The Diary of James T. Ayers, Civil War Recruiter, ed. John Hope Franklin. Occasional Publications of the Illinois State Historical Society. Springfield: ISHS, 1947.
Ayers, of the 129th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was on detached duty recruiting freed slaves in Tennessee for service in U.S. Colored Troops
Thursday June 9th [1864]
Left Clarkesville with 18 Col. Recruits for Nashville. River quiet Low now only three and 1/2 feet water on Harpeth Shoals. Landed at Nashville, mustered my Boys into two Rank and one of them ad A fiddle so we took the streets for Headqrs [3-em space] fidler in front playing Away. Some big eyes made [39] you had better believe.
81
[Feb. 6, 1865, in a military hospital at Savannah]
fire . "we have A big fire in Some Large Buildings Acrost the Street oposite us. Several ingines are at work and A large crowd gathered Round as Spectators, but in the midst of the flames quiet a Cannonading Broke Loose, one of those buildings being stored with Loaded guns. They commenced playing A merry tune and you had better see the Crowd Scatter. ... Just now the firemen are Passing by here singing one of there fire songs. It Sounds well to me as I sit here. The firemen here are all darkes and when they fight and Conquer A big fire Like the one Just on hand they feel well and will Express there feelings by singing and you know they sing Harty. ..."
xxiv ... diary was handed down in family of Charles Lawton, a freed slave to whom he had entrusted his belongings ... wound up at St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, where the librarian told Franklin about it]
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