American Civil War

These are historical diaries and journals from the American Civil War. The original writers of these diaries and journals were either soldiers or citizens alive during the war whose writings touch on the war.

Diary of a Union POW after the Battle of Sabine Pass II

This is the diary of Stephen H. Wright, a soldier in the New York 75th Infantry during the American Civil War (1861-1865) who was captured during the Second Battle of Sabine Pass on September 8, 1863. This battle was part of a failed attempt by the Union Army to invade […]

Civil War Diary of a Lisbon, OH Boy

Background This is the 1861 diary of a teenage boy living in New Lisbon, the seat of Columbiana County, Ohio. His job doing various tasks at a local newspaper ensures that he is well-informed of current events as the American Civil War breaks out. Like any teenager, he is fascinated […]