Personal Papers of Major Milton Mills
Excerpts from the Diaries
1857 - 1864
doc #diaries

Web Author's Notes:
The following excerpts were transcribed from the original documents and reflect information exactly as it was written. Information listed which is suspected in error or for which transcription was difficult is shown in red.

Major Mills' diaries were obviously not extensive. Most of the writing is in faded pencil and the handwriting is rather poor. The diaries contain numerous names and addresses of acquaintances of Major Mills and of his personal accounts. One diary contains a number of photos of officers of the 16th OVI.
Capt Ash elected May 1st 1857 - Muskingum Rangers

(Dec 29th)
Sixteenth charged the enemies works and was repulsed on the 29th Dec 1862.

30th of Dec 1862
was ordered to fork up all the money we had

Vicksburg Prison
The prison was used for a work shop staff? formerly for Negroes, has four rooms about fourteen by sixteen. We have one hundred and thirty three men in here. The Building is inclosed with a brick wall about sixteen feet high.

Milton Mills was taken prisoner at or near Vicksburgh Dec 29 1862. Taken to Vicksburgh. Marched seven miles and landed in prison at 6-o-clock AM. Was ???? from heavy rain that fell in the evening. Went into the cell with six other officers. No bed nor blankets or anything to eat. Got some (food) and sugar. Second night was called at 12-o-clock m and marched ???? to the South into the interior of State of Mississippi. Drew rations of beef and rice ????.

Dec 31st
New Years Eve

January 1st, 1863
Rations came about 12-noon. Boys very hungry. Nothing but ???? and bread.

(January) 2nd
Rations - bread, beef and molasses

(January) 3rd
Rations - bread and beef. Raining very hard all day.

January 5th 1863
Bought in Vicksburg major
4 loaves of bread $2.00
4 pounds Butter8.00
6 pounds Pork6.00
Peanuts 5 pounds8.00
Salt qtr pound1.00

(1864 notations)
Left Indianola Texas Feb 23rd
Left New Orleans Feb 29th
arrived at Key West Florida Feb ???
Left Key West Feb 7th, 1864


Contained in a pocket of the large diary are photographs of the following officers:
Col. John F. DeCourcy
Lt. Col. Philip Kershner
Major Milton Mills
Capt. Richard W. Tanneyhill
Capt. Eli W. Botsford
Capt. George W. Stein
Capt. Cushman Cunningham
Capt. William Dorsey
Lieut. Bob Howell
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