Calvin Day French-43 Ohio Volunteer Infantry Civil War Diaries

Kirk French

Calvin Day French's early years were in New York and Ohio and he enlisted in the Union in 1861 to fight the Civil War. Calvin's two older brothers also enlisted in the Union. This podcast incorporates historical references as Calvin was unaware at the time he wrote his diary entries the significance of the skirmishes he participated and the impact that each skirmish would have on the outcome of the Civil War. The 43rd O.V.I supported other companies and armies of the Civil War in maintaining the Mississippi River for the transportation of soldiers and supplies.

  1. 09/15/2023

    30-Calvin Day French Civil War Facts and his life after the War

    This episode details Calvin's Civil War Pension, Civil War deaths from the battlefield or disease and Calvin's life after the war including his courtship, marriage and employment with the Delaware & Hudson Railroad and National Express.

    30-Calvin Day French Civil War Facts and his life after the War

  2. 09/12/2023

    29-Grand Review-Washington, D.C., Trial of Henry Wirz, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and traveling home to Ohio

    This episode covers Calvin's participation in the Union Army Grand Review in Washington, D.C., the Trial of Andersonville Commandant-Henry Wirz, the history of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his travels back home to Ohio where he musters out of service with the Union Army.

    29-Grand Review-Washington, D.C., Trial of Henry Wirz, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and traveling home to Ohio

  3. 06/12/2023

    28-Marching in April and May 1865 North through North Carolina on the way to Washington D.C. for the Grand Review

    Calvin Day French continues marching north through North Carolina and Virginia nearly 600 miles under the command of General Sherman in April and May 1865. He marches in April through the North Carolina towns of Kinston, Goldsboro, Raleigh, Huntsville and Ridgeway. After the surrender of the Confederate armies by Generals Lee and Johnston in April 1865, Sherman continues marching his army in May through the Virginia towns of Petersburg, Manchester and Alexandria arriving in Washington, DC. On May 26, 1865, Calvin marched with Sherman’s Army in the West of 65,000 in the Grand Review totaling 165,000 troops down Pennsylvania Avenue from the US Capital Building past the reviewing stand in front of President Andrew Johnson and his cabinet concluding at the White House. Sherman’s Army of the West was loose and lean and sparked fever of enthusiasm among the spectators. Former slaves followed Sherman’s army as they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue with southern prizes such as dogs, goats, mules, raccoons, gamecocks, and even a monkey. The men wore ragged uniforms and hung chickens and hams from their bayonets to the crowd’s delight. The band played the same songs they had played when they began the march to the sea, including Battle Hymn of the Republic. After concluding his Civil War service, Calvin then begins his travels back to his home in Ohio.

    28-Marching in April and May 1865 North through North Carolina on the way to Washington D.C. for the Grand Review

  4. 06/10/2023

    27-Marching through South and North Carolina under the Command of General Sherman

    In January, February and March 1865 Calvin and the 17th Corp are marching north from Georgia into South and North Carolina in Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign of nearly 425 miles. Calvin marched and skirmished through the South Carolina towns of Beaufort, Humboldt, Pocotaligo, Robertsville, Lawtonville, Branchville, Midway, Orangeburg and Columbia. After reaching the outskirts of Columbia by February 16th, Sherman’s army then continued north from Cheraw, South Carolina to the North Carolina towns of Bennettsville, Johnsonville, Averasboro ending at Goldsboro.

    27-Marching through South and North Carolina under the Command of General Sherman

  5. 04/07/2023

    26-Calvin completes his furlough and marches with Sherman from Atlanta to Savannah

    After a three week furlough following his escape from the Confederate prisoner train, Calvin travels 900 miles by train from his home in Ohio to Atlanta. There he joins up with General Sherman's Army on November 18, 1864 and marches nearly 300 miles across Georgia reaching Savannah on December 10, 1864. During the "March to the Sea", General Sherman and his troops destroy and burn towns and railroads and forage the land. In this episode, a female family member of a descendent of Calvin reads from a woman's historic diary of her account of the destruction of the railroad and railroad station at Gordon, Georgia.

    26-Calvin completes his furlough and marches with Sherman from Atlanta to Savannah

  6. 12/17/2022

    23-Andersonville Prison

    The Confederate government began the construction of their Union prisoner of war camp in Andersonville, Georgia beginning November 1863 and started accepting prisoners in February 1864. The prison was designed to house 10,000 prisoners. During the operation of the prison 400 prisoners arrived daily resulting in nearly 45,000 Union soldiers being transported to Andersonville. Nearly 13,000 Union prisoners died at Andersonville from disease, exposure, and malnutrition. The dead were buried in mass graves dug by the prisoners outside the prison walls. There was an extreme lack of shelter, food, and water. By August 1864 32,000 prisoners remained within the 26-acre prison site. The Union gained control of Atlanta during battles in September 1864 which resulted in 14,000 Confederate and 6,000 union casualties. Fewer Union soldiers were being transferred to Andersonville due to the Confederates concern that the Union would attempt to continue south of and liberate the prison camp. Attempts to liberate the prison by the Union had failed. Prisoner exchange was not agreed to by General Grant nor President Lincoln. As a result of the Union capturing Atlanta and concern of further attempts to liberate Andersonville, on September 7, 1864, the Confederate government began transporting the well bodied prisoners out of Andersonville. The prisoners were told they were being transported by train for a prisoner exchange. Instead, they were being transported to other Confederate prisons located as far east as Savanah, Georgia.

    23-Andersonville Prison

  7. 05/27/2022

    21-Calvin Day French Diary Entries from May 1, 1864 through July 12, 1864

    Calvin travels nearly 300 miles through Alabama and Georgia. He marched east through the Alabama towns of Mooresville, Huntsville, Woodville, and Stevenson. In Georgia Calvin marched south through the towns of Chickamauga, Lafayette, Taylor’s Ridge and met up with the command of General Sherman at The Battles of Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, and Marietta just north of Atlanta.  Calvin is assigned to the front line as a skirmisher. The Battle of Dallas during late May 1864 consisted of 100,000 Union and 65,000 Confederate soldiers. Losses to the Union were 4,500 and to the Confederates 6,000. Food was in limited supply. Breakfast consisted of coffee, meat and hardtack made from flour, water, and salt. Calvin’s diary from July 13, 1864, to November 2, 1864 can’t be located as it would have been the one he carried when captured. While as a skirmisher, he was captured by the Confederates on August 4, 1864 near Marietta and transported 150 miles south by train to the Confederate’s prison at Andersonville, Georgia. During a railroad prisoner transfer from Andersonville in September 1864, he jumped from the train and walked 150 miles back to the Union lines north of Atlanta arriving on September 21, 1864. Calvin’s capture, imprisonment, escape and travel back to the union lines north of Atlanta will be documented in the next few episodes. Photo of fighting at Marietta, Georgia

    21-Calvin Day French Diary Entries from May 1, 1864 through July 12, 1864

  8. 05/18/2022

    20-February 23, 1864 to April 30, 1864 Camped at Decatur, Alabama on the Alabama and Tennessee Border

    Calvin is marching with his company north from Prospect, Tennessee to Columbia, Tennessee then back track south to the Tennessee towns of Lynnville, Pulaski and Mill Creek then continued south to Alabama towns of Athens and Decatur. His company traveled north then backtracked south ending up Decatur, Alabama located on the banks of the Tennessee River marching nearly 260 miles. Although Calvin’s diary reflects his Company is going to march to Nashville, Tennessee, the furthest north they march is to Columbia, Tennessee about 40 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee. By 1864, Union forces had advanced from Tennessee into Alabama and Confederate territory. The food, ammunition, clothes, and weapons required to for the Union soldiers were transported primarily by railroad.

    20-February 23, 1864 to April 30, 1864 Camped at Decatur, Alabama on the Alabama and Tennessee Border
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About

Calvin Day French's early years were in New York and Ohio and he enlisted in the Union in 1861 to fight the Civil War. Calvin's two older brothers also enlisted in the Union. This podcast incorporates historical references as Calvin was unaware at the time he wrote his diary entries the significance of the skirmishes he participated and the impact that each skirmish would have on the outcome of the Civil War. The 43rd O.V.I supported other companies and armies of the Civil War in maintaining the Mississippi River for the transportation of soldiers and supplies.

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