Title: The Civil War diary of a common soldier
Description: "William Wiley was typical of most soldiers who served in the armies of the North and South during the Civil War. A poorly educated farmer from Peoria, he enlisted in the summer of 1862 in the 77th Illinois Infantry, a unit that participated in most of the major campaigns waged in Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. Recognizing that the great conflict would be a defining experience in his life, Wiley attempted to maintain a diary during his years of service.

Frequent illnesses kept him from the ranks for extended periods, and he filled the many gaps in his diary after the war. When viewed as a postwar memoir rather than a period diary, Wiley's narrative assumes great importance as it weaves a fascinating account of the army life of Billy Yank."--BOOK JACKET.
Subjects: United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 77th (1862-1865), Diaries, Illinois Civil War, 1861-1865, United States, United States Civil War, 1861-1865, Soldiers, Personal narratives, Regimental histories, History, United states, army, regimental histories, Illinois, history, United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, personal narratives, United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865, regimental histories
Places: Illinois, Peoria, United States
People: William Wiley (1838-1902)
Time periods: Civil War, 1861-1865