Abraham Rudolph Journal
Civil War Related Entries
Ken Rudolph's 2002 History Club presentation: Civil War Diary
Abraham Rudolph (1816-1904) was a farmer and lay minister in Pennsylvania. His complete journal is at the Wright County Historical Society, including his decision to move to Southside Township in 1876 and his experiences in Minnesota. The following excerpts are the entries pertaining to the Civil War.
4-27-1861 Great excitement about the war. I feel very badly about the condition of our country at the present time. My trust is in God. He has the dealings of nation in his hands. May the Lord take care of us as a nation.
7-23-1861 I hear of a great many Federal soldiers killed in a battle near Manassas junction but I am in hopes that it is a false report (the South victorious, 3500 killed).
7-26-1861 I heard the soldiers were going to start from Punxsutawney this morning. Quite a number of wagons and buggies loaded with men. Quite an excitement (the company consists of men from Brookville and Punxsutawney).
8-24-1861 To Nicholsons. John Hastings talked, then got men to enlist. Eleven or more enlisted. One of them was my son P.S.R. (Phineas Sylvester Rudolph). The company is to leave Punxsutawney next Wednesday. I feel some mixed up this evening on account of P.S.R enlisting.
8-27-1861 Presented those young men that had been scholars of the Sunday School that have enlisted to go to war with a copy of the Testament for each of them (P.S. Rudolph, J. K Rupert, Joshua Brooks, Geo. Rhoads, Fred Rinehard, and J. H. London).
8-28-1861 To Punxsutawney to see the soldiers leave this morning. John Rhoads and I took our two sons in the buggy (G. W. Rhoads and P.S. Rudolph) to Indiana town (Pennsylvania). Everything went smoothly considering the number of men and horses. Some men had too much whiskey.
10-24-1861 Wrote to D. Gray in the army.
11-15-1861 I rode to George Leech's. William Leech brought home a corpse from army on Potomac. Private of Captain John Hastings, A.A. Knight Regt. No. 105, Penn. Volunteers.
11-17-1861 To the Bower's Grave yard, George Leech, wife and three children, Mother Leech, Susannah McHenry and one child and Emily, M.A.R., and myself. I opened the coffin at the grave. William Leech buried in Bowers grave yard, soldier.
12-19-1861 Fixed up the box that we are sending to our boys in the army in Virginia (some ten persons are sending things to the boys).
1-23-1862 I heard that Zulicofer, a rebel general in Kentucky, was killed in battle and his army routed and defeated.
2-5-1862 With R. Rupert to Indiana town. Rupert and I took cars for Harrisburg, fare 640 cts. (I started to Washington City, D.C.)
2-5-1862 - In the cars rode into Baltimore City (fare from Harrisburg to Baltimore 260 cts. Fare from Baltimore to Washington 150 cts. Put up at Mrs. Brenaman's, No. 447 Pennsylvania Avenue. Went to Capitol.
2-6-1862 Got a recommendation from Cong. John Patten to Provo Marshal Mr. Porter for a pass to cross the Potomac River into Virginia to visit relatives. The Capitol is the best building that I ever saw but it is not finished yet.
2-7-1862 Got a ferry boat at Washington then rode to Alexandria, Virginia. The first man that I seen that I knew was John Coon from Perrysville. Then he took us where my son is. He is well and healthy. Some of the boys are very wicked and wild (Camp Jameson).
2-8-1862 P.S.R. (Phineas Rudolph), Geo. W. Rhoads, J. K. Rupert, R. Rupert and I walked down to Mount Vernon. I seen George Washington's tomb and his old homestead. Dr. A. P. Reichhold sent for me to go and sleep with him. I accepted and was thankful.
2-9-1862 I at the hospital (Camp Jameson) this morning to see Elias Simpson that died this morning.
2-10-1862 I at the hospital this morning. Seen the funeral of E. Simpson start from there. Marched in a procession up through camp. He was taken to Washington to be embalmed.
2-11-1862 To Alexandria to the house where Col. Ellsworth was shot. I seen where the ball went into the wall and also where the one that killed Jackson went into the wall too.
2-11-1862 - We went into Camp Jameson. A man named Young died this morning of the 105th Regt. C.G.
2-13-1862 I got the
corpses of Elias Simpson and Watson Young expressed in Washington to
Indiana Station.
4-10-1862 I heard of Island No. 10 surrendering to our men.
4-11-1862 I heard of great battle of Pittsburgh landing Tennessee.
5-6-1862 The word came today that the rebels have vacated Yorktown.
5-8-1862 I heard of the fight at Williamsburg, Va. The Union men whipped the rebels.
5-13-1862 - News is that the Union men have possession of Richmond and Norfolk. The Merrimac blowed up.
5-15-1862 - The report that the Union has possession of Richmond is not true.
6-7-1862 - I rode to David McKee's. Brought M.E. McKee a letter. I read it. It stated that W. C. McKee got wounded in the battle near Richmond on the first of this month.
6-10-1862 Quite an exciting time about the killed and wounded at the battle of 31st of May and 1st of June near Richmond. W. C. McKee, Samuel Hibler and Abb Little wounded.
7-5-1862 Quite exciting times about the war. Reports say that the Union men had to retreat from Richmond. Letter from Phineas Rudolph, stated that he did not know how soon they would be shipped from Yorktown Hospital.
7-8-1862 G. W. Rhoads wounded last week in the battle near Richmond.
8-19-1862 I stayed to a war meeting after night. I was appointed one of the vice presidents. I do not know how many recruits were got.
8-30-1862 2nd Bull Run Battle.
10-2-1862 Henry Schaffer and John K. Rupert both came home from the war. They got their discharge.
10-6-1862 I heard that Capt. E. R. Brady corpse is to be buried tomorrow in Brookville.
10-7-1862 To Brookville. The Masons met in the Lodge to prepare for the funeral of Capt. E. R. Brady. I one of the pallbearers today at the funeral of Capt. E. R. Brady of 11 Penn. Reserves who fell at the battle of Virginia some time ago.
11-25-1862 - I seen Sam Rhoads coming home from the army. He looked bad. (Sam Rhoads came home from the army.)
12-13-1862 - Fredericksburg fight.
6-18-1863 - Some war excitement about the rebels coming to this state. Fortifying Pittsburgh.
6-23-1863 We formed a Democratic Club. I was chosen president.
7-17-1863 - Remains of Capt. E. Little brought home.
7-18-1863 - To Baptist Church. Large congregation. Shorthill preached Capt. Little's funeral sermon then a large procession marched to the graveyard. Then Capt. Little was buried by the honors of war. Very large funeral.
10-24-1863 To Widow Caldwell's to James Caldwell's funeral. Davis preached, then Davis and I rode ahead of the procession to the graveyard near Daniel Graffuise's. James Caldwell was buried by the honors of war.
2-9-1864 From Punxsutawney I took Phineas Rudolph, G. W. Rhoads and W. C. McKee to Covode, then John Hoffman got on the sled too. Then drove to Indiana, Pennsylvania. The persons I took on my sled were all soldiers returning on their furloughs of 35 days.
5-17-1864 We heard that W. C. McKee was killed in the late battle.
5-19-1864 To David McKee's. They are mourning their son, W. P. McKee, who was killed in one of the late battles.
5-19-1864 Seen Lieut. Jas. Miller come to Punxsutawney. He wounded in first day's fight near Chancellorsville.
5-24-1864 I got a letter from Phineas Rudolph stating that Wm. C. McKee was killed in battle on the 5th of this month. Walked to David McKee's. Read them my letter. They take it very hard about W. C. McKee, their son and brother.
8-28-1864 To E. C. Gray's with Thomas Kerr and J. S. Gray my classmates started for the army.
1-6-1865 To George Cramer's. Then he and I rode together to Curwensville. Then I gave myself up to soldiers for belonging to the Democratic Club. John D. Phillipi and his son Henry in the guardhouse with me.
1-10-1865 J. D. Philippi and several others and myself taken by soldiers from guardhouse in Curwensville to Philipsburg.
1-11-1865 J. D. Philippi and I in the guardhouse in Philipsburg. I before Provost Marshal Rollis, then soldiers took us to the cars to Tyrone about midnight or before it.
1-12-1865 We got to Harrisburg this morning before daylight. Then they (soldiers) put us in the exchange guardhouse in Harrisburg. Quite a number of men in the guardhouse and some of my neighbors (in guardhouse John Reter, George Kuhnly and others).
1-24-1865 In the exchange guardhouse in Harrisburg. W. P. Jenks and W. W. Corlit of Brookville came to see us (J. D. Philippi and I). I was taken to the Marshals office and released and then went to the depot.
3-1-1865 I called upon as a witness. I started for Harrisburg.
3-3-1865 In the courthouse, examined and discharged. Got papers made out. Mileage and attendance $26.80 cts. Broker shaved 10 percent ($2.70). Received $24.10 cts.
3-17-1865 G. W. Rhoades came home on parole.
4-4-1865 News came to Punxsutawney that Richmond, Virginia, is taken by our soldiers (Union). The bells rang in Punxsutawney.
4-8-1865 News came that Lee and his army are captured.
4-14-1865 President Lincoln shot in theater.
4-15-1865 President Lincoln died.
4-17-1865 I heard that President Lincoln got shot and also Seward, too, by fellows. I cannot think it is true.
6-10-1865 G. W. Rhoads came home from the army this afternoon.
7-18-1865 I rode to Punxsutawney. P.S.R. (Phineas Sylvester Rudolph) in town then he came home with me. I rode and carried his knapsack and blankets. We (family) all rejoiced to see Phineas. He looks pretty well.
8-2-1865 J. S. Gray sung a song this night which was near leading to fighting (some words was that the Union was dependent on the colored troops for success) which I deny.
12-17-1865 - P.S.R. (Phineas Rudolph) and A.A.R. (Abraham Augustus Rudolph), G.W. Rhoads start to Beechwoods this morning at 3 o'clock a.m. P.S.R. is to get married to Miss L. A. Groves of Beechwoods by Rev. Scofield.
1874
Jacob Rudolph, Abraham's brother, came to
Minnesota first and settled in Southside Township. Then
in 1874 Jacob went back for a few months to visit in Pennsylvania. He
talked Abraham into joining him in Minnesota. The
two brothers went by train from Pittsburgh to Chicago then to St. Paul. They
arrived in St. Paul on April 23, 1874, stayed overnight there, and then
took the train to Clear Lake, a hack to Clearwater, stayed overnight
somewhere near Clearwater, and then walked with his brother, Jacob, to
Southside Township.