Journal of Abraham

Journal Entry: March 2, 1861 I write in this journal to record my past, present, and upcoming future. I write now not as a slave who has little hope at experiencing freedom but as a free man who has experienced freedom and took advantage for his whole life. I owe this privilege to freedom to my father who escaped from a plantation as far south as Florida and went all the way north to Canada. He took advantage of his new found freedom and founded a town where other runaways like himself could escape to and start a life. While growing up he always stressed for me to have respect for myself and others and that very few blacks at the time has access to knowledge, so I should learn as much as possible. But sadly he died in 1850, forcing me to start my own life by going to a University in New York. After a while I moved to Pennsylvania where I now live today as what I think, a successful shopkeeper. I hope this first entry will be the first of many, that will be passed down in my family from generation to generation. Journal Entry: April 12, 1861 Disturbing new can now be found in the headlines of todays newspapers. All across them in bold ink are Shots Fired at Fort Sumter and The South Declare WAR!. From what I read the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter and our Cunning leader, President Abraham Lincoln, tried to avoid war by sending food to the soldiers inside. But the Confederates attacked the fort causing an uproar up here in the North. Even one of my assistants tried to run up the street and join the Union Army.

It took my almost an hour of convincing him and a pay raise to stop him from going. I only see this situation leading into disaster. Journal Entry: July 21, 1861 Today the first battle, called Bull Run, occured. It resulted in us losing against the now infamous Stonewall Jackson. My assistant left when he got the news, and now I have to run the shop on my own and later tell his parents what he is doing. I can tell the rest of this year will not be good. Journal Entry: October 31, 1861 A telegraph came in from a Macon [Daily] Georgia today. It reported that prices of goods like flour, cornmeal, and salt are rising while the stocks of bacon, lard, coffee, and oats are dwindling. This could be because of the Souths foolish leader Jefferson Davis, who is most likely having every able man to fight in the military. Leaving crops at home to be left to die and livestock to starve. If I can start acquiring these goods before the prices get too high my business may become successful. Flour 3.50-3.75 Corn Meal 1.00-1.05 Salt 7.50-8.00 Journal Entry: December 30, 1861 The life I once knew is over. Last night a group of people gathered around my shop to buy some food, when I ran out one of them must have got mad and went to get some of their Southern friends because all of a sudden in the middle of the night I

hear my front door being kicked in and yelling. I grabbed a few things and took off through the alley behind my shop. A group of men with torches lit my shop and fire then started to chase me. They eventually caught me and started dragging me to the outskirts of town. People passing by did nothing but stare. They then tied me up and put me in a wagon. The brutes kept me tied up in the back until morning. In the morning a mean looking bald guy tried to tie me up to a tree so that I would learn my lesson of extorting people. But I jumped up and ran right when he dropped me off the wagon. They started to chase me until a German I later be acquainted with, named John Schiller jumped of his wagon and tackled the bald man. The other Southerners went after John but he fought like a beast and caused them to take off. After the brawl he came up to me and introduced himself. He offered me a ride to New York and since I had no where else to go I took him up on his offer. After a few hours I learned that he obviously was on his way to join the Union Army and that he just moved to America a year ago. He said that people who arent from America, like him and I should still enjoy the same freedom, respect, and privileges as people who have been living here for generations now. That got me thinking if I should join the Union. Journal Entry: January 20, 1862 I am now officially a private in the 79th New York Infantry Highlanders. After the ride from Pennsylvania to New York I decided to join the army with John. We went through tough training for a few months then we were given jobs to do. John, me, and a handful of others were to stay near the back during battles and protect the camp and or fall back positions. I would to have helped field surgeons and eventually become a known surgeon like Clara Barton. We will be receiving orders

soon and I can only imagine where it will take the 79th. Journal Entry: April 7, 1862 After 3 days of fighting, starting on the 4th and ending today I finally have some time to get my mind straight. The 79th was given orders by General U.S. Grant to march to Shiloh, Tennessee. I didnt know what we were doing there until a mass of Confederates started to form on an open field a half of a mile away from our camp. My area of camp knew what we had to do and fortified a position later called Hornets Nest. We sat there for a few hours playing cards and listening to the battle raging on until cannon fire started to land near us and Union troops were falling back to our position. We grabbed our rifles and shot at and Confederate was saw. Since this was my first time actually fighting I was very frightened and nervous. I even forgot to remove my reloading road from the barrel and shot it at a soldier hiding behind a tree. In the end both sides suffered heavy casualties but because the Confederates retreated we won. Journal Entry: September 1,1862 Not a lot has happened since the last time I wrote. The 79th was attached to the Iron Brigade due to the losses at Shiloh and for our efforts at the Hornets Nest the my and John have been promoted to Corporals. We were also moved up to the front lines for fighting. And to remind us what awaits us I got a picture from a photographer in our camp today (see back of journal). Journal Entry: September 17, 1862

Today we engaged the military genius of the South General Robert E. Lee at Antietam Creek. Due to his knowledge on war both sides ended up retreating after hours of gruesome fighting. But because we retreated last our leaders are calling this a victory. Journal Entry: January 1, 1862 This is a great day for America as today our President declared the Emancipation Proclamation which is to set all slaves free. But I doubt those selfish slave owners wont even set one slave free. Journal Entry: July 3 1863 My fighting career is over for the time being. During the battle of Gettysburg my camp were woken up in the morning to the wonderful sounds of deadly cannon fire. We were scrambling to get ready when a round hit our ammunition cart which blew up into a deadly cloud of splinters and shrapnel. I was thrown to the ground and hit in the leg. As I was laying down I could see the bodies of my some of my friends staring up into the sky with blank eyes. John saw me and ended up dragging me and another guy to a field hospital which was set up in a barn. I didn't need an amputation but on my way in I could tell a lot of others already had one. I also got word today that the battle at Vicksburg seems to be dying down and should be over tomorrow. Journal Entry: November 19, 1863 This afternoon I listened to our Presidents address here at Gettysburg. The Iron Brigade is on leave for a few more days,

allowing us to listen to his speech. I cannot quote all of what he said but he brought hope and a feeling to keep on pushing for victory for his audience. Journal Entry: November 25, 1863 I will not be able to write for a while for now we will be marching all over the South in an attempt to live up to the Gettysburg Address our president gave a few days ago. I also got heard that we may join in on the fighting at Petersburg where General E. Lee is holded up at. Journal Entry: September 29, 1864 During a charge at Chaffins Farm one of our officers were shot trying to storm the Confederate trenches. John picked up the officers sword and continued the charge. He ended up killing 21 men before any of us reached the trenches. When I asked him what happened he said that these poor excuses for soldiers burnt out a ladys house nearby and wanted to give them some payback. Later this evening he was approached by a General and I heard talk of a Medal of Honor. Journal Entry: December 6, 1865 Today the Union has officially made it so that no one can become a slave in the U.S. . Because of the 13th Amendment man can now leave free and enjoy life.

Journal Entry: April 9, 1865

Almost a year since I wrote in this journal. I almost forgot

about it with all the running around we have been doing. It getting misplaced in Johns rucksack didnt help a lot either. I suspect he is trying to learn how to read and write. But something more important has happened. This morning after a charge on Lees forces General Lee tried to take run through our lines but was eventually surrounded by the Union V corps and the Union XXIV corps. Him and his officers surrendered ending this awful war. But with great news came sad news. Today our President was also assassinated. I feel a great sorrow for this loss to our country and only can hope that whoever did it will be found and put to trial. Journal Entry: June 23, 1865 Our part of the Iron Brigade has been allowed to return to our normal life, since the war is basically over. When I asked John what he was going to do since the war is over for us he said he has to first go visit the President for his Medal of Honor then he may go back to New York to start a farm. I told him good luck and left to head back to Canada to see my fathers grave. I dont know what I will do after, maybe go visit Johns farm or restart my business. I am glad that this war is over and I can start a new chapter in my life.

Picture from Photographer

IRON BRIGADE PICTURE