Stunning Diary Group to one of Ellet's Marines

[ScottG]

This set of diary's came into Michigan's Military Heritage Museum today. I had very little time to glance over them, but what I saw was pretty amazing! Almon J Pierce enlisted in Company G. 19th Michigan Volunteer Infantry and saw some service in the West. He spent time in a hospital, though at this point I am not sure if it was sickness or a wound. Then he became part of the Mississippi Marine Brigade also called Ellets Marines after their Commander. He finished the war in this unit and returned to Michigan briefly.

 

Pierce then moved to North Dakota in the 1870s and ultimately ended up in Oregon where the diaries came from. The donor was not a relative and stated that they came from her Mother's estate and she thought they should be returned to Michigan, which is why we received them. Nearly every page of every book is full, front and back and margins too! Mr. Pierce was a prolific writer and the diaries cover a large portion of his life.

 

While transcription will be long and tedious, the info should be amazing and can certainly shed some light on a little known and strange unit of the Union Army. In addition, since Pierce went West after the war, it will be interesting to see what he may say about the Indian Wars, if he was in Bismarck when Custer departed for the Little Big Horn, his thoughts as a veteran on the Spanish-American War and more. He lived a long life and was active in the GAR as see in his photo taken in 1919. 

 

I look forward to reading more about him in the weeks and months to come!     Scott

[USCapturephotos]

Wow. What a historical treasure trove! As you said it will be interesting to read his thoughts on events from the Civil War, Indian Wars and beyond. 
Paul

[warguy]

Wow that looks like a historical treasure trove. I can only imagine the content will be fascinating. Keep us posted Scott. Kevin

[M24 Chaffee]

I’m sure you’ll be enjoying reading this great collection of history! Maybe you can drop a few of his interesting observations in this thread?Great addition to the museum!

 

Frank

[eaglerunner88]

What an incredible personal prospective this can offer! Hopefully you have a few volunteers to help transcribe and organize over the winter!

[manayunkman]

That is out of this world amazing.

 

Congrats on this acquisition and looking forward to what comes next.

[wartimecollectables.com]

Diaries are so personnel.  Looking forward to seeing content!  I had never heard of the Marine Brigade unit.  Very interesting!

 

Almon Pierce
19th Michigan Vol. Inf. & US ARMY Marine Brigade

Enlisted on 8/15/1862 at South Haven, MI as a Private Mustered into "G" Co. MI 19th Infantry

Discharged for to enlist on 3/12/1863 at Saint Louis, MO On 3/12/1863 he mustered into US Army Marine Brigade

He was discharged on 1/17/1865 at Vicksburg, MS

 

19th Michigan organized at Dowagiac and mustered in September 5, 1862. Moved to Danville, Ky., December 12, 1862, and duty there till January 26, 1863. Moved to Louisville, Ky., thence to Nashville, Tenn., January 26-February 7, and to Brentwood Station February 21. To Franklin February 23. Reconnaissance toward Spring Hill March 3-5. Action at Spring Hill, Thompson's Station, March 4-5. Regiment mostly captured by Bragg's Cavalry forces, nearly 18,000 strong, under Van Dorn. Little Harpeth and Brentwood March 25 (Detachment). Exchanged May 25, 1863. Regiment reorganized at Camp Chase, Ohio, during June. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., June 8-11. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 23, and garrison duty there till October 25. Stockade near Murfreesboro Bridge, Stone's River, October 4 (Co. "D"). Moved to McMinnville October 25, and duty there till April 21, 1864. Ordered to join Corps in Lookout Valley. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Boyd's Trail May 9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cassville May 19. New Hope Church May 25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Gilgal or Golgotha Church June 15. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes Creek June 19. Kolb's Farm June 22. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochee River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge August 26-September 2. Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Lawtonville, S. C., February 2. Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Mustered out June 10, 1865.

 

Army Marine Brigade: The unit was organized in early 1863, and consisted of about 350 officers and men, including boat crews which used nine small light-armored boats fitted as rams. The brigade reached the fleet above Vicksburg on 29 May 1863. On 14 June 1863, the unit joined Brig. Gen. Joseph Mower's expedition to Richmond, LA, and skirmished with the Confederates, suffering 3 wounded. On 20 June 1863, Admiral David Dixon Porter reported that two 10-pdr Parrott rifles, placed by the brigade on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River, had much annoyed the Confederates for two or three days. General Ellett ordered work begun on a casemate fort on the point opposite the city of Vicksburg, MS, on 19 June 1863. Under the direction of Lt. Col. George E. Currie, the fortification was completed in four days and covered with a thickness of railroad iron. Personally commanded and sighted by Capt. Thomas C. Groshon, a 20-pdr Parrott gun was emplaced within the fortification and opened fire on the city the morning of 23 June 1863. The Confederates responded, firing 17 rounds from 5 different guns. The fort was then further strengthened by adding another thickness of railroad iron. Fire from the Parrott gun in the fort was maintained until the end of the siege, with a total of 98 rounds expended, causing considerable damage to the Confederate foundry and machine shop. The fort was repeatedly struck but sustained no material damage or loss of life. The brigade also placed a brass Dahlgren in a casemate near the 20-pdr Parrott. From 25 to 30 June 1863, a detachment of the brigade on the steamer John Rains, formed a part of an expedition to Greenville, MS, under the command of Lt. Col. Samuel J. Nasmith of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry. At Goodrich's Landing on 30 June 1863, the brigade lost 1 officer, Capt. Wright, killed in action.

 

 

 

[ScottG]

Thanks everyone, I will do my best to keep this updated as we transcribe the diaries and sort out the many clippings and papers that are contained in each of the books. Scott

[ScottG]

I spent a little time looking at some of the diaries yesterday. Looks like Pierce was quite active in the GAR after the war. He was a member in Grand Junction North Dakota where he moved after the war. He was a proponent of phonetic reading and writing and even had a company called Fonetik. Haven't done any transcribing yet as that will be a huge task, there are 37 diaries!     Scott