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[CIVIL WAR DIARY]. PATTERSON, Captain Alva Gabriel (1839-1981). Manuscript Diary of Captain Alva Patterson of the 15th Indiana Infantry with First-Hand Accounts of the Battle of Shiloh and Other Engagements. 155 pp. in manuscript in black and blue ink, with later penciled notes at front and rear (one page each) from Patterson’s brother presenting this diary to his daughter (Captain Patterson’s niece); after the manuscript portion of the diary are 90 blank pages. 8vo. On blue ruled ledger paper. Approximately 8 x 5 ½”. Contemporary full brown calf, boards ruled in black, rebacked to style in modern light brown calf, with black gilt morocco lettering label on spine (boards worn and soiled, hinges reinforced with later cloth tape, ffep over-creased near gutter, some occasional wear, soiling, a few marginal tears to manuscript and blank text leaves. Very good. “Army Notes - April 23rd 1861 I inlisted [sic] in Covington Indiana (my home) 1st of April 1861 six days after the first gun was fired “to fire the Southern heart” (of course it had no effect on the hearts or the northern people) & we was ordered to report to the commandent [sic] at the city of Indianapolis Ind. which we did arriving at Camp Morton…” “September 11th. Col. [George] Wagner … has commenced the fight in the rear. Yesterday we were mobilized to be ready to go about their morning but Col. Wagner thinks perhaps we will be needed here + I am sure we will if there should be a general engagement for the enemy outnumbered us about 3 or 4 to one but we will not certainly go out of our works to fight them without reinforcements from Some quarter & I don’t think they will either Surprise us or flank us So let them come if they can muster sand enough in their craws…” “April 9th 62 [two days after the Battle of Shiloh, which Patterson fought in, carrying this diary] Island No 10 is ours with 6000 prisoners 3 generals 100 large siege guns & several batteries of field artillery with Ammunition + provisions of large quantities Yesterday Gen. Pope captured 6,200 prisoners at Tiptonvile Tenn. Well the great Battle of the war has been fought + we ar the victors but Suffered a fearful loss before the enemy would give it up & I don’t blame them for not wanting to fail for they had nearly two men to Grants one on the the 6th & outnumbered us after Bull’s [Union General William “Bull” Nelson] Army arrived first in time to assist in the fight & Rily + I came over the River with Gen. Grant in the morning + the neediest place I ever Saw in any Country I Jumped off the Stage that was run out + went in the mud up to my waist for I missed the pile of sails that was sunk to keep the mules + men from drownding [sic] in the mud my cap fell off…” A superb, first-hand record of several Civil War battles. He had a brother Major James Ewing Patterson, who died in 1864 in Georgia (member of the 63rd Indiana). Interestingly he resigned not long after the conclusion of the history in his diary and “returned to his job as a painter”.