Henry Brockman was born February 1, 1824, in Barren County, Kentucky, the son of John and Nancy Elmore Brockman. The family moved to Miller County, Missouri, while Henry was still young. He married Elizabeth Castleman in March 1852, and the couple had nine children. Brockman was an active member of the church, serving as deacon, and an active Mason. Brockman joined the Confederate States Army (CSA) in July of 1862. He enlisted as a First Lieutenant, but soon became Captain of Company K, Tenth Infantry Regiment, Second Missouri Brigade, also known as "Parson's Brigade." The unit participated in battles at Prairie Grove, Helena, and Little Rock, in addition to numerous skirmishes in south Arkansas. They fought in battles in Pleasant Hill and Mansfield in Louisiana. Away on medical leave after being wounded at the Battle of Mansfield, Brockman missed the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, but he rejoined the men near Camden, Arkansas, where they camped during the winter of 1864-65. Brockman's unit surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, in the spring of 1865. During his tour of duty he was instrumental in the creation of a roaming Masonic lodge which was ordained by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas and travelled with the brigade.After the war, Brockman returned home to Miller County, Missouri, where he taught school for a short time before moving his family to Star City in Lincoln County, Arkansas, where some of his descendants still reside today. He died July 27, 1881, and is buried in Butler/Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lincoln County, Arkansas.Henry Brockman's Civil War journal has been preserved by the Arkansas History Commission for more than one hundred years. The following text is an attempt at an accurate transcription of that journal, allowing Brockman to tell the story of the war in his own words. Parts of the journal were difficult to read, so naturally, some errors are to be expected. Quoted text is presented in italics, while dates of the entries are not in italics, since they have been standardized to increase understanding of the content. No changes have been made in spelling to Brockman's writings, but many dashes have been added for clarity. Researchers should consult the original journal before quoting for publication.