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Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Joseph C. Snider (1839-1864), Soldier, Civil War Diary, A&M 1504, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph C. Snider was born on March 10, 1839, in Harrison County, West Virginia, the son of David B. Snider (1808-1852) and Elizabeth Cochran Snider (1808-1878), both of Harrison County. Joseph Snider enlisted in the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment on June 18, 1861, for one year, but served until his death in 1864. He was wounded in action three times, including at Allegheny Mountain in December 1861 and at Gaines's Mill in June 1862. Snider participated in the fighting in western Virginia in the fall of 1861; the Shenandoah Valley in spring 1862; actions in western Virginia in the spring of 1863; the battle of Gettysburg; the 1864 Overland Campaign; Jubal Early's 1864 raid on Washington, D.C.; and the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Joseph C. Snider was killed during the battle of Third Winchester on September 19, 1864.

Scope and Contents

Civil War diaries of Joseph C. Snider (1839-1864) of Harrison County, West Virginia, who served in Company C of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment from June 1861 to his death in battle on September 19, 1864. Collection consists of three diaries on microfilm that cover the periods from June 1861 to May 1862; January 1, 1863 to July 1, 1863; and March 26, 1864 to September 19, 1864. There is no explanation for the gaps in Snider's journals.

Snider provides detailed descriptions of his major combat experiences; minor skirmishes and engagements; and daily life in the Army of Northern Virginia. In Book I, Snider describes the fighting in western Virginia in 1861 (Laurel Hill, Cheat Mountain, and Allegheny Mountain, where he is wounded in the arm); the retreat from western Virginia; marching to the Shenandoah Valley early in 1862; and action at Monterey and McDowell. In Book II, Snider describes actions in western Virginia in the spring of 1863 and the march to Gettysburg in June 1863. Book III provides very detailed descriptions of the Overland Campaign (particularly the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Bethesda Church, and Cold Harbor); Jubal Early's 1864 raid on Washington, D.C., and the beginning of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Other major topics include troop movements and marches (including descriptive landmarks and geography); camp life (food, women visiting, weather and conditions, and social activities); and military matters (desertion, discipline, punishments, and executions).

Manuscript folder contains handwritten account of the transfer of the diary from Joseph Snider after his death to his commanding officer, to his brother, and then passed down through the family until it was loaned to the WVRHC to make a microfilm copy.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil War - Virginia 31st Infantry, Company C.
• Civil War - raids and raiders.
• Civil War -- Confederate States of America. Army of Northern Virginia
• Civil War battles - Allegheny Mountain.
• Civil War battles - Cheat Mountain.
• Civil War battles - Cold Harbor.
• Civil War battles - Early's Raid.
• Civil War battles - Gettysburg.
• Civil War battles - Laurel Hill.
• Civil War battles - Spotsylvania Court House.
• Civil War battles - The Wilderness.
• Civil War battles - Winchester.
• Civil War battles.
• Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
• Snider, Joseph C.
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865