John C. Grover Civil War journal

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0097-Item 0032

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

This journal was owned by Private John C. Grover of the Massachusetts 17th Infantry and chronicles his experiences fighting in the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Grover's journal contains frequent, autograph entries chronicling his experiences as a Union soldier in the Civil War from September 18, 1861, to July 27, 1865. Entries are short, but they provide information on troop movements, battles (occurring in North Carolina), orders, Grover's pay, the supplies he received, his daily activities, and news from other regiments. He also mentioned many soldiers dying of fever.

At the beginning of his journal, in September 1861, Grover and his regiment were stationed in Baltimore, Maryland. Grover reported that he joined the Sons of Temperance while in the city. On March 27, he took the steamer Star of the South to North Carolina. He remained in the eastern part of the state during most of the war, marching between New Bern, Plymouth, Pollocksville, Kinston, Goldsboro, and other towns near the Trent River.

In the entry for December 17, 1862, Grover wrote about the Battle of White Hall, which he called "Gasvill." On April 18, 1863, he fought in the Battle of Washington. From May 12 to August 27 of 1863, Grover took ill and remained in the hospital.

On February 1, 1864, Grover participated in a major encounter with the Rebel troops near New Bern. He returned to Massachusetts on leave in September of 1864. An illness prevented him from returning to New Bern until January of 1865.

From March 8 to 10, Grover fought in the battle of Wyse Fork, near Kinston, North Carolina. On April 12, he learned of General Robert E. Lee's surrender. On April 26, he learned of the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnson. The regiment then began its long journey home. According to the last entry, Grover received his final pay in Readville, Massachusetts, on July 27, 1865.

It is possible that Grover's journal has been recopied. The volume has been covered in brown paper bearing a picture of a handshake with two American flags and the head of George Washington under the word "UNION." There is also a glossy seal with a picture of a dog head and the motto "Superior Vulcanized Elastic Web."

Dates

Creation: 1861-1865

Creator

Grover, John C. (John Charles), 1844-1903 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Biographical Note

John C. Grover was from Melrose, Massachusetts. He fought for the Union during the American Civil War, serving as a private in companies K and A of the Massachusetts 17th Infantry Regiment. During the war, he sent most of his pay home to his parents. After the war, he married Annie Grover (maiden name unknown).

Grover served from 1861 until the war ended in 1865. For the majority of the war, he remained in North Carolina. The major battles he was involved in include White Hall (December 16, 1862), Washington (March 30 to April 20, 1863), and Wyse Fork (March 7 to 10, 1865).

National Park Service. "John C. Grover." Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm (accessed November 20, 2007).National Park Service. "CWSAC Battle Summaries." American Battlefield Protection Program. http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/bystate.htm (accessed November 20, 2007).