I’ve been reading the Tyler diary on your blog with some interest as it is now into September of 1862.

September 17, 1862 was the bloodiest day of the Civil War. Federal losses totaled 12,410 and the Confederates lost 10,700 men. This took place at Antietam, near the town of Sharpsburg MD.

I missed the Gettysburg re-enactment this year, mostly because the weather has been so lousy. If any one would like to come for a visit, I’d really like to bring the bikes out to the battle field and roam around for a day, maybe take a walking tour as well.

-T

[iN8 note:
The photo at right is of James M. Tyler, Sgt, Co.E, 14 Reg’t Wis Inf. my Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle; for more about him, click "read more"] “Served throughout the Civil War without serious injury in Company E 14th Infantry. When he reenlisted on 12 December 1863 for a second tour of duty his physical characteristics were given as: Black eyes, Gray hair, Dark complection, 6 feet 3 inches tall. His initial enlistment was on October 7, 1861. His Civil War diaries are now in the Wisconsin Historical Library in Madison, Wisconsin.

Following the war he returned to his farm in the Town of Eaton, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, and farmed there until his death in 1914. In the years following his Civil War service he was known for his sincere patriotism to his country.

The following is a statement by Judge Emil Baensch, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, June 17, 1926, commemorating James Monroe Tyler:
“James Monroe Tyler was born at Batavia, New York, June 4, 1826, came to Wis. when he was about twenty four years old, and settled at Niles, Manitowoc Co. At that time he took up or bought 120 acres of Government land, cleared it of trees, stumps, and stones, put up comfortable buildings, and it was his home as long as he lived. When the war was declared he enlisted for three months, then reenlisted, and served till the war closed (note error in statement–initial enlistment was for two years). He served in the war three years, eleven months, and nineteen days. He belonged to Co. E Fourteenth Wis. Regiment. He was married to Laura A. Huntley Sept. 20, 1866 at Manitowoc by Judge Geo. W. Barker. Three children were born from this union, Cora E. still living, Jessie M. who died at the age of five years, and James Grant–who died eleven years ago. He was Clerk of the District School eighteen years, and Justice of the Peace a number of years. In the winter of 1880 he had his left hand and part of the arm cut off in a feed cutting machine run by horse power. He was a G.A.R. man, and was always ready to help in any thing to better the town or county and was a staunch Republican all his life. He died March 23, 1914, and his wife died June 24, 1920″.
” –Karen Berry

My mom’s note on the first page of the transcription:

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following manuscript was copied from material in the the collection “The James Monroe Tyler Civil War Diaries, 1862 to 1864” which is in the possession of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. The collection is identified by the Society as WIS MSS 97S–Tyler, James M. “Diaries 1862-64”. This transcription was made by Karen Johnson Berry, 24 April 1998, from copies provided by the Society.

My mom decided to keep all the original spellings intact which I think was a great idea. For the website, I originally wanted to have the diary entry automatically “pop up” for each day this year (have you noticed that the dates and days work for this year?), but I am PHP-dumb and would need help with that.

Map of JMT tour of duty 1862 to 1864