[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Saturday, Aug. 30, 1862
Our bagage came in
this morning . I slept
last night with Alf
Long. Guard mounting
& parade. Heavy cannon-
ading going on in the
direction of bull run
A hard battle evidently going
on
Muster rolls being made
out. Orders were read on
parade that were to be
mustered into companies
Charlie & Foot have not
yet come up –hear that
they have gone to Washington
mostly clear warm
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C, 13th Massachusetts]
Saturday Aug 30th/62
Our rations were out yesterday
and for Breakfast I had to put up
with a mug of Coffee and two or
three crumbs of hard cracker.
About nine Oclock, we were ordered
to the front, being considered as
fresh troops. The Col is sick and
has not been with us since leaving
the Gap. The Major is in command
of the Regt. He thought after our
hardships of the past week that
we were very fresh troops, very
few of us having had any
breakfast. The advance skirmisher
were firing nearly all day, but
no engagement took place till
about three oclock in the afternoon.
This Brigade changed their position
several times during the day.
About two Oclock we we [sic] ordered
towards the left, and haulted
in a field near the road. Shortly
after this the Fight became general
on the right and Centre and was
working round towards the left.
McDowell came along, and ordered
us toward the Centre. We went double
quick up a hill and on right
by file into line of Battle before
we were aware that we were so
near them (the Rebels) The Rebels
were in the hollow beyond the
hill as thick as they could
be, it seemed impossible to fire
without hitting some of them they
were so thick. Our position was as
near as I can judge, on the right
of the left wing, If we had have
stayed in our position on the road I think
we should have been of some service
then where we were placed for the Rebels
came round to the left and flanked
us whereas if we had been on the
road they could not have done it
so easily. We were exposed to a severe
cross fire, which mowed us downlike very rapidly. Our moving
on to the hill placed us in front
of our Artillery which of course
had to stop firing. One Battery
came up on the hill and opened
upon the Rebels with Canister and
Grape. Our Regt had the order to
fix Bayonets. And we thought it
was [-] for a charge and we
started and went several rods
yelling as loud as we could, when
we were ordered to stop. A line of
Rebels happen to be coming up the
hill at the same time. What
little charge we did make was
enough to break there line
and they run back to the main
body as fas as they could go.
They was so much noise that it
was impossible to hear any orders.
The left wing had orders to pull
back. I did not hear it, and
seeing no one around me [-] turned
round and saw them some ways
in the rear. I has turned to join
them and keep in line as much
as possible. The Rebels made a charge
up the hill and captured a Piece
of Artilery. I was within fifty
feet of them. The Officers that
led them on the charge and the
color bearer was shot dead the moment
they reached the Gun. The color bearer
jumped upon the Gun and waved
his flag when he fell. By this time
our Brigade, and got all mixed
up. It was impossible to find
my place. The Regt I since learned
was ordered to the left into the
woods, but I guess they were veryfef few to go . I got into a little
ravine and behind a tree, and
began the Bushwhacking style,
could not have gone any farther.
I was so tired, I sat down in the ravine
and drank some water, and then
commenced to load and fire. I
took good aim, and it seemed
impossible for my ball to miss
them they were so thick.
In the front rank I saw
three fall that I fired at, either
from my ball or some one else that
might have fired at the same
man at the same time.
I fired till my Gun became
foul and I could not fire it.
I was so buisy firing that I
did not notice that the line
of Battle had fallen back
and was much supprised
to find that I was about
half way between the two
armies and in danger of being
shot by my own men. I carried
my Gun at right shoulder
shift and Squat as low as
possible and made as straight
a line to our line of Battle
as possible. I was not long
going over the ground I can
tell you. The balls and shells
whistled around me like bees
One ball hit my Gun barrel,
and, but for my Gun I should
have had a ball in my brain.
I met the Major going off of the
field and he said he was
going to try and form the
Regt. in the rear. We went back
to a house some ways in the
rear, where we found about twenty
belonging to the 12 and 13 Mas.
We stoped here till dark. When
we were ordered to cross the the run.
All the forces are falling back.
About two miles from the run
we haulted for the night
Gen Duryea with part of his
Brigade was with us, he was
slightly wounded in the hand.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12021
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Saturday 30th Liz has gone up to spend the day with Mrs.
Lucas–Mr M & Eliza have gone to the Library–Sarah & I
are enjoying a pleasant chat all morning while we carried on
our knitting–At 4 O’clock Mrs Watters & Sarah went off to return
visits–I could not accompany them having to put trimming on
Eliza’s white frock for her to wear tomorrow. Mr. Mason has just
taken her to ride –Susie & Mollie are dressed up expecting two
students to call–the Renchers have left the Hill.
MSS 6960
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]
Saturday 30 Board to day took
from Mr. Jetter some of his labor
and assigned it to the Discount Clerk
-which is right, as he has but little
to do.–Not a word by telegram of
news. When the cars came in we
had first reports of a battle in
which we had whipped the enemy
at Bristow Station- and the capture
by Stuart of a Rail Road train
with 2000 men in it–Stores to an
immense amt destroyed. It is said
we are in rear of Pope–I wish it
all may prove true –but I have
little confidence now in any rumors.
We, that is Fanny & Mary I staid
at my brothers with Dr Williams
No letter from Mary, which is very
provoking—wrote to Mary Gwatkins
& to Mary Robertson
MSS 5088
[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]
Saturday. August 30, 1862
This morning we heard cannon &
went on the porch on top of the house
but could not tell whence it came–
Saw Mr. Lackland’s carriage coming &
when we came down found that
he had sent for us. I was anxious to go to
see her but not at this time as we were
expecting to see the Yankees run & I
have a secret hope that you may come,
have seated myself so that I might see
you, were you to come, a hundred times
this week.
Had a delightful ride to Mr. Ld’s. took Tom
& Jack, left Daisy behind, & Emma
went to gratify me for I am sur3e she did
not want to go at this time- P[atty] & the
the[sic] children were delighted to see us–
they took quiet possession of Tom carried
him in to P’s room to sleep with Sammie.
Emily (servant) will dress him in
the morning, so I am quite a
lady again. only a baby to dress& undress &
that I did when I had two nurses–
[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]
MSS 15406
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Friday
Aug 29
Rainy to night so we did not
have any dress parade battalion
drill. Expected to have to go on guard
but did not have to. Played two or three
games of chess with Phelps. think I shall
stop after this month.
MSS 11293
Richmond July 23/62
Dear Ma
I have been intending to write home for a week or
two, but the absence of any certain means of sending a letter encouraged me
in thinking the weather too hot for the exertion of writing, or else I have
been taken with a lazy fit I don’t know which. Yesterday, however
upon going to dinner I discovered a quantity of magnificent apparel
lying upon the bed, & upon examination discovered that it was of Felgner’s
make & f rom the “loved ones at home”–My conscience immediately smote
me for having neglected writing & I resolved to repair my error as
soon as possible & send home my thanks for the thoughtfulness & kindness of
all at home. I had been grieving that morning, over the thought that
Felgner was a Union man & that therefore it would be impossible to send
to you for any clothes, & as it is almost an utter impossibility to get
anything made here, I was beginning to get desperate. The articles
have been here for some time–that is in Richmond–but Capt. R
not knowing where Com Hollins lived, (to whom they were directed) they
have been lying here idle ever since he left, and it was only two days
ago that Capt R’s family discovered where the Commodore was living.
& sent the bundle to him. They were received in the very “nick of time”
& Felgner deserves a compliment on their superb fit. Willie immediately
put on one of the shirts (they being the articles that had taken his eye)
& a pair of his pants & strutted off down street, he was unable though
to sacrifice his epaulettes & therefore was obliged to defer the pleasure
of wearing his new coat–probably until one of the days on which
decides as he does
he ^ periodically decides to “resign his commission & go into the ranks at
[page 2]
Near Richmond June 21
Dear Sister
I received your letter & I assure
you it was very welcome for it was the
first I had received for more than 3 months
and was anxious to hear from Bro H. We were
returned from picket day before yesterday &
brought up here. We are about a mile from
Richmond on the road leading from Berkeley[?]
in one of the most forsaken looking places I ever
saw. I havent seen Mr L[?] for a long
time & he is at his house boarding with
Mrs McKenney. it is a pretty hard place
to board I ate super with him [?]
& I could get as good a one as I got here
in camp. meat & bread & rye coffee I can first
rate cook now myself. Our boy went home
& we have to cook for our selves & can
make as we havent [?] one. the only
difficulty I have is to make them round
but they are [?] though when they are
warm We dont get any thing but flour & bacon
to eat now but plenty of that is spoiled
bacon some of it as
[In this letter, dated “Richmond, September 29th, 1862”, John Warwick Daniel, a 1st Lt. and Adjutant of the 11th regiment of the Virginia Volunteers, writes to Governor John Letcher of Virginia]
Richmond Sept. 29th 1862.
His Excellency John Letcher,
Governor of Virginia.
Sir:
You may recollect
that about one year ago Brig-
Genl. then Col. Jno. Echols addres-
sed to you a letter recommend-
ding me for promotion in
the Provisional Army of Va. for
“gallant & meritorious conduct”
in the battle of Manassas.
You expressed regret that you
were unable to confer that
honor as the Provisional Army
of the State was soon to be disban-
ded, but transferred the testimo-
nial to the War Department of
the Confederacy accompanying
it by your own very kind
and warm recommdation [recommendation].
The Secretary of War upon
receiving the papers tendered
me the appointment of 2nd Lieut.
[page 2]
in the regular C. S. Army, but
being not of age I was compel-
led to decline, and there being
no other vacancy, no farther
action was taken in the
premises.
I am again about
to apply to the President for
promotion from the rank of
1st Lieut. & Adjutant (a posi-
tion not in the regular line
of advancement) and presum-
ming upon your former favor-
able consideration I venture
to request that you will
again oblige me by your
personal recommendation.
I have just returned woun-
ded from the battlefield of
Boonsboro, and hence my
absence from my Command.
As a voucher of my good
conduct since my credentials
from Genl. Echols were pre-
sented to you, I accompany
this le communication with
a letter from Lt. Col. Lang-
horne of my regiment,
[page 3]
the only prominent officer
of my command acces-
sible at this time.
With high regard
I am
Very Respectfully
John W. Daniel
1st Lt. & Adjutant
11th Regmt. Va. Vols.
[page 4]
[Note apparently written by Governor Letcher:]
Lt. J. W. Daniel
asking recom-
mendation for promotion;
cheerfully giv-
en, and sent to
the Sec. of War
Octo 3rd J. L.
1862
[Lt. Col. Maurice Scaisbrooke Langhorne]
John Warwick Daniel, 1842-1910, disabled in 1864 in the Battle of the Wilderness, later a University of Virginia graduate, lawyer, U.S. Senator from Virginia and famous orator, known as the “Lame Lion of Lynchburg.}
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 15096
