Diary, 1864

This collection contains the Civil War diary of Captain Daniel A. Lowber of Company A, 37th Wisconsin Infantry. The diary entries commence with July 25, 1864, with Lowber apparently in transit to his regiment after a temporary furlough. He joins the regiment the day after the Battle of the Crater and takes command on August 1, noting that his new command has only 18 men fit for duty. In daily entries spanning the next five months, Lowber mentions frequent picket and fatigue duty and notes his routine administrative duties as well. He also mentions trading papers with a Confederate soldier between the lines, his living quarters, church services, news of Sheridan's victories in the Shenandoah Valley, the regiment's tally in the 1864 presidential election, and Thanksgiving. Lowber also describes actions during several battles, including perhaps most significantly the Battle of Peeble's Farm. The diary entries cease with December 31, 1864.