{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":1,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Reader, Frank Smith","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment.","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_5221.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/198580","title_ssm":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"title_tesim":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"unitdate_ssm":["1864"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1864"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 1720","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/5221"],"text":["A\u0026M 1720","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/5221","Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary","Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Civil War --  War diaries","Civil War - Union soldiers.","Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","Civil War battles - Piedmont.","Civil War battles.","Diaries - Civil War.","Diaries and journals.","Weather","No special access restriction applies.","Frank Smith Reader, also given as Francis Smith Reader, was born in 1842 in Greenfield (now Coal Center), Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 at the age of eighteen. Despite lingering illness from a case of poisoning in 1862, Reader served three full years with his regiment. He escaped after his June 1864 capture and was mustered out of the service on 28 July 1864 on account of poor health.","After the war, Reader returned to Pennsylvania. He tried his hands at several careers, including brief stints as a schoolteacher and as a minister. He found success first as Chief Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a newspaper publisher. He entered upon a newspaper career at New Brighton, Pennsylvania in 1874, publishing the  Beaver Valley News , and later became editor and proprietor of his own paper, the  Daily News . In 1890, he published  The History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry . He was also active in post-war Republican politics.","Company I of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry was originally organized in Reader's hometown of Greenfield, Pennsylvania. The company was fully enlisted on 27 April 1861; however, the quota for three months men from Pennsylvania had already been filled. The Loyal Government of Virginia had not yet reached its quota for enlistments and Company I was mustered into service on 10 July 1861 at Camp Carlile in Wheeling, (West) Virginia and became part of the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. This regiment would become the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry on 26 January 1864 by order of the Secretary of War. Company I mustered out on 28 July 1864.","Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his Regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg.","Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods and his opinions of his work; performances by military bands; daily duties; reports of rebel activity, particularly bushwackers; violent and unusual incidents among the troops; conduct of officers; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; the natural beauty of the countryside; rations and living off of the land; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns, including the destruction of southern railroads, bridges, and other infrastructure and public buildings.","Highlights from the diary include:","10 March - Reader begins the diary while in garrison at Martinsburg","15 March - General Sigel visits troops at Martinsburg","17 March - W.W. Averell forms a Division of Cavalry","18 March - General Stahl visits Martinsburg","28 March - order is given for detached men to return to their regiments; Reader will be returning to the Fifth, glad","29 March - traveling from Martinsburg to Cumberland; meets with Colonel George R. Latham of the Fifth","31 March - traveling to meet the Fifth at Patterson Creek, happy; detailed to be clerk at Department Headquarters; \"we are bound to fight mit Sigel now\"","1 April - \"All fools day\"; heard a speech in favor of emancipation in Maryland, impressed","2 April - speech by former Governor Thomas at Belvidere hall","4 April - Reader begins work as clerk and finds it agreeable","9 April - visited by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin; much celebration","10 April - arrival of the Ringgold Battalion","14 April - Reader goes to the theater and enjoys it greatly","25 April - body of a Maryland soldier brought home, having been starved to death in Richmond","27-29 April - Headquarters moved from Cumberland to Martinsburg; Reader then follows General Sigel to Winchester, Va","1 May - Union troops receive a mixed reception from the citizens of Winchester","9 May - \"'Porte Crayon' [David Hunter Strother] is riding with us taking sketches \u0026c. and I hope will sketch and publish for the amusement and interest of his admirers\"","14-16 May - [Battle of New Market] arrival at Mount Jackson, hard fighting followed by a retreat; despite Smith's previous confidence, things go poorly","21-22 May - replacement of General Sigel by General Hunter","26 May - Reader reports that a house was burned down in Strausburg; orders to burn down any house from which a guerrilla fires","28 May - \"Got me a horse to day. He is a regular Pegassus. He is about as long as one of Abe's rails and as intricate as one of his proclamations\"","30 May - Reader reports that Newtown was burned as a warning to bushwackers; burying Union dead; his opinion of Sigel is falling, while his opinion of Hunter improves","5 June - Battle of Piedmont; death of Confederate General W.E. Jones; rebel officers taken prisoner","6 June - occupation of Staunton; \"some Union sentiment\"; shown by citizens; Reader's good opinion of General Hunter; makes record of prisoners, cannon, and arms taken","11 June - burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)","12 June - burning of public building in Lexington, Virginia, including residence of Governor Letcher; makes record of trophies taken, including books, pieces of Revolutionary War era artillery, and a bronze statue of Washington","17-19 June - Reader reports being the first Yankees to arrive in that part of the country [near Sweet Springs, West Virginia]; residents very frightened of them","21 June - Reader criticizes the men of the 100 days militia","23-25 June - captured along with 12 others while en route to White Sulphur Springs; taken under guard to Calihan's Station and then to prison at Covington; the possibility of being sent South.","The last pages of the diary contain two poems and the date \"Nov. 30th 1865\"","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the  Permissions and Copyright page  on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/","West Virginia and Regional History Center","Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L.","English \n.    "],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 1720","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/5221"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"collection_title_tesim":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"collection_ssim":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865"],"geogname_ssim":["Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865"],"creator_ssm":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"creator_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"creators_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"places_ssim":["Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the  Permissions and Copyright page  on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Civil War --  War diaries","Civil War - Union soldiers.","Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","Civil War battles - Piedmont.","Civil War battles.","Diaries - Civil War.","Diaries and journals.","Weather"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Civil War --  War diaries","Civil War - Union soldiers.","Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","Civil War battles - Piedmont.","Civil War battles.","Diaries - Civil War.","Diaries and journals.","Weather"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["0.15 Linear Feet Summary: 1 3/4 in. (1 reel of microfilm, 1.75 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["0.15 Linear Feet Summary: 1 3/4 in. (1 reel of microfilm, 1.75 in.)"],"date_range_isim":[1864],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFrank Smith Reader, also given as Francis Smith Reader, was born in 1842 in Greenfield (now Coal Center), Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 at the age of eighteen. Despite lingering illness from a case of poisoning in 1862, Reader served three full years with his regiment. He escaped after his June 1864 capture and was mustered out of the service on 28 July 1864 on account of poor health.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, Reader returned to Pennsylvania. He tried his hands at several careers, including brief stints as a schoolteacher and as a minister. He found success first as Chief Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a newspaper publisher. He entered upon a newspaper career at New Brighton, Pennsylvania in 1874, publishing the \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eBeaver Valley News\u003c/emph\u003e, and later became editor and proprietor of his own paper, the \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eDaily News\u003c/emph\u003e. In 1890, he published \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry\u003c/emph\u003e. He was also active in post-war Republican politics.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCompany I of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry was originally organized in Reader's hometown of Greenfield, Pennsylvania. The company was fully enlisted on 27 April 1861; however, the quota for three months men from Pennsylvania had already been filled. The Loyal Government of Virginia had not yet reached its quota for enlistments and Company I was mustered into service on 10 July 1861 at Camp Carlile in Wheeling, (West) Virginia and became part of the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. This regiment would become the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry on 26 January 1864 by order of the Secretary of War. Company I mustered out on 28 July 1864.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Frank Smith Reader, also given as Francis Smith Reader, was born in 1842 in Greenfield (now Coal Center), Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 at the age of eighteen. Despite lingering illness from a case of poisoning in 1862, Reader served three full years with his regiment. He escaped after his June 1864 capture and was mustered out of the service on 28 July 1864 on account of poor health.","After the war, Reader returned to Pennsylvania. He tried his hands at several careers, including brief stints as a schoolteacher and as a minister. He found success first as Chief Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a newspaper publisher. He entered upon a newspaper career at New Brighton, Pennsylvania in 1874, publishing the  Beaver Valley News , and later became editor and proprietor of his own paper, the  Daily News . In 1890, he published  The History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry . He was also active in post-war Republican politics.","Company I of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry was originally organized in Reader's hometown of Greenfield, Pennsylvania. The company was fully enlisted on 27 April 1861; however, the quota for three months men from Pennsylvania had already been filled. The Loyal Government of Virginia had not yet reached its quota for enlistments and Company I was mustered into service on 10 July 1861 at Camp Carlile in Wheeling, (West) Virginia and became part of the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. This regiment would become the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry on 26 January 1864 by order of the Secretary of War. Company I mustered out on 28 July 1864."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary, A\u0026amp;M 1720, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary, A\u0026M 1720, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDiary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his Regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eDiary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods and his opinions of his work; performances by military bands; daily duties; reports of rebel activity, particularly bushwackers; violent and unusual incidents among the troops; conduct of officers; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; the natural beauty of the countryside; rations and living off of the land; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns, including the destruction of southern railroads, bridges, and other infrastructure and public buildings.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHighlights from the diary include:\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e10 March - Reader begins the diary while in garrison at Martinsburg\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e15 March - General Sigel visits troops at Martinsburg\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e17 March - W.W. Averell forms a Division of Cavalry\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e18 March - General Stahl visits Martinsburg\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e28 March - order is given for detached men to return to their regiments; Reader will be returning to the Fifth, glad\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e29 March - traveling from Martinsburg to Cumberland; meets with Colonel George R. Latham of the Fifth\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e31 March - traveling to meet the Fifth at Patterson Creek, happy; detailed to be clerk at Department Headquarters; \"we are bound to fight mit Sigel now\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e1 April - \"All fools day\"; heard a speech in favor of emancipation in Maryland, impressed\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e2 April - speech by former Governor Thomas at Belvidere hall\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e4 April - Reader begins work as clerk and finds it agreeable\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e9 April - visited by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin; much celebration\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e10 April - arrival of the Ringgold Battalion\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e14 April - Reader goes to the theater and enjoys it greatly\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e25 April - body of a Maryland soldier brought home, having been starved to death in Richmond\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e27-29 April - Headquarters moved from Cumberland to Martinsburg; Reader then follows General Sigel to Winchester, Va\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e1 May - Union troops receive a mixed reception from the citizens of Winchester\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e9 May - \"'Porte Crayon' [David Hunter Strother] is riding with us taking sketches \u0026amp;c. and I hope will sketch and publish for the amusement and interest of his admirers\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e14-16 May - [Battle of New Market] arrival at Mount Jackson, hard fighting followed by a retreat; despite Smith's previous confidence, things go poorly\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e21-22 May - replacement of General Sigel by General Hunter\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e26 May - Reader reports that a house was burned down in Strausburg; orders to burn down any house from which a guerrilla fires\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e28 May - \"Got me a horse to day. He is a regular Pegassus. He is about as long as one of Abe's rails and as intricate as one of his proclamations\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e30 May - Reader reports that Newtown was burned as a warning to bushwackers; burying Union dead; his opinion of Sigel is falling, while his opinion of Hunter improves\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e5 June - Battle of Piedmont; death of Confederate General W.E. Jones; rebel officers taken prisoner\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e6 June - occupation of Staunton; \"some Union sentiment\"; shown by citizens; Reader's good opinion of General Hunter; makes record of prisoners, cannon, and arms taken\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e11 June - burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e12 June - burning of public building in Lexington, Virginia, including residence of Governor Letcher; makes record of trophies taken, including books, pieces of Revolutionary War era artillery, and a bronze statue of Washington\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e17-19 June - Reader reports being the first Yankees to arrive in that part of the country [near Sweet Springs, West Virginia]; residents very frightened of them\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e21 June - Reader criticizes the men of the 100 days militia\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e23-25 June - captured along with 12 others while en route to White Sulphur Springs; taken under guard to Calihan's Station and then to prison at Covington; the possibility of being sent South.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe last pages of the diary contain two poems and the date \"Nov. 30th 1865\"\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his Regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg.","Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods and his opinions of his work; performances by military bands; daily duties; reports of rebel activity, particularly bushwackers; violent and unusual incidents among the troops; conduct of officers; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; the natural beauty of the countryside; rations and living off of the land; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns, including the destruction of southern railroads, bridges, and other infrastructure and public buildings.","Highlights from the diary include:","10 March - Reader begins the diary while in garrison at Martinsburg","15 March - General Sigel visits troops at Martinsburg","17 March - W.W. Averell forms a Division of Cavalry","18 March - General Stahl visits Martinsburg","28 March - order is given for detached men to return to their regiments; Reader will be returning to the Fifth, glad","29 March - traveling from Martinsburg to Cumberland; meets with Colonel George R. Latham of the Fifth","31 March - traveling to meet the Fifth at Patterson Creek, happy; detailed to be clerk at Department Headquarters; \"we are bound to fight mit Sigel now\"","1 April - \"All fools day\"; heard a speech in favor of emancipation in Maryland, impressed","2 April - speech by former Governor Thomas at Belvidere hall","4 April - Reader begins work as clerk and finds it agreeable","9 April - visited by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin; much celebration","10 April - arrival of the Ringgold Battalion","14 April - Reader goes to the theater and enjoys it greatly","25 April - body of a Maryland soldier brought home, having been starved to death in Richmond","27-29 April - Headquarters moved from Cumberland to Martinsburg; Reader then follows General Sigel to Winchester, Va","1 May - Union troops receive a mixed reception from the citizens of Winchester","9 May - \"'Porte Crayon' [David Hunter Strother] is riding with us taking sketches \u0026c. and I hope will sketch and publish for the amusement and interest of his admirers\"","14-16 May - [Battle of New Market] arrival at Mount Jackson, hard fighting followed by a retreat; despite Smith's previous confidence, things go poorly","21-22 May - replacement of General Sigel by General Hunter","26 May - Reader reports that a house was burned down in Strausburg; orders to burn down any house from which a guerrilla fires","28 May - \"Got me a horse to day. He is a regular Pegassus. He is about as long as one of Abe's rails and as intricate as one of his proclamations\"","30 May - Reader reports that Newtown was burned as a warning to bushwackers; burying Union dead; his opinion of Sigel is falling, while his opinion of Hunter improves","5 June - Battle of Piedmont; death of Confederate General W.E. Jones; rebel officers taken prisoner","6 June - occupation of Staunton; \"some Union sentiment\"; shown by citizens; Reader's good opinion of General Hunter; makes record of prisoners, cannon, and arms taken","11 June - burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)","12 June - burning of public building in Lexington, Virginia, including residence of Governor Letcher; makes record of trophies taken, including books, pieces of Revolutionary War era artillery, and a bronze statue of Washington","17-19 June - Reader reports being the first Yankees to arrive in that part of the country [near Sweet Springs, West Virginia]; residents very frightened of them","21 June - Reader criticizes the men of the 100 days militia","23-25 June - captured along with 12 others while en route to White Sulphur Springs; taken under guard to Calihan's Station and then to prison at Covington; the possibility of being sent South.","The last pages of the diary contain two poems and the date \"Nov. 30th 1865\""],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the  Permissions and Copyright page  on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_87019b229010dd583f6fb2ec94d1bf9e\"\u003eDiary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5182fa60dc1291b95ac7829a4e2f94a1\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L."],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"names_coll_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L."],"persname_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L."],"language_ssim":["English \n.    "],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":0,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-04-30T23:23:37.799Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_5221.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/198580","title_ssm":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"title_tesim":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"unitdate_ssm":["1864"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1864"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 1720","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/5221"],"text":["A\u0026M 1720","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/5221","Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary","Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Civil War --  War diaries","Civil War - Union soldiers.","Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","Civil War battles - Piedmont.","Civil War battles.","Diaries - Civil War.","Diaries and journals.","Weather","No special access restriction applies.","Frank Smith Reader, also given as Francis Smith Reader, was born in 1842 in Greenfield (now Coal Center), Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 at the age of eighteen. Despite lingering illness from a case of poisoning in 1862, Reader served three full years with his regiment. He escaped after his June 1864 capture and was mustered out of the service on 28 July 1864 on account of poor health.","After the war, Reader returned to Pennsylvania. He tried his hands at several careers, including brief stints as a schoolteacher and as a minister. He found success first as Chief Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a newspaper publisher. He entered upon a newspaper career at New Brighton, Pennsylvania in 1874, publishing the  Beaver Valley News , and later became editor and proprietor of his own paper, the  Daily News . In 1890, he published  The History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry . He was also active in post-war Republican politics.","Company I of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry was originally organized in Reader's hometown of Greenfield, Pennsylvania. The company was fully enlisted on 27 April 1861; however, the quota for three months men from Pennsylvania had already been filled. The Loyal Government of Virginia had not yet reached its quota for enlistments and Company I was mustered into service on 10 July 1861 at Camp Carlile in Wheeling, (West) Virginia and became part of the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. This regiment would become the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry on 26 January 1864 by order of the Secretary of War. Company I mustered out on 28 July 1864.","Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his Regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg.","Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods and his opinions of his work; performances by military bands; daily duties; reports of rebel activity, particularly bushwackers; violent and unusual incidents among the troops; conduct of officers; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; the natural beauty of the countryside; rations and living off of the land; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns, including the destruction of southern railroads, bridges, and other infrastructure and public buildings.","Highlights from the diary include:","10 March - Reader begins the diary while in garrison at Martinsburg","15 March - General Sigel visits troops at Martinsburg","17 March - W.W. Averell forms a Division of Cavalry","18 March - General Stahl visits Martinsburg","28 March - order is given for detached men to return to their regiments; Reader will be returning to the Fifth, glad","29 March - traveling from Martinsburg to Cumberland; meets with Colonel George R. Latham of the Fifth","31 March - traveling to meet the Fifth at Patterson Creek, happy; detailed to be clerk at Department Headquarters; \"we are bound to fight mit Sigel now\"","1 April - \"All fools day\"; heard a speech in favor of emancipation in Maryland, impressed","2 April - speech by former Governor Thomas at Belvidere hall","4 April - Reader begins work as clerk and finds it agreeable","9 April - visited by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin; much celebration","10 April - arrival of the Ringgold Battalion","14 April - Reader goes to the theater and enjoys it greatly","25 April - body of a Maryland soldier brought home, having been starved to death in Richmond","27-29 April - Headquarters moved from Cumberland to Martinsburg; Reader then follows General Sigel to Winchester, Va","1 May - Union troops receive a mixed reception from the citizens of Winchester","9 May - \"'Porte Crayon' [David Hunter Strother] is riding with us taking sketches \u0026c. and I hope will sketch and publish for the amusement and interest of his admirers\"","14-16 May - [Battle of New Market] arrival at Mount Jackson, hard fighting followed by a retreat; despite Smith's previous confidence, things go poorly","21-22 May - replacement of General Sigel by General Hunter","26 May - Reader reports that a house was burned down in Strausburg; orders to burn down any house from which a guerrilla fires","28 May - \"Got me a horse to day. He is a regular Pegassus. He is about as long as one of Abe's rails and as intricate as one of his proclamations\"","30 May - Reader reports that Newtown was burned as a warning to bushwackers; burying Union dead; his opinion of Sigel is falling, while his opinion of Hunter improves","5 June - Battle of Piedmont; death of Confederate General W.E. Jones; rebel officers taken prisoner","6 June - occupation of Staunton; \"some Union sentiment\"; shown by citizens; Reader's good opinion of General Hunter; makes record of prisoners, cannon, and arms taken","11 June - burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)","12 June - burning of public building in Lexington, Virginia, including residence of Governor Letcher; makes record of trophies taken, including books, pieces of Revolutionary War era artillery, and a bronze statue of Washington","17-19 June - Reader reports being the first Yankees to arrive in that part of the country [near Sweet Springs, West Virginia]; residents very frightened of them","21 June - Reader criticizes the men of the 100 days militia","23-25 June - captured along with 12 others while en route to White Sulphur Springs; taken under guard to Calihan's Station and then to prison at Covington; the possibility of being sent South.","The last pages of the diary contain two poems and the date \"Nov. 30th 1865\"","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the  Permissions and Copyright page  on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/","West Virginia and Regional History Center","Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L.","English \n.    "],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 1720","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/5221"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"collection_title_tesim":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"collection_ssim":["Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865"],"geogname_ssim":["Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865"],"creator_ssm":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"creator_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"creators_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith"],"places_ssim":["Sweet Springs.","White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the  Permissions and Copyright page  on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Civil War --  War diaries","Civil War - Union soldiers.","Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","Civil War battles - Piedmont.","Civil War battles.","Diaries - Civil War.","Diaries and journals.","Weather"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Civil War --  War diaries","Civil War - Union soldiers.","Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","Civil War battles - Piedmont.","Civil War battles.","Diaries - Civil War.","Diaries and journals.","Weather"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["0.15 Linear Feet Summary: 1 3/4 in. (1 reel of microfilm, 1.75 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["0.15 Linear Feet Summary: 1 3/4 in. (1 reel of microfilm, 1.75 in.)"],"date_range_isim":[1864],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFrank Smith Reader, also given as Francis Smith Reader, was born in 1842 in Greenfield (now Coal Center), Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 at the age of eighteen. Despite lingering illness from a case of poisoning in 1862, Reader served three full years with his regiment. He escaped after his June 1864 capture and was mustered out of the service on 28 July 1864 on account of poor health.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, Reader returned to Pennsylvania. He tried his hands at several careers, including brief stints as a schoolteacher and as a minister. He found success first as Chief Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a newspaper publisher. He entered upon a newspaper career at New Brighton, Pennsylvania in 1874, publishing the \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eBeaver Valley News\u003c/emph\u003e, and later became editor and proprietor of his own paper, the \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eDaily News\u003c/emph\u003e. In 1890, he published \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry\u003c/emph\u003e. He was also active in post-war Republican politics.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCompany I of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry was originally organized in Reader's hometown of Greenfield, Pennsylvania. The company was fully enlisted on 27 April 1861; however, the quota for three months men from Pennsylvania had already been filled. The Loyal Government of Virginia had not yet reached its quota for enlistments and Company I was mustered into service on 10 July 1861 at Camp Carlile in Wheeling, (West) Virginia and became part of the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. This regiment would become the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry on 26 January 1864 by order of the Secretary of War. Company I mustered out on 28 July 1864.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Frank Smith Reader, also given as Francis Smith Reader, was born in 1842 in Greenfield (now Coal Center), Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 at the age of eighteen. Despite lingering illness from a case of poisoning in 1862, Reader served three full years with his regiment. He escaped after his June 1864 capture and was mustered out of the service on 28 July 1864 on account of poor health.","After the war, Reader returned to Pennsylvania. He tried his hands at several careers, including brief stints as a schoolteacher and as a minister. He found success first as Chief Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service and later as a newspaper publisher. He entered upon a newspaper career at New Brighton, Pennsylvania in 1874, publishing the  Beaver Valley News , and later became editor and proprietor of his own paper, the  Daily News . In 1890, he published  The History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry . He was also active in post-war Republican politics.","Company I of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry was originally organized in Reader's hometown of Greenfield, Pennsylvania. The company was fully enlisted on 27 April 1861; however, the quota for three months men from Pennsylvania had already been filled. The Loyal Government of Virginia had not yet reached its quota for enlistments and Company I was mustered into service on 10 July 1861 at Camp Carlile in Wheeling, (West) Virginia and became part of the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. This regiment would become the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry on 26 January 1864 by order of the Secretary of War. Company I mustered out on 28 July 1864."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary, A\u0026amp;M 1720, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary, A\u0026M 1720, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDiary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his Regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eDiary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods and his opinions of his work; performances by military bands; daily duties; reports of rebel activity, particularly bushwackers; violent and unusual incidents among the troops; conduct of officers; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; the natural beauty of the countryside; rations and living off of the land; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns, including the destruction of southern railroads, bridges, and other infrastructure and public buildings.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHighlights from the diary include:\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e10 March - Reader begins the diary while in garrison at Martinsburg\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e15 March - General Sigel visits troops at Martinsburg\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e17 March - W.W. Averell forms a Division of Cavalry\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e18 March - General Stahl visits Martinsburg\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e28 March - order is given for detached men to return to their regiments; Reader will be returning to the Fifth, glad\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e29 March - traveling from Martinsburg to Cumberland; meets with Colonel George R. Latham of the Fifth\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e31 March - traveling to meet the Fifth at Patterson Creek, happy; detailed to be clerk at Department Headquarters; \"we are bound to fight mit Sigel now\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e1 April - \"All fools day\"; heard a speech in favor of emancipation in Maryland, impressed\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e2 April - speech by former Governor Thomas at Belvidere hall\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e4 April - Reader begins work as clerk and finds it agreeable\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e9 April - visited by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin; much celebration\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e10 April - arrival of the Ringgold Battalion\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e14 April - Reader goes to the theater and enjoys it greatly\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e25 April - body of a Maryland soldier brought home, having been starved to death in Richmond\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e27-29 April - Headquarters moved from Cumberland to Martinsburg; Reader then follows General Sigel to Winchester, Va\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e1 May - Union troops receive a mixed reception from the citizens of Winchester\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e9 May - \"'Porte Crayon' [David Hunter Strother] is riding with us taking sketches \u0026amp;c. and I hope will sketch and publish for the amusement and interest of his admirers\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e14-16 May - [Battle of New Market] arrival at Mount Jackson, hard fighting followed by a retreat; despite Smith's previous confidence, things go poorly\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e21-22 May - replacement of General Sigel by General Hunter\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e26 May - Reader reports that a house was burned down in Strausburg; orders to burn down any house from which a guerrilla fires\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e28 May - \"Got me a horse to day. He is a regular Pegassus. He is about as long as one of Abe's rails and as intricate as one of his proclamations\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e30 May - Reader reports that Newtown was burned as a warning to bushwackers; burying Union dead; his opinion of Sigel is falling, while his opinion of Hunter improves\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e5 June - Battle of Piedmont; death of Confederate General W.E. Jones; rebel officers taken prisoner\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e6 June - occupation of Staunton; \"some Union sentiment\"; shown by citizens; Reader's good opinion of General Hunter; makes record of prisoners, cannon, and arms taken\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e11 June - burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e12 June - burning of public building in Lexington, Virginia, including residence of Governor Letcher; makes record of trophies taken, including books, pieces of Revolutionary War era artillery, and a bronze statue of Washington\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e17-19 June - Reader reports being the first Yankees to arrive in that part of the country [near Sweet Springs, West Virginia]; residents very frightened of them\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e21 June - Reader criticizes the men of the 100 days militia\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e23-25 June - captured along with 12 others while en route to White Sulphur Springs; taken under guard to Calihan's Station and then to prison at Covington; the possibility of being sent South.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe last pages of the diary contain two poems and the date \"Nov. 30th 1865\"\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his Regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg.","Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods and his opinions of his work; performances by military bands; daily duties; reports of rebel activity, particularly bushwackers; violent and unusual incidents among the troops; conduct of officers; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; the natural beauty of the countryside; rations and living off of the land; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns, including the destruction of southern railroads, bridges, and other infrastructure and public buildings.","Highlights from the diary include:","10 March - Reader begins the diary while in garrison at Martinsburg","15 March - General Sigel visits troops at Martinsburg","17 March - W.W. Averell forms a Division of Cavalry","18 March - General Stahl visits Martinsburg","28 March - order is given for detached men to return to their regiments; Reader will be returning to the Fifth, glad","29 March - traveling from Martinsburg to Cumberland; meets with Colonel George R. Latham of the Fifth","31 March - traveling to meet the Fifth at Patterson Creek, happy; detailed to be clerk at Department Headquarters; \"we are bound to fight mit Sigel now\"","1 April - \"All fools day\"; heard a speech in favor of emancipation in Maryland, impressed","2 April - speech by former Governor Thomas at Belvidere hall","4 April - Reader begins work as clerk and finds it agreeable","9 April - visited by Vice President Hannibal Hamlin; much celebration","10 April - arrival of the Ringgold Battalion","14 April - Reader goes to the theater and enjoys it greatly","25 April - body of a Maryland soldier brought home, having been starved to death in Richmond","27-29 April - Headquarters moved from Cumberland to Martinsburg; Reader then follows General Sigel to Winchester, Va","1 May - Union troops receive a mixed reception from the citizens of Winchester","9 May - \"'Porte Crayon' [David Hunter Strother] is riding with us taking sketches \u0026c. and I hope will sketch and publish for the amusement and interest of his admirers\"","14-16 May - [Battle of New Market] arrival at Mount Jackson, hard fighting followed by a retreat; despite Smith's previous confidence, things go poorly","21-22 May - replacement of General Sigel by General Hunter","26 May - Reader reports that a house was burned down in Strausburg; orders to burn down any house from which a guerrilla fires","28 May - \"Got me a horse to day. He is a regular Pegassus. He is about as long as one of Abe's rails and as intricate as one of his proclamations\"","30 May - Reader reports that Newtown was burned as a warning to bushwackers; burying Union dead; his opinion of Sigel is falling, while his opinion of Hunter improves","5 June - Battle of Piedmont; death of Confederate General W.E. Jones; rebel officers taken prisoner","6 June - occupation of Staunton; \"some Union sentiment\"; shown by citizens; Reader's good opinion of General Hunter; makes record of prisoners, cannon, and arms taken","11 June - burning of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI)","12 June - burning of public building in Lexington, Virginia, including residence of Governor Letcher; makes record of trophies taken, including books, pieces of Revolutionary War era artillery, and a bronze statue of Washington","17-19 June - Reader reports being the first Yankees to arrive in that part of the country [near Sweet Springs, West Virginia]; residents very frightened of them","21 June - Reader criticizes the men of the 100 days militia","23-25 June - captured along with 12 others while en route to White Sulphur Springs; taken under guard to Calihan's Station and then to prison at Covington; the possibility of being sent South.","The last pages of the diary contain two poems and the date \"Nov. 30th 1865\""],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the  Permissions and Copyright page  on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_87019b229010dd583f6fb2ec94d1bf9e\"\u003eDiary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["Diary of Frank Smith Reader of Brighton, Pennsylvania, who was a private in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, Company I. The diary covers the period of 10 March to 25 June 1864 and contains ca. 80 pp. Reader, for the period covered by this diary, was on detached duty from his regiment, serving as a clerk at General Franz Sigel's and General David Hunter's headquarters in Martinsburg, Cumberland, and in the field. Reader participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and was present at the battles of New Market, Piedmont, and Lynchburg. Diary entries comment on the weather; Reader's moods; daily duties; troop movements; skirmishes and battles; and the scorched earth policy employed during the Valley Campaigns. Please see the historical note for further information concerning Reader and his regiment."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5182fa60dc1291b95ac7829a4e2f94a1\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L."],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"names_coll_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L."],"persname_ssim":["Reader, Frank Smith","Smith, John L."],"language_ssim":["English \n.    "],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":0,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-04-30T23:23:37.799Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_5221"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"West Virginia and Regional History Center","value":"West Virginia and Regional History Center","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=West+Virginia+and+Regional+History+Center"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary","value":"Frank Smith Reader, Soldier, Civil War Diary","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Frank+Smith+Reader%2C+Soldier%2C+Civil+War+Diary\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/collection_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"date_range_isim","attributes":{"label":"Date range","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"1864","value":"1864","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1864"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/date_range_isim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"creator_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Creator","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Reader, Frank Smith","value":"Reader, Frank Smith","hits":1},"links":{"remove":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/creator_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"names_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Names","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Reader, Frank Smith","value":"Reader, Frank Smith","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Smith, John L.","value":"Smith, John L.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=Smith%2C+John+L."}},{"attributes":{"label":"West Virginia and Regional History Center","value":"West Virginia and Regional History Center","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=West+Virginia+and+Regional+History+Center"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/names_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"geogname_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Places","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Sweet Springs.","value":"Sweet Springs.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bplaces%5D%5B%5D=Sweet+Springs."}},{"attributes":{"label":"United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","value":"United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bplaces%5D%5B%5D=United+States+--+History+--+Civil+War%2C+1861-1865"}},{"attributes":{"label":"United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","value":"United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bplaces%5D%5B%5D=United+States+--+History+--+Civil+War%2C+1861-1865+--+Prisoners+and+prisons"}},{"attributes":{"label":"White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","value":"White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Bplaces%5D%5B%5D=White+Sulphur+Springs+%28W.+Va.%29"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/geogname_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"access_subjects_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Subjects","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Civil War - Union soldiers.","value":"Civil War - Union soldiers.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Civil+War+-+Union+soldiers.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","value":"Civil War - West Virginia 5th Cavalry, Company I.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Civil+War+-+West+Virginia+5th+Cavalry%2C+Company+I.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","value":"Civil War - White Sulphur Springs.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Civil+War+-+White+Sulphur+Springs.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Civil War --  War diaries","value":"Civil War --  War diaries","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Civil+War+--++War+diaries\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Civil War battles - Piedmont.","value":"Civil War battles - Piedmont.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Civil+War+battles+-+Piedmont.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Civil War battles.","value":"Civil War battles.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Civil+War+battles.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Diaries - Civil War.","value":"Diaries - Civil War.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Diaries+-+Civil+War.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Diaries and journals.","value":"Diaries and journals.","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Diaries+and+journals.\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Weather","value":"Weather","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Weather\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/access_subjects_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"facet","id":"level_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Level","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Collection","value":"Collection","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/level_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"all_fields","attributes":{"label":"All Fields"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=all_fields"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"keyword","attributes":{"label":"Keyword"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=keyword"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"name","attributes":{"label":"Name"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=name"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"place","attributes":{"label":"Place"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=place"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"subject","attributes":{"label":"Subject"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=subject"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"title","attributes":{"label":"Title"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=title"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"container","attributes":{"label":"Container"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=container"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"identifier","attributes":{"label":"Identifier"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026search_field=identifier"}},{"type":"sort","id":"score desc, title_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"relevance"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=score+desc%2C+title_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"date_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"date (ascending)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=date_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"date_sort desc","attributes":{"label":"date (descending)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=date_sort+desc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"creator_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"creator (A-Z)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=creator_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"creator_sort desc","attributes":{"label":"creator (Z-A)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=creator_sort+desc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"title_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"title (A-Z)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=title_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"title_sort desc","attributes":{"label":"title (Z-A)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Reader%2C+Frank+Smith\u0026sort=title_sort+desc"}}]}