | |
| 24 | Early in morning 6 of companies [returned], stood guard throughout the day playing[?] | |
| 25 | Stood guard. great quantity of troops passed through | |
| 26 | Stood guard until noon. left camp after playing at colonel's |