In 2025 the Historical Society acquired two diaries of James Crozier from 1864 and 1865. A Norristown native, Crozier and his family are buried in the Montgomery Cemetery. Intern Alex Arehart has been transcribing the diaries–really datebooks in an almanac style–and offers this brief report on his semester’s work. Spellings in the original have been kept as much as possible.
When I was looking at the available options for me to work on for my internship, transcribing this diary spoke to me as my family also has a diary from the American Civil War that has been digitized but not transcribed. The Diary of William H. Arehart, a Confederate Cavalryman in Company H, 12th regiment is located in the Duke University Library.
“Clear and Pleasant” is a phrase I’ve grown to love seeing while I spend time at the Historical Society of Montgomery County. Corporal James Crozier repeats this phrase often through his own diary during the Civil War in 1864 and 1865. Born in Ireland on February 1st, 1829, Crozier arrived in America from Londonderry in 1841. He was a machinist by trade. In 1862 Crozier was mustered into the United States Army and by 1864 was serving as a private in the 138th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, which was a volunteer infantry organized in Harrisburg. His diary begins January 1st, 1864. “Clear + Pleasant in the morning 10 ½ O’clock the doctor was ordered by Capt. ______ to send an Amblance out on Picket line to bring in one of Co. Fs men who was sick. . . 5pm it was the coldest night of the season.”
For the first three months the diary recounts not much beyond the day-to-day activities in a camp near Brandy Station, Virginia. Crozier was close with the doctor, which allows us some insights regarding the medical scene in 1864 field hospitals. Patrick Monagan was also in the 138th regiment. On March 7th 1864, Patrick shot himself through the foot with his firearm. In the modern day, this would be a trip to the ER, and maybe a foot amputation. For Patrick, this was a death sentence, being pronounced dead 5 days later to complications.
More action occurs once the unit moves out of camp, including a horse theft on April 5th while at Brandy rail station and the horse’s eventual retrieval on April 10th. It is clear that Crozier’s life as a soldier is one of seemingly endless routine: setting up camp, resting, taking down camp, and marching for months on end. After months of recording his activities, the diary finally records the first bit of active combat on May 5th, 1864. The actual fighting was brutal and fast “…Got into an engagement in the Evaning at dark it was verry hot for about 20 minats…” and on May 6th talking on casualties “…Essack has since died and Win Mode and John Slingluff, Melton Streeper is supposed to be dead…” however once the fighting was over it was back to the monotony of soldier life. Another brutal encounter transpired on June 1st at Cold Harbor, which Crozier misspelled throughout the journal:
“At Coal Harbor we found the enemy and the cavalry engaged at 11 am. . . 5 pm we advanced and charged their works . . . David Roberts and Edlridge Griffith and Crary Stuart was wounded and I got a canister shot in my nap sack. My knapsack saved my life.”
The bullet had hit Crozier in his canteen.
As action moved later into the war, hot and humid weather proved most deadly. Imagine marching 14 miles in a heavy wool jacket, wool trousers, cobbled shoes and sixty pounds of gear on your shoulder or back. Now imagine doing this on a meal of coffee and crackers! This was the grim reality for many of these fine men.
On July 31st, 1864 while in Sandy Hook, Maryland, Crozier wrote: “Clear + the warmest day that I evar felt. A number of men died from the effects of the heat.” Later Wednesday August 10th, 1864 he wrote: “clear + verry warm called up at 3 am for breakfast. 5 am took up the line of march . . . rested on the crossroads south for the night. We lost 40 men from sun stroke in the corps today.”
In the first eight months of 1864, there had been more sickness, hardships, pain, close calls and loss than many of us have ever seen. Crozier described the horrors of the battlefield including the threat of death, whether from a direct shot, disease, or the unforgiving elements. Crozier’s detailed accounts provide an invaluable window into the daily existence of one of the most devastating wars the United States has ever been involved in, reminding us of the personal cost of freedom and the importance of preserving these historical accounts for future understanding.