Diary of "Rainbow Division" Bugler

Item Details

1917-1918

Good+

Pocket-sized black leather 1916 diary belonging to Private Edwin Stellmacher (1898-1919), the son of German immigrant farmers who settled in Minnesota. He was the bugler for Battery B of the 42nd Division, 151st Field Artillery. This was known as the “Rainbow Division” due to it being comprised of soldiers from throughout the United States. 

Edwin’s entries begin on October 18 (1917) and continue through December 4 (1918). He describes leaving for a NYC port from Camp Mills, NY and sailing to France, encounters with “Fritz”, finally marching to Germany. On April 1, 1918 he wrote, “April Fool’s day but nobody did any fooling. Fritz hasn’t visited us since we have been here. We were in a beautiful place before; but you can’t recognize the same place now. Trees all mowed down.” 

Edwin recorded several interesting encounters in his diary before his last entry shortly after Armistice Day. Despite surviving the trenches, battles, and being gassed, he lived to see the end of the Great War. Tragically he died in 1919, likely from a wave of Spanish Flu. He was buried locally before being interred in Arlington Cemetery in 1920.

Very good condition considering its provenance. Spine tearing away inside front shoulder and slight wear. 

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