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James J. Wood, age 25, a resident of Hardin County, Ohio, enlisted in Company D, 34th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on December 11, 1863, for a term of 3 years. The roster of this unit states that he was wounded in the Battle of Lynchburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864. He was hospitalized in Parkersburg, Virginia on July 2nd and sent home on furlough in October. He was transferred to Company D, 36th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry on February 26, 1865, and mustered out with the company July 27, 1865.

James J. Wood Diary

September 1864

September 1.
This morning is quite cold, it being foggy is all that saved a hard frost. Am well. Seven furloughs appeared, but none for me. I have given up getting one now altogether. Splendid mush for breakfast, cabbage dinner.

September 2.
Not quite so cold as it was yesterday. Very glad to get letters from brother D. J. Wood and Martha J. Wood, both dated 29th. Up 'till 1:AM last night. 48 left for their Regts. Will have more room. I feel contented & will try to do as near right as I can. Have been here now two months. Am getting tired & more too.

September 3.
Feel well after a night's good sleep. I can but notice how much quieter it is today after so many of the noisiest being sent away yesterday. We can enjoy ourselves better now. Raining and warm this afternoon. Happy the man whose heart is full of actions kind toward his associates.

September 4.
Pleasant Sabbath morning again. Arose early. Am well and will try to spend the day right. Sermon 10:30 and 3:30. Wounded Chaplain of 5th Va. Cavalry preached. Excellent, "Justification by Faith". Received Martha's letter dated 31st ult. Answered it immediately and sent Dave one inside, stamps scarce. Clerks are preparing applications to send away.

September 5.
Cool and nice this morning and I have begun another weeks hard work laying around doing no good to any one. Nice rain this afternoon. Warm, up 'till 1:00 tonight. Raining desperately. No mail.

September 6.
Still raining slowly. Feel well and hearty. Get no mail this morning. R R bridge washed away. Very gloomy and I can't help partaking of the same influence for I can't see my way out of this place yet but I hope to soon. Cannons firing at fort. Good news I suppose. Atlanta taken and Early licked again.

September 7.
Warm. Well, Maj. Gen. Kelly visited our shebang today. Up tonight.

September 8.
Raining. Martha's letter of 4th, answered immediately. Nothing new occurring.

September 9.
Pleasant day. No more to say.

September 10.
Hot. Martha's letter of 6th. Am well.

September 11.
Up last night. Cool and pleasant now. Wrote Martha. Am well and trying to be content.

September 12.
Cold and windy. Health tolerably good.

September 13.
Received Martha's and S. W. Nixon's letters dated 8th inst. Answered S. W. N. today.

September 14.
Warmer and raining a little. Up last night. Have caught cold and am quite unwell. Feel better this evening.

September 15.
Tolerably well today. Got Martha's letter of 10th. Gladly do I peruse it. Wrote her in reply as best I could, nothing of importance to write.

September 16.
Cool & clear. Am quite well. Still growing more tired living here but will wait 'till luck changes.

September 17.
Still clear today. Am well. Received Martha's letter dated 13th. Passed out [of the camp] and got apples today. Had not been out for long time before. Powerful orchard laden heavily.

September 18.
Fine pleasant morning. Wrote Martha. Windy afternoon and now at 5:30 it is raining powerful hard. Up tonight.

September 19.
Clear and very pleasant. Doctors examining a few today. I think Collins will be discharged. I am well.

September 20.
Applications sent. Mine absent, likely burnt. Paid Durea $1.00. Fine day & am well. Carpenters laid floor, no stove.

September 21.
I am in good health. Passed out [of the camp] again & got apples plenty. Very fine day. Appearances of rain.

September 22.
Received Martha's and S. W. Nixon's letters of the 18th. Glad to hear from home though the news from Pap's causes a deep depression of feelings on account of mother's dangerous illness. We never know the value of friends 'till separated far from them. Wrote Martha and Sam'l both.

September 23.
Received David's letter of 20th giving the sad news of mother's departure from this world at 6:00 AM of that day. I feel heart stricken with grief. In Thee Oh Lord may we put our trust in this hour of deep affliction. I feel that this stroke is more severe on me than any other one of the family, they all likely being present on the solemn occasion. Wrote Adj. Gen.

September 24.
Rain and storm heavy last night and still raining a little this morning. Since 10:00 pleasant and clear. Am well but feel sad and sorrowful.

September 25.
Cold like winter but see no frost. Wrote David. Am well but feel dull and low spirited & sad.

September 26.
We think it time we had stoves as it is cold these evenings and mornings. More than ever disgusted with the foolery of the management. Nine months this morning since I left home. Am well but feel bad.

September 27.
Received Martha's letter of 23d and answered. Fine day. Sent Phrenological Journal home. Collins wrote Adjt. Gen. today. 77 came in, transferred from Clarksville. Three of the 34th, none of Co. D.

September 28.
Had little rain last night. Cloudy and pleasant today. 30 sent to Regts. Salute of 100 guns in honor of Sheridan.

September 29.
Raining hard this morning and likely to continue raining, was disappointed in not getting a letter from home. Will wait. Raining and storming heavy evening.

September 30.
Cloudy and cool yet this morning. No mail matter yet. General Order to send home sick and wounded till after election.

October 1864

October 1.
Raining, cold & disagreeable. Received S. W. Nixon's letter dated 27th, containing photo. Also Martha's dated 25th. Am well. 25 sick and wounded arrived. Again raining hard nearly all night.

October 2.
Cloudy and damp having rained all night. Passing the time comfortably. Wrote Thomas Shaw. Still and quiet Sabbath. Preaching at 10:30 and at 3:30. Nothing new.

October 3.
Rainy morning, clear afternoon. Wrote H. Shaw. Am well and hearty. Am making very poor improvement of my time being so tired lying here.

October 4.
Clear warm morning. Have headache and feel quite unwell. Received Martha's letter and socks. Splendid. Thanks much. Wrote S. H. Wood this afternoon. Order for transfer and proper blanks for Surgeon's signature received from Adjt. Gen. Signed and forwarded to Washington City.

October 5.
Pleasant morning. Up last night. Wrote Martha and Thomas Shaw. Indications justify the hope that this war will soon end and the long desired blessing of peace shall gladden and invigorate us with its benign soul enlivening and elevating influence. After while, thank fortune, I expect to be honorably relieved from this place.

October 6.
Raining and gloomy this morning. I am in good health and trying to be content with things as they come. Wm. G. Mobl [?] of Co. D passing called at Hospital to see me. Oh my but I was glad to see him, on his way to Regt. having been on detached duty all summer, could stay but few minutes.

October 7.
Clear as a bell this morning and quite cool. Have splendid company of mess or ward mates now and enjoy my time pretty well. Called to the office and examined, object & result unknown.

October 8.
Awful windy night and is cold today and windy. Received Martha's letter of 2d from Wawaka, Indiana. Passed out [of camp] after dinner and got apples. Doctor very clever. Cold and snowing a few drops, no frost yet.

October 9.
Very cold, cloudy, no frost but little snow. Sabbath. Oh that I may spend it aright. Wrote Martha at Wawaka. Sermon at 10:30 and 3:00 Got Mary G. Shaw's letter of the 5th. Sixty got passed for 7 days. I was not anxious but decided to go, but did not do so in time as the order to close was given before I got in. Collins went, couldn't see it to pay $18.00 for two days at home.

October 10.
It is lonesome since the boys left. Cold and heavy frost. Am well. Cleared off and is quite warm at noon. Wrote Mary.

October 11.
Very foggy & cold. Am well. This day decides the Rebels' destruction. Hereabouts their lips hang like a sucking colt's, their spirits being low, poor fellows. Ah me: I can't pity ye. Received J. Wood's letter dated 2d inst. Wrote S. W. Nixon. I believe the war's wide desolation and bloodshed will soon give place to a better condition of things than we have ever known before, a true Union and glorious prosperity on our part, wrote John Wood.

October 12.
Received Martha's letter of 5th. Raining. Am well though somewhat lonesome and disgusted with times generally.

[October 13-27: No entries?]

October 27.
Started to C- on transfer. Don't like the country, great abundance of coal and iron. Of the latter there are hundreds of tons along the RR. Chillicothe for dinner, nice country along Scioto. Chillicothe's a fine town. It appears to me that we are passing through the most delightful country this afternoon I ever saw. Running very fast since dinner but stops often. At 6:00 arrived at Camp Dennison. Could not get transportation tonight and here I am in this beautiful place, 50 odd wards 120 x 30, nice, including other buildings makes quite a city.

October 28.
Am trying to get transport and at 10:00 succeeded, five minutes before train time. I am not a little surprised that we had poorer meals here than at Parkersburg, having heard this such a noble place for U S boarders. Train behind time, start at 11:00 up Little Miami River, noble country. Morrow, Cin & Zanesville RR crossing, arrived at 4:00 and stopped at Soldiers Home. 10 months ago today I came to the Barracks here. How changed am I. What would I not give to be as then.

Notes in Back of Diary

________DeLong of 36th OVI dressed my wound for several weeks at Parkersburg

C. J. Durea, 91st OVI, Gallipolis, Ohio. Hiram Skipton, 36th OVI Marietta, Ohio

George Humphrey, 2d W. Va. Cav., Rutland, Meigs County, Ohio

L. Furney, Lt. Col. 34th OVI Kenton, Ohio, J. W. Smith, Lieut Co. D, 34th OVI Clyde.

James J. Wood, Co. D. 34th Regt. Zouaves, OVI, Charleston, W Va.

Address in case of accident:
Maratha J. Wood
Ada, Hardin County, Ohio

"Truly a contented mind is a continual peace and a clear conscience the best cradle extant to rock a man to sleep at night."

MMS 1144 - James Wood Diary Index
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