Hello and happy summer, dear readers! Welcome back to another post of transcripts from the George F. Parry Civil War diaries (George F. Parry family volumes, Collection 3694). If you're just joining us, several months ago, 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, 1863-1865, 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.

*****

It's June 1863, the month when George Parry parted from his friends and family to join the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. Parry's entries this month are mostly lengthy and very detailed. He received his appointment as the cavalry's veterinary surgeon at the beginning of the month, and he was in Tennessee with the army by the end of the month. In between these moments, Parry's diaries entries reflect a certain sort of calm and methodology. He appeared very comfortable with the appointment, he went about the mustering process with seeming ease, and he traveled without incident.

---

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.

---

Friday, June 5
James Palmer – Suppoena from
Esq. Martindale on base at
Allteboro. Trenton with Moses
Paxson in afternoon[.] Eve met
a number of ladies at Roses
the two Miss Armetages[,] Anna
and Sue of Danville, Ky. They
live now at New Brunswick
N.J. a pair of splendid
girls---
           Letter from Seventh Penn.
Cav. with the appointment of vet.

*****

Sunday, June 7
Moses Paxson and me left home 6
o'clock and arrived in Phila at 11 o'clock[.]
Took dinner at the Merchants House
Started for Pottsvile at 3:15 P.M.[,] arrived
their at at 7:30 P.M.  Stopped at the
Penn. Hall. Called on Col. Wynkoop
who appointed me Vet. Sur. to seventh
Penn. Cavalry as soon as mustered
in. Had a very nice time at the
Col. Wynkoops.

*****

Saturday, June 13
in Phila. David Leedom and I went
down to Guard House at 8 o'clock.
Met Joseph Ely and Mr. Russels who
Paid Eky the Draft money. Attended
the House Beggar. I called at the
Grand Masonic Lodge and got
a Blank form to fill up so I can
get a certificate. Came home from
Phila. then started Mother and I
For Unkle Geo. [illegible]. I went to Doylest[own]
And arrived ay Geo. [illegible] at [illegible]

*****

Thursday, June 18
Met Col. Wynkoop at Reading
leave Phila. ay 8 o'clock – counter-
manded + Rebels leave the State.

Called on Ed. Brickman and
took Glass of Wine and some
cherries & strawberries
Settled with Geo. Buckman
Aaron Rose upset
Eve took Miss Taylor to Miss
Puffs
        Rainy

*****

Monday, June 22
Met Col. Geo. P. Wynkoop at
Reading. Bid good by to Phila.
arrived in Reading [^] fare 3.30 met Col. Wynkoop
then Proceded to Harrisburg where
I was mustered in the service as
Vet Surgeon to 7 Penn. Cavalry
Wrote a letter home
stopped at Brady House

*****

Thursday, June 25
Louisville House Ky[.] Wrote a
Letter to Phebe Parry to send paper
to Jack Janney. Attended Sale of
Horses and mules at the Louisville
Race course[,] about 12000 Horses
their.         Oakland race course
Condemned Gov. Horses and mules
Sold for one to thirty dollars
Some sold very low

*****

Monday, June 29
City Hall Nashville
Paid my bill 10.00 three day [illegible]
Arrived in Camp at Mufre[e]sboro
At 12 o'clock[.] took dinner with
Capt. Jennings & Col. Wynkoop
the union army moving to Shelbyville
21 miles south of Mufresboro
I am to answer to Company Capt.
Jennings. Spent the Eve playing
Eucre with Col. Wynkoop[,] Capt. Jennings[,]
Lut. Schuyler of Reg Army.