Erasmus E. Bassett was born February 11, 1836 in Barrington, Yates, County,New York. He enlisted in Company B, 126th New York Volunteer Infantry atBarrington on August 4th, 1862, age 26. He died on the second day of thefighting at The Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. This is his actual diary with a transcription alongside making it easy to read and also give notes of many things, people and places just briefly mentioned. This diary gives us a window into the life of a soldier fighting in the Civil War in the voice of the soldier. One thing this man did not do was complain ever in this diary.Notes were made from a number of books about the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry to make this as factual as possible while keeping it personal right up to his death. Erasmus had a brother Richard who was a 1st Lieutenant also in the same unit. Richard went out at night and collected his brother's personal effects, this diary being one such item. It is housed in a library at Cornell University where it is kept safe in a humidity and temperature controlled place. My family, the May family, direct descendants of Erasmus E Bassett are pleased that the University has kept this safe since 1948 when it was loaned for just this purpose.