Greeting readers – we're glad you've returned for another group of transcriptions from the George F. Parry Civil War diaries (George F. Parry family volumes, Collection 3694). If you're just joining us, in 2012 HSP acquired the diaries of Bucks County resident and Civil War veterinary surgeon George F. Parry. In that collection are three diaries he kept during the Civil War dating from 1863 to 1865, when he served with the 7^th Pennsylvania Cavalry. In celebration of Parry's work and the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I'm providing monthly posts on Fondly, PA of transcripts of entries from his diaries.

To see other posts in the series, check out the links over on the right-hand side of this page.  Clicking on the diary images will take you to our Digital Library where you can examine the volumes page by page, along with other digitized items from the Parry collection.

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Parry was a busy soldier during October 1864. He and his regiment remained on the outskirts of Atlanta traveling around the city, and they eventually broke farther east. Parry entered several battles with the Confederates and, at least according to Parry's allusions, the Union Army seemed to come out on top each time.  Parry mentioned often made mention of fighting near Rome, Georgia, where he was stationed for a time. At the end of the month, Parry's regiment made a brief march into Northern Alabama, but soon returned to Rome.

Notes about the transcriptions: I've kept the pattern of Parry's writings as close as formatting here will allow, including his line breaks and spacing. My own additional or clarifying notes will be in brackets [ ]. Any grammatical hiccups that aren’t noted as such are Parry's own.

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Monday, October 3
Very rainy night. Moved in the Morning
towards Lost Mt. found the Rebels in
heavy force across Sweet Water[.]
rained very Hard part of Day[.]
a Lieut. In Gen'l. Killpatrick['s] Staff
killed one of 4th Michg. Shot
Halted at Sun down and got
supper.   Expecting attack any moment[.]
Genl Hood and Army at Big Shanty.

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Friday, October 7
Marched at Night in westerly
direction to near Dallas where we
found Rebels in force. Attacked
them and captured one Brigadier
General and one Lieut. Colonel – the
Brid-Gen'l. Formerly belonged to
The 4^th U. S. [illegible][,] also number
of Prisoners[,] one Ambulance, &c.
very nice day and had much
sport. Foraged Corn & Potatoes[.]
Encamped at night five miles
from Dallas.     Cold night.

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Thursday, October 13-Friday October 14
Moved on the Rebels at Day Light.
Our Brigade mounted and the 7^th
Regt. in advance in the road[.] the other
Bridgs. Dismounted in battle line each
side of road.   Rebes fought will with
Artillery and small arms.  Our Regt. was
ordered to charge with drawn sabers[,] we
flew into the rebel ranks Killing and
capturing their Artillery[,] Sixty Prisoners
and Killing Seventy[.]  Charged on full
run at two [charges?]  fifteen miles
to [illegible] River. Rebels completely
routed [illegible] to near Rome at Dark.
Received a Mail Letters from Home. Shirt[,]
Gloves[,] (Election papers) and Sallie Lukens.
Moved out at light through Rome.
on till after Dark to near Kingston
And then went into camp[.]   Everything
in confusion.     Hard Days march.

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Thursday, October 20
Marched at light on into Alabama
through Gaylesville – six miles west
on the same road[.]  Gen'l Jackson
marched on New Orleans.    Fought
the rebel rear Guard all day.   A
splendid day[,] Birds a singing like a
spring day North.     Rosey and I foraged
Corn Oats Potatoes Honey Chickens
Hog &c. Flour.           Fight with a Woman

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Tuesday, October 25
Our Brigade in Camp all
Day[.]   other Bridge with [illegible]
went with two Days Rations to
attack the Rebels.
                             Gen'l Elliot
Relieved[.]   Our Division ordered to
Reorganize[.]
                              Mail arrived at Dark[.]
Letters and Papers from Home[.]

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Sunday, October 30
Moved out in advance at Light[,] marched
on twenty five miles to home and
encamped North of the city.
                                              Rome Alive
with Soldiers – Thousands of them
three army Corps[.]
                                               Foraged Flour
Dried Apples. Pork and Potatoes[.]
Eve'g Received Mail Letters from Home[.]
Lizzie Barnsley[,] Sallie C. Lukens & papers
From Home.

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