In an afterword, Thiselton also explains his motivation for recording his experiences:

The above record gives but the prominent features of the experience of the company. Of the thousands [of] hardships trials and petty annoyances inevitably connected with a millitary life either in camp or field, nothing has been written. They were borne patiently and endured bravely...of the original 1100 men who enlisted in August 1862 there were but 65 men who could not write their names and but one of those was native born. When the regiment was formed there were no large bounties offered as an inducement to enlist and it is safe to say that Patriotism was the only motive that brought this body of men to the defense of our country corner stone the "Constitution." (Some punctuation added.) (View page 98 and 99 of diary.)

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