1862 November 30, Canonsburg, Pa.

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Sunday, Nov. 30, 1862

[Templeton still using ink that has faded almost to illegibility]

This morning
went down to [?]
Johns & changed  my
clothing Came back
to Maths & went
with Harriet to
Church came back
to Maths after dinner
Eva & I went over
to   Thom  Montforts
are now at Maths
Cloudy raining
now

MSS 10317


1862 November 30 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee of the quartermaster dept.]

Sunday night, Nov 30, 1862.
This afternoon as Va and I sat by the fire in our room, there was a rap at the dining-room door. Some one came to answer, then I heard Kitty’s voice, and a running up stairs, and finally Kate came in with a note from Alick, stating that he had just returned from Legh’s — that Bell had given birth to twins, one of whom has a “hare lip.” We feel greatly distressed. Bell had met Glendy (Wm), who is disfigured in that way, at Henderson’s, one of her neighbors. — May the parents be enabled to feel that God has ordered the matter.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258

1862 November 30 “Hopedale,” Albemarle County, Va.

[from the diary of Mary S. Boydon of “Hopedale,” Abemarle County, Va.]

Sunday 30th  Fifth Sunday–Father preached at
Barboursville Celestine rose this morning
quite yellow–we believe it is jaundice

Precept-“Let all flesh give thanks unto his
holy name for ever & ever”–Ps 145:21

Prayer “All they works praise thee O Lord”- Ps. 145:10

Promise-“The Lord careth for the stranger .”  Ps. 146:0.

MSS 4208

1862 November 30 Fauquier County, Va.

[[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Sunday, November 30, 1862

Arose early-
                   gave my letter a slight
twist & sent it by Mr. Hoff.

Pa heard the Yankees had gone
back=he also heard that our
pickets had returned & that the [Gen?]
had taken about 50 of White’s cavalry
& all of his baggage & a great deal that he
had captured from them….

Had a quiet time twice to day to
read which I hope that I improved & I
certainly enjoyed it. -.——–

[portions transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

1862 November 30 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Sunday 30  A fine bright & not very cold
day.  I see in the Virginian with
some introductory remarks, a piece
of poetry called “Rodes Brigade”
published during the summer in the
Rich? papers. It was written by
a young Carter-brother of the gal-
lant Capt Carter, who commands the
battery attached to the Brigade and
a nephew of H.Carter of Shirley
I think the lines are as splendid as
any I have seen [?] by the war.
The writer was killed in a skirmish
a few days after Malvern Hills.  In
the introductory remarks, which are
intended to recount the services of the
Brigade, it is mentioned that Eugene
is major of the 5″ one of the Regi-
ments of the Brigade
Lanty recd a note this morning
from Mrs. Col. Steptoe requesting
him to act as a sponsor for her child
whom she wishes baptised this evening
at 3.  This is a great compliment to
his christian character. Fine sermon
by Mr. Kinckle.  At three the bap
tism took place and qr past
3 we had evening services.

MSS 4763


1862 November 29 near Fredericksburg, Va.

2 miles of Fredericksburg

Nov. 29th 1862

My Dear Father

I have not received a letter from

you since we got to this place. And one of

the company, who has entered a substitute,

leaves tomorrow & I take the opportunity

to send a letter. Every thing is quiet. I never got

to Fredbg., not being allowed to go. But some

of our company muster up a sufficient

excuse to take them there occasionally – they

say the enemy’s pickets stand in full view

on the other side of the river, which is

here about two hundred yards & ours on

this side. The town looks almost as if

it was deserted. The citizens are returning

slowly to town. The shelling of the cars,

which I wrote to you of, scared one lady to

death. She was however sick before.

You inquired if the army was much

destitute. I can not give a satisfactory

answer. Longstreet’s whole corps is here – but

I have seen only a few save those who

are in our brigade. Of these a good

many are without shoes. They do not

appear to be much in need of other

clothes – unless they would like to wash

[page 2]

and change clothes; then I suppose they have

no change. Socks I fear are not used

much. Tents are not used – but flys –you

saw one fly around Richmond. Indeed

the infantry have none of these – I

suppose they could be procured, but

the infantry could not transport them

& would lose them on the first move. The

authorities seem to be more anxious than

heretofore to furnish them & are supply-

ing some – but not enough – hitherto she[?]

has[?] been very negligent in that de-

partment as well as in the commis-

sary – this latter does not improve – all

a soldier draws is meat, flower [flour] & a little

salt. A Colonel of a Mississippi regi-

ment said a few days since that

there were two hundred men in his reg-

iment without shoes – I did not believe

him. He also said they had subscribed

1500 dollars for purchasing them privately.

If mother has any homespun flannel

a very good over shirt could be made out

of it if she could dye it. Brown or a lead

culler [color] or any dark culler would do. Please

ask her to make such a shirt, for an

outer shirt, if it is convenient to dye

[page 3]

it. But do not let her give herself any

trouble – I will not probably want them for

some time but when convenient if she will

make those articles. I will call for them

when I want them.

There were two crops of wheat about

in Culpeper where I went along-

The farmers not having the means

to get it out of the straw – conse-

quently, I suppose, we could not

bring it & had to leave it behind.

[letter of William H. Perry of the Richmond Howitzers will continue on the 30th]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

1862 November 29 Camp Narrows Giles County, Va.

Camp Narrows Giles Cty Va Nov. The 29th 1862
Dear friend I take the opportunity
to write you a few lines to let you
know that these few lines will find
you all well. I have no news to write
you that will interest you, we have
made some peperations[sic] for winter here.
I think that we probaly will stay here
this winter, if nothing new takes place.
it is a snowing here now a looks
like there mite be a deep snow. there
was Three of our company ran away
last night. I will give you thier
names Reed Boyd, RollyK[?]
and Rubin P. Terry.  I want to
come home verry bad but I dont
think I will runaway yet awile
for they get to punishing runaways
tolerable bad.  I would like to
hear from Sanders write to me
when you hear from him

[page 2]
I will have to be very short now
for it is dark I sent you Twenty
Dollars by Asa Scott which
you can do with, as I have
before dirrected and I sent
you thirty Postage stamps
so I will have to close
for this time.  I still remain
your friend  H.A. Heffelfinger
            To-   Delilah P. Jessup

Henry A. Heffelfinger, Co. K, 50th Virginia

MSS 13257