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three diaries. The Army reorganization act of 1866 authorized the formation of 30 new regiments to meet the demands of the peacetime military, to enable an effective occupation of the South (though effective it never really was) and to prosecute a vigorous war against the Indians of the west. Among these regiments, six were designated as `colored,` consisting of African American volunteers and non-coms led by white commissioned officers: the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments (later known as the Buffalo Soldiers) and the 38th through 41st Infantry. Raised in the Department of the Gulf, the 39th Infantry was recruited from the vicinity of New Orleans and assigned initially to guard duty in forts in Louisiana and Mississippi, mostly around the mouth of the Mississippi River. Samuel K. Thompson, a Midwesterner, possibly from Kansas, received a commission in the 39th on October 21, 1867, and was ordered to join the regiment in Greenville, Louisiana. One thing seems clear: Thompson was familiar with military life and more particularly life with African American soldiers. A Civil War veteran, he began his military career as a private in 5th Kansas Cavalry in 1861, which saw duty primarily in Arkansas, but then accepted a lieutenant`s commission in the 54th U.S. Colored Infantry (2nd Arkansas Infantry, African Descent) in 1864, with whom he served through the end of the conflict. Although Thompson wrote in a pocket diary, roughly 5 x 7`, he wrote in a very fine, small hand, providing an unusually dense, daily record of his activities. He regularly mentions his fellow officers, comrades from the war, the enlisted men in his regiment, and the places where he is traveling or stationed. For eight months beginning in January 1868, Thompson was posted to guard duty at Ship Island, Mississippi, which boasted a federal fort, a prison, and little else. The prison was built for Confederates, but by the time the 39th arrived, most of the inmates were federal soldiers, and Thompson writes regularly about discipline issues with his men and troubles with the inmates, with both parties (not to mention the officers) struggling with the tedium of such a remote post. From Ship Island, his company was sent to duty as prison guards at Mobile, Alabama. Thompson`s personality comes through, loudly, in his diary. Although he was perfectly content to sit down with a new book, his nights more often ended in playing cards, telling stories, and drinking himself into a stupor. A would be womanizer, he appears to have had occasional bouts of church and more seldom still, brief periods of near sobriety. Less clear are his particular attitudes toward his soldiers. Although he may have been more progressive than many white officers (after all, he sought out his commission), on November 5, 1867, Thompson wrote that he `voted… against Negro suffrage,` adding causally, `also Female suffrage….` He was not, however, an unfeeling man, nor was he without hardship in his own life. A touching feature of the diaries is the terse entry on June 1st each year, commemorating his brother David (20th Indiana Infantry), who died on that day from wounds sustained during the Battle of Wilderness. In 1869, the 38th and 41st Infantry were consolidated into the 24th Infantry, and the 39th and 40th Infantry into the 25th, under which name the regiments earned lasting fame. Sent out west, the Infantry regiments were typically divided into small, company-sized units, and assigned to forts strung across the region from Texas to the Dakotas where they performed some of the most arduous duty of the Indian Wars, serving with great distinction. A few excerpts give a flavor of Thompson`s experience and style: 1867 Diary [After mustering out of the 54th USCT and before joining the 39th, Thompson took a trip back east to visit relatives, becoming one of the early tourists to the battlefield at Gettysburg, and to visit the grave of his brother in the military cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.] January 7, “I got ready to go out over the Battle Ground with cousin’s John and Dave [Culp]…” January 9, “Got up and finished “Ditterlines History of the Battle of Gettysburg…then with Capt. Lashell and the girls went down below Culp’s Hill on Rock Creek…” January 11, “…went out to the National Cemetery. Took down the number of killed buried there. 3,564 about 200 more are in the Evergreen Cemetery. Looked over the ground…” January 26, “…while there we went up into the church steeple and took a look at the battlefield” January 15, “…took the cars to Georgetown and then walked over to the National Cemetery at Arlington, Va. Found Brother Dave’s grave…” [After returning home to Kansas, Thompson later takes a job as a guard for the Leavenworth Penitentiary while waiting for his commission.] August 14, “was attached to squad no. 2 my station for today being at the south end of the limestone quarry…at noon I was informed by Mr. Brown, another of the guards, that he was expecting a break by the prisoners…” August 18, “…Mr. Brown and Dickenson with their wives and Miss Douglas came out to see the prisoners and to preach to them but were prevented from doing the latter by order of the Board.” August 19, “…Armstrong told us that he had discovered a plot among the prisoners of our gang to attack us and escape…” August 31, “…I came near shooting myself through the head. Gun went off by accident.” September 4, “…the Directors had stopped work by the contractors and will finish the building with the prisoners. Kelley, an ex-convict, returned yesterday with another term after being gone just one month.” 1868 Diary January 14, “…at Vixburg…visited some of the most important fortifications…two Freedman’s schools under the control of Misses Lyons & Antibus, both from the north…” January 24, “was put in command of the prison…” January 28, “I had my ‘band man’ in solitary confinement today in one of the bomb proofs…” February 9, “…inspected the quarters of the Prison and had the shackles cut off of all the men. Made a general rejoicing among the men by so doing…” March 26, “Prisoners tried to escape just after dark…” March 30, “sent one of Co. H to be tied up for answering a sergeant in a disrespectful manner…” April 5, “…a terrible affair occurred last night. One of the men attempted to rape General Mower’s eldest daughter. All the officers except the General assembled…and commenced a trial. …the man was found guilty and sentenced to be hung at 9pm. All was made ready in the fort for the execution. All the command marched down when an order came from the General to suspend the execution for the present. Five minutes more and the prisoner would have been swung off.” April 6 “…Capt. Roundlett and I had a long talk about the affair yesterday. Concluded to do something. Don’t know what.” April 7, “I changed the prisoner Best from the guard house to the stockade as it ain’t safe in the guardhouse…” April 9, “…Serg’t. Polk came to my quarters and reported that the prisoner Best had escaped. I got up and found it was true and that he was no where to be found. I sent guards to hunt on the island for him…” May 4, “Had Blackington prisoner bucked today…” May 24, “Dr. Gessner raising the devil all day. I try to coax him to turn over his property quietly. I have several talks with the General about it…” May 25, “Dr. Gessner still crazy. General convened a board 10am to take charge of his property…” June 4, `Courtney waked me about one o’clock and we went out and played KKK on the rest, waking all of them…” June 23, “Two convicts escaped in one of the light house keeper’s boats 8pm. Discovered at 9. Send parties in pursuit…” July 4, “…in the afternoon some of my men got into a fight and I tied them up…” July 14, “Tied up old Jimmie Williams then searched his knapsack and found the eighty dollars he had stolen. I then put a wooden shirt on him an d let him wear it most all day. In the evening he was sick and I sent him to the hospital…” July 15, “Just before dinner I discovered some of the men out at sea about six miles making off with the General Grant. Capt. O’Reilly and I went in pursuit in the yacht General Sherman and soon overhauled and brought them back…” July 16, “the balls and chains came this morning on the boat from New Orleans…” August 6, “…my orders to go to Mobile came so I packed up and then reported to the General and got a letter of instruction…” August 7, “…arrived in Mobile…went out to the barracks and made known my business. Was introduced to several officers of the 15th Infantry then called on Col. Wickersham, Chief of Police. Looked at all his prisoners then went to see the sheriff. Got an order to see all the prisoners…then went through two hospitals. After night through the whole of the public houses in the town. Also searched the RR trains….Very tired and soon went to sleep but dreamed all the while of catching my man. ” August 21, “I bucked Parker one of the prisoners. Some of the convicts got drunk and to fighting for which I had three tied up…” August 25, “…drilled the men in Heavy Artillery for an hour. I sent thirty five convicts up the Island to cut timber…” August 29, “I invited all the officers over to the prison where some of the convicts had prepared an exhibition. Negro minstrels. All went well. Had two men tied up just at dark for fighting…” September 22, “had some men punished for stealing and getting drunk. ” November 3, “…a boy jumped overboard and swam ashore. I recaptured him and sent him to N.O. with the two prisoners…” November 8, “…called all the prisoners in and had a check roll call. Gen’l. thought some were trying to escape. I punished four…” November 13, “court met at 10 o’clock. Reconsidered the sentence in case of Isham Alexander and tried one man of Co. “A”… ” December 8, “One of the guards stabbed with his bayonet one of the convicts…” December 14, “All of the men who robbed the sutler were arrested today and the whole story came to light…” December 25, “one of the prisoners stabbed Serg’t. Harris. I had him tied up…” December 31, “…prisoners gave a concert in their theatre. Nearly all of the ladies and officers attended…” 1869 Diary January 4, “…went to see the exhibition and supper prepared by one of the Base Ball Clubs composed of the enlisted men of the 39th [Infantry]… ” January 25, “…after breakfast I found some of my men getting tight [drinking] and a lot of them drunk. Had them spread eagled all day. Nearly killed several of them…” January 28, “…some of my men were arrested for fighting and being drunk and were sent to me for punishment…” February 23, “I was relieved from command of the prison today. Got my orders about 10am…” March 15, “I was introduced to M. Jeff Thompson, ex rebel…took breakfast with us…. GCM [General Court Martial] met 10 o’clock , tried one case, adjourned…” April 1, “…the lined formed for the purpose of drumming out Henry Johnson Pvt. Co. E and…Jas Parker of Co. B was drummed out…” April 15, “…read the sentences of two prisoners to them and the guard then sent one to have a 25 lb ball and chain put on one of them…” June 6, “myself and Miss Alice Pye engaged ourselves to be married…” June 7, “…I had a mess with a brakeman about my dog. I made a threat to stab him and scared him off…” August 5, “…in the evening I then called at Mrs. T’s on B Street, got my No. 37 tonight [not a faithful man, he kept numerical track of his sexual escapades]. Seen a man who had just shot himself after murdering his girl. ” August 6, “…then went to the National to see a girl of C’s. We then went to No. 80 B St….I got No. 38…[the girls on B St. were prostitutes] ” December 9, “…I shot at some men who would not halt for me. They were going out of camp. ” December 11, “…went to report to the Maj. He commenced a fuss about our inquiring into the shortness of the rations for the men. I soon dried him up but didn’t say half I should have said…” An exceptional set of diaries from a man who sometimes verges on caricature, but who provides great insight into the early history of one of the most celebrated `colored` regiments of the post-Civil War period. Beyond the historical significance of the diary, Thompson`s bold personality, well written entries, and rakishness make for interesting reading. Each diary includes some add-ons, with a few notes and small newspaper clippings, a copy of his will (written April 1867), the requisite bad poetry, and such like. A spectacular find.

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