The following is a sample of the transcript of Oscar Gassett's Civil War journal. Through journals and diaries we are fortunate to get a glimpse of life in a left-behind era. But it is only a glimpse. Diaries do not permit us the luxury of asking for more details, for "what happens next?" or, "what about such-and-such?" This are the limitations of the past, but they do not have to be a blockade. By virtue of their very style and what they represent, journals are a window into the human condition; something that is timeless and universal. As we read through the passages of Oscar Gassett's war journal, we become a part of the experience and an important part at that.
Reading journals requires imagination. They require us to put ourselves in the shoes of the writer and to try to see the world as he saw it. They require us to recall the ideas and beliefs of a forgotten era. This is the remarkable privilege journal reading allows us. Gassett is able to transport us, briefly, into his time period and this is ultimately what we should take away from the experience. We can imagine the details that he has, perhaps deliberately, left out—perhaps because they were too difficult to record.
Andersonville Prison was a terrible place. And yet Oscar Gassett, on the surface, gives only sparse details about his incarceration; the only consistent details he gives us is a listing of the day's rations. Even when Gassett makes no other entry, he is meticulous in his description of "A.M. Molasses and meal" or "P.M. Boiled beef, rice and bread." On the surface, these details seem superfluous. Why doesn't Gassett give us more information about his surroundings, a detailed description of the stockade, an insight into his feelings? We have the luxury of asking these questions, but not the luxury of receiving answers. We can only do our best and this is the kind of empathy that journal reading requires.
We know from our own experiences that we give the most voice to the things that become precious to us, the things that matter most in the world. Nearing starvation, as historical accounts have documented, Oscar Gassett and his fellow prisoners probably looked upon the day's rations as the most significant part of their day. "Beans, beef, bread and salt" are all that matter if one is uncertain of their return. In the same spirit, we can look at Gassett's detailing of rumors of paroles and exchanges as a desperate attempt to keep those hopes alive. Initially he writes excitedly about the possibility of an exchange; he tells us details of these rumors, when and how such an exchange might occur. But with the continued disappointment these rumors bring, he eventually only adds "Great rumors of an exchange" periodically, and the flagging enthusiasm of his phraseology demonstrates ultimately a waning of hope. In this manner, we can examine Gassett's diary and interpret what he himself did not write down, but tells us nonetheless.
As a final note, I wish to dedicate this volume to my father, Ross Stevenson Dent, who first undertook this project and would be proud to know that I have finished it. It was he who made me love history, albeit reluctantly, and it was always his wish that history such as this diary should be preserved and documented. I would also like to thank the staff of the New England Civil War Museum and the O'Connell/Chapman Historical Library for their help, their support, and the use of their facilities. I am also grateful to Walter Gassett and his family for preserving this heirloom and donating it to our museum.
The following transcription attempts to recreate verbatim the thoughts and original writings of Oscar Gassett during his service in the 56th Massachusetts Volunteers and includes his imprisonment in Andersonville Prison. Readers should note the following marks and notation as they go over this volume. As I've indicated in the footnotes, Gassett many times would save ink and space in his entries by abbreviating words and/or using symbols to represent them. I have done my best to indicate where this has occurred to give a sense of the original writing, but for readability purposes, I have written out these words and symbols where decipherable. Entries noted with the term "superscript" means that these words, places, etc., are not part of the entry but jotted down just above it as a side note. Often these superscripts are used to indicate a geographical location or to comment on weather conditions. Wherever possible, I have tried to fill in words or phrases based on the content or context of an entry to help a reader understand an otherwise confusing passage without compromising the integrity of the original document. These additions are marked with [ ]s and words or phrases set off by these [ ]s indicate my logical assumptions. Phrases marked off by [ ]s and including ?s indicate that I was unable to definitively transcribe a word or phrase and am offering my best judgement.
Over the course of this transcription, I have done my best to make it readable and understandable. This includes my addition of punctuation and capitalization where I found it necessary. I have also corrected the misspelling of words and names where applicable, or have otherwise noted these things in the footnotes. I have not, however, fixed all errors, particularly grammatical ones, as I believe this would take away from the original document and the style of Oscar Gassett's era.
Sergeant J. Littlefield reports for duty. B[_____] Cosgrove reports for duty. Captain Thayer's officer of the day. Mother came down with Uncle Greene and gave me exchange of clothing, etc.