Henry O. Nightingale (1844-1919) and his family emigrated from
Hawkhurst, County Kent, England, to the United States in 1849.
He, his parents, and his younger brother arrived in New York
from London aboard the Margaret Evans on June 30 when Henry was
5 years old. The family settled in Rochester, New York. An
abolitionist, Nightingale joined the Northern army at the start
of the American Civil War in 1861. In 1862 he joined the 108th
New York Infantry Regiment. He fought in numerous battles,
including Gettysburg, and on March 1, 1864 he was promoted to
corporal. This collection consists of three digital objects: two
handwritten diaries (1864-1865) and an undated portrait of Henry
O. Nightingale with his saber and Union hat. A majority of
entries in both diaries describe the weather and Nightingale’s
daily activities during his military service. Towards the front
of the 1864 diary is a foldout assemblage of several newspaper
articles and poems. The 1864 diary also includes descriptions of
company and regimental