1861 December 30 Fort Griffin

My darling wifey,
I wrote you a note enclosed in a letter to
Mittie which I hope you have received as I wrote sev-
eral things which I want yo to read–I also wrote
to you on Christmas day; the letter preceeding that you
have received–It is so quiet and uninteresting down
here that I h ave nothing worth the dignity of being
written, but were I with you I could talk until twelve
I have scolded you once or twice about being harried
and allowing yourself to be interrupted when writing
to me. I am half inclined to think that you are
anxious to round off you periods, but see the
excuses, “Breakfast summons me”‘ “Dark, so good
night”‘ “cousin Louisa Blair calls me” &c–when I
write to you, I like to do so at night, when every
thing is quiet and I can think of you without
being disturbed.

I came across a piece in the Spectator which made
me think of you and which I will transcribe:
“I am married, and have no other concern but to
please the man I love; he is the end of every care
I have; if I dress, it is for him; if I read a poem,
or a play, it is to qualify myself for a conversation
agreeable to his taste; he almost the end of my

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devotion; half my prayers are for his happiness,
I love to talk of him, and never hear him
named but with pleasure and emotion.” Tell me
this in you next and I will give you ten dollars.
Recollect that , as it is with you so it is with me
a great pleasure to be assured, again and again

that you love me.

If you get any letters from the VMI professors,
send me copies of them–I feel so anxious about
the election–I will be so happy in being with you.
When you see Ma, thank her for the nice
things she sent me in the box which I received
this evening–Every thing was very acceptable and
very nice–such a compliment she will value
as they are very rare. I expected a letter from
you to-night and have been disappointed, but
have received a long and interesting one from
Ma–tell her that I have fared a great deal
better during the last five months than I ever
expected and as for wanting to leave the service
I never wanted to enter it–thank Mittie for the visor
and you can afford to give me that much
time–Love to all at both places
and believe me as ever
your devoted
Husband

Mrs. Nannie L. Cochran

from Howe Peyton Cochran, Sergeant, 1st Virginia Artillery,

MSS 9380

1861 December 29

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

We left Barboursville
last night a bout 7 oclock
we went down the
road toward mud and
then went crost the
country untill we
came on the guyan
road at Dusen bureys
Mill on the guyan
river we crost the river
and then took the road
for a creeke called Beach[?]
fork we stopt at a house
Spencer Bontecew he is
called Dock we stayed
all night got our break
fast and started on the
next house we took a fellow
prisner he starte
to run but we halted
him and he stopt
and came back the boys
was just going to shoot
as he halted. his wife
cried very hard when
we left her she had a
small child in her armes
his name is Collens
when we asked for him
his wife said he was not
there but we seene him
at the door and then
we saw him going
up the hill double
quick he looke to be
a bout 27 years old
tolerable well dressed

the roads was
frozen and very ruff
and very bad traveling
we traveled on to the
next house then we wen
to a house up hollow
they had left the house
and put the fire out
we went from there to
the next house and then
be fore we got there
we stopt and looking
at the house we saw
a man runing we
holwed hault but he
run on we fired as
he got over the fence
there was two men on
horse back we fired a
bout fifteen rounds
at them but we did not
kill any one of them the
men farley flew on horse
back we are now where one
of our men got wounded
a bout three weekes ago
we are in a dangerous
part of the country
and forty nine men
and our captain
there Was five of the boy
went to the next house
where we saw some
men go in but they
did not get them they
was children

we left Beachfork
and went up Racoon
fork we stopt at a house
and got our dinner
we had to cook it
our selves we had
a big cettle and filled
it a bout half full of
pork fresh bones for they
had just butchered at
the place we are about
5 miles from guyan falls
there is but two women
at the house we left
there and and went back
a pice and then we
went over the moutain
a crost to a man hous
by the name of davis
he is a secesh and is
out some place as we
was crossing a mountain
we saw fresh horstrack
where a man had come
up and turn back he
made his horse run like
every thing from the look
of the track he run
his horse down hills
that a man could
not hardly get down
we asked at one
house what his name
was but the woman said
she did not know
for he was going so
fast she did not know
whether he had a hat
on or not he was
on a sorrel horse and
had dark clothes on
he went up hills
that we could not
hardly go up we
got to Davises a little
after dark went to
bed with out supper

the other part of the company met us here.

MSS 13405

1861 December 29

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

Played as usual
mended my stockings
&c received letters
from Libbie C. W.
Archie of Co J has just
come in very drunk
read & talked some with
Jeff on the Testament Clear

MSS 10317

1861 December 29

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]

Did not go ashore today
Sat by the fire and talked and
read. The Col. of the 24th Mass was here this
forenoon to see about getting a place for
his regiment on the boat. This afternoon Col.
Upton and Brown were here on the same
errand. very pleasant to day.

MSS 11293

1861 December 29 Camp near Winchester

[right hand margin of this letter has been ripped away at top and bottom]

Ever Dear Kate [Amanda Catherine Armentrout]

I recieved your lette[ ]
on the 20th & it was a most welco[ ]
letter for our Reg. was on picket near
the banks of the Potomac & occatio[ ]
the Enimy would throw a bombshell as
if feeling for our situation but [ ]
warsted amimition in vain be[ ]
you may know that your letter
being recived in such a p[ ]
would make a lasting impres[ ]
on my mind & thare I vowed
before Almighty God that I wou[ ]
never play annother card it was
very seldom that I ever played; when
I played it was for mear amusement
but will I know thare was a better way
to spend my time. this is quite a
lonesome day hear, though a beautifull
Sabbath morning evry thing looks
quiate but dull it is quite a
picture to look around on my m[ ]
some are Cooking some eating som[ ]
writing & some sleeping we had [ ]

[page 2]
[ ] for breakfast you would laughf if
[ ]u could seeus Cooking evry one
[ ]ust have something to say how
[ ]noh & such a thing ought to be done
[ ] H. Brownlee is hear to day tis the
[ ]st time I have seen him since
[ ]e went to Washington Co. he loos
[ ]ery well. Tome is Gen Garnett orderly.
[ ]hat sort of a Christmas did you
have mine was very dry it seemed
[ ]o me like a Sabbath it was
[ ] beautiful day I would like
[ ]ry much to have been at home
[ ]r I know that I could have had
[ ]ome pleasure I will long remember
[ ]he presant hollow days we had
a turkey christmas day for dinner
* have had one since, thare was
an inspection this morning a 9 O
clock A.M. whe had a tolerable hard
trip to the Potomac a fiew weeks
a go an it is hard to me as
I was not very well I had the
yellow Jaunders I was very near
broke down it is useless to
[ ]ite evry think that happened
[ ] it has been published in the news papers

[page 3]
I hope John is getting well so h[ ]
can enjoy him self through the [ ]
low days I assure you that I sha[ ]
never think less of him for tellin[ ]
on me for he is a man I grat[ ]
esteem I only wish that he w[ ]
correct me of evry fault that [ ]
have give my love to him if he
is at home when this reaches yo[ ]
you can keep the socks, untill
I return my health is very good at
preasant & hope when these fiew
uninteresting lines come to ha[ ]
you may be enjoying the same
blessing. my Brothers are both wel[ ]
your cousin Abe was down hear
yesterday the most of the boys trea[ ]
him coldly because he had him
self detailed to wait on the sick
he spent to most of his time
with me I hurd that he started
home yesterday I hope that he may
have a pleasent time. I must
bring this short letter to a clo[ ]
I ask an interrest all your [ ]
give my love to all & resurve
respective portion for your

[page 4]
[ ]rite soon as I am always glad
[ ]hear from nothing more write
[ ]on
W.G. Brand
[ ]New years gift

William Francis Brand, 1840-1932, 5th Virginia Infantry, Co. E (Augusta Grays); afterwards a farmer.

MSS 11332

1861 December 28

My darling wifey

I received your sweet letter
this morning and as usual you were called
off from the writing to you absent husband by
something trifling I suppose. You haven’t
written me a single letter, but that you
were hurried int he writing of it. If I
can find time to write, I think you might.
The above is more of a scolding than I
intended to give and more than I ought
considering that you have missed your ____.
What do you think of that? I suppose you
will retract all the abuse you heaped upon
me in Wmsburg___ I hope my darling will
be extremely prudent and careful of herself
but I have no doubt her mother will sus-
-pect something shortly and make her do
it. Write to me, my precious, and tell me
everything–you may feel no hesitation
in saying that I that I feel an interest in what
concerns you–I have written a long letter
to Millie which you can see, but this is
for your eyes alone–I need hardly ask
you to show it to none. the cream of all
my letters to you is that I want to see you
and love you with all my heart, and I
I[sic] think of my darling a great deal and
it is so pleasant. We have been seperated
this time longer than we have ever been
and I am getting extremely anxious to see you

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with regard to Chas do as you please
I hope to have use for him before long
in our new home–I wish you would
devote one whole morning to writing
me a long sweet letter and I will
give you ten dollars, but if you neglect
to tell me twenty times that I am
your own darling husband and that you
love me with all your heart, I shant
give you a cent–Will you give me $10 if
I tell you the same–Well hand it over
Give my love to your Mother and Sister Va.
and believe me, my own precious darling
wifey, as ever your devoted and loving
Husband.

Howe Peyton Cochran, Sergeant, 1st Virginia Artillery

MSS 9380
concerns you

1861 Dec 28 Centreville Va

Tendering my compliments
to the Misses Cary, I must
return them my thanks for the
nice “Christmas gift” sent me.
It was very delicious and
enjoyed in appreciative
quantities by a select circle
of military gentlemen who did
us the honor to dine with us.
I shall be in Richmond
in a few weeks and antici
=pate as the one of the speciall
pleasures incident of the trip
the opportunity it will afford me
to make your acquaintance
Although the intimate
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official & personal relation between
your brother and myself almost
from the commencement of my
career in the Army, together
with my sincere regard for him
scarcely permit me to consider
you as entire strangers to me
now.
Praying a pleasant Christmas
and a happy New Year for you
both I remain
with highest respect
Your friend
Alfred M. Barbour

Miss Hattie & Jennie Cary
Richmond
Va.

Capt. Alfred M. Barbour had been civil superintendent of the United States armory at Harper’s Ferry and then served as Chief Quartermaster under General Joseph Johnston

MSS 1415

1861 December 28

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

The camp is in a stir
this morning for the
cavelry has come up
from Guyandott they
are going after
a fellow by the name
of Clawhamer he is
at Mud bridge or was
there last evening
we are to start to night
to help them if they
neede us we will
have to march all
night I am cook
to day and a good
day but not a
very good cook
I got a letter from
my Father to day
the first I eve[r] had

MSS 13405

1861 December 28

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

Played and practiced as
usual attended a funeral
this afternoon of a member
of co B Washed my pants
this evening read a letter
from Libbie C.W. to Campbell
mostly Clear Cool

MSS 10317