Hiram L. Slaght diary

Collection

Identifier: BUSC-2005-002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The diary of Hiram L. Slaght (1829 - 1910) of Seneca County, New York from January 11 to November 5, 1864, covering his period of service in Company M, 50th New York Volunteer Engineers. Prior to reporting for duty on February 15 he used his diary to describe his day-to-day life in the Southern Finger Lakes region of New York State. From mid-February until August 21 he describes his experiences on active duty. On August 21 he notes that he was sick and on August 22 the doctor sent him to the hospital. He returned to the regiment on August 30, only to become ill again on September 20 and return to the hospital. Thereafter most of his entries are some variation of “in hospital” or “sick” with little else. The final entry in the extant diary is from November 5, 1864: “order to go home.”

The front free endpaper of the diary is stamped "H. L. Slack | Co. M. 50. N Y Eng.," Slack being a variant spelling of his name. The page for the days January 4-6, before Slaght begins his entries, were used later to write a note, as follows: "Mr. A. W. McCormick | Sir, I have sent you my old diary showing every day work from the time I enlisted untill I was sent home sick. I send this diary to sho you I was no shirk or ded beat. I dun my duty as long as I could. I send stamps for the return of this diary to me." On the facing page he gives his name and address as Hiram L. Slaght, Watkins, N.Y." A. W. McCormick was a prominent pension attorney in Cincinnati.

A rough transcription of the diary is included.

Dates

Creation: 1864

Creator

Slaght, Hiram L., 1829-1910 (Person)

Biographical Note

Hiram L. Slaght was born in Triangle, Broome County, New York on March 23, 1829 to David and Olive Slaght. In the 1850 census the family is recorded as living in Covert, Seneca County, New York; Hiram is not listed in this entry and has not been located in the 1850 census. His first wife, Betsey, died on February 27, 1858 and is buried in Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg, Tompkins County, New York. His second wife, Hannah Ellis, died on October 22, 1897 and is also buried in Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg, Tompkins County, New York.

In the 1860 census Hiram is listed with his parents and siblings at Covert, Seneca County, New York, with his occupation given as "Cooper." He enlisted as a private in Company M, 50th New York Volunteer Engineers, on January 11, 1864, and served until November of that year, when he was invalided home.

In 1868 Slaght received a patent for an improved butter churn, along with Daniel H. Carpenter.

In 1870 he is living with Hannah and his daugther Mary at Lodi, Seneca County, New York, with his occupation given as "Farmer & Mason." By 1880 he was living with Sybil Gibson Travis and her daughter May in Catlin, Chemung County, New York, and his occupation is given as "Farmer." In this year Sybil is listed as his sister-in-law. In the 1890 Veterans Schedule his address is given as Watkins, Schuyler County. Hiram and Sybil married in 1898 and in the 1900 census are living in Reading, Schuyler County, New York; his occupation is given as "old soldier."

Hiram Slaght died on November 19, 1910, and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, New York, with his third wife, Sybil Gibson Travis. An obituary was published in the November 24, 1910 issue of the Schuyler Country Chronicle.

Extent

.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The diary of Hiram L. Slaght (1829 - 1910) of Seneca County, New York from January 11 to November 5, 1864, covering his period of service in Company M, 50th New York Volunteer Engineers.