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Nathaniel C. Wilson's Civil War diary and one letter (dated March 14, 1863) are available online.
Nathaniel C. Wilson collection, 1834-1941. MS 0490. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Nathaniel Claiborne Wilson was born in 1831 and matriculated into VMI in 1857, but was only at VMI for a year. From 1859 to 1860 he was at the University of Virginia. Wilson's military service is as follows: Entered service at Craig Court House, Virginia on May 15, 1861 for 1 year as a Captain, Company B, 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment. On recruiting service from February to April 1862. Elected Major on May 1, 1862 at re-organization. Was sightly wounded in action (face) on June 1, 1862 at Seven Pines, Henrico County, Virginia. Was wounded in action (thigh) at Gaines' Mill, Hanover County, Virginia. Went into Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania telling men, "Now, boys, put your trust in God and follow me!" Was killed in action on July 3, 1863.
This collection consists of the Civil War papers of Nathaniel C. Wilson (VMI Class of 1861) and papers of other Wilson family members, including: Wilson's diary-account book fragment that includes entries from Pennsylvania and the battlefield at Gettysburg. Two letters (dated 1859-1860)written while Wilson was a student at the University of Virginia. One letter (dated March 14-25, 1863) from Wilson written during the Civil War from Camp near Greenville, Virginia. Wilson family correspondence, legal/financial papers, and ephemera.
1st Day Pennsylvania On the 25th of June Pickett's Division (the Division to which I belong) crossed the Potomac into Maryland & encamped about one mile north of Williamsport, a town of about 500 inhabitants. This place is situated on the north bank of the Potomac in one of the most fertile regions of the state, little or no sympathy was shown us by the citizens of the town. Before going into camp we executed a Private from the 18th Va. Regt. for desertion. The Division waded the river, the water taking most of the men under the arms.
2nd Day Pennsylvania 26th June Orders to move in the direction of Hagerstown at 4 o'clock, do not get off until 10, delay occasioned by the passing of A. P. Hill's Corps to the front. Whisky rations issued (it being a very wet morning), every man in spirits, both good & bad. Marched through Hagerstown into Franklin Co. near Greencastle, Pa, passed through Middleburg, a small place on the Md. & Pa. line. Hagerstown is about 7 miles from the river & about 5 from the Pa. line & contains between 4500 and 5000 inhabitants a large majority of whom are ultra unionist in sentiment.
3rd Day Pennsylvania 27th June Marched out of camp in the direction of Chambersburg, passed through Greencastle & Marion small villages, unworthy of note. The country from the Md. Line to Chambersburg is rather rugged & the soil not half so fine as that portion of Maryland we passed over on yesterday. There is a great quantity of the limestone & it is too near the surface. The country immediately around Chambersburg is as pretty & well cultivated as any country we have traveled through. All the farms are on a small scale, but are finely cultivated. Private dwellings are all neat & conveniently built, built, but no elegance of style whatever. Chambersburg has about 3000 inhabitants situated on the railroad leading from Hagerstown Md. to Harrisburg Pa. The town is handsomely laid off with a number of beautiful residences on its eastern outskirts. This is an abolition den with very few sympathizers for the Southern cause. My regiment was halted in this place & made the Provost Gd for the town, the remainder of the Division passed through in the direction of Carlisle & encamped about 3 miles north of the place.
4th Day Pennsylvania Sabbath, June 28 Remained as Provost Guard for the town during the day, nothing of interest occurring. The day was spent in securing supplies for the army. Richmond papers of the24th (26th?) recd. Report the enemy repulsed with slaughter near Vicksburg. News recd of the capture of Carlisle by Genl. Ewell, the citizens prepared for him & 5000 of his troops a feast, Yankees mode of courting favor. Met today with Captain [left blank by Wilson] of the Austrian Army just arrived at Genl Lee's HdQrs, a spectator in the present struggle sent over by his government to witness any military operations. He expresses admiration for our soldiers & thinks Genl Lee the greatest Genl of the age. A six or seven year old boy came into our office at 11 o'clock at night inquiring for the Provost Marshal. Says he is badly treated at home (his mother being dead & his father absent for the past three years, he knows not exactly where) and desires to join us. We offer to send him back to his home, but he refuses to go & asks permission for the night. Sleeps with the surgeon on the floor.
5th Day Pennsylvania June 29th Our regiment is relieved this morning by Col. Griffin's Mississippi regt. & we report to our Division 3 miles north of the town. The Division under marching orders. Marched at 4 o'clock P.M. back in the direction of Chambersburg, encamp at night 2 miles south of the town on the Hagerstown road. Nothing of interest occurring.
6th & 7th Days Pennsylvania June 30th In camp. Nothing of interest occurring through the day. One party sent out this morning to destroy the railroad from Hagerstown to Harrisburg, another sent out to purchase Qr. Master & Commissary stores.
July 1st Troops engaged in destroying public property in the town of Chambersburg & tearing up the railroad. Four roll calls a day ordered to be had to prevent the troops straggling from camp.
July 2nd, Pennsylvania Ordered to march in the direction of Gatesburgh [Gettysburg]. Marched within 4 miles of the town a distance of 25 miles from our camp. Heard before we arrived at Gatesburgh [Gettysburg] that our advance had heavy fighting around that place. Report correct. Six thousand prisoners taken and the enemy driven one or two miles. Number of killed and wounded not known. Loss heavy on both sides.
July 3rd In line of battle expecting to move forward every moment. With our trust in God we fear not an earthly enemy – God be with us.
Camp Near Greenville Saturday 14 march '63
My Dear Papa Our brigade arrived at this place this morning, a distance of twenty five miles from Tarboro. Sunday morning 15th March - We move this morning in the direction of the Sounds. The country that we are passing through is the greatest corn and hog country that I have ever been in. In fact everything seems plenty except flour. Thursday 19th March - We have traveled about forty miles and reached a little place called Plymouth on the Roanoke river just where it empties into the Sound. We are some distance inside the enemies lines [drove in] their pickets soon this morning I don't think we take the town though we might do it with ease as they have but a small force. Their gun boats would prevent our holding it long and then there is nothing to gain by taking. We send out this evening our wagons with a large escort about 30 miles below this [?] Terrill we are now in Washington. Sunday morning March 22 - our wagons arrived this morning with a large quantity of corn and some forty or fifty thousand pounds of bacon. Our orders now are to march back in the direction of Greenville. We get plenty of Roanoke River shad here at 50 cts. a piece, eggs 10 cts a dozen, sweet potatoes $1.00 per [lb?], lard 20 cts. per lb, bacon from 15 to 25 cts per lb and butter about the same, so you see we may live well, but back about Greenville things are little higher. The yankees have destroyed a great deal of property in this country, most of the houses of loyal citizens have been burned or robbed of furniture.
Wednesday March 25th- We are now back at Greenville, where we will move to next I know not - but I think it more than probable we will be ordered to Kinstown or Goldsborough. We never hear any news down in this country, the people are generally very ignorant, you will find families owning large numbers of slaves not able to write their names. The females are generally very ugly and all of them use snuff, in other words they are guilty of the filthy practice of dipping. We have none of our baggage with us. I haven't changed my underclothing for three weeks. Henry is quite unwell. I wish I had an opportunity of sending him home. George my horse has been valued by the Qr. Master at $600.00 so if I lose him I will only lose $25.00. My love to [Fred and Mattie]. Direct to Garnett's Brigade, D. H. Hill's Division, N. C.
Written from "Camp near Greenville," Virginia. Letter regards troop movements and personal news.
This file contains genealogy notes for the Wilson, Claiborne, and James families.