Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for Advanced up the valley today. –Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

Advanced up the valley today. –Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

October 29, 2012

Diary of a Young Officer–Josiah Marshall Favill (57th New York Infantry)

October 29th. The corps did not commence crossing until to-day. At 4 P. M. our division struck tents, and at five o’clock were en route. We crossed the Potomac with rather heavy hearts, and advanced directly up the valley, skirting along the mountain’s base; marched six miles, and then halted, and bivouacked on the north side of Key’s Pass. As soon as the troops were placed in position, I rode back to Harper’s Ferry with General Meagher and an escort, to get my teeth put in order by a dentist, a friend of Captain La Valley, the acting brigade commissary. My teeth lately have been very troublesome, and as we are constantly exposed I thought the present chance too good to be overlooked. I put up with La Valley, who is a bon vivant as well as a good commissary, and enjoyed a pleasant evening with a crowd of friends.

Previous post:

Next post: