This collection contains the diary of William J. Pittenger, a soldier serving in the 93rd Illinois Infantry and the U. S. Army Signal Corps during the American Civil War. The diary's entries span the fist half of 1863 and touch on such matters as camp life, the U. S. Army's advance down the Mississippi River, and the siege of Vicksburg. (Pittenger made no entries for most of March 1863, as he was bedridden with smallpox). The diary also contains names and addresses of Pittenger's comrades, records of financial transactions, and a list of soldiers from Co. D, 93rd Illinois Infantry killed at Champion Hill. The diary is accompanied by a 1957 newspaper article about Pittenger and his diary.