Contains seven volumes of Civil War diaries photocopied from Ed Glennon’s originals, privately owned by Rose Embry Carey. Ed Glennon was the brother of Alice Glennon, wife of Charles Walker Embry. Charles W. Embry was the father of John Embry; John Embry the father of Charles Embry; and Charles Embry the father of Rose Embry Carey.

Edward Glennan (1840-1924), born in County Roscommon, Ireland, served as a member of the United States Union Army Volunteers. 

Diary one dates Aug. 14, 1861 to May 9, 1862 (two copies); diary two May 9, 1862 to Sept. 20 (two parts), 1862, diary three Sept. 20, 1862-Sept. 20, 1863 and diary four Sept. 1863 to Nov. 1864 (two copies).

Glennon’s company fought for the North and was composed of men from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Glennon sought thought these journals to accurately detail the “daily life” of Northern soldiers. He describes the songs the company sang while marching, the average age of the soldiers (20-21), the guns used (Belgium and Whitney rifle), the hardships of staying awake on picket lines, accounts of friends dying, and the anxieties and anticipation of battle. Glennon vividly accounts the Missippi River battle, reconnoitering missions and how the company assumed use of Southern homes and livestock.

The diaries have been transcribed and edited into a published volume, Surviving Andersonville : one prisoner’s recollections of the Civil War’s most notorious camp.