The diary of Captain Edward Hill conveys the pleasures, hardships, and heroism of a Union soldier who served in the Civil War's climactic showdown in Virginia between the armies of General Ulysses Grant and Robert E. Lee. Hill and his regiment, the 16th Michigan Infantry, took part in many of the Army of the Potomac's key battles, and in later life Hill wrote about the Battle of Fredericksburg. Information about his daily wartime activities, however, is only available from February 16, 1864 to July 27, 1864 through jottings in his diary. At the beginning of this period Hill enjoyed a leisurely return to his regiment after a brief furlough in Michigan, socializing with friends and going to the theater in Baltimore and Washington. In mid-April 1864 he rejoined his men at their camp near Bealton Station, Virginia, and during the relentless Union offensive of May they took part in the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and North Anna. Hill was wounded near Cold Harbor on June 1, 1864 prior to the Battle of Cold Harbor and would later receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic leadership. The diary continues during Hill's recovery, chronicling his progress and daily visitors while he recuperated at Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C.
This collection includes transcriptions of Hill's diary as well as images of the original.
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People, Places, and Events
Carl Guarneri
Background information of people, places, and events mentioned in the diary of Captain Edward Hill
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"When Will the End Come?": Captain Edward Hill and the 16th Michigan Volunteers in Grant's Virginia Campaign
Carl Guarneri and Alyssa Sisco Ginn
This essay, written by Carl Guarneri and Alyssa Sisco Ginn, is a biography of Edward Hill with highlights from his 1864 diary.
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Edward Hill Diary entry of February 16, 1864 - February 26, 1864
Edward Hill
"...Capt Saum & I threatened to take the train so it did not stop..."
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Edward Hill Diary entry of February 27, 1864 - March 27, 1864
Edward Hill
"Went to see Edwin Booth in his great character of Richelieu"
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Edward Hill Diary entry of April 15, 1864 - May 2, 1864
Edward Hill
"...in the evening she gave me a magnificent supper a parting one a pleasant time, but sad good bye"
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Edward Hill Diary entry of May 3, 1864 - May 8, 1864
Edward Hill
"6th Corps broken, I fear a rout, 7 o clock stole out through a gap in the Rebel lines..."
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Edward Hill Diary entry of May 9, 1864 - May 14, 1864
Edward Hill
"The slaughter wonderful. our wounded reaches 22000."
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Edward Hill Diary entry of May 15, 1864 - May 20, 1864
Edward Hill
"The fog rolled off this morning and disclosed the Rebels with their strong works in front..."
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Edward Hill Diary entry of May 21, 1864 - May 26, 1864
Edward Hill
"Sabbath after Sabbath and year after year the Holy Sabbath is made a day of murder"
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Edward Hill Diary entry of May 27, 1864 - June 1, 1864
Edward Hill
"we have secured The Position and are within 15 miles of Richmond"
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Edward Hill Diary entry of June 2, 1864 - June 7, 1864
Edward Hill
"No Drs on board who appear to take an interest in me, nothing to eat..."
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Edward Hill Diary entry of June 8, 1864 - June 13, 1864
Edward Hill
"every day is a great desideratum am doing well"
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Edward Hill Diary entry of June 14, 1864 - June 25, 1864
Edward Hill
"Went out for the first time to day, in the Hospital chair..."
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Edward Hill Diary entry of June 26, 1864 - July 7, 1864
Edward Hill
"last night a man suffering with the delirium tremens rambling through the ward tearing things as he went"
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Edward Hill Diary entry of July 8, 1864 - July 27, 1864
Edward Hill
"Communications cut between Washington and Baltimore..."
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Sources for Images
Susan Birkenseer
Sources for images and photographs used in the online web documents
