A diary, certificate of appraisal of captured horses, and a muster-in roll kept by James Bradley of Preston, Connecticut. Bradley enlisted 11 October 1861 and was mustered-in a Private on 26 October 1861. A member of the First Connecticut Cavalry, Company C, Bradley was promoted to Sergeant on 10 June 1864 and Second Lieutenant 18 October 1864 (date of muster 7 January 1865). He was mustered-out on 2 August 1865. Bradley̕s diary contains interesting, albeit very brief, accounts of the many engagements during the month preceding Lee̕s surrender of his army at Appomattox Court House, VA. On 8 April 1865: "Ordered to escort Gen Grant to Sheridans HQ." On 9 April 1865: "great cheering in both armies.... Gen Custer received the first flag of truce & went into the reb lines with a white hankerchief on his hat." On 17 April 1865: "went foraging...found corn & a weeping woman but our horses must be fed so the woman found no pity." Unfortunately the diary is written in pencil which has become badly blurred and faded over time.
