Civil War diary, 9 June-19 Sept. 1863, written in two different hands, begun by Union soldier, William H. Jackson (4th Michigan Regt.) during week of 9-19 June 1863; collected from the battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., by a Confederate soldier and subsequently sold to Private Lipman George Balle (Col. D., 3rd S.C. Battalion), who added entries, 31 July - 19 Sept. 1863. Jackson's few entries are terse and simply documnet marches, inspections, and picket duty, as entry dated 17 June 1863: "Marches from Manassas to gum springs fell out and caught up at night." Balle's subsequent entries are somewhat fuller and more detailed, and they document life in camp and a march from Virginia through North and South Carolina to Georgia. The abrupt end of Balle's entries is explained by a tear which pierces the volume. Family lore holds that Balle credited the diary with saving his life when he was struck by a minie ball. The ball had expended most of its force in penetrating the diary. Balle survived the war to become a prominent resident of Laurens, S.C. Unbound items include photocopy of pass for furlough, 14 Jan. 1865, issued to L.G. Balle, and obiturary [Feb. 1912] with biographical information on Balle's life and family members. Photocopy of diary includes transcriptions of entries.
