Library of Congress MSS 20.957 microfilm

The Navy Department Library
The Diary of Michael Shiner
Entries from 1860-1865
Table of Contents
Date | Page | Subject |
1860 | 175 | Dedication of the Washington Statue |
1860 | 176 | Arrival of the Jappanees at the Washington Navy Yard |
1861 | 178 | Justice Clark Administers the Oath of Allegiance to the Mechanics of the Wash Navy Yard |
1861 | 178 | The Emancipation of the District of Columbia |
1865 | 184 | President Lincoln was down at the Wash Navy Yard on good Friday the 14th 1865 with his Wife |
1865 | 186 | Michael Shiner Saw eleven Presidents take there seat and some Presidents twice (the end) |
The Hauling of the united States Steamer anacosta on the new marine railway at washington navy yard on the 28th day of November 1859 on monday
And finished hauling up of the united States Steamer Ancosta on the new marine railway at washington navy yard on the 29th day of november 1859 on tuesday Stern foremast her main mast with two feet of the Ship house
Launching of the Steamer anacosta at washington navy yard on the 2nd day of December 1859 on friday
The Execution of Captain John Brown at Charlestown va on the 2rd day of December 1859 on friday
1860
The Dedication of the honorable General Washington Statue in washington DC on the 22th Dayof february 1860 on wensday the President of the united States the honorable James Buchanan and his cabinet was Present and Chief Justice Taney of the Supreme court of the united States and the other four Judges and several Govenors of Diferent States Was present and a great number of Spectators was present and the united States marines under the Command major terrett and Several volunteer Companys of washington and The 7th Regiment from new york and the horse Company from Charles County undder the command of Captain lawer Cox and the whole of the Military was under the Command of major general JeSup
--175--

The arrival of the Jappanese at the washington navy yard on the 15th day of May 1860 on monday and they was received by Commodore franklin Buchanan who was in Command of the washington navy Yyrd and Captain McBlair and first Lieutenant Lewis and 2nd Lieutenant Charles Simms Was present and Several members of the Congress and the Honorable Major General Cass Secretary of the State and the Hoorable John C. Breckinridge Vice President of the United States and the Honorable John C. Lloyd Secretary of War and the Honorable Howell Cobb Secretary of the Treasury and the Honorable Isaac Tucey Secretary of the Navy and several Foreign Ministers and areat number of Citizens was in the Navy Yard and the Japanese was escorted from the navy yard to Willard's Hotel by the United States Marines under the Command of Terrett and on the 16th day of May 1860 on Tuesday they called on the President of the United States the Honorable James Buchanan and the Secretary of State the Honorable Major General Lewis Cass and they stayed here in Washington city until the treaty was made on the 20th day of May 1860 on Satturday there was a great Storm in washington City and it Blowed the top of a house off that Belonged to Judge Douglas Senator of the united States90
South Carolina Seceded from the union on the 15th day of December 1860 on friday
--176--
__________
90. The 1850 U.S. Census for Washington, DC lists Michael Shiner as living in the 6th Ward, 55 years of age with his wife, Jane Jackson, 29 years old; daughter Sarah E., 21 years old; son Isaac M., 6 years old; daughter Rose Ann, 8 years old; and daughter Jane M., 3 years old. Michel Shiner is listed on the 1850 Census as a painter, with property worth $800.00. The 1850 Census lists Michael Shiner as being born in Maryland. The same census shows all of Michael Shiner's immediate neighbors being white.

177 1861
Honorable abraham lincoln arived in washington on the 2 of march 1861 on Saturday and takin his seat on 4 of March 1861
Fort Sumter Command by Major anderson were fiered upon on the 12th of april 1861 on friday
on the 15 of april president lincoln issued proclamation for 75 Thousand men on monday
the 6th Massachusts Regiment were atacked in Baltimoore By a Mob while on its way to washington the 19th day of april 1861 on friday
There was Senators and representatives in the Washington Navy Yard on Monday night the 22 of April 1861
on the 20th of April 1861 on Saturday president lincoln levied on all the Steam Boats in the potomack and had them Brought to Washington navy yard and They was bringing the Boats to the yard all night Satturday night and a the Same time marshal law was declared by the honorable abraham lincoln President of the united States and the honorable W.H. Steward Secretary of State
And on the 22nd of april 1861 on monday there were Different companys ordered in to washington navy yard to guard the government property and the same time the navy yard under the command of Captain John A Dalhgren Who Deserves great credit for he stood by the Government and Fought for it in the Darkness of its hours and long may he live91
Adn on the 22nd of april 1861 on monday they commenced Hauling flour from the Different Ware houses in Washington DC and Georgetown to the Capitol of the united States
--177--
__________
91. Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren was the Washington Navy Yard's Commandant from 22 April 1861 to 22 July 1863.

There was Senators and Representatives Garerding in the Washington navy yard on monday night the 22th of april 1861
The 7th new york Regiment arrived in washington on the 23d Day of april 1861 on tuesday
The 21th new york Regiment arrived in Washington on the 18th day of may 1861 on Thursday
on the first Day of June 1861 on Satturday Justice Clark was sent Down to the Washington navy yard For to administer the oath of allegiance to the mechanics and the Labouring Class of working men With out DistincSion of Colour for them to Stand by the Stars and Stripes and defend for the union and Captain Dalgrren Present and I believe at that time I michael Shiner was the first Colered man that had taken the oath in washington DC and that oath Still Remains in my heart and when I had taken that oath I Taken It in the presence of God without predudice or enmity to any man And I intend to Sustain That oath with The assistance of the Almighty God until I die for when a man takes an oath For a Just cause it is more then taking a Drink of water Sitting Down to his Breakfast92
The first Battle of Bull Run on The 21th day of July 1861 on Sunday
The Emancipation of the DC of Columbia on the 16th Day of April 1862 on wensday by the Senate and the house of Representatives and Signed by the president of the united States the Honorable abraham lincoln and the Secretary of State the Honorable Wm H. Seward and Thanks Be to the Almighty
--178--
__________
92. The 1861 oath reads as follows: "I do solemnly swear that I will bear true allegiance to the United States of America and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully without any mental reservations against all enemies or opponents whatsoever; that I will observe and obey orders of the President of the United States and the officer appointed over me; according to the rules and articles for government of the United States." In all, over 400 Washington Navy Yard workers swore allegiance, while 37 chose not to take the oath and were dismissed.

179 1862
on the 10th of March 1862 on Sunday the monitor Whip the merrimack the monitor under command of lieutenant worden and the merrimack were command by commander Franklin Buchanan when the commander saw the Monitor coming he said What Dam Thing is that Coming Tore it to her
A proclamation whereas on the 22nd day of September 1862 a proclamation was issued by the president of the united States that on the first of Jan 1863 all persons held as slaves within any state or part of whom a state shall then be in Rebellion against the the United States the Slaves shall henceforth and forever free and the government of the United States including the military and naval authorities thereof will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will in any efforts s they may make for their own freedom now Therefore i Abraham Lincoln President of the United States by virtue of power in me rested as Commander in Chief of the army and navy of the united states in time of actual armed rebellion against the authorities and government of the united States and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing Said rebellion Do on this first of Jan 1863 Declare all persons held as Slaves free henceforth and forever free93
--179--
__________
93. The 1860 US Census for DC listed a total population of 75,080. Of this total, the inhabitants were broken down as follows: 60,764 White; 11,131 Free Negro; and 3,185 Slave. In Michael Shiner's immediate neighborhood,Ward 6 (where his family resided), the 1860 Slave Census listed 32 male and 48 female slave inhabitants.

180 1864
The Battles of geterBurge wher fought Between general meads And general lee on the Second an thrid of July 1863 general Lee had foreMen to general meads One general Meads him foughs on his own ground
VixksBurge where Surrendred to Major general grant and of the united States armmy on the 4 of July 1863 Major General pemberton of the Confederate armmy and after the victory where gained by the federals arms the government Began to know her Strenth
1864
on the 17 of March general grant assumed Command of all the armmy of the united States with his Headquarters at that Time in the field with the armmy of the potomac The Confederate Commanders Tried with all ther strategy to remove general grant from his position in front of Richmond but they Could not
on the 10 of july 1864 Major General John E Breckinridge with part of the Confederate army made an attack upon the northwest of washington and on 11 orders Came from the navy departments admiral goldsborough Came with them instructing admiral John C Montgomery to send evy man that were fit for service to send them from washington navy yard out to fort lincoln to man that fort94
--180--
_________
94. Commodore John B. Montgomery was Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard from 31 December 1863 to 13 October 1865. Rear Admiral L. M. Goldsborough was Commandant of Washington Navy Yard from 14 October 1870 to 1 October 1873.

181 1864
and then it was it was Doubtful Sad time when the inglish manner war [man of war?] and the french manner war near and different manner of wars who were Laying in our waters where ready to Take thire minesters on board
and the Hon Abraham Lincoln Presiden of the u s road up and down the Lines all knight long whear the fedearl troops whear fighting and on the 12th Major [General] Brackin ridge was drove Back in disorder and his forces May the Hon Abraham Lincoln Name be recorded for ever ever on the Book of Fame he was as brave as man that ever been on the face of earth and all that he done he done it with Clear Conition [Conscience] before his creator
--181--

182 1865
And on the fourth of march 1865 on Saturday the hon Abraham Lincoln taken his Seat
Before he Came out on the porch to take his [seat] the wind blew and it rained with out inter mistion and as soon as Mr Lincoln came out the wind ceasis blowing an the rain ceased raining and the Sun Came out and it was near as clear as it could be and calm and at the mean time there was a Star comet made its apperence South west rite over the Capitol and it Shined just as bright as it could be 95
on the 23rd day of March on Thursday 1865
the Hon Abraham Lincoln
Left washington on thursday
for the Armmy of the potomac and there he Staid till richmond whear taken
--182--
__________
95. On the day of Lincoln's second inaugural, Noah Adams, another observer, noticed the same phenomena as did Michael Shiner. Adams recounted that as President Lincoln rose to speak: "Just at that moment the sun which had been obscured all day burst forth in its unclouded meridian of splendor and flooded the spectacle with glory and light." Quoted in Ronald C. White, Lincoln's Greatest Speech The Second Inaugural (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2005): 42.

183 [1865]
And when Mr Lincoln went down That verry Same day on thursday the 23rd of March there came up a herician of wind and it blew as if the heaveen an earth whear coming to gether
and at the Same time A little water boy was kiled in washington Navy yard By the name of gorge gates whear killed that day by one of the corners of the uper Ship house that blew of the winds
the Secd day of april 1865 on Sunday night and
and Left Major Brackinridge to Set fire to different Buildings in the City
on monday morning the third Day of april
the u s armmy marched in to richmond
--183--

and the Hon Abraham Lincoln with them.
and 1865
The Hon abraham Lincoln was assinated assanated on the 14 of April on good friday knight at fords theater in washing
and he died on the 15 of april 1865 on Satturday
and on friday evening before he was assanated Mr Licoln and his Lady whear Both down at the washington navy on good friday the 14 1865 96
--184--
__________
96. On Good Friday in the late afternoon, President and Mrs. Lincoln went for a drive. They stopped in the Washington Navy Yard to view three monitors recently damaged in engagement in Fort Fisher, NC. The President talked of the time when could return to Illinois and live quietly. Pratt, Personal Finances, page 124; Rufus R. Wilson ed. Intimate Memories of Lincoln. (Elmira, NY: Primavera Press, 1942) 430.

185 1865
and on the 1 of april 1865 on Sun day
genreal Lee
Surrendered all his
fources to genrel grant
all the officers of the confedrate armmy an
and it was the
request of Mr Lincoln to genreal grant to allow all the confedrate offercers to keep all there horses and Side arms
the Hon
M.G.
grant
taken his Seat on the
fourth of march 1869
on thursday and it rained up
till twelve oClock but not hard
an there it held up raining but yet
--185--

was cloudy
and may the lord be with him during his administration and forever here after
i Michael Shiner have Seen
Eleven
Presidents take thire Seats
and Some of thoes presidents
i have seen take there seats twice
--186--

This Book is a Verry Valuable Book and it is verry Interesting.
It is worthy of perusal and the Author Michael Shiner was a Patriot. May he rest in peace.
Captain W.H. Crowly
U.S. Army

Michael Shiner His Book
Washington DC
Navy Yard
9th St No 474

[END]
<-- 1850-1859 Shiner Diary