Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Saturday, August 17, 1861

Officers and Squad drill in the forenoon. In the afternoon no drill. Co. sworn into service at 12 M.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 223

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, September 16, 1861

Sworn into Company D by a justice of the peace of the town of Monongahela City, and afterward formed into line, and a farewell speech made to us by the Rev. J. C. Brown (of the M. E. Church) of the same city, in behalf of us as soldiers going out in defense of our country, and sacrificing home, friends and all that was near and dear to us, and bidding us a final farewell. Who was followed by Mr. M'Bride, the father of our captain, giving us a hearty welcome for choice of our captain, and then presenting him with a very nice sword, saying, "Take this, and never surrender it to those traitors against whom you have been called out to battle with, and may it not be returned till stained to the hilt, or peace once more restored to our now distracted country." With a final farewell we were marched down to the river's brink, to enter on board a fine steamboat there ready to receive us and to convey us from our friends, who escorted us to the boat, with ten thousand cheers for our welfare and safe return again. But, alas! how many of us never did return. We got to Pittsburgh the same night, took supper at the Girard House, and left for the cars on Liberty street, at 12 o'clock at night, en route for Lancaster; but owing to a train running off on the Chicago R. R. we were detained till morning. Making a march of 28 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 7-8