American Historical Ephemera and Photography Online

58 loose pages from an 1861 pocket diary utilized by Private Elisha Oaks Drake (1821-1901), Company C, from May 1863 - July 1863 in a regular diary entry format, then used for writing three letters home dating to 30 July 1863, 3 August 1863, and 4 August 1863. Entries convey the movements and activities of the regiment as part of the Gettysburg Campaign and include references to Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, though no mention of the battle. Loose pages housed in a custom cloth and board wrap which resides in a matching slip case, together 4 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. (loose pages with light soil and toning, and utilized in non-sequential order from the 1861 diary). Diary pages are accompanied by a group of 6 letters written by Drake to his wife Zibeah French Drake (1812-1892) and their daughter, spanning October 1864 - May 1865.
Diary and letters contain references to the Battle of Peeble's Farm, the closing campaigns of the war, Booth's death, Davis's capture, and the Grand Review.

Drake's diary includes interesting anecdotes, discussion of Confederate guerillas, reports of marches, cannonading, skirmishes, debilitating heat and lack of water, and much more. An entry in early May indicates the source for his loose pages: "These leaves were taken from a book that was found where one of the Regts left that went home... gave to me by Corporal Richards...." Sample diary content includes: 20 June 1863, "Our field officers are all sick. Lieut Col and Major is sick this morning. We are in poor shape to go into a fight." -- 22 June 1863, "We started Sunday morning about 2' o clock A.M. and followed the Reb cavalry all day and fought them as we went. We drove into Harrisburg Gap and left them for the night. We hold gap. There was not many killed on either side. After they started we keep them going until night. It was a cavalry fight mostly." -- 23 July 1863, "Marched this morning at sunrise. Marched all day. Went to Manassas Gap found the Rebs at that place and had skirmish with them. Moved a peace and stopped for the night. No rations. Nothing to eat or drink but raw coffee. This is the ruffest country I ever saw."

Sample letter content includes: 4 October 1864, following the Battle of Peeble's Farm (September 30) during which the regiment led a charge on the enemy's works, suffering heavy casualties, "...our Corps has made another swing to the left and on the extreme right of Lee['s] line we left camp last Saturday marched some 3 three miles drove in the Rebs Pickets our Brigade charged the enemies works and carried them by storm and still hold them. But we lost pretty heavy in doing ... our Regt lost 65 in killed and wounded...." -- 15 October 1864, from "Camp near Popular [sic] Grove Church Va," written on Drake's birthday, as he contemplates his service and discusses regimental news, including excitement about the election and his plan to vote for Lincoln. -- 22 January 1865, from "Camp near Petersburgh Va," with news of the taking of Fort Fisher. --
2 April 1865, written from "Division Hospital," shares news of Union advances, then continues in pencil on 5th April as the 20th regiment participates in the Appomattox Campaign, excitement is palpable as he relays news of Lee's army in retreat and Sheridan's capture of Pickett's division, stating "We have had a very hard march.... We are now on the Danville RR expect to see some enemy movement we captured 7 battle flags this morning. Mules and horses and Negrows in any quantity I wish you could see how pleased the Negrows seem to be." -- 29 April 1865, written from "Camp near South side RR Va," not feeling well, guarding a road for the last week, with news of the ongoing and final days of the war, "My hand has got about well now although not quite all healed up but is doing well.... We hear too that Booth the man that killed Lincoln has been shot near or at Front [?] Royal and also that his accomplices were shot trying to cross the Picket lines...." -- 14 May 1865, from "Camp near Washington" sharing news of the forthcoming review of troops, the capture of Jeff Davis and his staff, and the extreme heat they endured passing through Richmond during which "a good many dropped down dead."

[With:] Research related to Drake's service and that of the 20th Maine, auction listings from previous sales of the lot, and a typed transcription of the diary pages.

Elisha Oaks Drake was 41 years old when he enlisted as a private on 8/29/2862 at Livermore, Maine. He was mustered into Co. C of the Maine 20th Infantry, a regiment most famous for its defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg and the heroism of is commander Col. Joshua Chamberlain. Though the report of the Maine Gettysburg Commission does list Drake as a participant in the battle at Gettysburg, his exploits there are not detailed in the diary pages offered here and remain seemingly unknown. Over the course of the war, the 20th was engaged at Shepherdstown, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, and Petersburg, among others. After serving the duration of his enlistment, Drake returned to Maine, living there until his death in 1901.