Civil War Massachusetts  Soldier’s Diary
Battle Content & Excellent Lincoln Assassination Entries
Bela B. Tiffany enlisted from Monson, MA. at age 27 on 7/19/1862 as a 1st Sergeant in "E" Co. 36th Massachusetts Infantry. He was wounded in action on 6/3/1864 at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia. Transferred to the 1st Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps and mustered out on 6/26/1865. His diary entries range from mundane talk of weather and bricklaying to war and combat entries, and clear emotive entries about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
The diary begins Sunday Jan. 1, 1865, and has a lady’s images that appear they were taken from CdV's, pasted into the front. He gives details of the Regiments movements through the year and some comments on ‘Rebs’ and “darkies”. The diary has a few empty pages, most seem to correspond to dates when the 33rd was in skirmishes in the Carolina’s. In this diary he is very interested in news, mentions officers, politics, Seward, the government, and notes about Church. In April he mentions the capture of Bentonville and Richmond as well as the anniversary of the fall of the flag at Fort Sumter.
On April 15 he writes “Our beloved President died at 22 minutes past 7:00AM. Murdered by J.W. Booth in Ford’s Theater last night. It castes a terrible gloom over the nation.”
April 16 “Saw the President laying in State after getting through the crowd.”
April 17 “Today I witnessed the President’s funeral procession…. The colored people were well represented…. ”
The remaining pages are sparsely filled out.  He notes Johnson’s surrender, and men being discharged as well as a stay in the hospital.  The Lincoln notes are emotionally evocative firsthand to read.
Includes a card reading
Soldiers Package
C.F. Certified Chaplain
36 Mass. Volunteers
Mrs. Bela Tiffany Esq
Blandford, Mass.
Due
30
A fine wartime diary.
$350.00  SOLD