1862 March 29 New Bern, N.C.

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

Saturday
March 29

Was sick nearly all night. Had to
get up and vomited considerable
but went on guard today. Was at the
hospital. Saw two of our wounded soldiers who
were dead and laid out in the entry, Got
so I felt better tonight.

MSS 11293

1862 March 29-April 3 Hampton Roads, Va.

[from the memoir/diary of Captain Jonathan B. Hager, Co. F of the 14th Regulars

Mar 29 Morning dawned
and immediately after reveille, I broke for
a house in the distance inhabited by some
white trash to hunt up a breakfast, I was
late; there were a dozen before me,and as but
four could sit down at a time, and as the old
woman was the only cook, and the old man
the only mate, and two blooming daughters
of 16 & 18 years with faces unwashed & hair
unkempt, the only assistants, it was a couple
of hours before my time at the bacon and
cornbread came. A goodly quantity of this
washed down wit a pint of something like
rye coffee, but not quite so good & all costing
but fifty cents, repaid the fast of the previous day.
I returned to Camp turned into an Ambulance
a& was soon fast asleep Our baggage arriving
soon after our tents were pitched & we were home
again. We remained in this camp for a week
The weather was pleasant & we took many a
stroll along the gravelly beach of Hampton
Rhoads. Here we had our first Brigade drill by Gen. Sykes

MSS 9044

1862 March 29 Rapidan Station Cary letter

[letter of John B. Cary begun on the 26th continues]

Saturday, Mch 29 1862 I was obliged to stop here & have not been able to
resume since. I have however in the meantime received from the girls a large
package containing your letter of Feb 23 & Sister’s of Feb 2. Great treats they
were I assure you. Willie received them night before last–he & Major B__
were up nearly all night & handed them to me in the morning. I had
to leave immediately with Major for Orange C.H. and did not have a
chance to read them until very late last night–It was half past two
when I retired. I suppose you have heard from the girls of Willie’s good
fortune. Upon Major’s recommendation he has received a commission as
Captain in the Qr. M’s Dept. He deserves it well & I know no officer in

[page 4]
the Dept. more capable of discharging the duties or more faithful in
giving his entire time. Major B could not do without him possibly–
He always says so & tells every one so. In fact he tells everyone he
knows that Cary is the best & smartest man he ever knew in hislife.
Willie will require forty thousand dollars bond, which Major has
arranged for him. An old gentleman from Petersburg, who has taken
a fancy to both of us, has offered to be one of the bond, & another
from Jefferson Co Va has offered to be the other–both strangers upon
whom Willie has no claim in the world, but both friends of Major’s
Willie has not yet rec’d the commission, as it is always two or three weeks
after its issue before the person is notified, but Burton Harrison, who is
Prest Davis’ private secretary, informed the girls of the fact, and Willie is
already dubbed in the office “Capt. Cary.” Your letter to Jenny & late de-
velopment here have persuaded me that the girls had better return home as soon
as possible. I am very much afraid sister H. will do something foolish
after she gets there–which will consign her to confinement with Mrs Norris
for after the life she has led here it will be very hard to settle down quietly
at home. And altho’ you may get every assurance from Dix, that will not
cover the future, but only the past. Should they return home they will have
to be very careful how they mix in any schemes having in view the good of
Confederates for of course they will be strictly watched–certainly they have
given as much cause as poor Mrs Norris ever did. We will both write to
them (if one of us does not see them soon) upon the subject of their return–
Fortunately they have never been obliged to call upon Maury or anyone else
for assistance, as Willie & I have always been able to provide them with what
ever they have needed. Sister Hetty had better go to Europe with Sister in
the spring–That would be a splendid way of disposing of her–Jenny will
be quiet enough. The idea strikes me every now & then, of what in the
world is the use of writing all this, they will never see it at home–
but sheer desperation, disgust & dont-careishness drive my pen along, to
gether with the thought that the more letters I write the greater chance of your receiving one-& they might as well be all long ones for I cannot tell which of
them will turn up. It is a consolation for me to write & imagine you all
to be reading it at home took tho’ you never may–Oh! my long letters that
have gone down, I mourn them continually, particularly those written firs
& giving my first impressions, which were very full & I know would have
proved interesting. But what’s the use crying over spilt milk?
We are now in quite a civilized part of the country–the Army was never
here very long & there are a good many fences & outhouses still left standing.
Jost across the river from us lives Mrs. Taliaferro who has a beautiful place
& three young, pretty & charming daughters, besides two or three refugee friends
of the feminine gender staying there. Mr Mitchell ( a very splendid fellow: one
of my co-laborers & a nephew of Gen. Johnson) Rogers (another co-laborer) & Willie
Robinson (staying with us for a day or two on his way to join the Regt.) & myself,
decided that said young ladies should not be left to waste their sweetness
on the desert air, and that we would “dawn” upon them as Connie would

[page 5]
say. We accordingly diked our best & crossed the river & went in. The
ladies were very agreeable–we had singing & various kinds of fun &
finally left about one o’clock. I could scarcely believe my senses when
I found myself leaning over the Piano listening to one of the ladies
sing–it seemed so much like old times in Balto. with well dressed
women & a well furnished room & all the elegancies of life around
me once more. It made me wish for an evening at home with
all the pretty girls there singing, dancing, & happy once more. When
will such times ever return? We passed however a very pleasant
evening & will I think repeat the dose as soon as possible. I wish
we were going to stay here for some time, as I think a very nice little
flirtation might be gotten up over there without much trouble. I am
afraid, however, we will soon take to our horses again. One consolation
is that we have the best lot of horseflesh I have ever seen got together
before. It would do Mr. Mc good to see them–some thoroughbreds
& blooded stock and we always have a good time when riding
about driving up negroes & stock &c. I suppose the Yankees say they
got immense supplies at Manassas, but you need not believe a
word they say. I can assure you they didn’t even get a blade of grass.
We even took some bottles & demi-johns, which we could not bring
away & broke them up in a pile, determined that no Yankee should
ever keep his supplies in them. Major is too good a Qr. Mr. to lose
his supplies–we bro off nearly everything & burnt up our buildings,
blew up our bridges. The country had previously been entirely
stripped of forage & provisions so that they could not have gotten
anything at all. dont despond, Dear Ma about our cause, they have
no one who can compete with Genl. Johnston as a General, that has

[page 6]
been clearly demonstrated long ago. We will not have many more
defeats to chronicle I am very sure. It is probable we may
leave here in a few days if not to-morrow, all orders come very
suddenly–where we go is entirely unknown except to Genl Johnston.
I am so sorry to hear of Pa’s sickness, I hope ere this he has entirely
recovered. I wrote him a long letter about the first of this month
Did he ever receive it? I suppose not. confound the Yankees–
I would lie to kill 8 or 10–about one for each of my letters lost.
Did anyone ever have such bad luck before. Is it not enough
to make one “cuss & spit”–the flag of truce business has stopped
so far as letters are concerned,or I would even condescend to
try that. I have y not yet been able to go to see Mis Nannie, tho’
she is only five or six miles from here. I expect when the girls
return she will return with them. The girls in their letter to me
yesterday said they intended returning home very soon, of course we
will see them before they go. I wish they only went before to
announce our coming–Excuse this rambling disconnected
letter, it is the best I can produce–& good enough for a Yankee
I expect one to read it. I wish it would blast him if he
does. Give my love to all at Sudbrook–& to Pa & Syd–
Minny & all at home–Good bye, your devoted son
J.B.C.

Please send the enclosed letter to Miss Ida.

[letter will continue on March 31]

MSS 1174

1862 March 28

[letter of Hiram Cash begun on the 27th continues]

March 28

I received a letter from you last night and was very glad to hear
from you. I like to hear from home I thereby learn how things are
going on at home I think of home very often especially twords
night I was very glad to learn that Cyrus Strout was getting
better and was likely to get well again when he gets home tell
him if he is able to write to me About the town meeting I have
nothing to say In the review I have spoke about in this letter
they were to a stand to know which was the best division &
Gen McLellan thought Gen. Franklins was the best but Gen
Mac McDowell thought Gen Kings was the best saw so yesterday
these two divisions were called out for a test review each one
tried to do their best and Gen. Franklin’s division was declared
the best to this division we belong and to Cap all Gen. McLellan
publicly declared the Me. fifth Regt. to be the best drilled, the best
appearing and was the best Regt. in the whole of McDowells
command, our Brigadier Gen. Slocum sent one of his ades to our
Col. to halt his Regt. after we had started for camp we stoped,
formed a square and Gen. Slocum rode inside and told us what
McLellan as well as McDowell and all of the best judges and spectators
had said about us he said he was willing to own it was the best Regt in
his brigade he also thought McLellan’s words were true that it was the
best in McDowells command of between 40,000 & 50,000 men. I have got
six stamps that you sent me you need not send any more at present we expect to
be paid off soon if we stay here this week I think we shall. I have no more to write so
I will close From you son Hiram M. Cash

[upside down in the top margin]
I was glad to hear from Walter that he was doing so well. Tell him I shall
come home when there is no more rebels to fight I think this will be in a few months
what did Walter say about his book Hiram

[soldier in the 5th Maine]

MSS 12916

1862 March 28 Chapel Hill, N.C.]

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

Friday 26th [sic]
Too rainy to go out–But the students came at
night as usual. We have two more families added to
our number very pleasant ladies–The Bradley girls
have arrived & board at Mrs. Hargraves–Mr. Mason &
Eliza have gone to take a walk—It will soon be reported
around she is engaged—

MSS 6960

1862 March 28 Camp Beard

[from the diary of Daniel Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, and a Sgt., Co. B, 1st Independent Battalion (Rightor’s), Louisiana Infantry]

Camp Beard

Friday – March 28th 1862
Alarm bell rang at 4 this morning –
I did not get up until 6 ½ o’clock –
Had a fine breakfast this morning
with the boys – Waited in town to get the
papers – Wrote to Mrs Roy to day in
answer to her letter & box of butter & the
bouquet from the young ladies – Acknowledged
receipt of Ten dols from Father – Spent
a few hours in the Miss Battalion &
borrowed an Enfield rifle from Lieut Coffee –
Saw Lindsay today & GeoTabb from the latter
Got a mule & rode him into Camp at Lees
Mill – Geo went on to Youngs farm – find
all of miss [Mississippi] No 3 but Elliott & Fry in camp –
Took charge of the company at Tattoo
tonight – Rec’d two letters ofrom Norcum
today from Julie one at Glenn Cannon & one
at Greenville SoCa – Saw Willie Huger today – he
reports all well at home when he left –

[his sister, Julia Rowena Logan, 1836-1909]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; annotation by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

1862 March 28 Orange Court House, Va.

Orange C. H. March 28th 1862.
My Dear Father –
You letter written par-
tially in Richmond and partially in Lynch-
burg, and bearing the postmark of yesterday
has just been received, and I thank you
most sincerely for the kind and earnest
efforts you have been and are still making
to secure the success of my enterprise.

Viewing the matter as calmly and
with as little bias as possible I can but
regard the War Department, as bound to
sustain me in every step I have taken.
Anything but a full, and unequivocal
approval of my conduct I would regard
as the grossest, and most outrageous
injustice, and I am confident, that Genl.
Randolph will act with due respect to the
obligations of his predecessor.

As I informed you in my hasty note
of yesterday I mustered my Company
into service having received a paper vesting
me with that authority from Secretary Benja-
min. Col. Garland refused to superintend
the organization or to allow Lt. Col. Funsten
to do so, and acted in a very unbecoming

[page 2]
manner when I informed him of my
intention to form the Company. He has
opposed me violently from the beginning
from the very palpable reason that
my men are taken from his ranks.

While you are in Richmond and ac-
cessible to the Department, I would be
glad if you Could inquire where I am
expected to rendezvous the Company, and
if I am at liberty to order them to report,
at the appointed place To [two ?] days before their
term of service begins, as provided by Enactment.
I desire also to learn whether or not it
is necessary that a Field Officer should
be present, at the election of officers in
Companies directly tendered to the C.S.

Such is the case I know in the Va. troops
but I am not informed in regard to those
mustered immediately in the Confederate
Service.

I hope I receive from you a full
letter by tomorrow’s mail.

I was very much pained to read
in Yesterday’s paper that my old regmt.,
the 27th Va. suffered severely in the
recent battle at Barting Hill, and
that a number of my old comrades
are amongst the killed, & wounded.

Capt. Hollowary as brave and true a man

[page 3]
as ever fought I am distressed to see is
severely injured, and unfortunately in the hands
of the Enemy; Nobler blood than his has
not been spilt, in this war although many
of our most gallant men have fallen, and
I am satisfied that he fell with his back
to the field & his feet to the foe!

But a few days since I received a letter from
him expressing a desire for me to accept the
1st Lt. cy in his company and I would have
gladly responded favorably had I not deemed
myself pledged to carry out the Enterprise
in which I was engaged. Capt’s Hollo-
ways letter is a sufficient eulogy on his
character as a nobleman of nature, and
I can but weep when I read his earnest
words, and reflect that their writer is now
mangled – it may be dead on inhospitable
soil. God grant that he is yet alive,
and that he may long be preserved to
his country. She has need of men like he.

It is a “ joy forever” to me to have known
and to have associated with such a man.

Warm in his impulses, & attachments,
brave, generous & highminded he is above
all others the man to retain my respect
& affection, and one up whom I shall
ever remember as a single hearted
patriot.

[page 4]
I enclose his letter. It will give you pleas-
ure to see that there are such men in our
army.

There are indications that there will be
an early movement, embracing at least
a division in this army. Five trains are now
in readiness for their conveyance at Orange
C. H. some 2 miles from this camp.
Numberless objections conjectures are rife in regard
to the probable direction but I know no-
thing whatever about it, and refrain
from presenting an opinion.

I can get as many good men as I want
for my Company, & hope to get some intelli-
gence in regard to it by tomorrow’s train.

I am anxious to get in the field with it
and Contribute my mite to roll back the
tide of the invasion. It is a time when
property & all earthly affairs should be
sacrificed to prevent our degradations.
With your consent, & approval, I desire to devote
Every Cent of my pay to my men’s Equip-
ment. I had rather be beggared & in rags
than to see our grand old state over run
by a ruthless horde, her ancient & honored
institutions obliterated, and her noble people
the degraded slaves of a vulgar tyrant.
If my life could divert such a fate, God knows it
would be gladly sacrificed.
Most affectionately Your Son
John W. Daniel

[Capt. Lewis P. Holloway, Co. C, 27th Va. Infantry. Captured at Kernstown 3/23/62. Sent to Fort Delaware, Died 4/9/62.]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


1st Lieutenant John Warwick Daniel, 1842-1910, Co. C. 27th Virginia and later Co. C. 11th Virginia Infantry, attained the rank of major before being permanently disabled in the Battle of the Wilderness. Studied law at the University of Virginia, entered politics and served in the Virginia House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Called the “Lame Lion of Lynchburg” he was a noted orator who gave speeches on many memorial occasions and was especially known for his address on Robert E. Lee

MSS 158

1862 March 28 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator]

Friday night, March 28, 1862.

This morning, about 3 o’clock, I was roused from
sleep by Kate calling to me that Wm. Waddell had come
to tell me that Lyt’s little Alick was dead! I was
greatly shocked, not having heard of the child’s illness.
Indeed he was not really ill for more than an
hour before he died. He was unwell yesterday, and
supposed to be threatened with scarlet fever, but no ap-
prehension was felt for his safety till past mid-night.
Lyt was at Buffalo Gap, and aunt Sally’s Tom was
sent for him. I went to meet him out of town. It
was most painful to me.

Many rumors in town to-day. At 10 o’clock last
night there had been no more fighting down the
Valley. One or more letters have come from persons
in Winchester. They give the Federal loss in the
late battle as 1500 to 2000 — doubtful — the num-
ber of their slain 800, doubtful. Our total loss
killed, wounded (many slightly) and missing is put
at 465, of which 170 are prisoners and 40 to 100
killed. Our troops were all engaged in the fight
were
composing Jackson’s army are
all Virginians — that is Virginia Regiments,
viz: 2nd, 4th, 5th, 23rd, 1st, 27th, 3rd,37th, 42nd, & 48th,
21st, 23rd, & 27th & 32 & Irish Brigade. These Regiments did have not lately averaged
400 men, probably. The artillery is in strong force, com-
paratively. Echols told me that we did not have 3000
men in the fight.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

1862 March 28 Lynchburg, Va.

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, of Lynchburg, Va., former diplomat, newspaper editor and bank officer, with 5 sons in the Confederate Army]

February 28 Drs. Green & Houston and Sally Minor
left us early this morning–the first for
Charlottesville–the two last for the packet
suffering much from head ache and general
apprehension–Recd letter from Lewis, stating
he has been sick. He was taken in Richd
when there early last week–went to Norfolk
and took to his bed. The Dr did not know
what to think of the attack, especially of
a red eruption all over the body. He was
well enough to be out of bed when he wrote.
He and three others have rented a ready furnished
house, with servants &c at 50$ a month and
are keeping house- at a cheaper rate than they
could board–He writes for some butter–that
article there was going from 75c to a dollar.
Have of various movements of troops–large
reinforcements have been sent to the Valley from
Gordonsville–Large quantity of troops [?]
[?] to North Carolina & the Peninsula
It is evident the fear of an advance on the
Richmond line has subsided–I never believed
the enemy would come that way. We may
expect every da to hear of the Merrimac
doing something. The President & the officials
in Richd are entirely confident of her ability
to [?] the Monitor. I believe upon this
will depend the safety of Norfolk, if not of
Virginia. Tatnall is to command her–I feel
sure he will never strike her flag.

Josiah Tatnall, 1794-1871, previously an officer in the U. S. Navy in the War of 1812, the 2nd Barbary War, and the Mexican American War

MSS 4763

1862 March 28 New Bern, N.C.

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

Friday
Mch 28

Had a very pleasant time on guard
this morning thinking of home and
other things. Went into a blacksmith shop
this morning. the smith was cutting strips from
a plate of iron to make horseshoes of.
went into a house right back of us and got
an old book and two or three pictures &c.
Drilled a little while this afternoon. Wrote
a letter home this evening. Fixed a box to
send home this afternoon.

MSS 11293