1862 September 27 near Clear Springs

   Field of Action near Clear Springs
                       Friday Sep 27th 1862

Dear Brothers
                           I have a little leis-
ure time this morning and I thought
that I could not put it to any better
use than in writing you a few
lines.  As yet, I am well, and
we are haveing a little easier time
just now than usual. The tide
of battle has for the moment
subsided and we soldiers are
having another rest–
Our regiment is now scattered
along the banks of the Potomac
doing picketduty The Rebels
occupy one side of the river and
we the other.  We often talk across
to each other I do not think it
will be long until we make an
other advance upon Virginia Soil
We were for several days kept
in rear of the Army but now
we have been moved to the front

[page 2]
I do not care where they keep
us whether in front or rear
As long as Uncle Sam gives us  as
enough to eat and good
horses to ride, we are ready
and willing to do him Service
any where. We have become
so accustomed to sleeping out
of doors, that all we need to
ensure us a good nights sleep
is to have a blankets to wrap
about our bodys and our sad-
dles to lay our heads upon
We have no tents, but hope to get
them soon and it will be much
better then.  I have me another
over coat, and you may tell fath
er to use that one at home.
I got t his one at Harpers Ferry and
it is a verry large good one just
like that one at home.  I will
make Father a present of that
one at home.  this will last
me til the war is over and then
I would never want to see one again.

[page 3]
Well boys I suppose that
you are having good times
that is right Hank will
have good times someday too
& hope this war will end soon
and I get to see you again
You boys must fix up your
fall work do all your fall
plowing soon, Save your seed
corn take care of all you small
grain, build up your staples
make them [?]  Save plen-
ty of hay and be ready to
commence picking corn [hole in paper]
so that you can get it all [hole in paper]
to the mill before snow comes.
Do up our work as men
should do, and dont forget
to do it yourselves and not
call on father to do so much
after you get your work done
then go to School and by all means
dont forget what you are going
there for.  Remember it is “to study”
and make men of yourselves.

[page 4]
as well to gain a great deal
of self [?]ion on your part
to make yourselves useful in the
world. Ah, Boys if you would
be useful men you must
make good use of your school
day life and not let a moment
of early life go to waste.
   all the boys that were taken pris
      at Harpers Ferry
oner ^ have gone home.  About
20 of our Co were taken and
we have now abut 61 men in the
company and 332 men in our
regiment. the 8th Ills. cavalry
has but 600 men Well boys I
must close  Give my love to
all the folks and love to all
the School-marms.  Dont forget
to write to me Son and tell me
all the news.  I need some postage
stamps I have recd no letters from
you for a long time  direct via
Clear springs 12th Ills Cav. Co C.
5 Division of McClellans Army
  As ever your Affectionat Brother
                  W. H. Redman

MSS 7415

1862 September 27 Camp E. D. Keyes, Augusta, Maine

    Camp E. D. Keyes
                Augusta Sept 27th 1862
Dear Parents
                    You will probably hear
from George all the stirring news of
the day.
            I have been in the adjutant’s
office the most of the time since
I came here until Thursday I was
appointed ward master of the
24th Regt. Surgeon J.C. Manson of
Pittsfield.
     Through the influence of Hiram
mostly.  The work will not be
very hard. pay $20 1/2 per month
   I shall try and get a
furlough for a few days, next week.
    You can put into that valise
things that you think will be of service.
    Please send me $10 directly
                 Your affectionate son C.P. M.

[in side margin]
Direct in care of Capt H. C. Vaughan 24th
co. E. 24th Regt. Maine V. In.

Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine

MSS 11031

1862 September 27 Camp Chase, Arlington Heights


                                                 Arlington Hights Sept 26
                                                 Camp Chase, – Friday Eve
Dear Brother George
                                       I haven’t much
to do this evening and every thing
is quiet so I may as well write
home again     Our Company has
gone to guard long bridge, to-
night and as I dident feel much
like walking down there I got
excused     I am rather tired this
evening as we have been out almost
all day on another “blamed”
Review and there was a pretty
long string of troops together I
tell you about 15,000 besides –

Artillery but I have had about
enough of Reviews          It’s too
hard work to be fun     we have
to carry our arms in one position
so long and it was dreadful
hot to day – I received Helen’s
letter this afternoon also a Press
and Sunday Times from Chas
     Aaron’s box arrived yesterday
together with my ration box     every
thing was all serene, except
some eggs that they sent Aaron
they were rather the worse for
wear        I judged and I fancy I
can smell them yet – the
ginger cakes were all right and
very good.     Tell Helen that she
may make me some mittens
if she wants to but I am in no
hurry for them –  a-la [Here is drawn a sketch of a mitten.]

            I am glad to hear that
they are fixing the road in front

of the house, – but don’t see
the use of cutting down that
large tree        I should just tell
them “woodman spare them
fellers”..        How do you like
the new teacher that is boarding
at our house        I think that is
a good idea as she will be
company for Helen..
                                       Every thing is nice –
and cozy under canvas and
perhaps you would like to know
how things look inside – well
the tent is about 8 feet square,
and 8 high [Sketch of tent is inserted.] along the back of
the tent all our knapsacks are put
and serve as pillows then we spread
down our rubber blankets then our
overcoats and put our wollen blankets
over us (that is a[t] night) in the day
time we put them on the top of
the tent to air or else fold them
up nicely on our knapsacks    our guns

are all put in a rack in the back
of the tent, – then we have got
a shelf in the top of it for our
crate and hats – they take up
an awful sight of room
besides we have got a bench
that we use as a seat or table
just as it happens, – we have got
our floor again the Q.M. brought
them all over yesterday and we
have got it all down in good shape
        We get along very well at
present with only 4 of us
but it is rather piled up with
6. Tell Helen she need not
think of sending those “gum boots”
of mine as I should only throw
them away     I would get me some
slippers here only I cant spare
the money – my slippers I guess
you will find under Biddy’s
hoops but you had better let
them stay there – they are safe

[The following part of this letter is written in the margin on page one.]
About Lieut Thompson
he is sick now but has
not been but a day or two
he was carried to the
Hospital tent this evening
has got chills & fever
     Will Catlin is well
and all right has gone
to the bridge –
     Tell Helen that I
know Capt Peck well
but can’t make out
who inquired about
him, must stop now
for the drums are –
beating tattoo – will
write again Sunday
         Yours   Jim

James H. Howard, 15th Conncecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668


1862 September 27 Louisville

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

     Sept. 27th, 1862.
Pleasant morn-
ing – indications
of rain. The road
as far as I can see,
is literally filled
with army wagons.
     It commenced rain-
ing early in the day,
& has been raining
constantly nearly
all day; & from ap-
pearances, will con-
tinue all night.
The ground is

low, & there is a prob-
ability that we
will be inundated.
It will be unpleas-
antly “damp” to
night.
Contrary to expecta-
ton, it did not rain
at night, but was
very damp & cold.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm


1862 September 27 Suffield, Conn.

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

Sat 27.  Told Col. Duran I would accept –
The regt. is made up largely of Paterson men – the
Col – Lt. Col. & Quartermaster are members of Mr.
H’s Ch – & known to me – also many of other officers &
men – some fr. my own ch.
Col. D. sd. another man had been named by 3. Cos –
fr. So. Jersey – & handed in with list of staff officers –
to him – He said he preferred a Paterson man.  Some
one named me – another named Mr. Robinson –
both good sd. he – I would like either – prefer Mr Butler
have power to decide – but wont take responsibility
Let Providence decide – Put names of Mr.s B & R –
in hat & man drawn shall be man – A Roman
Cath. Capt. drew – & my name was drawn –
Made some calls &c – Abe   Henry called
showed me tower of mill – Gave me
Beauty – if I would take her for horse.
At 3 ½ began Ser   Psal 17:15 – wrote it in
about 3 ½ hours between that & 11 P. M.
Also attended Meeetg of Officers at Col D’s.
& called at Mr. H’s.     Lovely day – tried
a horse for Col. D –
   And so this eventful week ends –
I am glad to go under the Pres. Proclamation
May the Lord bless & guide us & our country
to his glory for Jesus sake –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

1862 September 27 Alexandria, Va.

Alexandria Saturday Sept 27
     Dear Phebe
I am on guard
to-day and having a little time
to spare think will write
you a line.  I am the most at
liberty this afternoon that I have
been since I have been here
and as I am well and in good
spirits I feel pretty comfortable
Our late victories have put us
in the best possible humor
and every thing goes on wheels
Just know the spirits of the
rebels are correspondingly low
and their faces here lengthened
a good deal in the last fort
night.  The iron has entered
their souls this time and their
is mourning in their houses
a citizen of Alexandria to[sic] me
that out of  600 who went into
the late battles from this place

[page 2]
only 17 are known to be alive
truly the first born of every house
is taken and these were not
the poor, but the richest. The
royal householders: It is sad to
think of but they would have it
so: There is now no shouting for
Jeff Davis, nor abuse of yankees
heard in the streets.  The rebels
have enough to do to console
one another without insulting
us with speech or song: They
had decorated their houses
and prepared delicacies with
which to treat Jacksons army
when it should arrive: and told
us they would have things their
own way in a few days.  Now
in silence and in tears they
remove the costly viands and
festoons: the beautiful wreath
and the carefully prepared boquet
and bring forth the sable

[page 3]
garb of mourning; and instead of
welcoming their friends to the
banquet they meet in sorrow
only to mourn:

[Letter of Josiah Perry, of Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts, will continue on the 28th]

MSS 2215

1862 September 27 Camp at the Mouth of Antietam

      Camp at the Mouth of Antietam Sept 27th / 62
Dear Father & Mother
        We removed out camp
yesterday about a mile to this
place.  We are now attached to
Gen Burnside’s Corps de Army
the 100 Pa Regt is in this Corps
hence I have had opportunity to see
Aaron quite frequently, Julius Miller
& Jim Munford are both in the same
Regt  Robert McClure came down
here a few days since to see the
boys not knowing but what
some of them might have been
wounded in the late battle
I believe he was sent here partly
you have no doubt ere this
seen full accounts of the late
battle in the papers It is said
by those who have been at the battle
before Richmond that Malvern Hill
was no comparison to Antietam
it has been called by some the
Waterloo of America.
It is reported that the Enemy are
still in force across the river near

[page 2]
Williamsport We will probably
remain here some days yet
I believe McClellan is near
Williamsport  We can see them
makeing balloon reconnoisances almost
hourly  We have no Tents–I am
writing to you sitting on the ground
where I sleep: in the sun–and it is
rather warm.  Our liveing of late
has been very poor  We get Hard bread
coffee a little sugar & a little fresh beef.
   How does Tom & Eliza get
along?  What are you dong &c &c
Tell the boys I have not had those
letters yet  How are money matters
now?  What do you think of the
Presidents late Proclimation?
       Yours Truly
           J.d. Templeton
23rd Regt Band Ohio Vol-Inf
Cox’s Division 9th Army Corps
     Via Washington D. C.

1862 September 27 Camp at the mouth of the Antietam

Saturday, Sept. 27, 1862
This morning the
boys concluded to
make out new descri-
ptive lists.  Thad & I
went to Gen Burnsides
Hd Quarters to see about
ours  Walter  his Adjt Genl
gave us some encour-
agement saying that
he would see to it
went in search of the
troop could not find
them. Wrote letters to Father
Lieut Munford came over to
see me told me of Aaron
getting a furlough he & McC[?]
gone home
Parade this evening
Mostly Clear; now
threatening rain

MSS 10317

1862 September 27 Staunton, Va.

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

Saturday night, Sept. 27, 1862.

Late this evening, nearly 500 Yankee prisoners were 
brought up from Winchester. They marched four in 
files of four, were better clothed than our poor fellows — 
sky blue pants, dark blue jackets + caps. Many of them 
were very ill-looking. It is said they were captured first 
at Harper’s Ferry, and soon afterwards somewhere else, 
having violated their parole. It was pitiful to see 
so many human beings conducted along like sheep. —
Troops have been moving down the Valley (from 
here) about every day this week. Two parties went 
out to-day — a company this morning, and several 
hundred, not organized, this afternoon. Four or five 
 hundred came up on the cars to-night. Most 
of the wounded soldiers from Winchester have been shipped 
off to Richmond. Others continue to drop in all 
day, however. Night before last the town was alive 
with them. Many slept in the Court house porch, 
in front of the American Hotel +c. They were fed, 
as far as possible, by the citizens. No late news
from the army. Another horse sale to-day — 114 
sold — from 25c to $192.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258


1862 September 27 Lynchburg,Va.

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

Saturday 27  Weather quite cool
but very fine.  Bragg very near
Louisville.  Great consternation at
his approach.  I suppose  his taking
the city is a foregone conclusion.
I would rather he captured Cincin-
nati–our army in the  lower
Valley seems concentrated at
Martinsburg–Charles & Sue came
over and spent the eveng.  He
goes next week–Monday I believe
& rejoins his company–He is not
well enough- and in low spirits
-not a word from Lanty or William
I hope now Lanty will not avail
here if himself of his detail but rough
it out–Eugene’s leg improves
slowly & he frets greatly.  The Con
tribution for the orphan asylum
amounts to near 1400$.  I do not
like the position of affairs and
think we are in great danger
in spite of the splendid campaign
of the year on the Chickahominy
& in Maryland.

MSS 4763