The diary kept by Edwin Welsh Bush documents his journey from Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee to Texas in 1852. Bush entered the state by way of Pendleton’s Ferry and then made his way through Milam, San Augustine, Melrose, and Nacogdoches. The diary also contains notes written about travels through Texas and return trips to Tennessee between 1853 and 1854. Interesting anecdotes include Sam Houston’s railroad speech in Nacogdoches June 14, 1853; the Fourth of July in Melrose; the appearance of gubernatorial candidates in Nacogdoches July 6, 1853; Bush’s organization of a school in Melrose August 1, 1853; and shipwrecking on a return trip to Tennessee. Pages 1-45 are about events in 1852, pages 49-78 describe 1853, and pages 78-125 document 1854.