Manuscripts
Reverend James Hoyt kept this diary while living in Washington, D.C. right after the end of the American Civil War. He writes in detail about his work with the United States Christian Commission including visiting hospitalized soldiers and handing out supplies. Hoyt also writes about attending a memorial service for President Abraham Lincoln, visiting Mary Surratt's house, where she and John Wilkes Booth and conspirators had met, and going to the courthouse during their trial and seeing Surratt in the courtroom. He describes in detail two encounters he had with angry, drunk soldiers. On June 6, a group of soldiers from the 75th Indiana stormed the supply tent accusing Hoyt and his fellow ministers of giving preferential treatment to African American soldiers. On June 8, Hoyt and the ministers were harassed by a group of soldiers from the 17th Ohio with the same complaint. One soldier had a club and struck the tent, and one minister was thrown to the ground. The last few pages of the volume contain notes on specific soldiers Hoyt ministered to, inscriptions by his fellow chaplains, and notes on the history and organization of William Tecumseh Sherman's army. With a complete typed transcript and index. Includes 18 printed pages. The diary contains racist language.
mssHM 84018
