1862 October 30 Purcellville, 4 a.m.

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

        Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
         Purcellville Oct 30, 4 a.m.
To General R. B. Marcy
       Chief of Staff
General
Have just rc’d a dispatch
from Gen Bayard near Aldie
who says that Col Wyndham
drove the enemies pickets
out of Upperville to-day-no
infantry there–It is reported
to have gone to Snickersville
                 Bayard states that
tomorrow he marches thro’ Hope
ville pass on Middleburg
  If Longstreet was at
Middleburg last night & has
not returned to the Blue Ridge
Bayard will meet him at
Middleburg unless Longstreet
has made for Thoroughfare Gap
on his way to Manassas–
I have mentioned this to
Bayard–A. Pleasonton
                Brig. Gen &

MSS 495

1862 October 30 Purcellville 4.45 P. M.

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 30. 4.45 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
   chief of staff
General-
             Your dispatch of
10 a.m.is re’c’d–not knowing
the exact whereabouts of General
Bayard at this time, I have sent
an aid-de-camp with the con=
tents of your dispatch to the General
requesting to know where I shall
meet him & to save time, I
have given him my views in
advance viz that it would
be unsafe to leave Snicker
Gap occupied by the enemy
to prevent further [?]
    Whatever he may decide
upon I shall use my best
efforts to render successful=
    I would be doing myself
an injustice, General, in not
expressing to you my mortification
at receiving your instructions
placing me under the orders
of an officer who is so

[page 2]
much my junior in the
regular service–& who does not
belong to the Army of the Potomac
  While I am the senior officer
serving with the Cavalry in
that Army–
                    My personal relations
with General Bayard are most
friendly & I shall not mortify
him by exposing my own–
        Must there not be some=
thing in error in the service
that mortifies

MSS 495

1862 October 30 Purcellville 4.30 P.M.

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct. 30, 4.30 P.M.
To General Bayard
    Comdg Cav. at Middleburg–
General
             Major General McClellan
desires me to communicate with
you to day to “[consert a plan of
operations for our two commands
united to make a reconnais
sance through Ashby’s or
Snickers Gap, or if the results
of today’s operations shew that
the reconnaissance can with
safety be made through Man=
nassas Gap this would be the
most desirable.”
              The General further
desires us to have an interview today
to decide where the reconnaissance
should be made so as to secure
the most important results–
             As I do not know where
I could met you at this time
I send my Aid-de-camp

[page 2]
Lieut Ward, to find out at which
place it will be agreeable to you
to meet me–
          My impressions at this time
are, that as long as the enemy
occupy Snickers Gap, that would
be the first place to command
our attention–& should this meet
your views–I shall hold my
command in readiness for any
service you may propose for it–
          Jackson & Longstreet were
between Charlestown & Berryville
yesterday & it was said they were
going in the direction of Mill-
wood–
           Please inform me, General
by Lieut. Ward, what you may
decide upon in reference to my
command–
           I am very respectfully
                Your obt Servt=
                    A.. Pleasonton
                        Brig: General
                          Comdg Brigade

MSS 495
                     

1862 October 30-31 Boston to New York

Oct 30, 1862
Somewhere between Boston
& New London
dear Parents
Started from Augusta
Last evening Wed. at 8 oclock
and after a pleasant ride of
12 hours arrived in Boston
safe and sound [received?] a good
nights sleep
At eleven oclock this A.M.
started for New Lonon & from
there we shall probably take the
Steamer to Jersey City N.J.
We have just passed through
Worcester
Oct. 31  Arrived in Norwich Con
last night at Sunset and
took the boat for New York had
a pleasant trip up the Sound &
arrived at pier 39 N. York city

[page 2]
at 5 oclock this morning.
We are waiting here expecting any
moment to disembark. I
had a good nights rest last
night the Steward & myself got
a Stateroom.
I shall put this in the
mail here
It is said that we
go to Fort Schuyler 15 miles
from here & intended for
Banks division to go to
Charleston SC on Somewhere
else I heard the Surgeon
say that we should go to
Texas
No one here knows.
The Col. this moment do’nt
know whether we go to Washington
or Fort Schuyler
   will keep you well in-
formed of my whereabouts
      Yr affectionate son
                  C P M

Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine
MSS 11031

1862 October 30 Norfolk, Va.

         October the 30  1862
                       Norfolk, va.
i received your kind note to
day and thair contain in it
w five cents peaces in it and also
one postage stamp i received
a letter from John the 28
and it contained 2 dolars that
he sent to have my likeness
taken with so i went down
to the sity and had too taken
one for margate and one for
youre self  pleas pay John
back one dolar for they only
cost 1 dolar a peas i sent
one dolar to you the last
letter i rote to you I was
glad to here that our folks
was a goin a riding i wish i
was thir to go a long why
dont you go you nead not stay

[page 2]
at home because i haint
thir you had better go and
in joy your selef with them
you spoke a bout going to
meting last sunday iam
glad you can go to meting
you also spoke a bout the
tex and whir i wold find
it i never told you that
i lost my bible i lost
it at the battle of fair
oaks along with my other
things but we have got one
in the room and i will
look and find it as soon
as i git my dinner off
you wanted to no if i
had bin permoted or not
i have not bin nor i dont
want to be i like it better
whare i am a cooking for
i can keep my selef in
money to buy tobacca and

[page 3]
other things with i sold
my cigars for 25 dolars and
got a nuf left for my
one smoking but i dont
git my pay till we git
pade from the government
you spoke a bout cosen
martha fealing bad becaus
i did not write to her when
i write to you i expect it
too do for all of you i am
as well as usual and
when this fiw  fiew lines
w reaches you i hope they
will find you the same
well it is a gitting all
moste dinner time and
i will half to close
buy saying good buy
from youre husband
edward Shepard Drect
as before

Edward Sheppard, 7th New York Light Artillery

MSS 12631

1862 October 30 Fort Tillinghast

                         
                           Fort Tillinghast Oct 30th/62
Dear Priscilla
                              I received last night yours
of the 26th, containing three postage stamp
and a five sent piece, I am very much obliged
to you for the contents, especially the writing.
I mailed you a letter on Monday last (Oct 27th)
I mailed one to Father on Tuesday,
A regiment is now passing. it is the one
hundred and sixty second N Y. they are
looking for a camping ground,  We are
now having some very fine weather,
the morning s and evenings are rather
cool, the health of our company in improving
very fast, there are only three in the hospital,
I have not seen Chenworth since we left
Fort Corcoran, his company has gone to
Harpers Ferry, I dont know whether he
has gone with it or not.  I dont suppose
he has though, We have had another box of
“goodies” come this morning, so we are all
right for a good supper to-night.

[page 2]
Next week they say we are to be paid off, I
really hope such may be our good fortune, we
are very much in want of some money,
This afternoon at three oclk we are to
to[sic] have an inspection of muskets and
equipments, We have had an inspection
of Artillery drill this forenoon, and we
have done it up in good shape, you ask
me if I am glad or sorry about Col Greene’s
resignation, I think I am rather more
sorry than glad, in fact all the regiment
would be glad to have him back again
if they could, I am confident that you
never told me of the accident to Ernie,
if you wrote to me about it, I have
never received the letter, and I dont know
but that I am glad that I didn’t, because
I think I should have worried consider-
ably about it, I remembered last Friday
as the second birthday of our little
Ada, I wish I had been there, I would’
have tried and got some kind of a present
for her, perhaps I shall have a chance next time

[page 3]
her birthday comes around, Yes, We have
plenty of baked beans now, we have Salt Horse,
Salt Pork, twice a week, Soup )Beef,) Baked
Fresh Beef, Salt Fish, once a week each,
We are going to have Beef Soup for dinner
to-day, We have plenty to eat, such as it
is, We have excellent Bread, baked every
day, it is most too good, some of the men
will eat their loaf at one meal, and then
they have to beg more of some one else,
or go without the rest of the day, We are
the most of us very hearty, a loaf of bread
weighs twenty two ounces; or is supposed
to weigh that, You would be surprised to
see the amount of provision that some
of us can eat in a day,  As for war news
we don’t hear any at all,  We dont know any
thing about the war, We see plenty of
Soldiers, and encampments, and hear drums
beating, and bugles blowing, every hour in
the day, but as for war we know nothing
about it, I suppose there is a war, people
say that there is,and we ought to beleive them

[page 4]
Tell Ellen that I want a good lot of Butter,
for it goes good on bread when I have nothing
but that for supper and breakfast, I asked
Father (in my letter to him) to let you have
one of his shoe boxes to put the things in
that you send to me, you can ask him
about it, I also asked him for some of his
new meal, to make hasty puding of, we can
make it on the Stove in our tin dippers,
Now while I think of it, I want you to send
me a quill tooth pick, (Don’t laugh) I have lost
mine, and I miss it more than you would
suppose, I wish you could see the troops that are
now passing, I dont know ho many there are of them
but there is not lee than ten thousand, probably more,
it is a grand sight, they are all armed and equipped with
Knapsacks strapped to their backs, they are probably going
on the advance, and we shall hear from them soon,
I have nothing more to write at present,  I will
try and write again Sunday, Beleiving from appear-
ances that the time is not far distant, ere I shall be perm-
itted to embrace you and our little ones, I remain as ever yours in
love                                                     Robert

Robert, an unidentified soldier from Lynn Massachusetts, in Co. M of the 1st Masssachusetts Heavy Artillery

MSS 1242

1862 October 30 near Bakersville, Md.

Camp near Bakersville md Oct 30/62
Dear parents,
          I was greatly disappointed by
not reciveing a letter from you the last
maile as I have not recieved one since
you wrote about fathers diging potatoes
 Samuel Duran received a few lines
from you a few days ago in which you
gave as a reason for not writing because
Samuel Ricker wrote home that I was
not with the Reg.t I cannot tell why he
should write such news as I have been
with the Regt. all the time when they have
been in camp and when on a march I have
followed them as well as I could ever
since I was released from Richmond  It
has always been my intentions to write the
truth to you concerning myself and I think
you will find I have done so   I hope in the
future you will not believe any such reports
untill you know them to be true I think
my back is getting better but it is so slow I
can hardly precieve it after Genl. Brooks
took charge of our division he had a review
of the troops under his charge  our Regt.
had to go about 2 miles and I went out
with them and it nearly used me up  I
was quite lame for two days you may
know by this that my back is very
weak but I think as I gain strength
my back will grow stronger I do not
know as I ever told you how I lamed my
back.  I got hurt by a bundles falling about
six feet and striking me on the back at the
time of the first bull run battle on the 21st
of July 1861. I did not mind it much for some
time for we were all very sore and lame after that
retreat since then when I get cold it settles in
my back and has been so lame many times I

[page 2]
could hardly walk but I never compl-
ained to any one about it untill we were
on our way from Alexandria to Shipping
point on board the steamer John Brooks
I got a bad cold and my back was so lame
I could hardly moove then I told the Dr.
and was excuse from duty after the battle
at west point I tried to march but I could
not do it and carry my load and when we
got to White House Landing the Dr. left me
at the hospital one day while I was there
the pay master asked me to help carry his
trunk from the boat to the cars  I tried to
do it and got about 10 rods with it when I
steped into a hole and hurt me so that I
droped the trunk and fell myself and I was
very lame for some days  while I was at
Savage Station I attempted to lift a wounded
man and hurt me so I did not do any
thing for three days  since then I have not
tried to lift any thing that was very heavy
since I came to the Regt we have keep
mooving about so that it has kept me lame
all the time. I am now doing guard duty
at Brigade head quarters  I have to stand on
post two hours out of 24 when we moove
our duty will be to strike the officers tents
and put them on the teams and pitch them
again when we stop we have all of our
things carried and ride when we are tired  the
Adjutant Genl. says he shall keep us here
for some time there is 16 of us here and it
makes a good crew. I shall continue to write
to you as often as I can and I hope you will do
the same by me  I  have not heard from Washington
yet  if you hear from him write to me about him
                    My sheat is filled and I will close
                              From your son Hiram M. Cash

Hiram M. Cash, Co. K, 5th Maine
MSS 12916

1862 October 30 camp near Berryville, Va.

 Camp near Berryville
  Oct 30” 1862. afternoon
My own darling Jennie
      We are still at the Berryville
camp and engaged in the regular
daily camp duties.  And I am fully
satisfied that we are quietly waiting
on the enimy [sic].  of this I judge from the
character of the orders sent to me and
also from the fact that we are in no
condition to advance at least not in
such condition as we can be in a
month from this time.  What the Yankeys
intend to do of course we subordinates
cant tell if indeed Genl Lee himself can
and of course he can only conjecture, hence
the probabilities of a further contest this
fall are very uncertain & rest entirely
on conjecture.  And you are as much
entitled to your opinion as any one
else.  I commence this letter without
a word of news to write or even a
subject of dissertation, and when this

[page 2]
is the case one is very apt to write
of ones self, but I will not be guilty
of this piece of vanity.  simply because
I feel so insignificant that I am not
worth writing about, even to my wife
And if you will pardon me for just
saying in regard to my health that
it is only sorter so-so not very
bad nor yet very good.  just so that
I can by a little inconvenience dis-
charge the duties of my office without
risking very much if indeed any.
I am still commanding the brigade &
get along very pleasantly  have a good
Sibley tent in common with Dr Moffett
with a good camp stove.  There now
I have said all that I intend to say
of Col. W.
  I am safe on the tallow question
and will start the wagon back in
a day or two.  I will make a hard
trial tomorrow after salt & if I fail
give it up.  My only plan is to go
around among the farmers & try & buy
of such as can have an over supply.
To day we had another issue of cloth-
ing to the brigade of shoes 75 pr 100 blan
kets & other things in proportion


“My own darling Jennie”, salutation – Warren’s wife, Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.

“the brigade”, page 2, line 13, 26 – Taliaferro’s Brigade consisted of the 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.

“Dr Moffett”, page 2, line 15 – Samuel H. Moffett, Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry.

“Col. W.”, page 2, line 18 – Colonel Warren.

The letter was written by Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.

[transcript by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g

1862 October 30 Arlington, Va.

[from the dairy of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]

Thurs 30- Lovely day – reveille now at 6 instead of 5.
rode into Washington   took a hot bath – felt better – on way met a
Vert. brigade coming over bridge – & Chapl. Brasto, Coming back

Met Capt. Wheeler 15th Con – a car had run into the
draw – & obstructed travel, by throwing three planks
across, I passed – found a sick Capt. going home in ambulance
with a lady attending him.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

1862 October 30 Adair County, Ky.

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

     Oct. 30th, ’62.
Marched at 6 A.M.
& until 7 P.M., pass-
ing through Colum-
bia, & encamping
at Edmonton.
Detailed to act                    
as Major to-day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm