Octave Bruso Diary: Week of January 15, 1865

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 January 15, 1865

Beautiful Day. Inspection at 9 A.M. In Camp all day-No preaching today.

 

Monday January 16, 1865

Beautiful Day. Out to work all day on the observatory. recieved a Box from my dear wife with many good things and this diary.

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The soldiers listed here are listed, or possibly listed at the end of the diary in what appears to be an accounting of money they borrowed.

 

AKER, WILLIAM.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, September 6, 1862, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 6/ 1862, to serve three years; promoted artificer, A p r i l 1, 1864; mustered out with company, June 13,1865, at Fort Barry, Va., as William Acker.

 

BAILEY, JAMES—Age, 20 years. Enlisted, August 26, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 29, 1861, to serve three years; appointed bugler, March 27, 1862; reduced, May 14, 1862; promoted artificer, January 1,1863; re-enlisted as artificer, January 21,1864; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va, as James W. Bailey.

 

BANDER, ANSON H.—Age, 22 years. Enlisted, August 26,1861, at Maine; mustered in as corporal, Co. E, August 29, 1861, to serve three years; promoted sergeant, February 1, 1863; re-enlisted, January 21,1864; mustered in as first lieutenant, December 27,1864; mustered out with company, June 13,1865, at Fort Barry, V a . ; commissioned first lieutenant, November 30, 1864,

with rank from October 30, 1864, vice Pollard, mustered out.

 

BANDER, EDWARD T.—Age, 22 years. Enlisted, August 29, 1864, at Nanticoke; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 29, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with company, June 13,

1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

BREWSTER, FRANK W.—Age, 19 years, Enlisted, September 9, 1861, at Savona; mustered in as private, Co. A , September 11, 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. E, November

1, 1861; promoted artificer, January 1, 1863; re-enlisted, January 21, 1864; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

CARR, CHARLES.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, September 14, 1861, at Savona; mustered in as private, Co. A , September 17, 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. E, November 1, 1861; re-enlisted, December 20, 1863; promoted artificer, October 1,1864; mustered out with company, June 13,1865, at Fort Barry, Va., as Charles D. Carr.

 

CRAWFORD, ABRAHA.M..—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, August 18, 1862, at Elmira; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 18, 1862, to serve three years; mustered out, July 12, 1865, at Elmira, N.Y. , as Abram Crawford.

 

CRAWFORD, CHARLESH.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, February 13,1864, at Owego; mustered in as private, Co. I, February 13, 1864, to serve three years; mustered out with company;

June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

CRAWFORD, CHARLES P.—Age, 20 years. Enlisted, February 6, 1864, at Chemung; mustered in as private, Co. K , February 6, 1864, to serve three years; promoted artificer, July 21; 1864; corporal, December 1,1864; mustered out with company; June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va . ; prior service, Co. C, Thirty seventh Pennsylvania Militia.

 

CRAWFORD, CHAUNCEY.—Age, 40 years. Enlisted, February 13, 1864, at Spencer; mustered in as private, Co. I, February 13,1864, to serve three years; died of disease, November 14, 1864, at Poplar Grove Church, Va .

 

CRAWFORD, ELIH.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, August 26, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 29,1861, to serve three years; re-enlisted, December 20, 1863; promoted

artificer, April 7, 1865; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at F o r t Barry, Va .

 

CRAWFORD, JOHN.—Age, 40 years. Enlisted, August 27, 1861, at Pittsford; mustered in as corporal, Co. E, August 29, 1861, to serve three years; reduced, date not stated; discharged

for disability, April 30,1862, at Camp Woodbury, Va.

 

CRAWFORD, JOHN T.—Age, 22 years. Enlisted, February 24, 1864, at New York; mustered in as private, Co. K , February 24, 1864, to serve three years; appointed musician, April 28, 1864; mustered out with company, June 13,1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

CUMMINGS, MANLY L.—Age, 23 years. Enlisted, August 28, 1862, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E , August 28,1862, to serve three years; promoted artificer, date not stated; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.,  as Manley L. Cumings.

 

DECKER , ABRAM..—Age, 22 years. Enlisted, January 16, 1864, at Owego; mustered in as private, Co. M, to date January 16, 1864, to serve three years; promoted artificer, April 8,1864; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.; also borne as Abram C. Decker.

 

DECKER , IRA.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, August 23, 1861, at Union; mustered in as private, Co. H, September 7, 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. I, November 1, 1861; promoted artificer, date not stated re-enlisted, December 26,1863; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

DECKER, JAMES R.—Age, 38 years. Enlisted, August 7, 1861, at Elmira; mustered in as private, Co. B, August 16, 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. H , November 1, 1861; discharged for disability, December 14, 1.861, at Washington, D. C.

 

DECKER, JOHN 0.—Age, 31 years. Enlisted, August 22, 1862, at Linley; mustered in as private, Co. F, August 22, 1862, to serve three years; mustered out with company, June 13,1865,

at Fort Barry, Va .

 

DECKER, JOSEPH D. Age, 18 years. Enlisted, September 3, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. F , September 6,1861, to” serve three years; transferred to Co. E, November 1, 1861;

re-enlisted, December 26, 1863; promoted artificer, date not stated; corporal, February 15, 1865; mustered out with company, June 13,1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

DECKER, LEVI.—Age, 43 years. Enlisted, February 23,1864, at Barrington; mustered in as private, Co. B, February 23, 1864, to serve three years; died of disease, September 4, 1864, at

Washington, D. C.

 

DECKER, WILLIAM..—Age, 31 years. Enlisted, August 25, 1864, at Dansville; mustered in as private, Co. C, August 25, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

HICKS, SPENCER,—Age, 39 years. Enlisted, August 26, 1801, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 29, 1861, to serve three years; re-enlisted, January 21, 1861; promoted artificer, April 1, 1861; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

HOWARD, CHARLES . — A g e , 18 years. Enlisted, August 20, 1864, at Woodhull; mustered in as private, Co. I, August 29, 1864, to serve one year; died of disease, November 15, 1864, at City Point, Va .

 

HOWARD, CHARLES O.—Age, 26 years. Enlisted, August 26, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as corporal, Co . E , August 29,1861, to serve three years; reduced, January 21, 1862; mustered out, September 20,1804, at E l m i r a , N.Y .

 

HOWARD, CHESTER.—Age, 19 years. Enlisted, August 13, 1864, at. Union ; mustered in as private, Co. E , August 13, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865,

at Fort Barry, Va .

 

McARDLE, JAMES , see James McCardle.

 

McGREGOR, JAMES.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, August 26, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as private, Go. C, September 7, 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. E , November 1,

1861; promoted artificer, date not stated; mustered out, September 20,1864, at Elmira, N.Y .

 

OWEN, WILLIAM. S.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, August 29, 1861, at Elmira; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 29, 1861, to serve three years; promoted artificer, date not stated;

re-enlisted, December 20, 1863; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

PAYNE, ANSON W.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, September 2, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. F , September 6, . 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. E, November 1,

1861; promoted artificer, date not stated; re-enlisted, December 26, 1863; reduced, June 1, 1864; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

PAYNE, HEMANN.—Age, 28 years. Enlisted, January 5,1864, at Chenango; mustered in as private, Co. A , January 5, 1864, to serve three years; promoted artificer, date not stated; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va., as Heman Payne.

 

SEABURY, J . MORGAN.—Age, 24 years. Enlisted, August 30, 1862, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E , August 30,1862, to serve three years; promoted artificer, date not stated; corporal, April 1, 1864; mustered in as second lieutenant, Co. C, September 22, 1864; resigned January 14, 1865; commissioned second lieutenant, February 17, 1864, with rank of same date,

vice J . J . Carroll, resigned; not mustered; again commissioned second lieutenant, August 22, 1864, with rank from July 1, 1864, vice Gwynne, promoted.

 

THORNTON, MASON.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, August 20, 1861, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. F, September 6, 1861, to serve three years; transferred to Co. E, November 1, 1861; re-enlisted, December 26, 1863; promoted artificer, April 1, 1864; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

WILCOX , ETHIEL.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, August 30, 1864, at Malone; mustered in as private, Co. C, August 30, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865,

at Fort Barry, Va.; also borne as Ithiel Wilcox.

 

WILCOX , GEORGE F.—Age, 26 years. Enlisted, August 13, 1862, at Maine; mustered in as private, Co. E , August 13,1862, to serve three years; mustered out with company, June 13,

1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

WILCOX , GEORGE R.—Age, 18 years. Enlisted, January 15, 1864, at Owego; mustered in as private, Co. M , to date January 15, 1864, to serve three years; appointed musician, date not

stated; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

WILCOX , HOMER.—Age, 19 years. Enlisted, March 15, 1865, at Rochester; mustered in as private, unassigned, March 15, 1865, to serve one year; mustered out with detachment, June

13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va .

 

WILCOX, JOHN.—Age, 42 years. Enlisted, August 25, 1864, at Horseheads; mustered in as private, Co. G, September 2,, 1864, to serve one year; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865,

at Fort Barry, Va .

 

WILCOX , LEWIS.—Age, 38 years. Enlisted, August 28, 1862, at Rome; mustered in as private, Co. C, September 11, 1862, to serve three years; shot, December 11, 1862, while laying pontoon bridges at Fredericksburg, V a .

 

WILCOX , WARREN.—Age, 31 years. Enlisted, September 2, 1864, at Auburn; mustered in as private, unassigned, Fifteenth Engineers, September 2, 1864, to serve one year; transferred to Co. I, this regiment, date not stated; mustered out with company, June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Va.

 

There is also an inscription of:

“11304 Watch” which may have been the serial number of the timepiece Octave received.

Also, there is a note on the end cover of the diary which reads: “L.A. Kingsley, Binghamton NY”

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