Octave Bruso Diary: Week of December 11, 1864

Note: This is one week’s worth of diary entries of Octave Bruso, who participated in the Siege of Petersburg as a member of the 50th New York Engineers.¹

Sunday December 11, 1864

Chilly Day. Wrote to my dear Wife and to my sister. Left for City Point at 2 P.M. Stopped all night at Lt. McNaught. Very Cold and windy all night.

 

Monday December 12, 1864

Cold + Windy. Wrote to Alex Labor (Editor: unclear) at City Point. Returned from City Point at 7 P.M. The Regiment returned. Recieved two letters from my Wife.

 

Tuesday December 13, 1864

Pleasent day. (Editor: crossed out text: “Wrote to my dear wife and to my home fathers” ?) Wrote to my dear Wife. Orderly for Col. Spalding (sic: Spaulding).

 

Wednesday December 14, 1864

Beautiful Day. Orderly all day. Relieved from duty at 5 P.M.

 

Thursday December 15, 1864

Beautiful Day. Worked all day making Stools and arranging other matters in my Tent.

 

Friday December 16, 1864

Beautiful + mild day. Worked all day in the woods getting out Timber. Recieved a letter from my dear wife. Also one from Henry Inman.

 

Saturday December 17, 1864

Beautiful Day. Wrote to my Wife and to Henry Inman. Worked hard all day on the Captain’s Stable.

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