[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]

     Sept. 28th, ‘62
The sun shines
brightly this morning.
there was an inspection
of arms at 9 A.M. &
preaching, by Rev.
McFarland, immedi-
ately afterward.
Feel well, but tired
to-day. Between 2
& 3 o’clock, P.M. heavy
cannonading was
heard in front, im-
mediately we were
ordered to “fall in”,
with guns & Cartridge
boxes, which order
was executed with
alacrity. We stood
in line of battle
over an hour,
when we were or-
dered to stack arms
& go to quarters; which
was the end of the
battle for that time.

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis Butler, future chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]

Sun 28.  My last Sab. before going to the war –
Attended meetg. to organize a mission school –
Preached twice – addressed S. School & P.M. prayer meetg.
Morn. audience large – Eveg. crowded to excess & hundred
went away.  Afternoon prayer meeting very tender &
affective – It is a great grief for me to leave a people
so attached & sympathizing.  Cloudy out – Stars clear
as we came out – Shook hands with many a[t] close of
service – May God bless us all –

MSS 12935

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

Sunday 28th  We have all been to Church & Mr. Wingfield gave us a
good sermon.  Mr. Johnston read the service, & the congregation
was large–Since Church we have had the death of Dr. Dickson
confirmed  & instead of Dr. A.E. Wright we learn the other death
was Dr. Thomas–Dr. Mallet after two months sickness is still
so low that his family have sent for his father–Fever raging more
violently than ever in Wilmington–They have sent to Charleston
& Richmond for nurses & physicians–God’s anger heavy indeed
upon us for our past ingratitude & sins–The bible tells us that
before the end of the World we will have War, pestilence & fa
-mine the two first is upon us–& the other is fast approaching.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

As usual did not spend
a profitable Sabbath—

Read my Bible. Bickersteth on
the Lord’s supper, but I did not
enjoy them as I should have done.

[entries for September 29 and 30 have been torn out by an unknown person]

[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Ann Madison Wright Ambler]

MSS 15406

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

Sunday 28  Beautiful day–nothing by
last nights mail.  Church–large
congregation–nervous headache
which made me feel very
stupid–after dinner a nap
which relieved [my head?] a good
deal–Called to see Mary Gwatkins
who goes to morrow.  Mr. & Mrs. Preston
came to tea.  Heard much about
the Salt works which was new
to me.  I hope under the last
act, giving him plenary power,
the Governor will take the works
into his hands paying a [?]
sum. Such a property ought
not to belong to individuals. At
a million of dollars the property
would be cheap & in fact cost
nothing–went to church at
night and heard an admirable
sermon–Willy Blackford
called to take leave.  He has been
promoted and is detailed for duty
at the camp of instruction.  He has
been in 9 battles besides skirmishes
and escaped unhurt in all.
His account of the late battle
of Manasses is very stirring.  He
has been a faithful and excellent
soldier.

MSS 4763

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

                              Fort Tillinghast Va Sep 28/62

My Dear Wife,
                      I hardly know what to attempt to
write.  Nothing new of importance transpires here
from day to day.  I was rather disappointed in not
receiving a letter from you last night. I dont find
any fault, because I know that you have other
duties of greater importance to attend to, We are
having some very delightful weather here now, We have
cool mornings and evenings.  Two companies have
started, (of the 14th) for Harper’s Ferry (H. & I) to do
garrison duty there, they were very much pleased
with the prospect of being sent there, I wish that
Co M. had had the chance, I should like to
go there to see the place, if nothing more, It is
said to be a very pleasant, beatifull[sic]  place, I suppose
now that we shall stay here for the present, Col
Wrights (formerly Major) headquarters are here and
he is having the camp and buildings, tents &c
put in as good order as possible, There is but one
other company stationed here with us, Co E
Capt Sargent.  There has been a story in circulation

[page 2]
here for the last week, that we were going to garri-
son some other fort, but nobody knows where.  It
is probably nothing more nor less than a camp story.
I haven’t heard anything from any of the Officers
about it.  Perkins’s box arrived on Thursday last, in it
for me, I found some flannels, tobacco, tea, and some
composition, all very usefull articles with the
exception of the tobacco, Thank you and Mary Ann
for all.

Letter of Robert, an unidentified soldier from Lynn, Massachusetts, in company M. of the 14th Massachusetts Infantry (1st Heavy Artillery) will continue on October 1.

MSS 1242

1862 Richmond  Sept 28th

My dear Mary
               I send you in
closed a note from your
aunt and from Miss Mar
garet Watkins, and need
not add that you will al
ways find at Roanoke the
same friends and welcome
you have had of old—
     I mentioned in a for-
mer note that your father
left some memoranda with
me, and a codicil to an old
will–I presume however
these papers have been render
ed valueless by subsequent
arrangements–I will care

[page 2]
fully preserve them as
it is barely possible that
some of them may be
useful–
     With much love to your
self and the children
                            Yours truly
                          Wood Bouldin

Another family separated by the war. Virginia relatives of Philadelphian Mary Virginia Ellet, later Cabell, are concerned for the well being of her and her younger siblings who were orphaned when their father, Union Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr., was mortally wounded on the Queen of the West in the naval assault on Memphis and their mother died a few days after her husband.


MSS 276
                         

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

Saturday
Sept 27
This morning finished learning the hymn
while on guard.  Have had the sideache
this afternoon and did not do much but lie around
Just a year ago to day since I went into camp
and O how many dangers the Lord had brought me
through. Thanks be to His holy name.

MSS 11293

Covington Ky
 September 27 1862
Good morning Uncle and aunt
I seat my Self this morning
with pen in hand to write yo
a few lines.  I received your kind
letter on the 26th inst it found
me well and in good Spirits
I am well at present the rest of
the boys are all well except
George Winters he is quite unwell
he has had two or three shakes
of the ague he went out on
picket last Wednesday morning
and was taken sick the same day.
Charles LarRowe also has been unwell
considerable of the time since he
came in to this cam he has not
been so gad but what he could get
around gut was not fit for duty
I have not been excused from duty
but two days The boys seem to
bee enjoying them selves first rate

[page 2]
We are at the same camp that we
were when I wrote to you before
and they seem to think that
we will stay here all winter but there is
no nowing it when we may be called
away from here for mi part I would
rather go farther South than this
There has a great many troops left
here for Louisville  They expect an attact
there they may attact us here or there
as soon as they are a mind to
we are reddy for them We have fource
enough with our position and fortifi-
cations to stand a fource of 150,000
men it is not exacly known
by us how far they are from us is not
known Last wednesday our pickets was
stationed where the enemys pickets
was stationed 10 days before and I
was on the ground that the enemy
encamped on ther was 15,000 in camp
there on Thursday there was 5 of the 18 Mich
reg that was taken prisoner not more than

[page 3]
a mile from where I was stationed
they think there is some danger of’
Louisville being attacted Aunt you wrote
that you had a lint bee for the
Soldiers I am glad that the people
are so though ful and kind
to make provisions for those that
are wounded in defence of there
country I hope that I will not
need to use any of it but if
I do I will think of those Lint
pickings that you are having I
suppose that my brother James
will be at home by the time my
letter comes to hand Aunt I am
sitting at the out side of my tent
writing and right to the next row of
tents to the left of us there is a sick
man he is in a spathum he is
making such a mourndful noise
that I can hardly write There was
a man that dide out of com F
this morning he had the tyfoid fever

[page 4]
we have had midling good times
here for the last two weeks we have
had plenty to eat We have got
some tents now and we fare
pretty well I like a soldiers life
first rate I am glad that I enlisted
altho I would like to be at home to
attend your lint pickings and paring
bees and spend the time of amusements
with with[sic] the young folks
Your letter done me a good
deel of good It done me more good
than mi supper did I ask you
to write as often as you can O Yes tehn
thousand thanks for those postage
stamps I have got 13 dollars of
my pay I do not know when the
remainder of that $40.00 will come I hope
soon  write some from your affectionate
friend
                         A.H. Holt
to Arthur and Ann Eliza Anderson
P.S. direct as before

Albert H. Holt,  45th Ohio

MSS 8474

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]
  
   (Sept 27th) Quite cold this morning and
the ladies say, will move me into another
room that has a fireplace in, this evening.
Mr Braden went to Lovettsville this morning,
promised to try and get me some articles
from there.  Returned this evening & succeed-
-ed in getting me some flannel, cloth for
pants & 2 linen handkerchiefs, for all of
which am very thankful, was fearful I
would be able to get nothing of the sort here.
The ladies spent the evening with me,
& afterwards was moved in to a room on the
front of the house, from windows of which
there is a beautiful view of the country –
around.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150