While serving in the Civil War, Sylvenus kept a diary. Following is a copy of a transcription of this diary as appears in Our Family.

May 31, 1864 --- Was this day drafted into the service of the United States service for three
years.
June 14, 1864 --- Left home for Rochester the place of rendezvous, arrived there the afternoon of the 16th and on the following day passed examination and was received.
June 18, 1864 --- Drew our Army clothes.
June 19, 1864 --- Started for Fort Snelling, stayed overnight at the Baptist meeting house of Zumbrota on the Zumbrota river. 20 miles.
June 20, 1864 --- Leave in a heavy thunder shower, stayed overnight at Earl's tavern.
June 21, 1864 --- We cross the river at Cannon Falls, the country is very beautiful but very sandy arrive at F.S., at 3 p.m.
June 24, 1864 --- Went to meeting, 2 companies left, 1 the 21 and one the 24.
June 28, 1864 --- Was detailed to work in the kitchen.
June 29, 1864 --- sick

July 4, 1864 --- Went out to the stone garrison to see the fireworks.
July 7, 1864 --- Leave the kitchen --- rain --- $25.00 Bounty.
July 8, 1864 --- Go to St. Paul and leave for the South, send home $18.00, after a pleasant ride of nearly 3 days arrive at La Cross on the afternoon of the 12th, In the evening leave for Chicago and get a good supper and breakfast furnished by the citizens of Chicago. Leave again in the afternoon and arrive at Lafayette about 12 at night, the region around Lafayette is very handsom [sic] and is good.
July 14, 1964 --- Leave for New Albany, arriving there in the evening and stay there over night.
July 15, 1864 --- Cross over the Ohio river take the cars [railroad] fpr Nashville, almost all the way through Indiana the crops are small, the country is heavy timbered. a great deal of birch, the country is very rough, the harvest is almost cut, arrive at Nashville in the morning of the 15th. We are now in the land of the enemy. The country is heavy timbered, it is quite level and well improved still the crops are light. We passed through 3 tunnels 1 in Kentucky and 2 in Tennessee. The crops in Tennessee are good, the crops are corn and cotton. We see many slaves to work in the fields. Left Nsashville in the evening and arrive at Chattanooga on the morning of the 16th.
July 16, 1864 --- From Nashville, 50 miles south the country is level and the crops look well, from there to Chatanooga the country is very rough, the later part of the way there are hardly no grain and the fences are nearly all gone. On our way we passed through Stevenson, Alabama, left again for Altoona, Gergia on the morning of the 16th and arrived at Altoona Pass in the evening and joined our Regiment. We are now 80 miles in Georgia and 40 from Atlanta. In a an awful mountain country on the southern slope of the Cumberland mountains. We are to gaurd the railroad pass. The cut through the ridge is 98 feet drop and we are entrenched at the top, the depot is at the bottom.
July 17, 1864 --- Building tents.
July 18, 1864 --- Detailed to get lumber, the timber is oak, pine and chestnut, the soil is dark red, the rock, all the edges are soft and of a silver color where it crumbles off the soil.
July 20, 1864 --- Commence drill and receive our arms.
July 23, 1864 --- Have preaching by soldier Moon.
July 26, 1864 --- Get 2 letters from home.
July 27, 1864 --- Heavy firing in front.
July 29-30, 1864 --- Heavy rain.

August 1, 1864 --- Assigned to our companies in the Regiment, I am in Comapny A.
August 4, 1864 --- Get a letter from Anna, Fay is married.
August 7, 1864 --- Detailed to gaurd a drove of cattle to Marietta, distance 20 miles, stood on picket, heavy rain.
August 8, 1864 --- Visit the 2nd Regiment, ride home on the cars at 2 p.m. and receive letter from Mrs. Boyers on the subject of religion.
August 11, 1864 --- Out foraging 8 miles for apples and peaches.
August 12, 1864 --- Receive a letter from home.
August 13, 1864 --- On picket.
August 15, 1864 --- On a scout after the Rebels, get home at 3 in the morning of the 19th.
August 22, 1864 --- Leave camp in pursuit of Wheeler who is raiding in our rear. Slept on top of the cars.
August 23, 1864 --- Change cars and leave for East Tennessee, sleep again on top of the cars.
August 24, 1864 --- Pursue our course on foot, camp in a a fine piece of timber and draw rations.
August 25, 1864 --- March until about noon when we halt and finally turn back 2 miles and camp.
August 26, 1864 --- March back near Athens, halt and watch the movements of the Rebels.
August 27, 1864 --- Pass Athens and Charleston and camp near the railroad.
August 28, 1864 --- Sunday, take the cars for Chatanooga, go 10 miles and run off the track and camp by the cars.
August 29, 1864 --- March 3 miles, get breakfast and again take the cars and arrive in Chattanooga in the evening. Some beautiful farming country in East Tennessee, it abound with good springs, the corn is just right to cook, old corn is $5.00 per bushel.
August 30, 1864 --- Take the cars again for Cowan in middle Tennessee and arrive there in the evening. Cowan is 2 miles north of the Cumberland Mountains.
August 31, 1864 --- March back 2 miles to the great tunnel, I am on picket, the Rebels pass in hearing distance, the boys skirmish with them, my comrade Andrew Anderson, a preacher, becomes deranged.

September 2, 1864 --- March back 4 miles to a stockarde, have plenty apples and peaches. We are right in among the mountains.
September 12, 1864 --- March back again to Cowan, there take the cars for Decherd and camp.
September 13, 1864 --- Take the cars again for Elk River 12 miles from Cowan and stop at a fort. The country around here is pleasant, with many fine orchards.
September 19, 1864 --- Leave again for Chatanooga where we arrive on the evening of the 21st. Stay there 3 days and it rains almost all the time.
September 24, 1864 --- Take the cars again for Altoona, arrive in the evening of the 25th, have been gone 1 month and 3 days.
September 26, 1864 --- Detailed to get lumber cut, 4 miles, tore down a large school house.
September 27, 1864 --- In camp, sign the payroll.
Spetember 28, 1864 --- On picket.
Spetember 30, 1864 --- Out 15 miles after forage.
September 31, 1864 --- On picket.

October 3, 1864 --- Hear that the Rebels are coming.
October 4, 1864 --- Dig in rifle pits.
October 5, 1864 --- At about 3 they attack our pickets, we are all called out, send out skirmishers at 7 they open their batteries on us, after a short time they change positions and swing half way around us and attack us on 3 sides. At about 12 they charge our works. We hold them at bay for some 2 hours, when they are driven from the field at every point leaving about 400 of their killed and wounded on our hands and 200 prisners [sic]. Our loss in killed, wounded and missing was about 700. The Rebels was 7,000 strong, ours about 2,000. Our Regiment captured 2 flags and 100 prisners [sic], at night on picket and it rains. The Rebels leader was French.
October 6, 1864 --- In the morning get a terrible heavy shower, in the afternoon we charge over the mountians but find only one Colonel and a number of wounded. The Army is collecting the dead and wounded.
October 8, 9, and 10, 1864 --- Shermans Army are passing -- after Hood.
Ovctober 13, 1864 --- Shermans carried away our rations for his Army of which we had about 1 1/2 million rations.
October 20, 1964 --- Get three letters.
October 22, 1864 --- Get three more and also are ordered to get ready to leave.
October 25, 1864 --- The Regiment vote for president and gave a majority to Lincoln.
October 31, 1864 --- Mustered for pay.

November 1, 1864 --- The sick and convalescent are sent North.
November 2, 1864 --- It starts to snow.
November 5, 1864 --- On picket, some 25 trains of cars go south to Atlanta, get a letter from home.
November 7, 1864 --- Received 3 months pay and send $35.00 home by the Colonel of the 18th Wisconsin, who is going to forward it by express.
November 12, 1864 --- Break up camp and after burning everything left for Atlanta. March 4 miles and camp, clear and very cool.
November 13, 1864 --- March 16 miles, clear, draw rations.
November 14, 1864 --- March at 6, arrive in Atlanta at 2 p.m. and go into camp. The country around Atlanta is very handsome though quite rolling, the R. R. all tore up and burnt and the iron all twisted, and the houses all burnt. Marietta is a very handsome town but it is nearly all burnt. Atlanta has some grand buildings, it is a large place but that too is burnt.
November 15, 1864 --- Left Atlanta at 10:00 a.m. marched 17 miles and camped in the woods at about 11 o'clock at night.
November 16, 1864 --- Marched at 6 a.m. went 21 miles, marched through McDonough, band playing, and Colors flying, it is a pleasant place though not very large.
November 17, 1864 --- Leave again at 6, march 22 miles, pass some ricj plantations, country very good, everything of value is burnt up, passed throught the village of Jackson.
November 18, 1864 --- Leave again at 5, arrive at the Ocmulgee River in the forenoon cross in the ferry and halt. At 7 p.m. march 3 miles and camp at river, is one large flour mill and one large factory. Plenty of molasses. After taking what they wanted they burnt up the rest. They ran the factory to within 12 hours of our arrival thee it contained some 10,000 yards of government cloth.
November 19, 1864 --- Rains very hard, country very rolling and roqds bad, at night on picket, get lots of eatables and plenty of honey.
November 20, 1864 --- March again at 7, the 15th and 17th Corps march side by side today, we pass Macon to the left and strike the R.R. at Gordon. Our 2nd Division is attacked at Toomsboro which ended in victory for us, with a loss to them of nearly 1,500 killed and wounded and only 80 to us. We stayed over the next day and tore up the R.R. and burnt the depot and the whole town.
November 21, 1864 --- On picket in an excellent Pine region.
November 25, 1864 --- Leave camp at 9, march 15 miles and camp in the town of Irwington, my ankles and feet are very lame and sore.
November 26, 1864 --- Leave camp at daylight, march 12 miles and camp in 2 miles of the Oconee river.
November 27, 1864 --- March 15 miles, the country is very low with some quicksand. In the afternoon the country more rollong, some nice farms, shot 700 mules at the river, the moss covers the trees, sand weed grows all along the river, timber all Pine.
November 28, 29, 1864 --- Rode in the ambulance on account of my feet, go about 30 miles a day.
November 30, 1864 --- But little improved. Pine withour number and beautiful land, very poor all sand except when mixed with some Oak where it is rolling and better. THe weather is beautiful. Draw rations, this is 8 days we have lived on 1 1/2 days rations of bread and coffee. We have met but little opposition yet from the enemy. We are living mostly on the country. We are driving along a large drove of cattle. Sometimes get enough to eat and sometimes go hungry.

December 2, 1864 --- The country very swampy, going from 8 to 12 miles a day, so much corduroying [road building with logs] to be done, some times we go in the roads and sometimes we go for miles through field and swamp and make our own roads.
December 3, 4, 5, 1864 --- The country very low and sandy with many swamps.
December 6, 1864 --- My self and Company are detailed to gaurd the prisners [sic] at Corps head quarters, go there and stay all day.
December 7, 1864 --- March 13 miles to the river Ogeechee, rains all forenoon, in the afternoon pleasant.
December 8, 1864 --- March down the river 15 miles, awful swampy, at night stand gaurd. At 11 our troops charge the Rebels and drive them over the Canooche river.
December 9, 1864 --- In the afternoon we march down anc cross the Canooche, then recross and camp.
December 10, 1864 --- March down the river 5 miles and cross the Ogeechee on pontoons and camp within 11 miles of Savannah. The whole distance 12 miles is most beautiful road and the country handsome. Camp on a large plantation, ahd an abundance of almost everything good to eat.
December 11, 1864 --- In the afternoon we moved camp 2 miles to the right near the railroad on the little Ogeechee, the tide rises here some 6 feet. Timber live oak, pine and cedar. The plantation gardens are decorated with all manner of shrubbery which looks most beautiful. The plantations are very large and mostly given to the raising of rice.
December 12, 1864 --- The Rebels shell our head quarters. They soon sense we have some 230 prisners [sic], heavy firing in our rear.
December 13, 1864 --- Fort McAllister is taken.
December 14, 15, 1864 --- On camp warm and pleasant, 3rd day without rations.
December 16, 1864 --- Exchange 42 prisners [sic] and receive 200 more taken at Fort McAllister. Draw rations.
December 17, 1864 --- Prisners [sic] most all leave.
December 20, 1864 --- Our Armies are commencing to advance, sharp cannon with occasional musketry.
December 21, 1864 --- In the morning all is still. They have all fallen back. At eleven o'clock we are ordered to pack up, leave at 2 p.m., arrive in Savannah at 5, Rebels all gone. They fire a few shots from 2 gunboats lying in the river, then blow up one and burn the other. All the fortifications are evacuated leavinf some 300 cannoin and 30,000 bales of cotton and a large amount of rice in our hands. A number of boats arrive, cold and wintery.
December 22, 1864 --- Took a walk to the river, saw one boat come in and another go out had a pleasant view of the surroundings. Over in South Carolina it is one vast rice field, out to the southeast you can see Fort Jackson, and far beyond the ocean, which is 18 miles distance.
December 30, 1864 --- The prisners [sic] all turned over and we join our Regiment about a mile south of the city.

January 1, 1865 --- Out 16 miles foraging, stay all night.
January 2, 1865 --- Load up with rice and straw and return to camp, freezes quite hard.
January 3, 1865 --- Drill.
January 7, 1865 --- The 15th Corps is reviewed in the streets of Savannah.
January 9, 1865 --- Recieve 20 recruits for the Regiment, 20 for our company.
January 11, 1865 --- Our work is to drill, stand gaurd and work on fortifications.
January 19, 1865 --- Break up camp, cross the Savannah River, rain all day, roads become impossible, go 3 miles and camp on an island.
January 20, 1865 --- Still raining, go to courduroying, at 1 p.m. the water commences overflowing the bottoms, all hands and teams are ordered back to camp, recross the river which we do through mud and rain.
January 21, 1865 --- In camp, rains.
January 22, 1865 --- Rains all afternoon.
January 23, 1865 --- Break camp again, go on transports to Beaufort, go 3 miles and stick on a sand bar and stay all night.
January 24, 1865 --- Leave at daylight, pass Fort Pulaski and go out to sea and out of sight of land, halt at Hilton Head and arrive at Beaufort at 2 p.m., very pleasant ride though quite cold.
January 25, 26, 1865 --- In camp 4 miles west of Beaufort clear and very cold. Timber mostly pine and live oak, land all covered with green briar and prickly pear and the forest is full of birds. The forest is still green though it looks like the fall of the year.
January 28, 1865 --- Go back to Beaufort and go on gaurd in town. It is a handsome place, there is a large oyster bed just across the river. Stroll all around town.
January 29, 1865 --- Camp just out of town, very pleasant. Go to meeting in the afternoon and evening, congrgation mostly soldiers and colored folks.
January 30, 1865 --- We break up camp again and start our Carolina campaign, board river on pontoons, go 19 miles and camp.
January 31, 1865 --- Cross the Charleston and Savannah R.R. at Pulaski, come up with the rest of the Army and camped. We are now 30 miels from Beaufort. We are again in the land of the enemy the Army being all together.

February 1, 1865 --- We again pack up and leave bearing a little west of north, go 12 miles and camp, timber all pine and very swampy. The boys find 2 pounds sigar near camp in the swamp. Here we lose 3 boys, one killed, two wounded.
February 2, 1865 --- On the work of distruction again, cpmmence the buildings and fences, all burnt up, some 8 and 10 buildings all in ashes.
February 3, 1865 --- Employed in front today to feel out the enemy, camped on a plantation, had a good supper, raining, our Regiment the exclusive right of the forage.
February 4, 1865 --- Country very well settled though full of swamps and very sandy. Timber all pine.
February 5, 1865 --- Cross the Combahee River with its lon swamp bottom, camped at 11 a.m., dress parade in the evening after which our Chaplain preached and gave the Lords Supper.
February 6, 1865 --- Marched at 6, to about 8 miles and find the Rebels entrenched opposite a great swamp, two divisions wade through the swamp and drive the Rebels back from their camp, all cross over go 2 miles and camp, rains all night.
February 7, 1865 --- Still rains very hard and very cool. March 7 miles and camp by the Agusta and Charleston R.R. 10 miles west of Branchville.
February 8, 1865 --- To work tearing up and burning the railroad, the road is very poor.
February 9, 1865 --- Move camp 7 miles west. Freezes all day and snows, some clearing off at night.
February 10, 1865 --- To work destroying the R.R. which was done by burning the ties, heating the iron the twisting it which was done by two strong leaver hooks. Move camp 4 miles north and camp.
February 11, 1865 --- Cross the Editso River, country little rolling and pleasant, march 16 miles.
February 12, 1865 --- March at daylight, the Rebels oppose pur crossing the north Edisto but we suceed in crossing on the evening. The wind blows very hard and very cold.
February 13, 1865 --- March at 6:30, march 18 miles toward Columbia, have very sore feet, quite cold, country more rolling and roads good.
February 14, 1865 --- Rains and freezes almost all the afternoon and night, country quite rolling, the water is good, considerable oak.
February 15, 1865 --- Stopped by the Rebels, skirmish with them awhile, camp within 7 miles of Columbia, rains and very wet, camp about 12 at night.
February 16, 17, 1865 --- March at 7, awful muddy, we are now moving on Columbia, Sherman is concentrating his forces, the day is pleasant, we stop in plain view open on the city with artuillary, move again at dark and camp on an island opposite the city, camp at 2 in the morning. This morning skirmishing, the boys cross on pontoon boats, skirmish clear into the city. the main Army Rebels move out as we went in tonight and this morning I should think two thirds of the city is burnt up. I am left behind last night and with the teams because of my feet.
February 18, 1865 --- Cross over today and join the Regiment, the city is a doleful sight, enter the city, pass on the other side, camp 1 1/2 miles out at 11 a.m.
February 19, 1865 --- In the afternoon, go back to the city, the whole Regiment, and break and destroy small arms and artillery. The Regiment go back and this morning to finish, while unloading the shells, they take fire and explode killing a number, though none of our Regiment. I am left in camp and go to meeting.
February 20, 1865 --- Again we strike tents and move north, march 18 miles, timber pine and scrub oak, white sand like snow drifts all over the ground.
February 21, 1865 --- Country better this aftenoon, in the evening we cross the Wateree River and camp on the bank of the river.
February 22, 1865 --- Today we capture a Rebel commisseray with consideralbe stores without firing a gun.
February 23, 1865 --- We are in good country though very rolling, pass through the town of Liberty Hill where we made a halt and replenished our commissary.
February 24, 1865 --- Country more level and sandy, capture a Rebel wagon train, 16 wagons, 320 mules, and 4,400 negroes and some whites, besides about 30 fine horses, camp 16 miles from Camden.
February 25, 1865 --- In camp, 2 Rebels are captured and shot in retaliation, on gaurd tonight, thunder and rain.
february 26, 1865 --- Pleasant and warm, camp at Lynches Creek
February 27, 28, 1865 --- In camp.

March 1, 1865 --- In camp fixing the bridge, water very high and the creek is some 1 1/2 miles wide, very short rations.
March 2, 1865 --- March at 4 p.m., cross the creek and go 7 miles, camp at 9 in the evening.
March 3, 1865 --- Country very poor, all white sand and no water, camp at dusk, march 28 miles.
March 4, 1865 --- March at 7, stop at 11, for hours parched corn about all we have, march again, very muddy, go 6 miles, pass through Cheraw on the Great Peedee, draw 2 1/2 crackers, on gaurd.
March 5, 1865 --- Leave without breakfast, go 2 miles, cross the river, go 3 miles and camp. Today we have plenty of rations, plantations large and Rebels leave a great deal, very muddy.
March 6, 1865 --- In camp, the company almost all out foraging, find an abundance of wine and bacon. The Army at Cheraw destroy a large amount of cotton, guns and ammunition, Rebels all leave on our approach.
March 7, 1865 --- Go 10 miles and camp on a large stream, we are near the border of North Carolina. The country is very handsom [sic] and well cultivated and well settled, great place for turpentine.
March 8, 1865 --- March 11 miles, rains all day, very muddy.
March 9, 1865 --- At noon get a heavy thunder shower and rains hard all afternoon, detailed to get the wagons out of the mud, Work until 3 in the morning, mud and water in abundance.
March 10, 1865 --- Finish corduroying and get the rest of the wagons out of the mud and then leave. Cross the Little Peedee, go 10 miles beyond and camp.
March 11, 1865 --- Country almost all swamp, great country for turpentine.
March 12, 1865 --- In the afternoon cross an awful swamp and a stream of water, afternoon pleasant. Camp within 2 miles of Fayetteville.
March 13, 1865 --- In camp rest of the day, here we send away about 1,100 negroes from our Corps, a good part being women and children. They embark for Wilmington, besides many whites.
March 14, 1865 --- Go through town, cross the river Cape Fear and camp.
March 15, 1865 --- March 10 miles, raining very hard, leave all most all the wagon train, the swamps are full of water, so now we get a change, water then mud, mud then water, camped about 11 o'clock.
March 16, 1865 --- March 8 miles, rains all day, roads same as yesterday, in the evening it rains and blows very hard.
March 17, 1865 --- March 8 miles, clears off, country very well and level and very swampy.
March 18, 1865 --- March 10 miles, country better, some nice plantations.
March 19, 1865 --- Very good country, good foraging, firing in oru rear as we go into camp, change camps 3 times, the third time entrenched ourselves and lay down.
March 20, 1865 --- Still firing, the Rebels attack and drive back the 14th Corps near Bennetsville, the 15th Corps is ordered to reinforce them we move back 10 miles and engage them, we are held in reserve, move still nearer in the evening sharp firing.
March 21, 1865 --- Firing still continues, we entrench ourselves and lay in camp, the Rebels make many charges but are everywhere driven back, some charges in the night.
March 22, 1865 --- This morning all firing ceases, we learn the Rebels have all gone, lay in camp all day, we are 20 miles from Goldsboro.
March 23, 1865 --- Leave camp, march 11 miles, the wind rises and the sand blows like snow in mid winter. The peach, cherry and plum trees are in blossom.
March 24, 1865 --- Today we cross the Nuce River, pass through Goldsboro in review, go into camp and Sherman says we shall rest, and we need it, for we are Tired, dirty, ragged and lousy being 54 days since we left Beaufort, many of the men are barefoot and have been for a long time, having scarcely no soap and constantly wading through mud and water and almost every day on the march. We look pretty hard up and our looks did not misrepresent us a great dealm still there was but little complaining. We emerge out of the wilderness as it were and are greatly refreshed. Here we get letters from home which greatly cheers the boys, also papers, so we learn something of what has been going on, in these 54 days we have marched about 500 miles, the enemy has everywhere fled before the Army, the soldiers have suffered a great deal, but I feel little compared with the inhabitants we have left in our rear, they will suffer.

April 1, 1865 --- We have here a most beautiful camp, the ground handsome and sandy and lays quite high, we are well fortified. Drill some, dress parade and on gaurd duty thus we spend the time from March 24 to April 10. We make our camp look like a city, with the streets and alleys all beautifully shaded with Pine and Cedar.
April 10, 1865 --- Again do we pack up and leave for the Rebels, start off in a N.E. direction and go in a circuitous route, cross the railroad at Likeville, commence raining, apple trees in blossom, country very level.
April 11, 1865 --- Country more dry, pass through Lowell and camp 16 miles North of Smithfield. Timber still all Pine and country full of swamps, and hear that Lee has surrendered and was received with a hearty cheer.
April 12, 1865 --- The country toward right better, some Oak with clay and gravel.
April 13, 1865 --- This morning we hear the roar of artillary in front, march 9 miles without halting, cross the Neuce River and camp 6 miles from Raleigh. Here we lear the Rebels have all left.
April 14, 1865 --- Today we pass through Raleigh, the capitol of North Carolina. The 15th Corps passed through in the form of review, go 1 1/2 miles beyond and camp.
April 15, 1865 --- Start again for Johnston, go 1 mile, rains awful hard, halt and draw rations, stay some 2 hours, news comes that Johnston has surrendered, turn and march back to camp, glad days.
April 16, 1865 --- Sunday, attend Bible class, clear and pleasant.
April 18, 1865 --- Visit the Lunatic Asylum, it is a handsome building 4 stories high, 538 feet long, 180 inmates, it stands a little S.W. of the city.
April 20, 1865 --- The labor, the common routine of camp life.
April 23, 1865 --- Sunday, the weather quite warm with showers.
April 24, 1865 --- Quite cold.
April 25, 1865 --- Tuesday, General Grant reviews our camp, he was received with cheer anfter cheer through the encampment, a number of recruits arrive for the Regiment.
April 26, 1865 --- We enjoy an excellent prayer meeting.
April 27, 1865 --- Greneral Smith leaves us, he goes to Memphis. Our Regiment this evening forms into procession, march all through the city by torch light.
April 28, 1865 --- Break camp and leave for Ricjmond, go 10 miles, cross the Neuce River camp and stay over Sunday.
April 29, 1865 --- Stay in camp and have meetings.

May 1, 1865 --- March at sunrise, go 24 miles, the country quite rolling today we cross the Tar River.
May 2, 1865 --- March again at daylight, go 32 miles see oats in the head, timber mostly oak with groves of pine, pass through a shady grove.
May 3, 1865 --- March at daylight, go 24 miles, camp on the bank of Roanoke River, it is a rich country, people mostly at home. Many are the blessings bestowed on us today by the blacks, scenes I shall never forget.
May 4, 1865 --- Late in the evening we cross the river and go 10 miles and camp near the Meherrin Riverm from the Roanoke to the Meherrin the country os very beautiful.
May 5, 1865 --- Cross the meherrin and camp near Nottoway, distance 28 miles. The country very rolling and poor timber, pine and scrub oak.
May 6, 1865 --- Cross the Nottoway, go 20 miles, camp at Stony Creek, timber nearly all pine, level and swampy.
May 7, 1865 --- All the forenoorn getting out of the swamp, go 18 miles and camp near Petersburg, 5 miles South is where Grant held the Weldon Railroad. The country around here is level and handsome, our camp is on a Rebel campground.
May 8, 1865 --- In camp, wonder over the Rebel defences. THe country is level and dry and but for the desolation caused by the war it would be a beautiful and wealthy country.
May 9, 1865 --- Break camp and start for Ricjmond, cross the Appomattox River and go 12 miles and camp, rains on the great turnpike, go from Petersburg to Richmond, camp where General Butler fought his great battle to get possession of the railway.
May 10, 1865 --- March at 6 a.m., go within 1 mile of Ricjmond, go down to Winchister and strowl [sic] around and see the fortifications, Sheridan's Calvery passes, about 12,000.
May 11, 1865 --- On account of my lameness I am sent to the convalescent camp. We have a hard storm of wind and rain, the water makes us move the camp in the night 4 killed by lightening in their tents.
May 12, 1865 --- Break camp again, pass through Winchister, cross the james River on pontoons, go down to the warf and take the boat for Alexandria, pass through Fort Darling, aweigh and cast anchor and stay all night.
May 13, 1865 --- Arrive at Cty Point at 9 change boats and leave at 10 a.m. This is a Military point the river here is very large, pass New Port news and Fort Monroe at sunset. Calm and pleasant.
May 14, 1865 --- At daybreak arrive at the mouth of the Potomac, pass mount Vernon, Washington's residence, and Fort Washington and arrive at Alexandria about 12 o'clock, Pass through the city go 2 miles and camp and wait for the Corps which march through.
May 15, 1865 --- Take a walk and get a fir view of Washington and Alexandria, Sheridan's Calvary passes, get reading at the Christian Cornish which is very exceptable, meeting 3 times a day and they attend with great interest.
May 16, 1865 --- Very warm and showery, go where we please only in the city, come when we please. no gaurd and no camp duty.
May 17, 1865 --- Walk out to see the country, it is quite rolling and abounds with spring but no fences in all the region. The appearance of the women as those of the north both in dress and appearance.
May 18, 1865 --- In camp have it very pleasant.
May 21, 1865 --- Join my regiment and receive 3 letters.
May 22, 1865 --- Go down to town and get some bread, wqrm and showery, anything in the shape of light goes well with the boys.
May 23, 1865 --- Pack up again, in the afternoon we move up the opposite Washington and camp at 6 p.m. We tear up and cross the long bridge. 1 1/2 miles long, pass through the heart of the city and camp in plain view of the Capitol
May 24, 1865 --- The Army is Sherman is being received, the 14, 15, 17, 20th Corps. The day is beautiful and the sight is grand. I stay with the boy's knapsacks in camp, go up and view the Capitol, go around it, it is a beautiful building all white marble, see the troops pass, return and go into camp 4 miles S.W. of the city.
May 25, 1865 --- Draw rations, draw a number of good things such as dried apples and onions, was just such things a soldier wanted.
May 26, 29, 1865 --- In camp and on gaurd.
May 31, 1865 ---Pack up again and take the cars for Louisville, go within 10 miles of baltimore, then take the Ohio railway for parkersburg. it is a handsome and fertile country till we get well towards Harpers Ferry when it is very broken, on out way we pass Point of Rocks Maryland heights. harpers Ferry is on a small bottom surrounded with high bluffs so we go right on up the Potomac until it is but a spring.

June 2, 1865 --- Brook stop and breakfast at Cumberland, here we see coal in abundance, from here to parkersburg it is all mountains over high prepices and through tunnels, one 3/4 of a mile long, arrive at parkersburg at 7 a.m. and take boat for Louisville, Kentucky.
June 3, 1865 --- The weather is delightful arrive at Cincinnati at 9 o'clock in the evening all the way the inhabitants manifested their unbounded joy by waving flags and handkerchiefs from almostmevery house and upon the river banks.
June 4, 1865 --- This morning we tie up by the bank an get our breakfast, dense for, arrive at Louisville at 1 p.m. and go into camp just east of the city, very pleasant camp and good spring water.
June 10, 1865 --- In camp the boys are getting very discontented almost all out of money and no pay nor go home, boys hungry for a change, but enough brought to camp but nothing to buy with.
June 14, 1865 --- About half the Regiment stack arms and refuse to quiet until paid.
June 15, 1865 --- The Regiment get paid 8 months pay and glad boys are we, some of the boys are under arrest.
June 17, 1865 --- Sent $100 home and spend the day wandering over the city.
June 20, 185 --- Detailed to take care of David Wollford who is sick with the measles.

July 4, 1865 --- Today we hold the celebration of the 4th in camp Co. A enjoy a grand dinner, our chaplain and adjutant chaplain and lieutentant dine with us. In the evening we go to head quarters 1st Division and hear a speach from General William T. Sherman which is his farewell address to us which we listened to with interst and will not soon forget by those who heard him. The day passed all quiet and was well enjoyed by all. Very warm day.
July 6, 1865 --- Receive orders to all be mustered out of service immediately, weather very warm.
July 10, 1865 --- On camp gaurd.
July 13, 1865 --- Go berrying and see resivoir, the water that supplies the city, it was a handsome view.
July 15, 1865 --- Go see the waterworks about a mile from camp, the building and machinery are really worth seeing.
July 16, 1865 --- On gaurd and it rains almost all day very hard and get a letterr from home.
July 19, 1865 --- Rains hard almost all forenoon, at 5 p.m. we are mustered out of the service.
July 20, 1865 --- Leave camp at 3 p.m. for Fort Snellign, leave Jeffersonville at dark on the cars.
July 21, 1865 --- Arrive Indianapolis at 8 in the morning, had a heavy shower in the afternoon, pass Logansport in the evening.
July 22, 1865 --- Arrive at Chicago in the morning go to the soldiers home and get breakfast, leave again at 11:30 go to Milwaukee and get supper, get a speech from the mayor and another man, leave at dark.
July 23, 1865 --- Arrive at LaCross at 11 p.m. take the boat for St. paul, at 1 p.m. stop at Winona.
July 24, 1865 --- Stop at Prescott at the mouth of the St. Crois river and again at hastings and arrive at St. paul at 6 evening, go and take supper, speech by mayor and govenor, ahd a grand supper and had a pleasant time.
July 25, 1865 --- In camp at the Fory, send my things back to LaCross and send a leter home.
July 27, 1865 --- Visit the Minnahaha Falls it is a beautiful scenery.

August 1, 1865 --- Rains, settle up and get my pay $4.85.
August 2, 3, 4, 1865 --- Rains very hard almost all night and forenoon, next day clear and pleasant, next day visit the falls.
August 6, 1865 --- Went 3 1/2 miles on the road to Minneapolis to Sunday school meetine.
August 7, 1865 --- Went down to St. Paul and get our discharge and are paid off, take passage to LaCross.

The last entry in the diary was August 8, 1865 where he states that he arrived at LaCross at 11 a.m. crossed the river at 2 p.m., put up at the valley house 4 miles west of Hokah and from there to Canton to where his home and family were waiting. He kept track of the miles he covered while in the armny and it came to 4,760, this includes the travel by rail and water as well. The majority of the miles were of course traveled on foot. For instance he mentions chasing Wheeler through Tennessee and down to Savannah --- 850 miles.

History of the Minnesota 4th Regiment
http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unmninf1.htm

note: only listed for time Sylvenus served

July 5-6 1864: Garrison duty at Altoona until November 1864
October 5, 1864: Battle of Altoona
November 15 - December 10, 1864: March to the sea
December 10-21, 1864: Siege of Savannah, Georgia
January - April 1865: Campaign of the Carolinas
February 2-5, 1865: Salkehatchie Swamps, South Carolina
February 9, 1865: South Edisto River
February 12-13, 1865: North Edisto Rover
February 15-17, 1865: Columbia, South Carolina
March 3, 1865: Cheraw
March 19-21, 1865: Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina
March 24, 1865: Occupation of Goldsboro
April 10-14, 1865: Advancing on Raliegh, with occupation os same on the 14th
April 26, 1865: Bennett's House - Surrender of Johnston and his Army
April 29-May 20, 1865: March to Washington, DC
May 24, 1865: Grand Review
June 2-3, 1865: Moved to Louisville, Kentucky
June 3- July 19, 1865: Louisville, Kentucky
July 19, 1865: Mustered out
August 7, 1865: Discharged from service at St. Paul. MN

Sylvenus Allen