Civil War diary of private Albert D. Judd of South Hadley, Massachusetts. Judd enlisted on September 1, 1862, and on October 11, he was mustered into Co. H, 52nd Massachusetts Infantry for nine months’ service. The 52nd traveled by ship to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and took part in a demonstration against the Confederate fortress at Port Hudson as Admiral Farragut attempted to run a squadron of warships up the Mississippi River on March 13th. The 52nd Massachusetts then participated in General Nathaniel Banks’ 1863 summer offensive up Bayou Teche, where it mostly helped loot plantations of cotton and ship it back to New Orleans from Barre’s Landing. In June, it joined the siege at Port Hudson, taking part in the assaults on June 14th. The regiment remained at the siege until the fort’s surrender on July 9, 1863. Its term having expired, the 52nd Massachusetts traveled by steamboat up the Mississippi to Cairo, Illinois, thence by train back to Massachusetts, where it mustered out on August 14th. Judd’s diary is filled with his observations during his service, though he seemed to have started the diary where he wished, without much regard to the preprinted dates. He mentions duty at Barre’s Landing after pursuing the retreating Rebs from the battle of Centerville, guarding over 4,000 bales of cotton at one point, as more is brought in every day. On May 7, 1863, he notes the large number of freed slaves: There is about two thousand Negroes at the location waiting to go to NC where they are going to work on US plantations. He also mentions the first use of black troops in combat with the Union Army, when the 1st and the 3rd Louisiana Native Guard were ordered to assault Port Hudson: At the fight a few days ago, there was two Regt of Col’d troops engaged & they fought as well as any of our white troops. They repeatedly charged on the breastworks and fought like demons. He notes later that he heard that they had lost over 700 killed, wounded and missing. They were not the only black troops present, however. I have just been looking at a battery drill. The battery is manned by Negroes... The darkies take great pride in their drill and get along first rate. Judd was sent to convalescent camp after getting sick, and in the diary, he records the sights near New Orleans. Tropical sickness was tearing through the Northern troops, and Judd relates the rumor on July 3 that if Banks didn’t take Port Hudson the next day, he would be forced to lift the siege at the urging of the surgeons to get the troops out of the swamps. A good portion of the latter part of the diary concerns the trip back home. Judd relays that the riverboat carrying the regiment passed the bluffs of recently captured Vicksburg at night, disappointing him, as he wanted to see them. He also mentions the great generosity of the civilians in Cairo, who took the soldiers in and fed them nice meals. This kindness is echoed by other townspeople throughout the entire journey home.
Civil War diary of private Albert D. Judd of South Hadley, Massachusetts. Judd enlisted on September 1, 1862, and on October 11, he was mustered into Co. H, 52nd Massachusetts Infantry for nine months’ service. The 52nd traveled by ship to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and took part in a demonstration against the Confederate fortress at Port Hudson as Admiral Farragut attempted to run a squadron of warships up the Mississippi River on March 13th. The 52nd Massachusetts then participated in General Nathaniel Banks’ 1863 summer offensive up Bayou Teche, where it mostly helped loot plantations of cotton and ship it back to New Orleans from Barre’s Landing. In June, it joined the siege at Port Hudson, taking part in the assaults on June 14th. The regiment remained at the siege until the fort’s surrender on July 9, 1863. Its term having expired, the 52nd Massachusetts traveled by steamboat up the Mississippi to Cairo, Illinois, thence by train back to Massachusetts, where it mustered out on August 14th. Judd’s diary is filled with his observations during his service, though he seemed to have started the diary where he wished, without much regard to the preprinted dates. He mentions duty at Barre’s Landing after pursuing the retreating Rebs from the battle of Centerville, guarding over 4,000 bales of cotton at one point, as more is brought in every day. On May 7, 1863, he notes the large number of freed slaves: There is about two thousand Negroes at the location waiting to go to NC where they are going to work on US plantations. He also mentions the first use of black troops in combat with the Union Army, when the 1st and the 3rd Louisiana Native Guard were ordered to assault Port Hudson: At the fight a few days ago, there was two Regt of Col’d troops engaged & they fought as well as any of our white troops. They repeatedly charged on the breastworks and fought like demons. He notes later that he heard that they had lost over 700 killed, wounded and missing. They were not the only black troops present, however. I have just been looking at a battery drill. The battery is manned by Negroes... The darkies take great pride in their drill and get along first rate. Judd was sent to convalescent camp after getting sick, and in the diary, he records the sights near New Orleans. Tropical sickness was tearing through the Northern troops, and Judd relates the rumor on July 3 that if Banks didn’t take Port Hudson the next day, he would be forced to lift the siege at the urging of the surgeons to get the troops out of the swamps. A good portion of the latter part of the diary concerns the trip back home. Judd relays that the riverboat carrying the regiment passed the bluffs of recently captured Vicksburg at night, disappointing him, as he wanted to see them. He also mentions the great generosity of the civilians in Cairo, who took the soldiers in and fed them nice meals. This kindness is echoed by other townspeople throughout the entire journey home.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
