The collection consists of 22 volumes of diaries dating July 7, 1849-April 7, 1863. In addition to nearly daily diary entries, the collection includes newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, sketches, and other items inserted into the volumes by Gunn. Gunn wrote extensively about his experiences in the New York publishing and literary world, encounters with well-known literary and artistic personalities (such as Fanny Fern, James Parton, Walt Whitman, Fitz James O’Brien, Alfred Waud, Thomas Nast, and Frank Bellew), New York and national events, the lives of his friends and neighbors, boardinghouse living, his travels throughout the United States as far northwest as Lake Superior and southwest as Louisiana, and his experiences on campaign with the Federal army as a war correspondent during the American Civil War. At the start of Volume 1, Gunn has been living in New York for several months, having emigrated that year. He describes living in boardinghouses in Jersey City, NJ, and New York, NY, and chronicles his efforts to find work as an artist and writer. He describes beginning work on Mose Among the Britishers and unsuccessful efforts to find a publisher for another work, Cholera in Gotham. After a visit to Philadelphia, Gunn secures Carey and Hart to publish Mose Among the Britishers. Gunn comments on the politics of the day, his boardinghouse neighbors, attending a lecture by Ralph Waldo Emerson (January 29, 1850), a visit to Boston (June 22-July 3, 1850), the death of Zachary Taylor (July 23, 1850), and his work, primarily on Mose Among the Britishers, which was published in 1850. Periodically, he writes about his loneliness for his family and his fiancée Mary Bilton, who stayed behind in England. Gunn's half-sister Mary Anne Greatbatch and her family live in New York, and Gunn mentions occasional visits to them. He especially spends a lot of time with Joe Greatbatch, a relation (possibly son) of his brother-in-law. On October 5, 1850, Gunn first meets Alfred Waud who arrives with an introductory letter from his brother William Waud, an acquaintance of Gunn's from England. In Volume 2, Gunn continues his efforts to find work among New York publishers. He describes brief employment in the architecture office of Charles Frederick Anderson, commencing October 28, 1850. His friend from England, William Barth, who had served in the Mexican War, becomes stationed at Governors Island in New York, and Gunn describes visits to him there. One of Gunn's closest companions, engraver Charles Brown (later Damoreau), introduces him into the house of Rebecca Kidder where he becomes a frequent visitor, drawn especially by Mrs. Kidder's daughter Lotty. In February 1851, Gunn receives a letter from Mary Bilton, who had been responding less and less frequently to his letters, finally ending their decade-long courtship. On May 29, 1851, Gunn visits Castle Garden to hear Jenny Lind sing. While working as an artist for hatter John N. Genin, Gunn gets access to Edwin Forrest's library at the actor's home at Fonthill Castle and describes visits there to sketch (June 12-30, 1851). Gunn chronicles a sailing trip taken with friends (July 10-11, 1851) a visit to the Tombs prison in New York (July 24, 1851), and a walking/camping excursion with acquaintance Arthur Mason (September 3-4, 1851). He continues describing boardinghouse living throughout the volume. Page 104 contains a newspaper clipping with an advertisement placed by Gunn seeking employment. In Volume 3, the shortest and only unbound volume, Gunn continues describing looking for drawing and writing work among New York publishers, visits to the Kidder residence, and boardinghouse living. Notable is his description of Lajos Kossuth's visit to New York, December 6, 1851. Volume 4 continues descriptions of Gunn’s drawing and writing work in New York and boardinghouse living. On January 2, 1852, Gunn mentions seeing Lola Montez dance. Gunn describes his work primarily for the Lantern newspaper and attending meetings of the “Lantern Club.” Gunn attends a ball on Governors Island held by the soldiers stationed there on March 23, 1852. On March 30, he attends a lecture by E.H. Chapin on John Hampden and gives a lengthy description of the content. Gunn describes a few leisurely spring visits to Staten Island. While visiting his friend William Barth on Governors Island on June 12, Gunn witnesses a man receiving 40 lashes for desertion. On July 26, Gunn leaves New York City to visit Niagara Falls, and gives a detailed description of both his journey by railroad and his stay at the Falls, July 27-July 31. At the start of Volume 5, Gunn visits the Hall family farm in Genessee County, New York, at the beginning of August 1852. While there, he tracks down an old friend of his from England, Edward Heylyn, who lives nearby. On August 4, Gunn returns to New York City. Throughout the volume, Gunn continues describing his drawing work for publications like the Lantern and the Reveille. On August 11, Gunn mentions that there are eight cases of cholera in the city, including two on Governors Island. By September 1, he learns after a visit to the island that many more soldiers are sick with cholera at the hospital and some have died. On September 3-4, Gunn goes to Sing Sing with William Roberts and Alfred Swinton to witness a spiritual “camp meeting.” He describes the scene and the enthusiastic worshippers. On September 13, Gunn sees his friend Joe Greatbatch off for Australia. He hears Marietta Alboni sing at the Metropolitan Hall on September 14 and describes hers as the most exquisite voice he has ever heard. On September 22, Gunn takes Lotty Whytal (formerly Kidder) to the theater to see David Copperfield. On September 25, Gunn describes the scene of a terrible fire at a confectionary and French chocolate factory on Duane Street near Broadway, at which a fireman died. Tired of boardinghouse living, Gunn takes a private room at 209 Broadway. On October 17, Gunn gives his thoughts on the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Gunn describes stories about New York literary characters like William North, Thomas Picton, and Henry William Herbert. On December 28, Gunn sets off to visit the Genesee Falls and Edward Heyln at Le Roy. On January 5-6, 1853, Gunn and Heylyn visit Niagara Falls. Gunn visits Canada on January 7 and is happy to be “in England again.” While there, he visits Toronto and unsuccessfully tries to track down his cousin, Richard Gunn. Gunn returns to New York by January 12. On April 9, Gunn briefly acquires a dog who later runs away. On May 31, Lotty Kidder (now Whytal) visits Gunn to discuss her unhappiness in her marriage with scene painter John Whytal. Volume 6 begins with a visit to the Catskill Mountains with Alfred Waud, Henry Hart, and Dillon Mapother (July 4-11). Gunn attends the wedding of Charles Damoreau (July 24) and visits the Crystal Palace with Henry Hart in New York (August 2). On August 6, Gunn is asked by the New York Times if he would like to be a correspondent for a steamboat cruise of the Great Lakes, which he accepts. He leaves for Detroit on August 9 where he meets his fellow passengers for the journey on the steamboat Sam Ward. They embark across Lake Huron on August 12. The journey on Lake Superior takes Gunn to Sault Ste Marie (August 13), Pictured Rocks (August 14), Marquette (August 15), Ontonagon and the Porcupine Mountains (August 16), La Pointe, Wisconsin (August 17), Fond du Lac (August 18-19), Isle Royale and Eagle Harbor, Michigan (August 20), and Michipicoten Island (August 21), all of which he describes in detail. At Ontonagon, La Pointe, and Fond du Lac, Gunn describes meeting local Native Americans. The steamboat arrives back at Sault Ste Marie on August 22, and Gunn proceeds to visit William Barth, now stationed at Mackinaw Island. Gunn stays with Barth and his wife Maria on the island for several weeks. On September 10, Alfred Waud arrives for a visit. On September 18, Gunn returns to Detroit, and on September 21, he takes a boat to Cleveland for a short visit, then proceeds to Columbus and Cincinnati. By September 27, Gunn heads into Kentucky to visit Louisville and Mammoth Cave, which he reaches on the 29th. From September 30-October 4, Gunn explores the cave, sometimes with famed enslaved guide Stephen Bishop. Gunn makes friends with Louisianans Oliver Kellam, Keane Richards, and Maurice Keane, who are also visiting the cave, and they invite him to accompany them back to Louisiana on horseback. He agrees, and they leave on October 5. The journey takes Gunn through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, across the Mississippi River, and into Louisiana, lasting until October 29. While in Tennessee, the group learns of the epidemic of yellow fever in the south. In Louisiana, Gunn stays at a 1,000-acre plantation owned by Keane Richards’ family. He meets Oliver Kellam’s Arabian horses and their keeper, Yusef. During the visit lasting until November 12, Gunn tours the plantation and witnesses cotton picking by the enslaved men and women. He writes about his thoughts on slavery at length, of which he is not in favor. Gunn becomes dangerously ill on the plantation, and although he comments on the yellow fever epidemic it is unclear if he contracted yellow fever himself or some other disease. On November 12, Gunn takes a steamboat up the Mississippi River for Cairo, Illinois. He arrives on November 17 and waits for another steamboat to take him up the Ohio River to Cincinnati. On November 21, Gunn travels back to New York from Cincinnati by rail, arriving the next day. When back in New York, Gunn learns that his brother Sam has married against his family’s wishes. Gunn spends Christmas with Charles Damoreau and his wife Beatrice. On December 27, Gunn witnesses a fire which had started at a bakery on Front Street and spread to boats docked at the pier, including the new vessel Great Republic. Volume 7 picks up after a year’s gap in February 1855 while Gunn is visiting his family in England. During the gap, Gunn has become engaged to Hannah Bennett. The volume begins with a lengthy discussion about Gunn’s family and genealogy. Gunn spends time with the Bolton family and the Bennett family near Banbury in early February before going to Oxford on February 10 to visit other friends. He returns to his family in London on February 14 for an extended visit. On February 16, he witnesses a massive fire on Blackfriars Road. Gunn had planned to return to New York on April 11, but on April 3 he receives a letter from his friend William Boutcher, asking him to delay his departure until Boutcher can return from the Middle East. On April 16, Gunn witnesses Louis Bonaparte and Empress Eugenie of France pass in a carriage with Prince Albert in London. In April and May, Gunn visits his friend Harry Price, who had been ill with an undefined nervous disorder. On May 5, Price is committed to Bethnal Green Asylum, and Gunn visits him there several times before he is released. Gunn leaves for a trip to Paris with his brothers Ned and Charley on June 12, embarking by ship at Dieppe and proceeding by railroad to Paris. While in Paris, they visit Notre Dame (June 14), the Jardins des Plantes and the Louvre (June 16), and Napoleon’s tomb and the Crystal Palace (June 17). On the evening of the 17th, they visit a dancing hall and Gunn describes the chaotic scene, noting that English women are more attractive than French women. The brothers visit the Bastille (June 18), the Louvre again (June 19), and Versailles (June 20). They depart for England on June 23. Gunn leaves for the United States on July 18 aboard the Washington. He describes life on the ship in detail (including a revolt of the passengers over the quality of food) until his arrival in New York on August 2. Back in New York, Gunn learns how Alfred Waud has run off with Albert Brainard’s wife Mary and intends to marry her. On August 25, Gunn visits the Edwards family for the first time, becoming acquainted with them through his friends Jesse Haney and James Parton. The family will become the center of Gunn’s social life for the rest of his time in New York. By the end of August, Gunn is feeling increasingly homesick for England and his depression continues throughout October and November. On November 1, Gunn attends a lecture by author William Makepeace Thackeray at E.H. Chapin’s church. On December 17, Gunn visits a homeopathic doctor for help with his mental state. Gunn spends Christmas with the Edwards family. Lonely in his Broadway room, Gunn begins living in a boardinghouse at 132 Bleecker Street, at which he will stay until the end of his residence in New York. On January 7, 1856, Gunn learns that James Parton has married author Fanny Fern, and he visits the newlyweds on January 9. Pages 222-230 of the diary contain a transcription of Alfred Waud’s account of how he eloped with Mary Brainard. At the end of the account, Gunn, (in 1873) describes how the pair finally separated. Volume 8 begins on April 12, 1856, with Gunn visiting the family of Mary Brainard, the Jewells, to give them a letter from Alfred Waud explaining how he eloped with Mary. In May, Gunn finishes his book, The Physiology of New-York Boarding-houses, and it is accepted by the Mason Brothers for publication. In June, Gunn begins seeing Dr. Edward H. Dixon for help with his mental health, and he is prescribed strychnine, alcohol, and a plaster for his spine. In June, Gunn describes meeting Walt Whitman. On July 17, he describes Louisa Jacobs, the daughter of former slave and author Harriet Jacobs, who is living with James Parton and Fanny Fern. Gunn visits the Catskill Mountains August 25-29 with Jesse Haney and the Edwards family. On September 12, Gunn mentions having a beer with Walt Whitman and Frank Bellew. On November 22, Gunn meets Colonel Hugh Forbes, who has just started a newspaper, The European, on which Gunn obtains employment. On January 30, 1857, Ellen Levison, the 12-year-old daughter of publisher William Levison [A.K.A. Julius Caesar Hannibal], dies. The family lives in Gunn’s boardinghouse, and he describes Ellen’s funeral on February 1. Grief-stricken, her father also passes on February 20. In early February, Gunn visits the scene of the murder of a dentist to sketch the female suspect, Emma Augusta Cunningham. Gunn’s book, The Physiology of New-York Boarding-houses, is released in June. Gunn is introduced to the filibuster William Walker on June 17. From August 11-21, Gunn visits Newport, Rhode Island, on assignment to make sketches for Frank Leslie. At the end of the volume, Gunn receives a letter from his half-sister Mary Anne who has relocated with her family to Illinois, stating that her husband Joseph Greatbatch has died. In Volume 9, Gunn’s discussion about boardinghouse living and the New York literary world continues. On October 30, 1857, Gunn describes a fight at his boardinghouse between a servant and the manager, Catharine Potter. On November 3, he attends a picnic at Hoboken, New Jersey, with other New York artists and journalists, during which everyone gets very drunk and Gunn gets into a fight on the way back with a man on the ferry. On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, Gunn visits Randall’s Island and sees the children living there at the charity school run by Mr. Eldredge. Gunn details his thoughts about Fitz James O’Brien on December 28. On January 24, 1858, Gunn mentions that O’Brien has been accused of plagiarizing his short story “The Diamond Lens” from deceased author William North. He gives more details on March 1, and pages 78-79 contain newspaper clippings describing the controversy. Gunn attends a lecture by Lola Montez on February 8. On April 22, Gunn describes Thomas Powell in detail including his feud with Charles Dickens. Gunn learns of author Henry William Herbert’s suicide on May 17 (page 253 contains a newspaper clipping with a detailed account of Herbert’s death). Fanny Fern tells Gunn the story of her family’s acquaintance with Harriet Jacobs on May 23, and Gunn comments on her daughter Louisa Jacobs. Gunn mentions the interest of the women living in his boardinghouse in spiritualism on August 12. On September 27, Gunn takes a train to Rochester to visit the Heylyns and then continues to Paris, Ontario, on September 29 to visit his friend George Bolton, who has moved to Canada from England to start a farm. He leaves October 12 and stops at Niagara Falls then Rochester before returning to New York on October 18. The end of the volume includes discussion of a scandal involving Harbormaster Willis Patten, who lives in Gunn’s boardinghouse. Volume 10 begins with a description of the destruction of the boat Petrel on the North River due to its boiler exploding on November 6, 1858. Gunn describes literary Bohemian Henry Clapp on November 23. He mentions the financial hardships of his boardinghouse manager, Catharine Potter, on December 2, including her having to borrow money from the residents. On December 23, Gunn learns of the death of Anna, the young wife of Mortimer Thomas (AKA Q.K. Philander Doesticks), in childbirth. He attends her funeral on December 24. Gunn spends Christmas with the Edwards family and describes their party. On January 4, 1859, Gunn attains employment on the publication Constellation at $15 per week. In March, Gunn writes of a rumor in New York that Fitz James O’Brien is the heir to an Irish baronetcy. Gunn criticizes Fanny Fern in mid-March in his diary and blames her for encouraging Mort Thomson to court her daughter Grace Eldredge so soon after his wife’s death. Gunn experiences a falling out with Fern on April 10 over Gunn’s criticism of the New York Ledger and its publisher Robert Bonner in a Scalpel article. Fanny Fern was a columnist for the newspaper and was friends with Bonner and took offense. On May 2, a new manager, Susan Boley, arrives to take charge of Gunn’s boardinghouse. In Volume 11, Gunn describes a talk with Lotty Kidder on June 13, 1859, about her relationships with her former husband (John Whytal) and current husband (Arthur Alleyne). On the 4th of July, Gunn goes on an excursion with the Edwards family, Thomas Nast, and others to Nyack, for the holiday. On July 9, Gunn describes new residents of his boardinghouse. Gunn mentions a tornado striking New York on July 13. On July 21, he mentions that Thomas Nast has taken a liking to Sally Edwards. On August 22, Gunn describes love letters sent to Frank Cahill and Bob Gun from their mistresses, which they gave to him to read. Gunn discusses his work on various publications on October 17, including literary critic for the Century for $10 per week. On October 26, Gunn mentions that Jesse Haney has proposed to Sally Edwards and has been rejected. On November 29, he recounts how a thief named Derby was discovered and expelled from his boardinghouse. On Christmas Day, Gunn learns that a man staying in his boardinghouse, Arthur Ledger, is a detective from London in New York on secret business. The next day, he describes attending the Edwards family’s annual Christmas party (pages 212-214 contain a newspaper clipping written by Gunn about the party called “The Looker-On” and page 215 contains a letter of thanks from the Edwards family to Gunn for writing the article). In Volume 12, Gunn describes Elizabeth Gouverneur, a boardinghouse acquaintance, on January 23, 1860. He describes the activities of detective Arthur Ledger on February 4. On the 11th, Gunn mentions that George Arnold has been fired from his position on the Mercury. Gunn describes a long talk with Sally Edwards about her courtship by Thomas Nast on February 13. On the 14th, Gunn describes a masked ball at his boardinghouse (another ball takes place a month later on March 14). On February 20, Gunn describes hearing gossip about Charles Dickens and his wife’s sister, Georgina Hogarth, living together. Gunn learns on February 26 that Bob Gun will be going to Havana, Cuba, to do some business for Arthur Ledger. Gunn describes Walt Whitman visiting the Courier office on March 12 and getting into an argument with Charles F. Briggs. On April 6, Gunn writes that one of his short stories was accepted by Charles Dickens to be published in Household Words. He describes a visit to Lotty Kidder at her Fordham home on April 27-28, and on May 3, Gunn attends a bear show run by Grizzly Adams. In Volume 13, Gunn reminisces about his past love for Mary Bilton on June 10, 1860. On June 14, Gunn learns that his acquaintance Frank Cahill has fled for England after spending money that was meant for his employer, Mary Levison, widow of William Levison and owner of the Nick-Nax. He elaborates more on the circumstances the next day. Gunn describes rowing around the ship Great Eastern on June 29. On July 4, he takes a sailing excursion to Nyack with the Edwards family and other friends. He describes a fight between Fitz James O'Brien and Mr. House at Pfaff's (July 7), witnessing a fire at Washington Market (July 11), seeing the public execution of pirate Albert Hicks on Bedloe's Island (July 13), and an excursion aboard the Great Eastern with other reporters (July 30-August 1). From August 3-17, Gunn vacations at Grafton with the Edwards family, during which he becomes increasingly close with Sally Edwards. When he returns, he learns about Lotty Kidder’s flirtations with Mr. Brentnall and Mr. Hill at his boardinghouse, which have upset other residents of the house. On August 21, Gunn sees Frank Bellew and his family off for their return to England and describes Bellew in detail. On September 2, Gunn discusses suspicions of the Edwards family and Jesse Haney over his friendship with Sally Edwards, but Gunn insists their relationship is not romantic. On September 8, Gunn describes visits to dance houses in the Fourth Ward with friends for research for an article. On September 13 and 21, Gunn describes viewing performances of tightrope-walker Charles Blondin. In Volume 14, Gunn attends a lecture by J.H. Siddons on Queen Victoria on September 26, 1860. He views Charles Blondin’s tightrope-walking performance again on September 28. Gunn learns of the death of Bohemian Getty Gay on September 30. On October 7, he has a conversation with Jesse Haney clarifying that his relationship with Sally Edwards is not romantic. Gunn describes the visit of the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII of Great Britain, to New York on October 11. He witnesses a parade of firemen on October 13. On October 16, Gunn mentions that he is cutting down his reporting work for The New York World, and he formally resigns on October 29. On October 17 and 29, he visits the dog fighting establishment of Harry Jennings. Gunn learns on October 23 that Thomas Nast is on the staff of Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy. Gunn learns on November 2 that James Parton has left Fanny Fern (he returns on November 20). Gunn visits P.T. Barnum’s museum on November 22. On December 4, Gunn spends an evening at the 4th Ward police station and describes the scene. On December 15, Gunn gets an assignment for the New York Evening Post to report on secession in Charleston, South Carolina, and he leaves for Charleston on December 18. During his visit, Gunn kept a fake diary in fear that it might be read, as he was posing as an artist for the Illustrated London News and kept his real purpose as a correspondent for a Northern newspaper secret. He resumed his truthful recollections after he returned to New York. Gunn describes the journey by steamboat to Charleston and arrival on December 23. He takes a room at the Charleston Hotel, visits the British Consulate, and is introduced to William Carlisle [spelled Carlyle by Gunn] of the Charleston Courier. Gunn mentions that he kept a loaded revolver during his stay in Charleston for safety in case his true purpose was discovered. He learns of the evacuation of Robert Anderson from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter on December 27 and describes the resulting fury of the secessionists. Through Carlisle, Gunn is introduced to many of the city’s prominent men. Volume 15 begins in January 1861 with Gunn continuing to describe his time in Charleston, South Carolina. He includes newspaper clippings of the articles he wrote for the New York Evening Post. In the first entry, he describes meeting the President of Charleston’s Vigilance Committee, seeing the convention of secessionists pass on the street, and his acquaintance Amos Colt (firearms dealer) getting into a quarrel with Charlestonians and consequently fearing for his life. Gunn describes visits to Sullivan Island, Castle Pinckney, and Fort Moultrie with Carlisle to see the gathered troops. In Charleston, Gunn meets John Mitchel, son of the Irish activist John Mitchel, who brags about having helped lynch an abolitionist. On January 5, William Waud, brother of Alfred Waud, arrives in Charleston to sketch for Frank Leslie. That day, Gunn attends a celebration in honor of Benjamin Mordecai, a Jewish man, for his donation of $1,000 to South Carolina’s secession cause. On January 9, Gunn describes the scene in Charleston after the Star of the West was fired upon by the Morris Island battery. Gunn meets Major R.S. Ripley on January 11, who comments on recent events in the city. On January 12, Gunn mentions a temptation to sabotage a Spanish cannon named Old Secession. On January 18, Gunn receives a letter from friend George Boweryem who mentions a rumor in New York that Gunn has been tarred and feathered in Charleston. On January 26, Charleston learns that Louisiana has also seceded from the Union, and the canon Old Secession is fired in honor of the event. On January 27, Gunn visits the headquarters of the ''Richland Rifles'' near Fort Moultrie and meets Captain Dan Miller and other soldiers. Gunn witnesses a slave auction on January 31, in which the slave auctioneer states slavery is what South Carolina is fighting for. Gunn views another slave sale on February 5 in which an elderly woman named Laura is sold for $12. On February 13, Gunn visits the country house of Colonel Bull, during which Bull proclaims, “We’ll burn New York!” Gunn leaves Charleston to return to New York on February 14 and describes the journey by sea. Back in New York, Gunn sees Abraham Lincoln pass in a carriage on February 19. On February 21, Gunn speaks with Alfred Waud about his recent coolness and learns that Waud wrongly believes Gunn had spoken badly of his children. On February 24, Gunn speaks with Sally Edwards about her various suitors, and learns she favors Thomas Nast. In Volume 16, Frank Cahill returns to New York on March 30, 1861, and tells his side of the story of his flight from the city after taking Mrs. Levison’s money. On April 9, Gunn describes Frank Bellew’s unhappiness living in London, heard from Cahill. On April 10, Gunn hears a rumor that William Waud has volunteered for the Southern cause. On April 12, he learns that war has begun in Charleston with the firing upon Fort Sumter. Gunn discusses his thoughts on the engagement of Thomas Nast and Sally Edwards on April 14. On April 18, Gunn describes the excitement in New York over the outbreak of war and a large crowd greeting Major Anderson’s arrival in the city. The next day, he witnesses the departure of the 7th New York Regiment for Washington, D.C. That day, he also attends the wedding of his boardinghouse acquaintance Olive Waite to Hamilton Bragg. Gunn makes predictions about the outcome of the war on April 20. On April 21, he visits Alfred Waud’s home in Brooklyn and describes Waud’s family. On May 11, Gunn visits the camp of the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers and the 2nd Regiment of New York State Militia on Staten Island with Frank Cahill. On May 14, Gunn describes the wedding of Mortimer Thomson to Fanny Fern’s daughter, Grace Eldredge (heard from Jesse Haney). Gunn learns that his acquaintance Charles Welden, a New York Times reporter, has died on May 18. Gunn meets boxer John C. Heenan on May 22. On June 1, Gunn receives a letter from his friend George Bolton and learns that Bolton’s wife Sarah has died. On June 7, Gunn learns that Alfred Waud has been arrested in Washington, D.C., as a spy, officials mistaking him for his brother William. William Waud himself arrives in New York on June 12 and tells Gunn what has been happening in Charleston since Gunn left. Volume 17 continues Gunn's descriptions of the scene in New York at the commencement of the Civil War. He visits many military camps in and around New York City as a reporter for the New York Evening Post. On July 9, 1861, Gunn leaves New York for Paris, Ontario, to visit and comfort George Bolton after his wife’s death. Gunn stops in Rochester, New York, to visit the Heylyns and learns they have a woman named Eugenie Brinton living with them. On the 11th, Gunn visits James Parton’s sister Mary Rogers and her family in Rochester and learns particulars of Parton’s troubled marriage with Fanny Fern. By the 16th, Gunn leaves for Canada and arrives at Bolton’s farm. He visits with Bolton and neighbors in the country until September 16, when he journeys back to New York with stops at Niagara Falls and Rochester. He learns on the 18th that James Parton attempted to leave Fanny Fern again and fled to his sister’s house, but Fanny Fern arrived to fetch him home again. Gunn arrives back in New York on September 21. On September 26, Gunn learns that Sally Edwards has married Thomas Nast, and on October 9, he attends a bridal reception for Sally at the Edwards home. In Volume 18, Gunn continues descriptions of his visits to military camps in and around New York City as a reporter for the Evening Post. On October 25, Gunn describes the current residents of his boardinghouse at 132 Bleecker St. in detail. On November 3, Gunn learns that Captain Fitz James O’Brien has shot Sergeant Davenport for insubordination, and further discusses the news on the 5th. On November 19, Gunn learns by letter that his nephew Edward Greatbatch has enlisted in an Illinois regiment. On December 3, Gunn spends the evening at the Fourth Ward Station House awaiting election returns, and comments on the brutality of the police there. Gunn attends a lecture by Wendell Phillips on the war (December 19). On Christmas Day, Gunn visits Frank Bellew and later attends the Edwards family’s annual Christmas party. Gunn writes about Frank Bellew’s unhappy marriage on January 26, 1862. In Volume 19, Gunn learns on March 5, 1862, that Fitz James O’Brien has been wounded in battle. On March 8, Gunn engages a position as war correspondent with the New York Tribune and is sent to Washington, D.C. to report. He arrives the next day and meets Alfred Waud there. On March 10, he describes the war scene in the capitol and Alexandria, Virginia, where he meets General Samuel Heintzelman and his staff. On March 11, Gunn meets an enslaved man named “Chief Justice John Marshall of Virginia” and discusses the war and emancipation with him. On the 14th, Gunn sets off with Heintzelman’s corps on the road and discusses military camp living. On March 23, they arrive at Fortress Monroe. On the 25th, they arrive at the remains of Hampton, Virginia, which had been burned by John B. Magruder. Gunn visits the Monitor on March 29 and learns about its battle with the Merrimack. Gunn describes time spent at the camp of the 62nd Pennsylvania Regiment on April 1. By the 5th, Gunn joins the march to Yorktown. At Yorktown, Gunn describes being shot at on April 17. He learns that day from a letter from Jesse Haney that James Parton has separated from Fanny Fern again and that Fitz James O’Brien has died from his gunshot wound. Gunn witnesses and describes the action near Yorktown in late April. He describes the scene at an army hospital on April 28. Gunn witnesses an artillery battle up close on May 3. On the 4th, the Confederates evacuate Yorktown. Gunn describes the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5 and the prisoners of war taken at the battle the day after. The army sets off towards Richmond on the 9th. On May 12, Gunn visits the “White House,” the former home of General Robert E. Lee. By mid-May, Gunn is feeling increasingly ill on the road. Volume 20 begins with Gun continuing to report on the road on the movements of the Army of the Potomac and General Heintzelman. On May 24, 1862, Gunn spends the night at the headquarters of General John J. Peck. On May 28, he witnesses the marching of 350 prisoners of war from North Carolina. As the battle of Fair Oaks rages nearby on May 31, Gunn is told by a doctor that he is in danger of his dysentery turning into typhoid fever if he does not get better soon. On June 2, Gunn decides to return to New York for health reasons, and he arrives home on June 5. On June 11, he gets a new assignment for the Tribune to go to Port Royal, South Carolina, and leaves the 13th by sea. Gunn describes rough weather at sea on June 16. He arrives at Port Royal on the 18th and briefly visits Beaufort, South Carolina, before returning to Port Royal. On June 19, Gunn has dinner with General David Hunter and his aides. He visits the camp of General Horatio Wright on June 21. Gunn describes visiting African American troops and an African American school in his July 7 letter to the Tribune. On July 19, he visits Fort Pulaski in Georgia. He learns on July 20 that Sally Nast has had a baby girl. Gunn arrives at St. Augustine, Florida, on July 28. He visits Anastasia Island on August 2 and arrives in Key West on August 5, returning to St. Augustine on the 16th. On August 19, he mentions the presence of yellow fever in St. Augustine. Gunn arrives back in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on August 26, but everyone aboard his ship is ordered into quarantine because of yellow fever. He mentions the death of a clergyman on board his ship on August 30 and describes the funeral the next day. That day, he describes his fellow quarantined passengers on board the Delaware. The quarantine ends on September 8, and Gunn returns to New York on the Massachusetts on September 9, arriving on the 12th. On September 21-22, Gunn visits Frank Bellew and his family at Fordham. In Volume 21, Gunn discusses the doings of his boardinghouse-mates Frank Cahill, N.G. Shepherd, Frederick Watson, Edmond Blankman, and others on October 6, 1862. Gunn visits Alfred Waud and his family on October 7 and Joseph Scoville on October 12. On October 25-27, Gunn visits Augustus Rawlins and family in Tivoli. On October 30, Gunn gets into a fistfight with Edmond Blankman at his boardinghouse over Blankman’s anti-abolitionist sentiments. Consequently, Blankman and his family move out of the boardinghouse on November 6. On November 11, Gunn attends a military party with Jack Edwards. In early December, Gunn is asked by the Tribune to accompany General Nathaniel P. Banks on his secret Southern expedition on the North Star, and he describes the other war correspondents making the journey with him on December 4. They reach the Gulf of Mexico on December 12 and reach New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 14. On December 17, the expedition moves on to Baton Rouge, Louisiana but return to New Orleans on December 21. Gunn visits a Louisiana sugar plantation on December 28. On January 4, 1863, Gunn describes hearing about the Galveston disaster from Major William L. Burt at General Andrew Jackson Hamilton’s house. On January 10, Gunn goes to Baton Rouge again, where he and the other war correspondents form a “Gorilla Club” on January 12. General N.P. Banks arrives at Baton Rouge on January 21, and the war correspondents follow him back to New Orleans the next day. On February 5, Gunn learns of the death of Grace Thomson, Fanny Fern’s daughter, from scarlet fever. On February 10, Gunn visits the home of T. Decatur Harris and his wife Lizzie in New Orleans. On February 23, Gunn receives a letter from his fiancée Hannah Bennett who tells him about the death of her father and the worsening condition of Gunn’s own father Samuel. She asks him to come home to England, and he agrees it is time Volume 22 overlaps with Volume 21 from January 1-February 12, 1863. Gunn continues his time in New Orleans working as a correspondent for the Tribune. On March 8, 1863, Gunn meets Thomas B. Thorpe and they take a drive into the country, where Thorpe tells him about the city before the war. On Gunn’s last day in New Orleans, March 10, he visits with all his acquaintances, including the Harris family. On his way back to New York, he stops at Key West while the ship refuels on March 15. The ship also stops at Port Royal on March 18, where Gunn visits acquaintances there. He arrives back in New York on March 23. On April 2, Sally Nast invites Gunn to visit her before he leaves for England. On April 4, Gunn learns more about the death of Grace Thomson, and on April 6, he engages passage on the steamer Victoria to go back to England. On April 7, his final diary entry, he pays a visit to Sally and Thomas Nast for dinner, during which he clears the air with Nast over past misunderstandings and they part on good terms. Included with the diary are three letters: one from Frank Bellew to Gunn dated November 4, 1887; one from Gunn to Jack Edwards dated November 7, 1887; and one from Alfred H. Terry to Gunn dated August 29, 1886. One additional volume following Volume 22 is in private family hands in England and was partially published in Victorian Banburyshire: Three Memoirs by the Banbury Historical Society in 2013, edited by Barrie Trinder. The published version may be viewed in the Missouri Historical Society Library (call number: 941.081 V645). The published volume focuses on Gunn’s return to Banbury and wedding to Hannah Bennett, and some passages have been edited out and summarized. After marrying Hannah, Gunn makes the decision to give up diarizing.