Note: Transcript only. The original diary remains in the possession of the family.

Biographical Note: Erastus Holmes was born in Warrant County, Ohio in 1832. During the Civil War, he fought for the Union Army in Company F, 5th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry serving as a quartermaster sergeant. He died in Indianapolis in 1910.

Scope and Content: Transcript of a diary and memoir written by Erastus Holmes about his time as a solider during the Civil War. The first portion of the manuscript contains his diary, dated July - November 1864. He describes troop movements through Georgia, battles, being a prisoner of war at Andersonville prison, hope for a prisoner exchange, death and sickness, lack of food and rations, prison conditions, buying and trading food with Confederate guards, and overall camp conditions. The second half contains Holmes' memoir of the Civil War, written ca. 1870. He reflects on his initial excitement of going to war and the lack of glory in war, his enlistment, details of battles, his capture by Confederate soldiers, and his eventual home coming. Holmes also reflects on the deaths of his fellow soldiers, his time as a prisoner of war, and the misery and human suffering he witnessed.

Creator

• Holmes, Erastus

Subject

• United States. Army. Indiana Cavalry Regiment, 5th (1862-1865)

• Andersonville Prison

• Prisoners of war

• United States History Civil War, 1861-1865

Publisher

• Hanover College

Language

• English

Identifier

• SC79_Diary

Keyword

• Hanover College, Erastus Holmes Diary and Memoir, SC 76

Date created

• 1864

Resource type

• Book

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/