This collection contains the journal of Philip G. Peltz during his time as Chief Engineer aboard the U.S.S. Dacotah and the beginning of his time as Chief Engineer aboard the U.S.S. Minnesota during the American Civil War. It also includes a typed, bound transcription of the journal.

Peltz wrote about his experiences aboard ship in 1862 and 1863, including the destruction of the U.S.S. Merrimack, his experience with yellow fever, and encounters with people escaping enslavement who sought out the Union Army.

He mentions his brother Samuel twice in the journal. First, noting Samuel's commission in the Union Navy as an Assistant Surgeon on 22 August 1862; and second, when his brother reported for duty aboard the U.S.S. Chocura on 14 February 1863. Samuel was later transferred in 1864 to the U.S.S. Patapsco and drowned when that ship hit a mine in Charleston Harbor (South Carolina) on 15 January 1865.

Of the destruction of the first U.S.S. Merrimack, Peltz wrote, "Soon the flames spread over her entire length enshrouding her in one sheet of fire, The fire and smoke came pouring out of the smoke pipe greater than from a Cupola . . . At 4.34 A.m. the entire mass of flame, a great portion of her Iron Sheathing, +c, were seen to ascend high into the heavens, Presenting one of the most Magnificent pyrotechnical views I ever beheld,"

Regarding encounters with formerly enslaved people, Peltz wrote, "We have taken on board several Contrabands who came down to the beach and begged to be taken on board, Sometimes they would be possessed with passes from their [enslavers] . . . When these fellows were closely interrogated as to what their motives were in running off they only seemed to think that their condition could not be any wosser (worse) so they would try it anyhow, some lift their wives and families behind in their eagerness to leave their state of bondage."