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THE DIARY OF LT. COL. JOHN GIBSON
[NOTE: The current location of the original diary is unknown. Xerox copies of the diary were found by Sarah Reveley in the family files of her late brother, Ralf Reveley. Pages of the diary were torn and so the Xerox copies have much missing information. In addition, Lieut. Col. Gibson used very few periods, and was forced to write on narrow paper, making the text difficult to read. For clarity, periods were added and the lines made longer. The job of transcribing the Xerox copies fell to Cathy Wentz. Proofreading was done by Judy Stevens. I'm grateful to Sarah Reveley for permission to post the diary here and also to Cathy for an amazing job of transcribing. More information about John Gibson can be found at the end of the diary. Also, a few samples of the diary pages are displayed at the bottom of this page.]
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... talking others betting at cards __ which there is a great deal going __ in
the "Bull Pen, as all hands __ it, the court yard is traversible __ walks &
ditches. The walks are ___about four feet wide and ___ run all around three
sides ___ front of the officers Barricks ___ one through the center &
several leading from this to the center. The ditches all but one are about
six feet wide by three deep. The outer ditch is about twenty inch by six
deep. When the tide comes in these ditches fill up and empty again when the
tide goes down. The Barracks are laid off in Divisions about forty or fifty
feet long by twenty five wide and fifteen feet high constructed of frame
work plank__ up and down. Inside there are three t____ __ in of bunks the
first bunk____ only about two feet from the ___ ground. It is the coldest in
winter ___ . Next is about four feet above _____ fixed with uprights of
___ting three by four inches from____ roof down and about seven _____ from
the outer wall and the --a-lting of about the same size reaching from the
outer wall to these uprights and inch plank nailed to the cross ties. The
next___ & top bunk is about four feet above the middle one and is the
warmest in cold weather. There is one stove in the center of each Division
to heat and warm all hands, but it is hardly sufficient in very cold weather
although it has been very pleasant up to this time.
Nov. 29th 1864
There are cross pieces about 12 or 15 inches long nailed to the uprights to enable the men of the upper bunk to get up to roost, in front of the Barracks on the opposite side of the court yard there is a plank fence12 feet high. In tha__ of the court yard there is a very large tank which furnish water for the Barracks. They are filled up with rain in wet weather. In dry weather the water is brought from Brandywine Creek in boats and pumped into the tanks by steam through leather hose in the left hand corner, and on a line with the Barracks on that side is the dining room about 80 feet long by 40 wide, in which there are some eight or ten tables made of plank about a foot wide in which are placed the rations of the officers in the morning. ___ it is a little piece of bread and ___ __ or beef and in the evening___ same quantity of bread & bacon___ beef as the case may be & a pint___ soup, sometimes corn Rice or bean___ & occasionially a potatoe or two. ___ rear of the Barracks in the left hand side is another yard in which is the sutlers shop & c. there is a passage or gangway leading to this yard between the officers Barracks and the dining room which also leads to the back yard on the edge of the bay. It is in this passage near the back yard where the working & cooking is done. In the main in the rear of this yard is a pen called the galvanized into which all men applying to take the oath are placed and kept twelve months on probation and then if they are willing the oath is administered to them. Only two officers that I have heard of availed themselve of this gl___ privilige. There are now some hundred or hundred & fifty in this pen. They are treated about the same as the other prisoners except to eat three times a day. They have a great deal work to do. In the rear of our Barracks is the Fort, in front is the private Barracks, and between our Barracks there is a platform elevated about six or eight feet from the ground on which is posted sentinals. There is two sentinals inside of the court yard for the purpose suppose of keeping everything straight inside. The officers & privates communicate occassionally by writing on a piece of paper__ and wrapping it around a rock and throwing it over into each others___ pen. Sometimes the sentinals get hold___ of the letters and destroy them.___ In the inside of the Barracks___ is a continual confusion almost everything is carried on. There are shoemakers & carvers all the time at work. Those that do not work are engaged in talking, playing cards, chess & drafts. The first thing in the morning is a general rush for the stove to get breakfast. The favorite dish is hash & coffe. Around the stove is a large rim and on that bricks or rocks are laid, and on this the coffee & hashpots are set, & soon nicely cooked and they are continually__llowing who has a place not engaged. We have also a Barber in our division. Have a Bible class, Law class, & other studies. We have prayer every night, have one or two preachers in our Division. We get papers nearly every day, have mail every evening. Have a fight or two occasionally that tends to remove monotony of every day life, out in the yard when the weather permits. There are tables of _a_toon & Faro shooting marbles pro__ing & speculating on the war exchange &c. There is generally a gra-- comes in every day as the boys call it, that is a tale of some kind. There is a flag (the stars & stripes) hangs over the fort from sun up to sun down for all rebels to gase at & admire. At sundown there is a piece of artillery fired and the flag is lowered. __ yanks that are guarding us are a very civil & generous sort of fellows, if a man has plenty of money here he can do fine. The sutler is allowed to sell coffee sugar potatoes (sweet & irish) cheese and everything of the kind. Great many men here are fairing as well as they could any where, have plenty of friends north. There is a hospital out side somewhere to which the sick are removed when they take sick.
Dec 1st
The weather has been very fine since I came here, I only hope that it may continue.
Dec 2nd 1864
It is raining today & all hands have to stay in the house which is not very agreeable. Our rations have been reduced some, which is not very agreeable news, but [gr-ss] rebels have no right to complain. There is one thing that I must mention & that is the eating of rats, however horrible it may seem to outsiders, or what the cause of the rats being eaten, whether it is our short ration or an experience of someone who wished to be odd that started it, I know not. But one thing __ do know that all the rats __ that can be caught are eaten ___by the inmates of these___ Barracks. There are a great__ many of them here and __ are caught every day.
Dec 3rd
It is not raining this morning but cloudy & disagreeable. Had hash this morning made out of Potatoes onions beans & corn soup & bread, no meat, & coffee without sugar. We only draw meat once a day now & that is very small quantities.
Dec 21st 1864
After eating my rations of rats & hash & coffee I took up my darning needle & proceeded to darn my old socks and articles that I am very much in need of just now. I guess if my friends at home had witnessed the operation they would have been very much amused, but I did it very well and engaged several jobs. Our rations still keep up very well.
Dec 21st
It is snowing this morning, and rather gloomy. Been reading nearly all day. Raining this evening. Paid ten cents for three apples this morning and ate them. My teeth are sore something like the scourge.
Dec 25th
very nice day. Everything very quiet. Had some molasses & mush last night for a variety. Wrote a letter to Dixie to Georgia. Some prisoners came in last night ___
Dec 27
warm & rainy, everything quiet in prison. Prisoners somewhat down in the mouth about the news.
Dec 28th
rainy & warm received a letter from Sgt. Marshall.
29th
Tolerably cold, the Division divided off in messes.
Dec 30th
Snowed last night, rather warm today.
Dec 31st
snowing, tolerably cold. Had the first drop of whiskey since I came into the pen in the shape of a small apple toddy. Sent my permit on the 10/18th Dec, wrote about it Dec 25. An order was sent in on the 19th. No more permits after present.
January 1st 1865
Tolerably cold but a beautiful clear morning. Had a very good breakfast, Hash, sausage, cheese, bread (corn & wheat), & coffee. Some prisoners left & some came in. Was on police duty today. I darned Bob Stuart's socks last night. They were brown & I darned them with white yarn.
Jany 2nd
snowy & cold. Later Capt Stuart chief, Division
" 3rd
" " " fixed up our bunks
" 4th
very cold & stormy, snow, very cold night
5th
very cold, slept very little last night
6
raining & wet had to move out to white wash, burnt tar to prevent small pox.
Jany 7th
raining very cold in the evening.
" 8 very cold indeed, frose out last night. Suffered a great deal from cold,more than anytime since I came to the pen. Had us to clean up for inspection, but had no inspection. Preaching in our Division tonight, somewhat down in the mouth - the weather, news, & out of money.
9
weather moderated, everything in tolerably good spirits.
10
raining very hard, very disagreeable group. That the [Gen] John ____ is authorized to say that there is to be a general exchange. Had bread pudding today for dinner made out of molasses & bread &c. Corn bread for breakfast.
11th
very cold this morning. Rec'd a letter Cos Agnes Alexander with Cos Arch's Daguertype in it. Ice all over the island. Hash coffee & bread for breakfast.
12
very nice day. The yanks came in today to see how many blankets we had, pre-paratory I suppose to what they call a backing out.
13th
very nice day. Just as we expected they came in and demanded part of blankets, leaving us only one blanket apiece. Did not hurt me but did some others.
14th
day rather cool this evening. Had potatoe pudding for breakfast, received two letters one from Baltimore & one from Charleston. No news of exchange.
15
rather raw day. Everything very quiet.
16
very cold. Considerable excitement, the yanks with their usual curiosity thinking that probably we were rather comfortable turned us all out, took all our boxes & stools away from us. Many a resolution has been formed this day, if an opportunity offers itself for retaliation. About one hundred more prisoners came in today from the west. The sutler was closed and a general turning things upside down. Snowed last night. When it was found out that they were taking away everything of the kind, we had a great many under tools to hide, but yanks curiosity was too much for them. They found & destroyed most of the things.
17th
Rather cold, snowing this morning. Do not know whether the yanks will continue their ___indations or not. Some surgeons came in from Hood Army.
18th
Very cold, rather blue this morning. Fort ______ fallen, surgeons left. All the Catholics went out to church.
19
Cold and cloudy. Dixie mail received, nothing new, no papers.
20th
very pleasant day. Some Dixie mail, everything very quiet.
21st
very cold. Our stove had to be taken down and fixed. Snowed & sleeted. Received a letter from Baltimore with P_____ in it.
22
not very cold. The yanks with their usual _agacity ___ an order for no spitting on the floor. One penalty of stopping the supply of Tobacco, guess there is ____Dixie tobacco outside there. Next they want to confiscate___ our provisions. This evening__sleeting & raining.
23
raining not cold, everything very quiet
24
very cold, great excitement over exchange gra__e
25
very cold, papers have just __ in
26
Very cold, everything quiet
27
very cold " "
28
The coldest day of the season, suffered greatly from cold. Capt arrived & others
29
cloudy, moderate
30
very nice day
31
moderate, twenty seven new men were put into our division. Very much crowded, some of Hood's Army
Feby 1st (1865)
received a blank book, some envelopes & stamp from Miss Langston. Cloudy and moderate this morning.
2
very nice day, no news,letter from Mary Langston.
3
Received letter from Miss Grove. Eating __ had sent me____ . Nice day.
4th
Very nice day. More prisoners came in and some put into our Division, very much crowded
5
Spiritual services in ___. Exchange g--- runs high, turning very cold. Wrote __ letters Dixie & ___, sent one by fr Griggsby & some stamps.
6
very cold, wrote letters to Kate Compton, Miss Langston, Miss Grove, & home
7
very deep snow, deepest of the season. Exchange ___ ___ing very high. very cold
8
very nice day
9
intolerably cold
10
tolerably cold, called out ___for the paroled. Great excitement
11
cold, box call, great morning. Boxes received, 1st letters from Dixie
12
Terrible day ___ & ___day no news
13
very cold, suffered a great deal from cold, ___
14
__ not so cold, news of exchange
15
____ snowed & sleeted
16
very nice day, everything quiet
17
___ not very cold
18
very nice day, great excitement. Paroling going on, every body expects to go to Dixie.
19
still good weather, ____clothing. Still hearing gra__about exchange
20
weather good. Watches & confederate money distributed to the owners, still excited.
21
Beautiful day, everything quiet. Anxiously awaiting the time to come to be exchanged.
22
Great firing of guns, celebration of the yanks said to be for the fall of Charleston.
23
Box call and some excitement about exchange.
24
Navy officers paroled, new bottle of whiskey.
25
Cloudy, no news, raining in the evening.
26
Sabbath morning. Gloomy morning, has been raining for the last twenty four hours and every countenance wears a gloomy aspect. News for a few days has been unfavorable, and officers paroled more than two weeks ago and have been expecting to leave every day since, and not left yet. It looks as though we were not to get away atol, and is enough to make us both look & feel gloomy. The idea of spending another month in this place is -----sible. This day is considered by most of the barracks as the longest and most lonesome day of the week, from the fact there is no mail, no papers, and no work to occupy their time. All gaming and everything of the kind is stopped on this day, or the better portion of the officers in these barracks anything like ----tion of the Sabath is immediately __down, preaching in some ____ of this Division every Sabbath at eleven oclock. It's a great day to write and I suppose the time ___accessing would probably would be worse spent. Nearly every Sabbath morning there are distributed in the barracks a quantity of papers purporting to be religious but they are generally abolition sheets of the worst kind and is a good excuse for men not to read them. Occassionally there are distributed a quantity of Bibles & Hymm books which are not adequate to the demand.
Wm. B. _____ Long
Medical Director
2d Cavly. Div.
Martinsburg, Va.
27
To day has been one of considerable excitement. The paroled prisoners left, and it gave them great joy, and joy to others thinking their time would come next.
28
Nice day. More officers were paroled, every thing in fine spirits.
March 1st (1865)
Nice day. Everybody down in the mouth, news that exchange had been stopped, but in hopes that it was not so.
2
Raining nearly all day, no news
3
Rained all day, everything quiet. I received my box clothes
4
Great excitement. One hundred more officers paroled and news that Sherman had been whipped. Whether true or not, is giving bouyancy to our__ __ and makes us all but good again.
5
everything quiet, very little news.
6
More men paroled
7
Great excitement. Some officers taking out and trans___ ,another__ left. raining
8
no news, rained
9
Tobacco call, no news, raining still
10
Cold & raining & Everything quiet, no news, ________tobacco
11
Nice day, no news
12
___comes in from the valley, captured by Sheriden. Also fine _____from great commotion, no news, weather good
13th
nice day
14
Raining, no news
15
" very dull
16
Nice day, every thing somewhat down in the mouth, no news of any kind
17
Fine weather, nothing new
18
" "
19
" " no news
20
" " very warm, no gra--
21
" " moved out to white _____
22
____ ___ cold ____ ___
23
" & clearing & cool
24
" & clear & cool
25
" " " " "
26
" Episcopal services in our Division, no news
27
Today has been a very nice day, and a very busy one. The yanks, thinking probably that we hold too many comforts, came in & ___ ___all out, and took all our ____tools, tables and all other _____. _____ that we____ Life long to be rembered_____ _____ our freely offered and have_____ to like dogs, these____ are hard to take, but we___ in the power of a ___ of___ who glory in such meanness and have to make the best of it.
28
To day has been occupied principally in finishing up what the yanks destroyed, very nice weather
29
last night we had a negro show which attracted a considerable crowd. Had a very large cough. Today has been a very nice day.
30
Raining & cool
31
" " " , cleared off in the evening. Elected Bridges Chief
Apl 1st (1865)
clear & cool had some fools &c.
2
Same very little news
3
Great dispondency. Richmond taken.
4
Cannons firing in all directions. Great dispondence in ____ .Great dispondence among prisoners.
5
In better spirits, turned us out to ____ us & c.
6
Raining dreary
7
" "
8
cold no news
9
" News of Genl. Lees surrender
10
Two hundred gr___find in horror of a Genl. surrendering his army
11
Raining & gloomy
12
" & "
13
" " "
14
Drizzling & cool
15
Heard of the death of Lincoln, rather gloomy in the pen, would much rather it had not happened . Raining
16
--nite ____ firing everything ____
[the following was written horizontally from the 17-25]
What shall I say of this time no news ___ ___ aspirations of this Confederacy and a general gloom over
26
nice weather This evening ____ were called on to take the oath that wanted to.
27
still taking the oath. I did not know what to do at first, was very much disturbed but after much thinking over the thing, I came to the conclusion to take the oath, and go home. My reasons were these: 1st a government can claim allegience from its subjects only as long as it can afford them protection, which I think ours has lost its power.
2d
I do not expect to leave the United States, and therefore expect to have to take the oath before I can do anything.
3d
In Jos E. Johnson's condition of surrender, where I have no doubt he had the sanction of high officials, his terms were that all leaders should take the oath, and we cannot be expected to get better terms than he asked. It may be an unfortunate thing & it may be fortunate I___on my own responsibility, and _____that I have acted properly. If I have not I have no one to blame but myself. I expect to ___ my oath as long as I am not, and hope I never will have to, regret taking it.
28
Nothing fresh, correcting the rolls
29
" " nice weather
30
Another chance given to all who refused to take the oath, only a few refused.
May 1st (1865)
No news
2
" "
3
" "
4
Reason for lea_ing Rebels
5
Cloudy & cool
6
Raining
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
no news ____ vent wrath, every body__ on the ___ when they will get away from this place. Some who have friends to get them out are leaving every day
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Evil weather, nothing but grays
20
moved out to white wash ____
21st
Raining & cloudy all day some, still leaving daily by taking the oath.
22, 23, 24
cloudy & cool, no news
25, 26, 27, 28
cool cloudy & raining most of the time, rather gloomy. More going out every day by taking the oath. Everyone very anxious to get out
29, 30, 31
clear & cool. President's proclamation- no release of prisoners. Everybody trying to get off
1, 2, 3, 4 June
very Hot, no news
5, 6, 7, 8
" " " "
Miss Mary Langston
___ Lawrence Langston
Baltimore ____
Miss Maria Williams
___ Lloyd Willims
Miss Julia ____
Miss Lucy Bynes
____
" & M-------B----t--
___ G------ B-------
William & Lyle left & ___Stuart Patterson ____. All line officers were called out to take the oath.
June 17, 1865
__ ___ & M------ here on the 11th
June
___ ___ Harris here on the 13th June
Rec'd letter from G----- ______ Feby 3
" " " Miss Langston " 2nd
" " " Georgia & Isabella " 11th
" " " Georgia " 14th
" " " C---- Hannum 24
" " " Miss ______ 28
" " " Georgia 28
" " " Mrs. [Grove?] $10 March 8th
" " " Cos/Gus Arch $10 " 9th
" " " Mrs. [Grove?] $15 April 10th
____ __ " __ Gibson
4 " Mrs. Grove
__ 5th
wrote to Miss Kate Compton Feb 5th
" " " Mary ___ " 5th
" " " S. A. ____xie " 5th
" " Cos Agnes Gay 12th
" " C. MCormack "
" " Cos. Fannie 15th
" " " " Feb 12th
" " Cos. Agnes 16th
" " " Grove 12th
" " " " 24th
" " " Fannie 24
" " " Father "
" " Miss _____ " 20 Permit
" " " " " 21
" " " Grove 1st March
" " " " 8th "
" " Cos. Arch 9th "
" " Miss Langston 5th "
" " " _______
" " Fannie 5th
" " Cos. Arch 10th
(Written horitzontally on the right margin..)
May 2 wrote to Col. Gibson &____ ____
---- 4th Received let from __ Grove
wrote home Fannie Feb 16th
" " Grove " 23
" " Fannie Mar 30
" " Arch April 10
" " Grove " 10
" " Adams " 12
" " Langston " 12
This Divisions are lighted ___by a globe lamp hung to a win___in the centre of the Division and is kept burning all night. All other lights are put out at the sound of the Bugle, which is precisely at nine oclock, and if all the private lights are not extinguished at once some of the yanks will be after you. As a general thing they have very little to say, but some of them are very insolent and do what they can to put you to inconvenience. There are a great many scoundrels in the Division, it is nothing unusual for rations of bread coffee & meat to be stolen, and very often rations are taken off the table. I ___with Division 34 & staff in Division 24. The Divisions are laid off in m___ from eight to ten men each & numbered. Every man knows his place and goes to it. Every Division has its chief who superintends the dining room, making details, appoints meetings, draws [soap?] vinegar, & such things as are necessary & allowed. Capt Berry 29th Va Regmt is the Chief of of our Division. We have also a Post Master who goes to mail call every evening, and gets the letters belonging to the Division. There is a hole in the North corner of the Pen, at which place the PM of each Division goes and a __ker sergt who calls over the names, and the PM of each Division takes them and distributes ___ the Different officers, but ___Capt Spri__ is P. M. of our Div___. We have also a money clerk who collects our money. The letters are all examined in the Provost Marshalls office, and if any man is fortunate enough to get money, it is taken out of the letter and kept by the yanks, and an endorsement put on the letter - so much deposition at such a date. That envelope is handed to the money clerk who takes it out to money call which takes place every day or two. Who does not get the green backs but gets sutlers checks which we can buy anything we want___ R E A Stuart is___ money clerk. __ the sutler that he has__ receive boxes of clothing by first getting a permit from the authorities here and sending it to the perso n whom you are to get the articles from. They are boxed up and the permit posted on the box, and you are allowed to receive nothing that is in the box except what is on the permit. Everything else will be confiscated and a Sergt will come in for you and you have to leave what you have ___ out. They will not let you have but one suit, do not allow us to receive anything to eat, but will let us receive anything that comes from Dixie. They allow us to write as many letters as we want and receive as many ___ . We are not allowed to write on but one side of a half sheet ___ at a time, but can receive___ as long a one as we please. We have also an adgt to our Division whose duty it is to act as secretary to all meetings and make the necessary details to police the house, which is two __ , and an officer of the day whose duty it is to sweep the house out twice a day, and keep the Division bucket full of water. The house is all the time wet - great deal of spitting on the floor &c. Sutler keeps open from eight to 12 & from one until ____, sells things very high _____ offer one dollar & twenty cents sugar sixty cents, bread ten cents loaf, small square loaves very light cheese fifty cents, butter one dollar, onions twenty three cents a pound, meal ten cents a pound, and everything very high. Sausage forty cents per pound. If a man has plenty of money in this pen he can live finely. We are allowed to get a paper every day of the yanks own selection. The Philadelphia Enquirer is dealt out to us daily now at ten cents __ paper. We have inspection every sabbath morning, when we have to take down our clothes, clear & scrape out our house ___ . The inspection is generally_____ of the island ______ ____ ____ -hoeff ____ ___ here
About Lt. Col. John Gibson
Colonel John Alexander Gibson was born in Timber Ridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia, on September 5, 1833, a son of John and Grace McCampbell (Taylor) Gibson. His parents were born and raised in Rockbridge County. George Anna Lackey became the wife of John A. Gibson at Timber Ridge on January 14, 1864. William and Phebe (Hamilton) Lackey, natives of Rockbridge county, were the parents of Mrs. Gibson,and she was born at Timber Ridge.
John entered the army as a private and for meritorious and gallant conduct received promotions to the rank of Lieutenent-colonel. He was twice wounded, captured at Front Royal, and was held a prisoner at Fort Delaware nine months.
After the War, five children were born to the Gibsons: Theresa Adelia, 1867; Meta Hamilton, 1869; Emma Parke. 1872; John Alexander, 1874; and George Harrison, 1876, died in 1877.
In 1868, John’s sister Rachel Alice married David Robertson Reveley, born in Campbell County. David was the son of George Francis Reveley and Margaret Robertson Reveley.
Gibson and Reveley operated a ferry at Jordan's Point in Rockbridge County, following the destruction of locks on the canal by the Union army.
John owned 2,500 acres of valuable land in Rockbridge County, and at the time of his biography written in 1884, was also engaged in distilling. To the cultivation of his land he added the raising of fine stock. He served six years as justice of the peace, deputy Sheriff two years, and office of postmaster.
Sources:
1. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia (NY, Richmond,and Toledo: H. H. Hardesty and Company Publishers, 1884). p. 411-412. Transcribed and submitted by Judith A. Paul 1997
2. Reveley Family History by Ralf Reveley
3. Gibson Family Papers
Fort Delaware-History
Fort Delaware-Civil War Prison
Swann-Prison Life at Fort Delaware
Fort Delaware
Civil War Potpourri Page
Judy's Civil War Links page
