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Adams, Henry H. (d. 1864)
East Windsor
Sixteenth Connecticut Infantry, Company G / Corporal
1864 January 1-October 20
1 Volume

Diary. Adams was taken prisoner at Plymouth, NC, on 20 April 1864 and died in captivity at Florence, SC, on 20 October 1864. He was initially held in Andersonville and was subsequently moved to Charleston and then to Florence. Adams enlisted 8 August 1862 and was mustered-in a Private. He was wounded during the battle of Antietam and was promoted to Corporal on Christmas day 1862. Adams was reduced to the ranks on 5 March 1863. His diary contains an otherwise unidentified and unauthenticated Confederate twenty-dollar note. A newspaper clipping notes the diary spent eight years in New York City before coming to The Connecticut Historical Society.
Location: MS

Confederate $20 bill from the Collection
 
 
 

From the Diary of Henry H. Adams -- 1864 January 1-October 20
[Edited and transcribed by K. Nolin, M.L.I.S., Assistant Library Director, The Connecticut Historical Society]

 
 
 
 

Adams arrives in Andersonville on 4 May 1864 and will remain there until 10 September 1864. He died at Florence, SC, on 20 October 1864.

May

  • He reports no shelter from 4 May through 31 May 1864.
  • 4 May 1864, 15,000 prisoners said to be held within the stockade.
  • Begins to complain of headache, as he thought from the sun, on 8 May 1864.
  • 11 May 1864, begins to rain at 3 AM and rains all day. No shelter.
  • 14 May, 100 more prisoners arrive.
  • 21 May, 500 more prisoners arrive.
  • 22 May, 500 more prisoners arrive.
  • 23 May, 700 more prisoners arrive.
  • 25 May, 700 more prisoners arrive.
  • 29 May, 900 more prisoners arrive.
  • 30 May, 800 more prisoners arrive.

June

  • 7 June, 500 more prisoners arrive.
  • 16 June, 1,000 more prisoners arrive.
  • 18 June, 400 more prisoners arrive.
  • 19 June, 1,000 more prisoners arrive.

July

  • 6 July, reports not feeling very well.
  • 9 July, 900 more prisoners arrive.
  • 10 July, 1,000 more prisoners arrive.
  • 11 July, notes six raiders hung inside the stockade.
  • 13 July, a man reported shot inside the deadline.
  • Reports the discovery of tunnels and commences work on a well. Begins to note deaths in his regiment this month.

August

  • 9 August, the stockade falls down in three places.
  • 12 August, again complains of not feeling very well.
  • 18 August, his leg is becoming lame.
  • 23 August, cannot walk.
  • 31 August, made a cane.

September

  • 10 September, Adams's detachment ordered out, as they thought, to be exchanged; instead they were transported to Charleston.
  • 14 September, getting very weak.
  • 27 September, so lame he cannot walk.

October

  • 6 October, complains of receiving no medicine.
  • 8 October, transported to Florence.
  • 10 October, believes he is getting better.
  • 11 October, receives medicine.
  • 14 October, "getting along first rate."
  • 16 October, "getting along very well but do not get enough to eat."
  • 18 October, "we have a Poor Hospital made of Bushes and out of sight of any houses."
  • 20 October, another hand writes, "The writer of the foregoing Died at 9 o'clock pm."