MMS 1172 - William Shanks Diary

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MLA Citation

“MMS 1172 - William Shanks Diary.” Finding Aids. BGSU University Libraries, 2 June 2014, lib.bgsu.edu/finding_aids/items/show/1770. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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TitleMMS 1172 - William Shanks Diary
DescriptionWilliam Shanks was a first cousin of William Weddell (his mother was Jeannette Weddell, sister of the senior Weddell). A private in Company K, William was killed at Chickamauga, Ga., in September 1863. George Shanks, the brother of William, also served in Company K as a corporal. He was killed at Chickamauga within ten minutes of his brother. A few letters of both William and George are available in the Weddell Collection (MS 484).




William Shanks Diary - 1861

WILLIAM SHANKS
HIS BOOK OCT 10 1861
BELONGING TO 21ST REGT OHIO VOLUNTEERS
CO K

September 1861

10 We leave for Camp Vance
18 The mustering officer comes to muster in
26 Started for Camp Denison [Dennison]. It was rugged looking place


October 1861
1 We started from Camp Dennison
3 We draw uniform
2 We arive at Tomledger [Camp Tom Letcher]
15 We start from Toml Ledger and travail twelve miles and arive at Camp Anderson at 3 pm
16 We go and see Henry Clays monument. It was the finest sight that I ever saw
17 It has rained all day and we have laid all day in our tents and wrote a letter to John Bowsprit
18 We start from Camp Anderson and travail 14 mi
19 We start in the morning and travail until 10 am when we stop and get a free dinner at Winchester and march on
20 Sunday. We march all day
21 Monday. We march through a rough country
22 We start at 9 am and march four mi and cross a large hill. The baggage wagons get to camp at four
23 Wednesday. We march seven miles and get along prety well
24 Thursday. We arive at Hazle [Hazel] Green. The little town looks rather bare
25 Friday. We stay here in camp. I shell corn
26 Sat. I stand gard and receive the grand rounds for the first time
27 Sab. Our Captain has just been round with his bitters
28 Mon. One of our artillery men died this morning and there is a great many sick in camp. I have just received three letters. One from GW, WD, HS
29 Tues. Last night the Captain came around and said we must get our acouterments on tonight. I wrote a letter to Henry S
30 Wednesday. Is the first day that I stand picket gard
31 Thursday. We start from Hazle [Hazel] Green about noon and marched until near night and came into camp and got our wood caried in and march


November 1861
1 Friday. We march all day and camp in mud
2 Saturday. We march in the fore noon and cross one branch of the Licking River on logs and draw the wagons over with a long rope
5 We leave Licking Staton [Station] and march 24 miles. The road was muddy and we had a very slippery hill to climb after dark. Arrived at Prestons [Prestonburgh] at one oclock at night
6 & 7 We stay at Prestonsburg [Prestonburgh]
8 Friday. We start to Piketon and have the fight with the rebels at Gauly [Gauley] Bridge. They kill of our men 6 and wound 18. It is supposed that we killed of them about 30
9 Sat. We get up early and it commences raining and rains about all day. We follow up the rebels but they have fallen a great many trees across the road and torn down the bridges so that we could not get along but slowly and the other part of our brigade has a fight at Piketon and killed 15 of the rebels. Tonight we have nothing to eat but fresh pork. David Loomis and I goes out into the field and caches a hog and skins it and carries it a mile to the company and we stand picket
10 Sunday. We march 3 miles and arive at Piketon very tired and dirty and the worst of all we had nothing to eat until and then we get nothing but a little flour, each boy for himself, some cooking a piece of dough on a stick, some put it in the ashes
11 Monday. It rains all day and we have move from the hill into the old tannery. The artillery boys loos six of their horses in crossing the river
12 Tuesday. We are at Pikesville [Piketon] making homony
16 Saturday. We march back to Prestonsburg [Prestonburgh] a distance of 28 miles. Some of rides in rafts. Most every one of us is about tired out
17 Sunday. We s[t]ay at Prestonsburg [Prestonburgh]
18 Monday. This morning we get ready to start down the river and now I am sitting on the top of a hill writing
19 Tuesday. We march towards Louisa
20 Wednesday. We march and George and I fall behind the regiment and have a hard time to get into camp
21 Thursday. We get ride on coal boat down the Sandy
22 Friday. We ride down the Sandy on a coal boat drawn by the Rocket
23 Saturday. We see the banks of the old Ohio once more and land at Catlasburg [Catlettsburg ]
24 Sunday. Last night we rode all night on the Champion and landed at Covington at 11 am. I ran up town and got two pieces of bread and I had to runn back and get aboard the Boston and go down the river to Louisville
25 Monday. We arive at Louisville and stand in the cold a while and then march into Camp Buell
26 Tuesday. We go down to the creek and wash our clothes
27 Wednesday. The 3d Ohio has just passed by
28 Thursday. Today the 24[th] and 41[st] comes into camp
29 Friday. Today it is very cold and it is snowing some


December 1861
1 Today is Sunday and our minister gives us a very good sermon about home thoughts
2 We move from this camp to within two miles of town
3 Tuesday. It is very cold and we do not have enough of wood to cook our rations
5 Thursday. Today it is very pleasant and we receive some letters from home
7 I am taken to the hospital sick with the measles
12 We draw part of our pay
16 We send part of it home
25 Wednesday is Christmas and we have a good dinner and I go out and take a walk for the first time
30 Monday. John Muir starts for home on furlough
31 Tuesday. Today we are here in the hospital. The weather is very pleasant

 

William Shanks Diary - 1862

January 1862

[Note: Day designations are incorrect until the 19th]

1 We are in the hospital at Louisville
11 Friday. I get my furlough
12 Sat. We start for home
13 Sab. We stay in Cincinnati
14 Monday. We start at 7 1/2 oclock for home and get to Perrysburg after dark and we find Uncle W in town and he took us down to Jameses
15 Tuesday. We get out home
19 Sab. John Shanks comes to see me and two of Mr. Ordways boys
20 Mr. L. Loomis and his family is here tonight
22 Wednesday. Mr. Duff and his family is here


February 1862
  I am at home on furlough


March 1862
1 I go up to Mr. Ordways
14 Henry Shanks sugars off today and we have a good time


April 1862
9 I start for the Regiment and it was very muddy going to Perrysburg
10 I start from Mr. Dunipaces and go to Toledo and took the carrs for Cincinnati. I got to Cincinnati at 10 oclock at night
11 I start for Louisville and got here at 12 oclock at night
12 Sat. I went to hospital no. 4 and saw Magg and then they marched us to the old dirty barracks
13 Sunday. I am put on as corporal of the gard
14 We are taken out of barracks no. 3 with skiffs and taken to no. 2
15 Tuesday. In the afternoon we are marched on board the boat for to go to Tennessee
16 Wednesday. We go down the Ohio River and the S.S. Pringle
17 Thursday. We pass the mouth of Green River
18 Friday. This morning when I awoke I found myself at Paducah. In the afternoon we pass Fort Henry and I saw part of the large gunn that was bursted there. Towards night we saw six darkeys plowing with one mule apiece
19 Saturday. This morning we pass the 31st and 36th Ohio Regts. at Cliffton and we see the two gunn boats Lexington and Tyler at Pitsburgh Landing
20 Sunday. We stay all day on board the boat
21 Monday. We are march from the boat through the mud into the lines of the 49th Regt
22 Tuesday. Today we had to clean our dirty gunns
23 Wednesday. This morning we have a general inspection of arms
24 This morning we were out drilling and we were called out to fight without giveing us time to get our dinner. We did not fight but took 10 of the rebels prisoners
25 Friday. We are put on picket. We sleep sitting up all night
26 Saturday. The weather is very nice today
27 Today I was very much pleased to see the boys in the 3d Ohio Cavalry
28 Monday. Today we get orders to cook 2 days rations
29 Tuesday. Today we move about 4 mililes [miles] farther
30 Today we have to clean up our new camp ground


May 1862
1 Thursday. The weather is very pleasant today
2 Friday. Today I am working on the roads carrieing timber and crosswaying
3 Saturday. We march on a piece farther toward Corinth
4 Sunday. We march about eight miles from camp and back. When we went out the road was dusty but when we came back it was muddy
5 Monday. This morning we got up pretty early for the water came in the tent like a river and run right over our blankets
6 The roads is so muddy today that we do not march
7 Wednesday. Today we march toward Corinth
8 Thursday. We are now within seven miles of Corinth
9 We stand picket today and the pickets are skirmishing. Tonight one of the pickets shoots another
10 Saturday. Tonight we march three miles farther to the left of Corinth. We are formed in line of battle tonight and sleep in the woods
11 Sunday. We stay all day in the same place
12 Monday. This morning we have orders to march at 3 oclock so we had to be up and get breakfast pretty early. We had to go and reenforce the pickets and we had to doublequick a good part of the way
13 Tuesday. Today it is pleasant but warm and we are not called out today
15 Thursday. Today we are out on a recconnoisance and our men seen some of the rebels and they shook their handkerchiefs at our men and our men done the same
16 Friday. Nothing uncommon
18 Sunday. We leave the 49th today and go to Montcru [?]. We had to pitch tents all day hard
19 We are still at the tent pitching and there is heavy cannonadeing at Corinth today
20 Tuesday. We are still pitching tents
21 Wednesday. Today we are put on as nurses
22 Thursday. Part of our crowd leave today
23 Friday. Today it rains all day and there is another waiter comes in to help us
25 Sunday. We leave this hospital and go to Buells hospital
26 Monday. Today we are filling bedds for the sick
27 Tuesday. We are standing gard
28 Wednesday. There is heavy cannonadeing at Corinth today
29 Thursday. There is heavy cannonadeing at Corinth
30 Friday. This morning we got the news of the evacuation of Corinth
31 Saturday. I have just come back from seeing the great city of Corinth and I saw some of the great distructions of the rebels


June 1862
1 Sunday. Today I am garding the spring at the hospital
2 Monday. I saw the cavalry boys today and they were moving on
3 Today I go to Corinth to help load some waggons
4 Wednesday. Today I am washing the sick all day
5 Thursday. I am on guard today
11 Today there is two very sudden deaths here, one from 49th Ohio. He was eating his dinner and dropped over dead
13 Friday. Today there was a poor boy died out of the 3d Ohio Cavalry and his father made his sons coffin
14 Satuday. It is very warm
15 Sunday. Today I am digging graves all day hard. There is 8 buried today
16 Monday. Mr. Ballanser fell over and hurt himself today. It is very warm today but it was a good shower of rain towards night
17 Tuesday. One of our boys had a fit this morning
18 Wednesday. Today I saw 2 large siege gunns. It took 8 teams apiece to draw them
19 Thursday. Today the weather is very pleasant and I have been out blackberrying
20 Friday. Tonight I am very sick all night and puke one of my boots full
21 Saturday. I am unwell all day and have the diarrhea bad
22 Sunday. Today I am digging graves
24 Tuesday. I am cleaning up the doctors quarters
25 Wednesday. It is pleasant today
26 Thursday. Beaking [baking] pies
28 Saturday. Davis and I are picking blackberries
29 Sunday. The Regulars leave today
30 Monday. We are taking down the big hospital tents


July 1862
1 Tuesday. I am not on duty today
2 Wednesday. I am standing gard today
3 Thursday. Today I have been picking blackberries
4 Some of Co. I goes to the sutler to arrest him and gets drunk and I hear of the death of Andrew Ordway
5 We are hauling away tents
6 Sunday. Today Uncle Dan dies very suddenly
12 Saturday. We leave the hospital and go to Corinth and it was very warm
13 Sunday. We start on the carrs for the Regt. We staid all night at Tuscumbia
14 Monday. This morning we start again. We had to build a railroad bridge and then we went on again. I got to the company about dark
18 Friday. Today I go and stay all day with Co. E
19 This morning we had a good wash off
23 We leave Fort Canfield and go to Athens
25 Friday. The orderly leaves us and goes into an Alabama Regt
31 Thursday. I am on picket and Byron Rockwood and I get into a wagon shed for it was an awful rain


August 1862
1 Friday. It is very warm today
3 Sunday. I am on picket
4 Monday. George and I are washing
7 Thursday. We move our camp into town and camp in the Courthouse yard
11 Monday. Today George Canfield and Mackentire start for home
12 Tuesday. Today I come in from picket
22 Friday. John Patterson puts in his resignation papers
28 We start from Athens
29 Friday. The boys ranties [?] at Pulaski today and the Cavalry boys gets $300 for their horse
30 Saturday. We get into Nashville
31 Sunday. The artillery boys are over here and Thomas Mosley gets his head cut


September 1862
1 Monday. It is raining
10 Wednesday. We move our camp and James Stewart has a very sick spell
12 Friday. Today the prisoner of Co. E gets back to 21st
13 Saturday. Co. A has a scirmish and took two prisoners and 8 horses and killed one man


October 1862
1 We are still at Nashville
5 Sunday. Today I have an awful sore mouth
20 Monday. This morning we start at half past 12 out the Bowling Green Pike after the guerillas and we had a hard time doublequicking
21 Tuesday. Today the weather is very pleasant
25 Saturday. Today we have the first snow storm
27 Monday. Thomas Davidson goes to the


November 1862
1 Saturday. We are in camp makeing corn coffee
2 Sunday. Tonight go on picket
3 Monday. John Mcferren and I have a good time getting hickerynuts
5 Thomas Davidson comes from the hospital
20 The new recruits come to the regiment
26 Elisha Harris dies today
28 Friday. John Muir and Brewster comes to our camp


December 1862
1 Monday. Today we are on picket on station four and a citizen brings us some snops [schnapps]
6 Today we are paid off. I draw $141.20
7 Sunday. Today Sandy shoots at Morgan and Forrest
9 & 10 We are on guard at the penitentiary
11 We move from Nashville 8 miles
12 Friday. Today we are on review
13 Saturday. We are on battalion drill
14 Sunday. The Col. of the 74th preaches to the 21st
21 Sunday. We are out forageing today and the rebels attack us. We killed 2 and took 6 prisoners
22 Monday. Today we are on drill
26 Friday. We start from Camp Hamilton. It rained all day and all night
27 Saturday. We march on through the woods in the rain. We got to the pike after dark.
28 Sunday. We stay all day in sight of the enemy
29 Monday. We march on slowly, driving the rebells before us
30 Tuesday. The 11th Mich. and the 19th Illinois are scirmishing [skirmishing] with the enemy
31 Wednesday. We got into the hottest of the fight and David Loomis was killed



William Shanks Diary - 1863


January 1863
1 Our regiment was not engaged in the fight today
2 Friday. Today Samuel Burk got killed
3 Our regiment is not engaged
4 Today I go back to the regiment
5 Monday. Today we march through Murfreesboro. The killed of our Regt. is 22, wounded 114
7 Today we draw shelter tents
9 I am on camp guard for the first time at Murfreesboro
14 Wednesday. I commence cooking for the Captain
22 Today John Patterson goes to Co. C
24 William B. Wicker goes to the Pioneer Corps
25 Today Col. Moody preaches to the 21st


February 1863
2 George Canfield and I are over at the battle ground
4 James Banks goes to [?]
6 John D. Kelly is ordered to go to the Battery
7 The boys goes to Nashville to exchange gunns
9 Monday. George Canfield and I are washing
17 We have the election and three of the boys are chosen to go into the light battalion
19 We are paid off today for four months
20 The pay agent takes dinner with us
23 I and George are washing
24 Tuesday. Half of our time is in and we draw new guns, Enfield rifles
25 Wednesday. Our boys goes out forageing and the river rose so that they could not get in untill the 28th of the month


March 1863
1 Sunday. Our orderly gets his commission for Lieut.
2 Monday. John Griner and McMeen gets back to their regt.
3 We have general muster. Are inspected by Lieutenant Cheny
11 William Muir arrives here today and leaves on the 14th
14 We hear of the death of James Pember
16 Jesse Walker returned from the hospital
17 William Forrest returns from the hospital
24 I stop cooking for the Captain
26 Wednesday. Today we have general review
27 We move our camp across the pike
29 Sunday. I am on guard for the first time after cooking
30 On fatigue ditching the quarters
31 On fatigue duty


April 1863
1 Wednesday. I am washing today for the first time in this camp
2 I am on picket for the first time after cooking for the Captain
8 James A. Forrest returns from the hospital
9 Thursday. James Muir returns from the hospital.
8 We draw our rubber blankets
11 Saturday. We go to Nashville with the wagon train
12 Sunday. We stay in Nashville
13 Monday. We return to our camp
16 Thursday. We are paid off for two months. Drawed $248
20 The 37 leaves to go to town
23 General review. We are reviewed by Gens. Thomas and Negley
25 Our Captain starts home on furlough
27 I am on brigade guard
29 Wednesday. Homer Pember starts for home and tonight we start out on a scout at 10 oclock and I stand picket after we got out
30 Thursday. We have plenty of walnuts to eat today and a nice place to stay


May 1863
1 We are out on a scout
2 Today we come in from the scout
4 We are working on the fortifycations near our camp
5 Guy Morgan gets his discharge
6 Wednesday [Tuesday]. We draw shelter tents
7 Wednesday. Elisha Fair dies today
11 Monday. Today we put up our shelter tents
21 Thursday. Today we turn over our overcoats and extra blankets
27 Wednesday. Colonel Neibling is presented with a nice sword and sash and a pair of spurrs by the noncommissioned officers and privates of the 21st Ohio Regt.
29 Friday. We draw Colts revolving rifles for our regiment


June 1863
1 Monday. Death of John Adams, Co. D
4 Our orders is to have 5 days rations in our knapsacks, three in haversacks
13 George goes to the hospital today, sickness the typhoid fever
14 Sunday. I go down and see the sick in the hospital
16 Tuesday. We have Corps drill
17 Division drill
18 Darius Scott returns from the hospital
24 We leave Murfreesboro and march all day. It rains all day and all night
25 Thursday. On the march and the adjutant wounds himself in the leg
27 Saturday. We go through the gap and through creeks every little while
28 Sunday. We stay at Manchester
29 Monday. We march on towards Talahoma [Tullahoma]
30 Tuesday. Our brigade goes out on a scout and we have a hot time scirmishing [skirmishing]


July 1863
1 We march on and are fired on by a rebel battery. A shell struck very close to our company
2 Thursday. We do not march much today, but there is sharp fighting
3 Friday. Today we cross Elk River and our rations comes up
4 Saturday. This morning we got into line and gave three hearty cheers and march on
5 Sunday. Today I am washing clothes
6 Monday. We do not move and there is nothing of importance
7 Tuesday. Picking blackberries
8 Wednesday. We move on to Decherd Station. It is very warm weather and we move slow
9 Thursday. We are busy putting up bunks and sheds over our tents
10 I am sent to Elk River Bridge with a train of wagons
21 Tuesday. I am on picket today for the first time since we came here
23 Thursday. We are paid today for four months $52.00
27 Samuel Altman comes to the company


August 1863
1 Saturday. We are still at Decherd Station. Nothing of importance
6 Smith Acley return to the regiment
7 Friday. The drafted men turn over their gunns and equipment
9 Our officers start home after more men
10 The drafted men are discharged and start home
12 Wednesday. George Myers comes to the company
13 Ephram Persel returns to camp
15 Henry Fox returns
16 Sunday. We leave camp at Decherd Station at 10 pm. March on to Cowen Station, climb the first mountain and stay all night on the top at a spring
17 We march on and stay all night at a corn field. They issue corn to the men
18 We march today on the railroad most of the day. Marched 14 miles
19 We move a mile and camp
20 The shades are being put up today
27 Ebenezer Wetmore comes back to the regiment
29 Two of Battery G, 1st Ohio Artillery are drummed out of camp with their heads shaved


September 1863
1 We are all packed, ready to march and we march at 6 pm. Cross the Tenn. at 12 oclock, march till two oclock
2 Sleep 3 hours and start again. March all day up the Tennessee River
3 Thursday. Start on the march at 7 am in the advance of the division and we have a hard time getting up a mountain, 10 horses on a wagon
4 Friday. This morning Co. B and our company are detailed to fix the bridge. Crossed the Georay [Georgia] line at 12 oclock
5 Started out on a scout. Passed a large commencement for iron works
6 Sunday. Start from the mill and go back to camp. Get 3 days rations and start on the march again. March all day in the dust. The march was very hard on the men. Several gave out. Camped at night by a small creek
7 Monday. Start at 10 pm. March till two oclock. Camp for the night on a side hill close to a spring at the foot of the mountain
8 Tuesday. Start at daylight. Only have 20 minutes to get breakfast. March half way up the mountain and stack arms and help the teams up all day till 9 oclock. Start up the mountain. Stay all night on the top
9 Start down the mountain. Got down to the teams at 10 pm. Got some rations and start on again. Got down the mountain at 2 oclock. Stay all night in a nice grove
10 Thursday. Start again on the march. Go 3 miles and are fired into by a squad of rebels at a stone fence. March up a hill and down 4 times. Camp on a hill close to a house
11 Friday. Started out at 3 oclock and formed in line of battle. Laid down with our traps all on and laid till daylight. Got up and got breakfast. Marched down into the edge of the woods. Stacked arms and laid still while the 74th was scirmishing. Marched back past the teams and were put out on the scirmish line. Came in to the Regt. Marched back past Battery M, formed in line of battle and there was quite a scirmish. Had an awful time retreating through the woods. The rebels follow us up camp on a hill. I am on picket. Waked us up at one oclock, relieved by Co. K
12 Co. K is on the scirmish line. A cavalry man came up and Co. G fired at him but missed him. We were relieved by the 74th after dark
13 Sunday. Nothing of importance
14 Monday. Move half a mile to the front. Stack arms in the thick brush and stay all day
15 Tuesday. One man from each company detailed to go with Pike on a scout
17 Thursday. March 7 miles towards Chattanooga and join Crittenton
18 Friday. Start at 4 pm and march nearly all night forward and back. I am on picket. Fighting on the left
19 Saturday. Our Regiment builds breastwork of rails and stones. There is heavy cannonadeing all along the lines. It tirminates in a very hard fight. We guard the train up and then go to the front. Lieut. Mason is wounded and 2 more of Co. B. Co. K is on the scirmish line all night. Relieved in the morning by Co. E

*WILLIAM SHANKS IS KILLED SEPT. 20, 1863, IN BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA