Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery

In this intimate diary, a young Rhode Island artilleryman chronicles the transformation from civilian volunteer to seasoned soldier during the early months of the Civil War. He captures the frantic rush of men into the armory, the relentless drill on Benefit Street, and the moment they are sworn in for three years of service. The narrative balances vivid descriptions of brass rifle guns and sunrise firings with the quieter reflections on duty, honor, and the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Soon the battery moves to the open fields of Dexter, where tents rise against the Providence skyline and the artillery’s thunder becomes a daily spectacle for townsfolk. Through the diary’s entries we hear the clatter of limbers, the camaraderie forged in night watches, and the melancholy of leaving loved ones behind. Though the conflict’s greatest battles are still to come, the writer already senses the blend of pride and sorrow that will shape the men’s journey through Virginia’s blood‑stained fields.