The keeper of this diary was a businessman from Hagerstown, Maryland named George W. Smith Jr. Most of his entries are notations of debts and payments in the back of the book, however, when the military situation heated up around Hagerstown he recorded what was happening in the diary section.

The pocket diary measures 3.25 x 5.00 inches. Imprinted in gold on the front flap of the leather cover is “DIARY/1863.” Neatly hand written inside the front cover is “GEO. W. SMITH JR., JANY 1^ST 1863, HAGERSTOWN, MD.” All entries are in ink and are completely legible. A handful of pages have short, unimportant entries but the main diary entries cover from June 15, 1863 to July 15, 1863. They are as follows:

Monday 6/15 Start for home this morning-here that the Rebels are in Hagerstown in strong force, which proves to be a fact. Jenkins Cavalry having arrived at Hagerstown about 1 0r 2 o’clock p.m. and march directly for Pa; not being able to reach home by way of Cumberland Valley R.R. we go to Baltimore from Harrisburg.

Tuesday, 6/16 Start for home this morning with W. via Frederick-get to Frederick abt. 1 p.m. and hire a wagon and boy for Boonsboro to bring us up- arrive at home abt. 10 p.m. at night.

Wednesday 6/17 Jenkin’s Cavalry came back from Pa.

Thursday 6/18 Rebel infantry commence coming in from Williamsport under Ramseur.

Sunday 6/21 Many soldiers in town-saw Gen. Ewell at the Catholic Church also Gen. Rhodes and others. Jenkins returning to Pa. with his Cavalry.

Friday 6/28 Gen. Lee & Longstreet pass thro. town this morning also Gen. A. P. Hill. Three Corps de army having crossed the Potomac and are now invading Pa. under Gen. Lee.

Wednesday 7/1 Battle of Gettysburg commenced. Everything quiet in Hagerstown except that the town is occasionally occupied by Confed. and Fed. Cavalry

Sunday 7/5 Large train of wagons belonging to Confed. army pass thro. town from ½ past 12 to ½ past 3 o’clock this morning going towards Williamsport-said to be handling captured goods and also many wounded from Gettysburg. Cavalry fight towards Cavetown. This eve. some Fed. Cav. pass thro.

Monday 7/13 Federal forces encamped around town-an attack expected on the Confeds. Considerable fighting on the N. E. of town between Cavalry and number of shells thrown and some Feds. killed & wounded.

These entries will give a good idea of the rest of the diary. There are also entries for June 19^th, 22^nd, 23^rd, 26^th, 27^th, 29^th, July 4^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 14^th and 15^th.  This is an outstanding civilian diary of the Gettysburg Campaign in very good condition.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!