Memories from a Civil War Soldier

James F. Overholser wrote a journal entry that he labeled “Extracts from a Diary of a Private Soldier in the War of the Rebellion.” This diary looks back on the events of the Civil War, but the author also recalled events from much earlier in his life. This excerpt seemed like it was going to be about just the war and the hardships the author faced, but it began at his birth and progressed from there. He was born in Preble County, Ohio in 1840. He begins the entry by saying the diary was written after the events he described, and although some time had passed between the events and his retelling, he believed that his memories were stronger with time, which is a common question for historians, public and academic. He recounts his childhood in which he delves into details that seem unimportant for a story about the Civil War. He goes into depth about the life he lived as a child. When he was young his family moved to the territory of Iowa. His family moved to the largest trading post which would become Iowa City. There were no schools or churches. The author actually said, “…schools and churches existed only in the minds of our parents.” This would mean that they were probably among the first settlers in the area, he mentioned that once more settlers arrived schools and churches began pop up and there began to be songs of Indians and “praises of God.” He mentions education and church quite a bit when he is describing his childhood. He said he had a common school education and he joined the war at 21. He joined the union because Lincoln called for 300,000 more men and he and twenty other men joined the army from his town.

"Extracts from a Diary of a Private Soldier in the War of the Rebellion," MS-5, James F. Overholser Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University

Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.