[This internet edition transcribed from an edition compiled and printed by Edwin Fitzgerald Charles and John Elwood Charles at the Middleburg Post, 1969.

Some spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected since they appear to originate as typos in the 1969 printing. Words which I have inserted for clarity appear in brackets - John Neitz, 2000]

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FORWARD (1969)

The Civil War called thousands of men to arms. They came from the South fighting to retain a possession and from the North to fight for human freedom. It was a unique struggle in that many times friends and relatives found themselves in pitched battle against one another.

This narrative is the story of one of these brave men who served three enlistments, during which he took part in seventeen battles and skirmishes. As a soldier he was poorly trained, he had only meager education, but he had keen observation and by daily entries in his diary he has made it possible for the reader to feel some of the humor, horror and sufferings of those who volunteered and were called to put down the rebellion.

Henry Fitzgerald Charles

Civil War Record

1862-1865

FIRST ENLISTMENT: --13^th day of September 1862. Discharged September 29^th, 1862. Company D, 18th Volunteer Militia. Discharged at Harrisburg, Pa.

SECOND ENLISTMENT: --Enlisted 22^nd day of October 1862. Discharged 31^st day of July 1863. Company A, 172nd Draftee Militia. Discharged at Harrisburg, Pa.

THIRD ENLISTMENT: --Enlisted 23^rd day of February 1864. Discharged at Lynchburg, Va. 8^th day of July 1865 by order of the War Department. Company C, 21^st Regt. Pennsylvania Cavalry. Transferred to 182 Regt, while in line duty.