"Happy Boy"

William Wallace Robertson at age 21

There has been more written about the U.S. Civil War than almost any topic in American history. It was well-documented at the time, and the experiences of its individual soldiers are accessible to us thanks to their diaries, letters, and photographs. The Hart Cluett Museum is fortunate to have been given the diaries of William Wallace Robertson by his great-grandson, David Robertson. Robertson, who went by Wallace, wrote daily from his enlistment at age 21 in the 11th Independent Battery of the N.Y. State Volunteers (Havelock’s Battery) in Albany on August 7, 1862 until several months after he arrived back home in June 1865. He wrote in pencil, but went over many of the entries in pen himself some years later; a fact he even noted in the final diary. This diary offers many avenues of research.

Wallace, son of William H. Robertson and Margaret Boggs, was born in Putnam, Washington County in 1841. His father worked in the woodworking industry, listed as a “planing machinist” in Troy in the 1860 US Census. Wallace had an older sister, Isabelle, called Bell, and several younger brothers. In that census, Wallace was listed as an apprentice at planing. He worked in the lumber and wood industry all his life. He and a partner owned a lumber mill in North Tonawanda from the 1870s until his retirement in 1895.

It’s not known what led Wallace to enlist in the Artillery that August. At the same time the 125th Infantry Regiment was enrolling soldiers right in Troy. The 11th, also called Havelock’s Battery, had been formed the year before, and had spent its first year as part of the defenses of Washington, D.C. It was adding members in August 1862. Wallace enlisted with his friends Charley Hill and Isaac Pearl. Did he feel that his mechanical skills might be put to better use operating artillery? Or did he think, correctly, that artillerymen would walk less than infantrymen?

First entry in the 1862 diary of William Wallace Robertson. The 1863 diary is at the left.

Almost every day Wallace recorded the weather and information on his correspondence in his diary. And every day that he was not actually marching or fighting, he wrote and received at least one letter. His father was his best correspondent, his sister Bell close behind, but he wrote and received letters from many other people, as well. His father also sent him newspapers. Even when his unit was moving frequently, he received mail in a timely manner.

Wallace participated in all of the battles of the Army of the Potomac beginning in Autumn 1862 until Appomattox in April 1865. His unit moved frequently, though mostly in Virginia.

Below is a selection of entries from his diaries.

August 18, 1862, just after arriving in camp in Virginia

Was inspected this morning Drilled with the cannons at afternoon liked it first rate went about ¾ mile from camp and got some boards. Made me a bunk

Thursday, December 25, 1862

Stayed in Camp all day rather a dull Christmas afternoon wrote letter to Father and Mother- Stayed in our tent in the evening, had a bottle of wine between 3 of us- consequently had an argument on the slave question

Note: This is the only time he mentions drinking alcohol. He later became a temperance advocate.

Wednesday, April 1, 1863

Recd orders at 2 p.m. to prepare to move at a minutes notice for the enemy was advancing in force. Harnessed up and got ready, but the rebs did not make an appearance. On guard today. Cold and windy. The company went down to the hospital and buried Scribner. Went to prayer meeting in the evening.

Note: William Scribner, a Private, had enlisted in fall 1861 and died of disease the day before.

Sunday, May 3, 1863

Clear and warm. Up early marched near Hooker’s headquarters. Rebels opened on our troops about 6. 10 killed out of our position, two wounded Marched down by Hookers headquarters-Shelled out of that place. Saw Genl Hooker knocked down by a rebel shot- went and took a position. about ½ mile. lost about 9 men- then took a new position and shelled the rebels teribly. A terrific battle all day.

Note: This was the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Monday, June 15, 1863

Hot and dusty. Marched until 2 p.m. passed Fairfax Station. Encamped about one mile from Fairfax Courthouse. Pitched our tents and slept at the rate of 60 miles an hour.

Note: Fairfax, Virginia is about 20 miles west of Washington, D.C.

Friday, July 3, 1863

Cool and cloudy in the morning. Marched to the front 4 or 5 times and back again. Battle commenced heavy about 11 a.m. The enemy commenced a terrible fire of artillery on our centre. Our battery went to the front about 2 p.m. and immediately commenced fireing fired until about 5 in the evening tried to turn our flank but were repulsed with heavy losses. Our boys took a brigade of them. Slept soundly all night by our guns.

Note: The Battle of Gettysburg.

Saturday, September 26, 1863

Clear and cool. Stayed in camp all day- In the evening went down the music dell. In a very picturesque nook in some rocks by the side of the tracks where the boys have a piano that they got from some deserted houses. Nichols and Burton played the violin and a man from the 1st NH played the piano. Music first rate made me think of home.

Thursday, January 14, 1864

Clear and pleasant. A little unwell did not work. Stayed in the tent all day. In the evening attended a meeting which was held for the purpose of organizing a Lyceum for the battery.

Note: Wallace spent the winter of 1864 cutting firewood, learning grammar from a fellow soldier, and attending a lyceum or debating society the soldiers organized themselves, plus attending prayer meetings and writing letters.

Monday, April 18, 1864

Cold and windy…. Reviewed by Genl Grant in the afternoon. Found the General a very plain looking man, who didn’t seem to care much for show. Debate in the evening.

Friday, June 24, 1864

Wrote letter to Father Up early got breakfast and prepared to take it cool. When the rebels opened on our reg. right smart opened on them.... Spherical case shell exploded in our breastwork and killed Elwell, wounded Manning, Marky, and I. Struck in the right arm above the elbow. Fired 32 shots. Went down to the caissons.

Note: Part of the assault on Petersburgh - apparently Wallace’s wound was minor, he mentions his arm hurting the next few days, but it was noted in his official records.

Sunday, April 9, 1865

Harnessed at 6 and marched at 7 a.m. day clear and beautiful. Halted at 1 p.m. for a flag of truce. In a short time learned that Lea (sic) had surrendered the army of N.V. Thank God.

Note: Army of Northern Virginia.

Friday, May 26, 1865

Rained all day. Wrote letter to Bell. Terrible dull. Uncle Sam I want to go home. …

Saturday, June 3, 1865

Arrived in Albany at 5 a.m. took breakfast at the Delivan. Got a suit of citizens clothes. Went to West Troy and took tea with Mrs. Bradley. Went up to Waterford in the evening. Stayed at Mrs. Wheelers

Sunday, June 4, 1865

Returned to West Troy in the morning. Went to Church with Mrs. B. Went to Waterford in the evening. Passed the evening with Libbie and the Dear Girl promised me, well no matter what- Happy boy-

Dedication of the 11th NY Infantry monument at Gettysburg in 1893. William Wallace Robertson is the tall man to the right of the man kneeling to the right of the monument.

Wallace corresponded with Libbie - Mary Elizabeth Hawley - throughout the war. He proposed to her on June 4 (last entry above). They were married in 1866 and had six children. They lived most of their married life in North Tonawanda, New York, where Wallace died in 1929 and Libbie in 1931. He was a proud member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the veterans’ organization of Union soldiers. David Robertson, who donated the collection to HCM, says his father remembers Wallace riding in an open car in the Memorial Day and 4th of July parades.