1862 June 29 Oxford, Miss.

Oxford Miss Jun 29/62

My Dear Sir [General John Hartwell Cocke]
when the yankees took pos-
session of our city I was forced to leave
I had previously placed my children
with a relation 150 miles above the
city & 10 miles back from the river
on a bayou I trust they may be
safe there–of course I cannot hear
from them, as the enemy has pos-
session of the whole country about
there & we can have no mails from
them.  I am up here busy getting up
an independent company to operate
on the miss river I hop to make
the navigation exciting enough to be
pleasant at least
We are all listening with the most
intense eagerness for news from
the armies before Richmond
Let us trust that a merciful God
will defend the right–

[page 2]
I am inclined to think now
that there will be no great and
decisive battle between Halleck
& Beauregards armies, as it is
said that heavy detachments from
each army has been made to
the armies before Richmond
so that the fate of the campaign
will be decided then.  If we gain
the lost ground here will soon be
recovered-if we lose we must
fight them in detail
—fear this continued excitement
will wear upon you seriously
May our merciful Saviour sus-
tain you in any want
Can you not drop me a line
here as I shall be here occasional-
ly

Yours very truly
P.H. Skipwith

MSS 640

1862 June 30 Richmond, Va.

                     Richmond,  June 30th 1862
                              Monday Morning
My dear Miss Mary
                         I enclose to you $5. can
you lay it out for me in marketing
to any advantage, & send it down to me
next time the boy comes–this week, if
possible.  the whole city is crowded with
the wounded & the many friends flocking
here to attend to them, & it is almost impos-
sible to get things for the table. Dr Huge has
so much company too–almost every meal
some one.  I try my best to plan & economise,
but find it difficult.  Can you send me
any new potatoes–beets or snap beans–they
would keep a few days—or any eggs–or 3 or
6 chickens. Almost anything you can
buy me will be acceptable.
Mr Huge is rather better than he was but
weak. We are in all the excitement of a
long continued battle.  Yesterday was a day long
to be remembered.  Many houses wore the
drapery of mourning–& the poor wounded
men comiing in at every house.  May God soon
deliver us from our enemies
               Your friend. E. H. Brown

MSS 2689

1862 June 30 near Richmond, Va.

  June 30th  9 miles from
                                                Richmond  6 A.M.
My Dear Father:
                       We camped or stayed
here last night in Yankee breast
works, having pursued McSellans’s
retreating forces so far. Should the
thing stop where it is now – we
have in effect & in fact ob-
tained a splendid victory. But
Lee seems to wish to annihilate
the Yankee army & is all around
them – The only difficulty is that
over extended lines may enable
to cut through, tho’ with heavy

[page 2]
loss at some point & escape.
We pursued him slowly, intention-
ally not pushing him until Jack-
son has with Walker fixed him-
self entirely on the other side. They
fought whenever we overtook
them – & there was skirmishing
all the way. Our Brigade was
3d from the front rank. But
just before sundown the infant-
ry portion of it was hotly engaged
with the Yanks for a short time.
The country does not admit
of much use of artillery to
a pursuing force. And the ar-

[page 3]
tiller attached to the front
brigade monopolized that, & a
heavy iron casemated gun on
a car on the R. R. pushed by
an engine. We are just on the R. Rd.
& have kept close by it all the
way. The quantity of
plunder left in our lines un-
destroyed is immense, tho’ the
Doodles burned & blew up
immense stores all the way,
not having time to burn any
that was separate from the
piles of stores   all this scattered
fell into our hands. As for
the soldiers apparel, big coats
oil cloths, knap sacks &c &c
of splendid quality they are

[page 4]
immeasureable. Do not send
me paper. I have plenty of
Yankee paper & envelopes.
This is yankee on wh. I
write.
     All the prisoners I have
seen, save one, including
even officers seem de-
lighted at being cap-
tured & I have seen several
hundred. I only wrote [or ‘write’] to
save you from any un-
easiness. I have not time to
write anything of interest. I
had saved a great many
little trinkets as prizes, had
I had an opportunity to
send them home. Poor
General Griffith! soon

[page 5]                        
after we left camp yes-
terday had a part of his
thigh torn off by the frag-
ment of a Yankee shell.
Thus he was the first to suf-
fer in his iron brigade. I have
not heard from him since yes-
terday – his life was not then
despaired of. How sorry I am.
     The movements of our lines
we can learn only by rumour.
Some one is about leaving
for camp. I must close as
I want this to reach you
as soon as possible. My dear-

[page 6]
est father farewell – may
heaven bless you & all.
         Ever affly. yr. son
              W. H. Perry, Jr.
P. S. Poor Genl. Griffith, he is
dead – I was about to close
when I heard it.
                W. H. P.

William H. Perry, Jr;, of the Richmond Howitzers

[Brig. General Richard  Griffith is wounded at the battle of Savage’s Station, June 29, 1862, and dies the next day.]


[transcript and annotation by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 7786-d

1862 June 30 Alexandria, Va.



[from the war journal of George Hazen Dana as he later compiled it from letters and diary entries]
                                                 

                                                 Alexandria.
                                                 June 30th 1862.
We have just come down from Cloud’s Mills, and embark soon
(I believe) for the position before Richmond, although the
Colonel himself is not sure.          I am writing this on
a box on the wharf – not a very comfortable position –
and my hand is very unsteady after our march in
the heat of the day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 1530

1862 June 30 before Richmond,Va.

[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later time]

June 30  Up at 4 o’clock this morning. Our bagage and
             company property was deposited at Savage Station
             on the Richmond & York River Rail Road, as we
             came by this station on Saturday night, we were
             ordered to take from our Comany clerks the
             last Muster-Roll of our respective Companies.
             I also went to my bundle of bedding & took out
             the cape of my overcoat. The rest an immense
             pile of stuff was committed to the flames.  I
             lost a Mattress, Pillow, Overcoat, Cloak, a
             Splendid large woollen shawl a fine bed-quilt
             and all my company books & papers except the
             muster roll.  This was done in order to cut down
             the transportation of the army, which up to
             that time was immense.  We feared to day that
             our valises were also destroyed.  It was very certain
             we had nothing with us & we arose this morning
             feeling very ragged & dirty & no water to wash in–
             At 6 oclock A.M. we started for James River.  It was
             an immense army. about 1 P.M. our rear guard
             was attacked, the firing was very heavy,  at 2 PM.
             the fire still continued very heavy & the attacking
             force was driven back. Thus passed the hours
             until 6 P.M.  At this time the entire army except
             the rear-guard had concentrated upon the
             grand plateau of Malvern Hill.  A host of
             infantry & cavalry.  Hundreds of great guns,
             twenty five to fifty miles of wagons, ambulances
             and all the ten thousand items that go to
             make up the appliances of a great army–
             At this hour the cannonading opened–The
             entire artillery on both sides seemed engaged,
             and for one hour the scene was indescribably
             grand. The deafning noise of hundreds of
             pieces of artillery. The bursting of shells in the
             air; the air was filled almost to suffocation
             with the smoke of gunpowder; the sun looked
             lurid through the dense clouds of smoke.  The
             scene was beyound anything I have heard before
             or since.  It was worth all our trials and
             privations to have been there.  In this
             affair our Gunboats also took part.  They
             were superb.   Amid the hundreds of missiles
             flying through the air, those of the gunboats
             could be distinguished by their noise it
             being much greater & the noise of the bursting
             of the shells being vastly louder than field
             pieces.  The battle continued on our right till
             nearly 10 oclock at night, when it ceased &
             we were permitted to take some rest.
             This was Muster day too—Several times we
             had formed in column for that purpose–in the
             morning, when the rebel shells would commence
             flying in very close proximity to us.  We would
             wheel rapidly into line & prepare for an attack.
             We finally succeeded in finishing our Muster.
             Even though the rebels were determined we should not.

             MSS  9044
           

1862 June 30 Richmond, Va.

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, formerly a Sgt, Co. B, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor’s), now with the Hampton Legion]

                        Monday –June 30th  1862
The Enemy are reported in full retreat today
Jackson has crossed the Chickahominy River
& with Magruder Hill & Longstreet pressing
their center & Holmes on our right are
pushing them before us, their rear guard made
a strong stand yesterday – I spent the morning in
the office & after dinner mounted Fanny to
overtake Genl Magruder & staff, taking the Wmsbg
& Charles City road overhauled them abt dusk
near the miles Sweeney’s tavern –  Insmen [?]

had a hard fight abt two miles below &
we rode over the field after the Enemy had
retired & our forces hauled up on the bloody
field for the night resting after a hard days
fight & a desperate fight – Some of the staff
& myself rode to Sweeney’s Tavern & put up our
horses & selves for the night – sleeping in a deser                                                                                                                                                          
-ted parlor containing only a piano & a fine
one too – The firing toward dark was terribly
loud – Our forces captured 18 pcs artillery this

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
Evening spiked & left by the Enemy today – After a ride of abt 18 miles
we slept for the night right soundly –first paying off
those of the staff who were with me for this month – Our
Army & the Enemy’s rear ground are within
two miles of Each other tonight! The occasional
firing of the pickets can be distinctly heard from
our resting place – The slaughter of the Yankees
this Evening was terrible – they had a good
position for their artilery & used it with
some effect – shells were bursting all
round us –

[The Sweeney family operated a famous pottery and a small
hotel/tavern not far from the intersection of the River Road
(modern Route 5) and the Long Bridge Road.  In fact, General Magruder
used one of the Sweeney boys as his guide during the operations
on July 1st. ]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards, commentary by Robert E. Lee Krick]

MSS 6154

1862 June 30 Camp on Flat Top Mountain, Va.

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

  Camp Jones, Flat Top Mtn., June 30th.
     The month closes today, and with it half the
year of our Lord, 1862.  Six months of time
fraught with great events in our distracted
country, hopeful ones, at first, seemingly; but
now, not so well.  This period of time was
predicted to witness the close of this accursed
rebellion, but that period of peace appears as
far distant as it did six months ago.
The slow and cautious advance of McClellan
toward Richmond is looked upon with
almost breathless interest by the whole
country as though the downfall of Richmond,
that nest of treason, betokened the redemption
of our country.  If McClellan is successful,
the effect will unquestionably be great.
But there are many almost insurmountable
obstacles in the way, and it is a matter of
regret that the young chieftain has many
opponents to his system, amongst those who
should be his warm advocates, but who suppose
their military knowledge obtained in a year, to be greater than
that of one who has made it a study how to fight.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

1862 June 30, Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Monday 30th  It is very cool & pleasant to day after the rain last night & the
ladies have availed themselves of the pleasant morning to return
visits–Eliza has gone too.  Mr. Fetter did not get off last night, he is to
leve in the Eleven OClock Hack.  He called just now to bid us goodbye–
I received letters this morning –one from Liz & one from Cousin Lord–Eliza
Eliza got one two from A.J. Miller & The news from Richmond still cheering.  Our troops
are carrying all before them–But I cannot hear what has happened of Tom or Mr
Mason–Kind Providence seems to be smiling on us again–& if God be for
us we need not fear what man can do with us–

Eliza:  her daughter
Liz: her daughter in law, widow of her deceased son William, and daughter of N.C. governor John Branch
Tom: her son with Burt’s Rifles, Co. K, 18th Mississippi
Mr. Mason: Eliza’s fiancee James M. Mason


MSS 6960

1862 June 30 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

Monday afternoon, June 30, 1862.
The battle near Richmond was continued on 
yesterday. Cannonading distinctly heard in this 
region. We have no details of the fight since 
Friday, but telegraphic dispatches received to- day 
state that the Federal army was retreating towards 
James River. The reports are encouraging for our 
side. Eight members of the Guard (from Staunton) 
wounded, besides the Captain Burke. Three of the 
Staunton Artillery reported killed — all strangers 
to me. I sat up with Dr. Edmondson last 
night, who died between 1 + 2 o’clock this morn-
ing. His family overwhelmed with grief. At 
the same time these battles of his horrible war 
are filling thousands of households with lamen-
tation. I had another swarm of bees yesterday, 
and one to-day, making three from the same 
hive this season. When I contrast my circum-
stances with those of many other people, how 
 much have I to thank Good God for. Yet how 
do I repay Him for his goodness! I do desire 
to draw near to the Lord Jesus, confessing all my 
guilt, that I may find pardon and deliverance 
from Sin. The bees have been a source of much 
entertainment to me, and have, in part, sug-
gested these reflections.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow Project]

MSS 38-258

1862 June 30 Lynchburg,Va.

[fromthe diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat, with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Monday 30  A letter from Eugene which I ought
to have had last evening, dated 2 P.M.
Saturday on the first of the battle assured us
of his safety and of Williams the latter
rode up to Eugene when they were under
a heavy fire for which purpose as not sta-
ted, or in what capacity he was along
He says his regt and another stormed
the battery and turned the guns on the ene-
my–that nothing could exceed the valor
of our troops & that the 5th will be heard
of, if justice be done.  He was separated
fromthe regiment and supposed to be captured
–but he captured 13 of the enemy & after
sleeping with them in the Swamps, brought
them in next day.  He says a brigade of
2300 yankees voluntarily surren-
dered Saturday morg–Had a more 
laborous duty in counting –this long
quarter day.  I have on hand nearly
$800,00–three times as much as
I ever had before–another despatch
announcing all the Blackfords safe
–very much indisposed. Fanny Minor
-Charles’ wife-came in the evening
from Edgewood, Charles she says is about
to receive an appointment of com-
missary & qrtermaster on Gen Pendleton’s
staff with rank of captain.


MSS 4763