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CIVIL WAR DIARY
of
Captain Uriah Nelson Parmelee
A Son of Guilford
Edit ed By
CHARLES LEWIS BIGGS
R.ector of C h1'ist Episco pal Churcl GlIilf ord, Conn. THE CIVIL WAR DIARY
of
Captain U riah N elson Parmelee
Feb. 18, 1864. Left for Alexandria, Va., in an old iron
blockade-runner from the foot of Canal Street, New York City.
Feb. 21.
Landed at Alexandria.
Nice barracks.
Feb. 23. With a gay crowd singing in the twilight. Have
walked alone tonight. The boys are singing in the barracks­
it brings back the happiest thoughts of Yale. Long night ­
slept cold.
URIAH N . PARMELEE, a student at Yale,
enlisted at the beginning of his junior year
in the 6th N ew York Cavalry.
Feb. 24-27. Sick.
T he diary is in two volumes, one begin­
ning February 18, 1864, and ending with an
entry on O ctober 14, 1864 ; the other begin­
ning on February 14, 1365 , and ending on
Ma rch 30, 1865­
Feb. 29. Received commission as Second Lieutenant from
Governor Buckingham in the First Conn. Cavalry. (He had
been Corporal in the Sixth New York Cavalry.)
Mar. 1.
Procured McClellan's Work on Cavalry.
Mar. 5. Hard at work this morning, policing, shovelling
manure, well warmed up. I ought to study harder, have plenty
of time - why don't I?
R epetitions, but nothing that is material,
have been omitted. All parentheses are
editorial.
Mar. 7. Mc's work on Cavalry isn't enough.
tactics! tactics!
Tactics I!!
Mar. 8. (Sets out to find 1st Cavalry. Inquires here and
there in Washington. Thought to be in or near Baltimore.
Sends to Guilford for money, and, while waiting for that and
his uniform, calls on and visits friends.)
Mar. 17. Mustered into 1st Conn. Cavalry at Balt imore.
r
Mar. 18. March to Bladensburg.
Mar. 19 -2 1. March, and camp at Stevensburg.
Mar. 27. Sunday. I have come short of my bright antici­
pations. My dreams have all been unrealized in their details.
I have written no poetry. I have no money, but I have Christ.
.3
THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF
CAPTAIN URIAH NELSON PARMELEE
Mar. 3 O. A m thankful that I spoke to the Sunday-school
(Episcopal) when I wa s home, even if it didn't sound very well.
May the C hurch be blessed as Mr. Smith's (1st Congregational,
in revival) is being. I ought to take a more decided stand as a
Christian.
May 10. Big march to make - fall back across the River
at Beaver Dam, then proceed to B. P. Station.
4
5
May 12. \'V'e start very early in the morning for Rich­
m ond in high glee.
May 16. I get shaved and get my pants fixed over in 2nd
A pr. 7. (still in camp) Sergt. Major just came in an d says
I am on picket t omorrow. Not on guard, not under arrest but
worse.
Apr. 10. It ra ins - am detailed for picket again - tell
the C apt ain bet somet hing will turn up so that I shant go ­
but I do go - have a pleasant time of it. See those girls - yes
- and when I rode out there again they asked me so pleasantly
why I had not been to see them - say Lieutenant in such a fine
nice way.
Apr. 10 to May 1. (nothing but a few commissary notes.)
G od hath blessed m e in regard to my friendships. (He has
spoken previously of letters from Cousins Kate and Mary Foote,
his Mother, and brother Sam. ) In so much that Miss Sarah
Smythe of Baltimore did ask me for my picture and did seem
to like me, and t he Rev. Mr. Smith of G. did write me to call
on him, and Mr. H alleck (Fitz-Greene) and all my friends
treated me exceedingly well.
IvIa)' 5. W e fall in with the enemy and fall back in dis­
order - men wont rally - fall back through the woods ­
lose my hat. I rally the men as much as I can. They don't
m ake much of a figure.
May 6. W e m ove up on the Chancellorsville battleground
-am sent out on picket duty.
M ay 8. Handsome driving of the enemy t wo miles by our
skirmish line dismounted. I deploy a first line of 20 m en in
front - believe did well. May I do as well all through .
M ay 9. Big r aid - going through the woods w here in rear of Fredericksburg.
some­
N. Y.
May 17.
sleepy.
We march at sunset -
all night long -
very
May 19. We move to a point within five miles of Who
H ouse (White House?) and go into camp - rains - I get into
an ammunition wagon and into the Sergt's tent. Capt. sits out
in his saddle through it all.
June 1. (much marching meanwhile) we advance after
a sleepless night from Hanover C. H . on the road to Ashiand
get attacked in the rear - 1st Conn. loses ground make several
charges - charge at the head of the 1st Vermont. M y horse
falls abreast the rebel colors. I turn to the rear.
June 3. Jackson cooks me breakfast and supper all in one.
What's all this firing everywhere about me? Ordered to go on
picket duty tonight with twenty men - get lost after posting
my sentinel in the woods - get round again.
June 10. Capt. B is killed while I write and no shots heard.
June 14. So I lie in the grass at Charles City C. H . fresh
and safe and sound with naught but God to fear and nothing
to regret but what my own carelessness and inattention has
occasioned.
June 16. Fall back to St. Mary's Church, go out and fling
u p breastworks - relieved at dusk, fall back to Charles City
C. H. and near Jones River at Hewson Park - unsaddle at
th ree in the morning of the 17th.
June 24. The vil! age Kurtzville - get back and get sup­
per and have to go right out to destroy railroad - not a long
job.
THE CIVIL WAR DIARY O F
6
CAPTAIN URIAH NELSON PARMELEE
7
June 27. (on raid) four rails and saddlebags and saddle­
cloth for a bed - something of a sleep after all.
It is quite likely that I might have succeeded m ay yet, yet, yet, yet.
June 29. Ye big skeedaddle - hot - sandy - fight ­
tired - horses - change position what under the heavens are
they going to do? Wilson and Col. McIntosh talk together ­
ordered to burn all the ammunition that the men cannot carry
- artillery bury ammunition. \Ve move back - white flag ­
ambulances - disconsolate wounded - trains half set on fire ­
caissons and limbers burning - a yell - pressed and hurrying
ranks - the rebs rush out with their battle-flag. Why have
we no flankers out! Dust and dawn and the first BuB Run.
J uly 29. (alarms and skirmish meanwhile) So Lewis is
not so bad off in Libby after all "plenty of room, plenty of
water, and plenty of company."
Aug. 1. Saddle up early this morning - pack up - don't
go yet - tent down and ali packed up. Tuttle sings plaintive
songs - he is a great deai of company for me - should miss
him jf he were to go away. Read Othello to him last night and
P aul's speech at Mars Hill.
Aug. 6. (loading men and horses) will get a pair of boots
a trifle bigger next time.
June 3O. \Vhat a skedaddle last night and this morning.
Sleepy men and sleepy strange ideas - tired horses - Why
don't the rebs attack us - guess we were a trifle fast in getting
out the way we did .
July 2.
Aug. 7. (on the James River bound for \Vashington) Did
I ever feel so gaily in my life? If Baltimore! Oh dear how
fresh , how soft the breeze - how bright the sunlight - how
green t he woods. Since I came off the old blockade-runner have
seen some service - made some friends and lost some - have
been p romoted to Captain - have been blessed of the Lord, and
not wounded or sick.
I get citation and Captain's Commission.
July 3. I eat too many dried apples for which I am heartily
sorry.
July 4. I go down and take command of the company.
A ug. 8.
(Parmelee seems to have proposed by letter to a fair friend
and got turned down . It hurt.)
-
July 9. One letter and the letter - this morning sad What shall I do? It will all be well.
July 14. Feel a little blue, out of money, out of love, two
things which seem essential to a man's happiness. Was I not
foolish in going to work just as I did in the Baltimore affair ?
Hard work getting the boat loaded.
A ug. 12. Harrison loses my Shakespeare too, had almost
rath er have lost ten dollars.
well
July 10. I wake with a sensation somewhat peculiar and
strange but still I do not despair. It would be hard to define
my posit ion. What ought I to do? What is my duty? I have
admired and as much as I ought under the circumstances have
... . . . .. now. \Vhat of a free life of travel, of study, of
enterprise? \Vhat of an Empire or rather a fierce Republic in
Ethiopia?
I may yet, I
/
A ug. 24. My birthday 23 years old ....... It is now sun­
set - my diary rests on the rail fence - I am looking off to­
ward Loudon Heights - now I see Maryland Heights. 0 God ,
My soul is full of longing, but Thou, 0 Gentle Jesus, are my
Lord. Love me, 0 love me.
~P t . 22.
(March - camp - march meanwhile) W e
m arch in the morning Luray Valley - such beautiful mists
with the sun shining upon them as they float above the moun­
tain tops. I think of the hills of heaven, fairer far than these,
where t here is no more w ar or fighting.
Oct. 13.
vote after all.
I wouldn't wonder but I would go home and
THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF
CAPTAIN URI AH NELSON PARMELEE
Friday, Oct. 14, 1864 (last entry) a fine, cool morning.
Sergt. Stewart reported yesterday for duty. The effects of that
fond dream have not left me yet.
F eb. 14, 1865. (apparently near Harper's Ferry) H ad a
good sleep after getting those blankets.
8
(Parmelee was captured on Oct. 17, 1864, at Cedar Run
Church, Virginia. He escaped on Oct. 20, 1864. H is diary
was lost, however.
On Dec. 12, 1892, 28 years later, S. S. Parmelee, brother
of Uriah, received a letter from a lawyer, D. C. Gallaher, of
C harlestown, Kanawha Co., \Vest Virginia, whose pertinent
p ortion is as follows:
"I well remember (I think it was the night of Oct. 18,
1864) that we marched all night hoping to surprise Sherida n's
army at all points, especially in the extreme right and extreme
left wings. We were on the latter, and during the nigh t we
picked up the pickets and their reserve and just at dayligh t,­
not quite - we rushed into the camp and had turned t he left.
Fortune, which beckoned us on at daylight, saw us routed and
retreating, and ruined by nightfaH. 1 was a member of the
1st Va. Cavalry and 1 think in the charge your brother m ust
have dropped or lost his haversack containing the diary, and
after the rush and rout and capture of many of the Federal
Cavalry, I picked up the haversack -(Confederates were in
those days ahuays hungry) - and found, besides something to
eat, the diary."
And now he returns it.
Parmelee lived to resume a diary. This second one in his
handwriting begins abruptly on Feb. 14, 1865, and ends just
as abruptly on Mar. 30, 1865.
He had had a leave of absence probably, some part of
which may have been spent in Guilford.)
9
Feb. 15. Take hold and dust out and straighten up the
shel f desk - attended \Vater and Stable and Roll C alls ­
Shovel away snow from the horses - Make out Hulls Des List
to be sent to R emount C amp, Md. \V rite to Mother - talk
with the Chaplain - he speaks of seeing Guizar's book on m y
t able.
Feb. 16. 1 somehow haven't got along as well as I meant
to day, but mean to be more bold and forceful. Let the dead
past bury its dead.
Feb. 20. Smoke too much - it keeps me downlike - am
awake tonight on account of my thoughts. Every think seems
so clear.
Feb. 21. Smoke this morning - read Guizot know what, but lay aside every weight.
don't
Feb. 24. I continued to read Guizot's Meditations on the
Essence of Christianity, a profound work, or rather it gives
evidence of a large experience, and the most general and various
research.
Feb. 25.
More signs of marching.
Feb. 27. March at daylight 33 miles.
Fe b. 28. W e are stopping at Lacy Springs 29 miles.
sigh a little in my belly for the fleshpots.
I
Mar. 2. Waynesboro ! Victory! Thank the Lord, 97 5
prisoners, 14 guns, 8 battle flags. 1 talk with a Va. Capt.
M ar 3. Ma rch to Charlottesville. Bu rn bridge to right
till midnight. A m ost brilliant fire - carelessness.
Mar. 4. The home of Jefferson. I nauguration of Lincoln.
4 ye ars ago I read his inaugural in College in Burgis' room I
think, or talked it over with him. H ow changed since then.
Mar. 6. March toward Lynchburg.
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CAPTAIN UR IAH NELSON PARMLEE
THE CIVIL WAR DIARY
Mar. 3 O. (last entry, long march between .) Go into camp
- inspection of my company - very wet - I clean off my
horse and go to water with him - warm - , I go out alone ­
intellectual clearness. What mightn't a man do with this state
of mind habitually.
Parmelee was killed at the battle of Five Forks, Apr. 1, 186 5.
Lee surrendered on April 9.
The picture one gets from the diary is refreshingly differ­
ent from the picture one gets of the genus soldier from the
World War books - 1919-1939.
Here is a clean, high-souled youth. War's horrors did not
include obscenity, drunkenness, sexual lawlessness and excess.
Henry Pynchon Robinson, a Yale classmate and friend,
has this to say in his Guilford Portraits:
CAPTAIN URIAH NELSON PARMELEE
He sat upon a wall seat in the rear,
His coat close buttoned down in front and queer:
And promenading up and down the aisle
And walking as in dreamland, stirred the smile.
We loved him for the earnest way he trod,
Although it was unique as Dick and odd.
For oh! so happy then was he a-learning,
As scarce of aught thing else to be discerning.
In faculty, shrewd, active and acute,
He was more known for being resolute:
His humor, pleasing and his laughter, bright,
In spirit, brave, and character, upright.
T hen w ar came on and st irred his ardor strong And off he wen t, hot-foot to right the wrong, F lung dow n his books and scholar 's satchel t hen A nd faced about before disunion men. His duty w as to bear through fire and smoke The orders swift that answering fire awoke: To lead a charge, to rally broken lines, To dare r ush in, where hazard most inclines. Then Fate upon him turned and ambuscade O f shell and cannon, his charmed life, w aylaid. Such was Uriah, when we knew him well Who followed his ideals, till he fell. H is noble brow and thoughtful, happy face, T he compact form, he bore with careless grace, H is staunch devotion and ambition, high, W ith loves and memories, now buried lie. 1907.
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