Traveling through time in an armchair: The joy of historical research

In Ray Bradbury’s short story, “A Sound of Thunder,” a safari company takes visitors to any year in the past.  Visitors can shoot any animal, even prehistoric ones.  They can hear a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s metallic roars, smell its pungent odors, see its pebbled skin, and feel immobilized with terror.  Visitors must, however, stay on a specially designed, modern pathway, lest they change the course of history.

Unlike Bradbury’s story, it’s best when we step off the modern path and see history through “the imperfect eyes of those who lived it,” according to historian David M. Potter.  It also helps to find a tour guide like Samuel K. Fowler, a 20-year-old Confederate from Iowa.

Samuel K. Fowler’s diary cover (Stanford University Archives)

Fowler wrote an unpublished 300-page diary, mainly covering the Vicksburg Campaign, from the vantage point of a private in the 2nd Missouri Infantry.  His diary allowed me to walk beside him as he exalted over Confederate victories or speculated over the next destination, and we both trembled as Union mortars fired and the earth shook under our feet.

Vicksburg house and dug-outs (Library of Congress)

He wrote his entries, expecting that people would read them.  The language may be flowery.  I hope you will settle into a comfy armchair and enjoy the following excerpts.

“A quiet retreat”

One afternoon in September 1862, Fowler wrote:

I am very contentedly reclining upon the side of a precipitous slope, being a quiet retreat I gained by exercising due precaution in my descent … Our Camp is established on the top, extending to the verge of this romantic declivity, at least 100 feet above its base.

I am much pleased with the location as it affords me a place, where I can sit undisturbed and reflect upon the thousands of changes that have figured upon the vast theatre of war, and also indulge in an unbroken reverie of thought.

A retreat in the rain

About sunset the rain began to descend and soon rendered the road exceedingly slippery and difficult to travel either by man or beast.  Our march was much impeded … we were soon enveloped in deep, impenetrable darkness.  The rain continued to pour in incessant torrents upon our devoted heads, thoroughly drenching us from head to foot.  The earth beneath our feet was converted into a vast sheet of water, and in the road the depth attained in many places was near a foot.  Move forward 50 or 100 yards and fall down, roll over once or twice, and up again only to repeat the performance, seemed to be the order of the night …

The darkness was so intense that the use of the eye was of no avail whatever … Still on we went, splashing unceremoniously through mud and water, now and then being greeted with a boisterous explosion of laughter in front or near the convincing evidence that some poor unfortunate was prostrate in the mud.

We continued our march until about 11 o’clock p.m. when we were halted for the night.  The rain had abated, and we rolled up in our saturated blankets and slept sweetly, however remarkable and strange it may appear to the casual reader, to those who have not experienced such exposures and hardship.

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Fowler’s unpublished diary is in the archives of Stanford University.  Thank you for reading my blog.  Please leave any comments and questions below.

David Connon

David Connon has spent nearly two decades researching dissenters in Iowa: Grinnell residents who helped on the Underground Railroad, and their polar opposites, Iowa Confederates. He shares some of these stories with audiences across the state through the Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau. He worked as an interpreter at Living History Farms for eleven seasons. Connon is a member of Sons of Union Veterans, an associate member of Sons of Confederate Veterans, and a member of the Des Moines Civil War Round Table. His articles have appeared in Iowa Heritage Illustrated, Iowa History Journal, Illinois Magazine, and local newspapers in both states.

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Wonderful post, Dave. Primary source material is how we taste, smell and breathe history, and it sounds like you found a fabulous one indeed! Would love to read more of this in future posts.

    1. Hi, Dick. Thank you for your kind comment. I like how you put it, “Primary source material is how we taste, smell, and breathe history.” I wish I could share more from Fowler’s diary, but I’m trying to stay within fair use guidelines for material that’s not in the public domain. If you’re interested, I would encourage you to contact the Stanford University Archives.

  2. Terrific post, David! I completely agree with Richard’s comment. Congrats on your research and the way you put it in perspective.

    1. Thank you for your encouragement, Marc!

  3. enjoyed reading that.would like to read more.My ggf was with 63rd Illinois.at Vicksburg these writings give me an idea of what he endured

    1. Hi, Steve.
      Thank you for your kind comment. Fowler’s diary really focuses on events in 1862 and 1863, culminating in the siege and surrender of Vicksburg. He does, however, resume writing in 1864, but his later writing is shorter and more direct than his earlier entries. You reminded me that my great-great-grandfather was an assistant surgeon in the 112th Illinois Infantry.

  4. Great read! I enjoyed your perspective and writing style.

    1. Hi, Myra.
      Thank you for your generous comment. I appreciate your encouragement.

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