1861 November 30

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. 5, 25th Massachusetts Infantry]

Had the worst night last night
I ever experienced. It rained
like a thunder storm nearly all night
and I was out in nearly the whole of it
being on guard. Got my shoes full of
water when I first went on at ten
o’clock, and they were wet all night.
My head ached badly for the least half
hour before I got off, at six int he morn-
ing, and it seemed as if my feet would
freeze it had grown so cold, But I
changed my stockings and warmed
myself at the sergeants tent and felt
much better. Had nothing to do but read &c
This is part of the rough side of a
soldiers life. But I feel that God is able
and willing to watch over and protect
those who trust in Him. I have thus far
been wonderfully favored by Him.
Henry and Charles Willis were here to-day
and I sent word home to father by Henry.

MSS 11293

1861 November 30

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

Today I am for guard duty
again was placed in picket
out side of town the snow
fell about 2 inches deepe
but it is not very cold for
the sun came out warm
and it melted it of there
is fore of us at this
post we have to stay
till morning our duty
is to let nobody out
with out a pass let
all in unless they are
armed if an armed force
comes to fire on then
and if we can whip them
all right if not git out
of their way if we can
if not goin lemones
let thoes laugh that win

MSS 13405

1861 November 30

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Had Dress parade orders sent
intimating that we will
remain here all winter. practiced
and read some sent letter
to Father
snowed some last night cleared today

MSS 10317

1861 Nov[ember] 30 Camp near Centreville

My dear John

I received last night your letter of the
26th and one at the same time from my[?] dear Sallie Browne
for which my welcomed letters I return you both my
heartfelt thanks–By a letter received at the same time
from your Mother. I am sorry to find she has been detained
there by the ilness of our dear Courtney B–who it seems
has scarlet fever–I fear this will keep you mother
in Richmond for some time–It is a great treat to me
that I can not under these circumstances go there for a
day or two to meet your mother and to see our dear
sick child–You understand how this is—but your
Mother complains bitterly of me–as if I saw free to
go I would–But both a sense of duty and the rigid
rule against leaves of absence keep me here–this army
stands between the enemy and our homes & all that are dear
which we have left behind us–If we leave our posts
here at the present time–we desert those we ought
to be willing to die to protect & defend — and hence
the extreme strictness in regard to leaves of absence

[page 2]
But I hope the dear child will do well as the
hands of our good friend Dr Drane and a kind
providence–

I wrote you in my last about procuring a supply of salt
if possible I wrote to Deane H & Jones to buy what you
might want–or aid you in doing so–I learn that one
bushel
of salt if carefully and is enough for one thousand
pounds of pork- and hence the Govt. has been authorized to
regulate the price I hope you will get what may be
absolutely required. Crenshaw & Co. will probably have it
if you have had a satisfactory explanation of your author=
ance–so as to renew transaction with them–But
unless they manifest a better [?] I would not
intimate upon them or push the matter–
I hope you have been able to cause Miss [?]
time to pass agreeably–by having some young friends to meet her
and otherwise entertaining her–She is a very superior
young lady if I mistake not–Please present my kindest
regards to her–
Now that I am absent I would caution you to be very
circumspect as to whom you write to visit our home
or allow to visit–for in these times there are persons not
gentlemen who will intimate themselves–with any such you
should be [?] Should any [?] occur–But his part
is enough–
So far we are not suffering –but soon shall require more than
a tent to cover us from the winter’s cold–If I had Edward
Charleston & Frederick & a couple of good sawyers with
a few loads we might put up cabins for head quarters–
May write for them–With love to all & hoping to hear soon from
you I am yr affec father Philip StGeo Cocke

MSS 640

1861 November 29

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

Rain rain nothing but
rain and mud three
of our men has just
got back from guyandott
they say it is awfull bad
for the union men the
way they burnt up the
town the boys sayed ther
is to be 5 hundred of
cavelry to winter ther
they say things looked
very bad there now
bullet holes through every
place pretty nigh there
was fore men that was
taken prisners came
back there they had es
caped from the secech
the secesh say that they
will not attact us boys

MSS 13405

1861 Nov[ember] 29

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]

Was on guard today. It looks very
much like rain and is quite
warm. Ed Brown was here today and
says we shall not leave probably for about
a fortnight. Enloyed thinking about home
and how my friends are favored

MSS 11293

1861 November 29

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Did nothing to day practiced
some Crickfield & Crotty procured
Furloughs, went up to Head
Quarters Saw colored Family
who want to emancipate
themselves.
procured arm chair paid 25cts
rained all day

MSS 10317

1861 November 29 Norfo[lk]

Friday night

My Dear Miss Hettie

I write again still
hoping to hear from you after such
long silence–My last letter directed
University Va remained unanswered
so long (& still remains so) I reasoned
that you had changed your quarters
& hoped to learn from Willie Murray
something definite about you–
He has never written & I am
still very uncertain how to get
to you the two letters from your
Mother which I enclosed–Both we
received in the last three days–&
one sealed, today. A little note
from her accompanied them
requesting me to forward them to
you. Please tell her when you can

[page 2]
that it gives me the most intense
pleasure to assist her in getting
letters to you or anything in the
world that she can get to my hands.
Tell her not to think of trouble (which she
intimates) but only the fact that I am
never happier than when aiding or
abetting your happiness–it matters
little in what way, so long as I can
be instrumental–

Tilghman of Md. attached to the corps
of Engineers under Genl Huger has
persuaded me to direct these to
Charlottesville–He know you
slightly & tells me that he has lately
heard of you.

Then[?] after telling me about yourself
Miss Jennie, give me some information
of Willie Murray–He says that he now
looks upon our house as his home–
Please say to him that those at home
looking upon him as one of them, feel

[page 3]
most anxious to hear, if only a few
lines–While he was with us I learned
to love hm as a brother & so long as
I have a roof above me it is equally
his–He is a noble fellow & a vague
report says Miss Jennie will endorse
all the praise I could utter–

But what of yourself? I do not feel
maternal in this letter–at least–less so
than at any time I have ever written
you–Perhaps it is the uncertainty
of its reaching you–a deep blank
seems to have fallen on me since
I last heard from you & the little
excitement in Norfolk goes far towards
cherishing an unpleasant indifference
to most things around me–There
are no apprehensions of an attack
which would be hailed with delight &
dullness reigns supreme–

One peculiarity with me is Miss Laura Savage.
I can not agree with you in thinking

[page 4]
she lacks beauty & fascinating little
ways–But “voila tout”–At 21, that
might have bound my heart–

I often long for an hour even, with
you–I would thank you eloquently
for the last little note from Essex–
I could give you many little evidences
of reform in everything save my
politics–They would still incur
your intense denunciations. Unless
perchance you have changed, & from
all that I know of you I am obliged
to say, that if there be one thing more
than any other which I have especially
admired in your character–it is
the absence of anything like change &
do not consider this a letter–it is too
miserable. If you wish to write home
at any time send your letters to me
open & take particular care to say
nothing imprudent–They will be read
at head-quarters here & sent on by the
next flag of truce to Old Point–

[in top margin of page 1]

My very best to Miss Jennie

Ever Truly yours

J.C.Baylor

MSS 1174

1861 Nov[ember] 29 Camp Hill

Dear Lute:
Edloe has written and doubt-
less mentioned all news worthy
of communicating to you.
Indeed my letters I am sure must
be found very dull and uninter-
esting and I only continue them
to keep you advised as to the
health and general condition of
the Jones- family, and to alleviate
as far as I can the afflictions
of separation from the dear
ones at home – We continue
at our old camp ground and
in tents but I am sure we
will be in Winters quarters before
very long; tents are very unpleas-
ant dwellings now although the
patent fireplaces add greatly
to the comfort; Pa has doubtless
given you some account of
these as likely of most every
thing else about camp life.
John and I have been in a
splendid wall – tent for a few

[page 2]
days and are very comfortably
fixed; have a splendid
place and an excellent raised
bed made of small saplin[g]s.
Edloe wouldn’t consent to leave
“No. 7” the tent he has occupied
since the tents were recd. The
inmates of that tent have dwin-
dled from nine to three, – four
with Mr. Kennon, whose place
is still reserved. Here’s for
a hasty description of “our
mess”: (1) Sergeant Chiles – a talka-
tive, mischievous, large-hearted
man with wife and children;
tries hard to stand service but
his health is too delicate; a mode-
rate eater but fond of “bread &
beef”; face chubby with large pair
of light whiskers & moustache; thick-
ly set and inclined to be fleshy
but the Southern Confederacy has
deprived him of some of the last;
great hand to nurse the sick &
shd. have been a doctor or professional
instead of clod-hopper XXXXXXX.
(2) Parson Jones – most prominent

[page 3]
part about him, a large pair of
fiery red whiskers and moustache,
which latter trouble him greatly
in eating soup and did when
we got buttermilk; shd. never call
him as cook nor judge of poultry!!
He has many traits wh. indicate
absent-mindedness. (3) Corporal Fendol
W. Chiles – a tall, good-looking piece of
flesh – very talkative in camp; a
very hearty eater – (a feature most
objectionable in messes where provis-
ions are scarce). Corpl. C. however, has
companions who seem to reverse the
old Latin maxim and “live to
eat”. (4) Private Walthall – a fleshy bald-
headed, blue-eyed youth – fond of the
ladies and also of good – eating; is chief
of the culinary department; strangers
wd. sometimes infer that our’s was a
“swell-head” mess with a white cook
such is “Catherine’s” devotion to his
favorite occupation; she could get
good wages at any large Hotel!!
(5) Private Jones (P. E.) – a beardless youth
with bright black eyes – character –
is his: contentedness; tolerable good
cook and hearty eaterxxxxx.

(page 4)
Private Jos. W. Baker – a silent,
good-natured, easy, hearty, con-
tented youth – good cook & hearty
eater. (7) Priv. Jones’ – Caterer for
the mess – somewhat of ^‘a’ cook and
very large eater as contd. fatness
doth truly indicate. (8) Chief
Andrew Broadus Poindexter, of
the colored race and cooking
department – very bright and
frequently taken for a member of
the White family. This, dear,
Sister, is a rough, inaccurate,
impromptu sketch of the exter-
nals of “our mess”; I wish there
was an artist here to take
our shapes &c as we crack jokes
and talk of the dear home – folks
around our table while we
enjoy our coarse fare.
I have been enjoying myself greatly
of late with a few books & pamph-
phlets that John brought over
with him and expect to pass
away time pleasantly & profita-
bly with books during the winter
season. I hope you are read-
ing a great deal notwith-
standing circumstances;
you will doubtless find some-
thing interesting & instructive
among my books that were left

[page 5]
in a small trunk at home.
Take great care of them as I hope
still to have much use for them;
get all you can from them and
impart to yr. young brothers and
to Mattie who I suppose has
already learned to read; your
life and conduct will greatly in-
fluence her’s wh. you know with-
out my telling you; and you shd.
be cautious and careful[l] [page torn] for yr.
own sake and her’s, wh. also is
very apparent to you.
The drums and bands have some
time since sounded the soldiers
bed-time and I must close for
the night with prayers that heaven’s
smiles may not be withdrawn while
you slumber and that happiness
may ever be the lot of my dear
young sister.

[continues on November 30]
Saturday morning: It rained all
night and is a disagreeable, wet &
windy day. We are all well this
morning. Henry Chiles is better but
still much complaining.
I wish Pa would pay Mr. Kennon
$1.13 – the amount due him from

[page 6]
our mess fund. Ask him also please
to send us a wash-basin if he can
get us one as they can not be had
from the Sutlers here. I suppose
Jas. Baker will be back the first
of next week as his furlough will
be out. I suppose Edloe men-
tioned Aunt Ellen’s visit; I was
very sorry she cd. not stay longer;
She brought us two large baskets
of nice things & a turkey, bread, pies,
cakes, catsup, and a jar of very
nice pickle; said she had sent us
[paper torn] boxes from Warren-
ton, which, however, we have
never recd. The Rev. Mr. Ewing
of Gordonsville is in camp; con-
ducted worship last night and
will probably preach to –day shd.
it clear off. But I must
conclude this miserable scrawl.
Jno. recd. Ma’s letter last night about
bed time and we were glad to
hear from you all. Write to
us when you find it conven-
ient wh. I hope will be quite
often. Much love to all at
home, Aunt Cynthia’s, Mr. Thompson’s,
Mr. Hunter’s, and all the other
kin & neighbors & friends.
Very affly
Your Bro.
Pendleton.
Miss Lute M. Jones

MSS 13407