[written on patriotic stationery with red and blue vignette of United States flag]

Respected friend [Hiram Cash];
it was with
pleasure that I received your letter,
and I now seat my-self to answer it;
though I do not know as it will be
acceptable. I was glad to hear that
you were well, and had good courage,
and expect to overcome the rebels;
which I sincerely hope you will.

The folks around here are all well.
I was up to Casco, week before last
to see Clara Brown, she is very sick
with the consupnption consumption, I do

[page 2]
not think she will live but a short
time.
I was over to camp meeting, last week
two days, and had a fine time, we
came home around by Lewistown.

Grandfather fell off a load of wheat
last week and hurt him very bad,
but he is better now.

Phebe Symonds is going to be
married this fall I suppose, and
Sarah F. Jordan will be married
also. It is cold enough here today,
to freeze anyone; though I suppose
it is very warm where you now are. I
should like to go out there to
see the place if I could go, without
going in the cars or by water; it
frightens me almost to death to
ride n the cars and it would b
a pity for me to get frightened to death.

I am much obliged to you for
those peices of wood you sent me; I
shall prize those peices of stair casing

[page 3]
very highly, in remembrance of Col.
Ellsworth for I think he was one
of the bravest men that ever lived.

I cannot think, of any more to scribble,
and I guess if you can read this,
you will do well for it looks
as though a blind person wrote it.

Give my respects to Willie Adams
and Sam D. and tell them I should
be pleased to have a letter from them
anytime.

excuse bad writing and spelling
and write to me again when you
have a chance. from a friend

Ella H. Rolfe[?]

see Hiram Cash’s letter of August 15 in which he mentions cutting off a chunk of the stair in the hotel in which Elmer Elsworth was killed.

MSS 12916

Dear Father I received your letter of the second Last Night & you sent one stamp i see in the Bath Sentinal that Governor Washburn is going to call the First Regiment into Camp this week, whe have not been paid off yet whe have been promised it for A week or two there was Greens Artilery Company of 6 Guns Came in to day & Camped right acrost the road from our Camp the Company has gone on Picket again to day whe are still under Marching orders yesterday the Rebels fell back on Fairfax Courthouse the Men have heard of Butlers Victory it has put new Courage into them Since Genl McLellan has been in charge the Soldiers do not hear so much news where they are Agoing too as they did when they was in Genl McDowels Brigade i Like to have you write
Letters to Me but i do not Like to have you write in everyone of them & tell how Poor you are i know that you are not able to Send things to me but i intended to pay you for everything that you send to me there is one thing i never mention to you that is that we have got the tents the first Regiment had & they are not halfe so good as the ones we had in Camp Preble And when you write to me a gain i want you to tell me how to direct A Letter to George & i see by the Portland Argus that the Democratic Nomination for Govonors are Col Jameson of the second Maine Regiment & John W Dana of Fryburgh Col Jameson is A smart man & i think he will be the next Governor of Maine, From Joseph Leavitt send that cake As quick as you can

Joseph is probably referring to General Benjamin Butler’s seizure of fortifications on Cape Hatteras on August 27.

The Maine gubernatorial election was won by the Republican candidate Israel Washburn, Jr., 1813-1883.
Charles D. Jameson, 1827-1862, was colonel of the second Maine, and candidate of the “War Democrats” in the state. He was promoted to Brigadier General, wounded at Fair Oaks, and subsequently died from camp [typhoid?] fever.
John W. Dana, 1808-1867, had already served as Governor of Maine and minister to Bolivia.

Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine, letters copied into a book by his father after his death in 1864

MSS 66

My Dear Creek

Your very welcome letter of the 1st inst
came to hand yesterday, I am happy to hear that you are
all enjoying good health, this leaves me in the enjoyment
of the same blessing; I am glad to hear that you will
suceed in getting up the cloth for our uniforms, you must
make all the haste you can as the cold weather will soon
be upon us, and the mens clothing is getting pretty ragged,
try and have it all as near one coular as possible and
get some heavy shirting and line the pants through inside
with, but Stephen will tell you all about that when he
comes. We have heard that they are making pallmetto
Buttons now in charleston, tell Jink to find out if they are
and order immediately eleven hundred (1100) large size and
(600) six Hundred small size, you can advance the money
for them and stephen will settle with you for them when he
comes, get the yellow Button if you can if not get the white.
I should like to have two pairs of heavy woolen drawers for
winter, you can send them with the clothing, and have
some heavy stuff to line my coat through the Back with.

[page 2]
best you can, I was very much pleased with the palmetto
you sent me n your letter, I was showing it to some of the
officers and Lieut Latham of General Jones staff, stole
it from me, and had it put on his hat. he said he though
I had enough of them on mine already, and as he is
Brother Scotchman of mine and a great Friend, I had
to let him have it, they are very much sought after here
by the soldiers, and I will be very glad to have some more of
them when you have time to make them, Tell Phillis to dry
me some Beef and send when the clothing comes, it is
very handy for carykng when we are on the march, and
you know I am very fond of it anyhow. I had some fine
tomatto soup for dinner to day. vegetables are very plenty
here now but we have to pay pretty high for them.
we also get plenty of chickens, eggs, ducks &c chickens
are woth 25cts each ducks 20 eggs 25ct per dozen
Butter 25 cts per pound, &c but we are glad to have
them at any price. I have also got some fine country
hams just now so you see we are not suffering for
something good to eat, the men are also very well supplied
with rations just now, plenty of the finest Kind of
Beef and Mess[?] or Pickled pork, which is very fine to eat.
they are also well supplied with sugar coffee Rice &c
Vegetables they have to buy themselves, but Liquor is
very scarce, I often wish for one of the stews you used to
make me, I never get anything of that sort now, but
let us hope for better times and a speed return time
when we will think more of home and its many comforts
and happy associations

[page 3]
I told Robert Stancel that his father had sent me word
to write him, he said he wrote him on his return from
Hospital so by this time the old gentleman has heard from
him. Bob is a fine Boy and a very Brave soldier, the report
you heard of warren wilkes was to true byt I believe I mentined
it to you in a previous letter. I am afraid he is beyond all
hope, Several of the Boxes have never come to hand yet and
I am afraid never will. William is getting along finely
and more thought of by his officers than any man in the
company, he was promoted to the Rank of Second
Sergeant last week for his good behavoiur and strict
attention to duty, he is making a man of himself,
and is an honeur to the Family, and company of which
he is a member. We have never heard any more of James
I understand our authorities are making some arrangements
(or trying to), for corresponding with the Prisoners and
sending them any little comforts they may need, should
they be successful I will send him some money the first
opportunity I can get gold here for that purpose, as soon
as I am certain of its going safely to him, I do not know of
anything more that would be of intrest to you, I wrote you
on thursday last which I hope you recieved, you may look for
a letter from me twice a week should nothing prevent me.
Give my Kindest Regards to all the family and tell
Julia Webb Howdy for me, Kiss our little darling
for me and tell her to be a good girl and be kind to
Ma. till I come home,
Your affecionate Husband
William

[across top left margin on page 4]
I have lent Gilkerson twenty dollars
to pay his expences home he is to pay it back
to you W.A.

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers [Palmetto Sharpshooters]

MSS 10366

General [Philip St. George ] Cocke

Dear Sir

This report has been delayed
to the present time owing to a short absence from
home I had a sick Brother in the army in
the Northwestern part of the state & I felt it
to be my duty to visit him & contribute to what
I could to his comfort & restoration to health.

I have the satisfaction to report, that
the growing crops are promising we have had
a slight draught here for the last ten or twelve days
but the injury to the corn & tobacco was slight.

The rains have been plentiful for the last
day or two & the season very favorable for the
corn & Tobacco the former now beyond the
risk of draught as it is nearly made the latter
in fine growing condition & if it can escape the
(spot of which their is now some symptoms)
will probably be as large or the largest crop
we have ever raised.

Every thing is moving alon
on the farms smoothly & satisfactorily Since
the receipt of yours of the 22nd August from
Centreville & after noticing what you therein
stated in regard to Guano & following to a much
greater extent than I had previously intended.

So that we shall seed about the same
quantity of land in wheat this fall as
usual I expect to retain all the overseers now
in your employ here at the same wages
for the next year unless they shall be called
into the service of the Country I think they are
about the best this county can afford

[page 2]
I was truly delighted to hear that you escaped
unharmed after the severe contest at Manassas
it was truly wonderful The health of the place
is generally good there are two cases of sickness
here attended with some signs of typhoid fever
I trust however they will turn out otherwise
There are a great many cases of measles in the
County & neighborhood & I would not be surprised
if it gets on the Plantation in fact Mr Buckley
at Rose Creek has had it & there is a chance for
others there, to take it

I would be glad to see you
here this fall but suppose it hardly possible
under the circumstances that now exist

I will use my best efforts to economize & make
every exertion to make and plan by neighborhood
sales pay its expenses as far as possible

With best wishes for your health & success

I remain
Respectfully yours
J. B. Traylor

P. S. I will in a few days write you
at Manassas Junction as requested

Traylor included the following report, a printed form filled out by hand:

Stallion 1
Horses 2
Mares 3
Mules 9
Colts [born] last spring 1
————————————————————
Total 16

============================================================

Bull 1
Work Oxen 10
Milch Cows 10
Beeves 3 years old 8
Beeves 1 year old 9
Calves 1
————————————————————
Total 39

=============================================================

Boars 2
Breeding Sows dead 1 9
Pigs 6 dead 2 64
Fattening Hogs 80
————————————————————-
Total 155

=============================================================
Rams killed 2 2
Ewes 73
Wethers 16

==============================================================

Remarks relative to the Stock In good condition

===============================================================

Amount of Cotton and Wool spun
By regular spinners, Cotton 10 Lbs
Wool 25lbs

Amount of Cloth Woven, viz:
Single Cloth 28 Yards
Double Cloth 48 Yards

Total 73 Yards

===============================================================

Number of days work lost by sickness or other causes

By field laborers, viz: by Males, 6 By Females 10

By carpenters, I

Total 11 10

Remarks relative to the sick
There are two cases of fever
now on hand but they seem
to be convalescent

============================================================

Articles sold

August 24 Two Lambs 4.00

————————————————————
Quantity of Manure hauled
Specifying whether oime, paster, guano, marl, stable, or othre Manure, and when, whee, and how applied

Some manure hauled from stables on wheatland

General John Hartwell Cocke, the father of Philip St. George, refused to grow tobacco on his land, believing that all the social, moral and political ills of Virginia, stemmed from the noxious weed. His son, obviously, had no such qualms.

MSS 640

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virginia Regiment]

Wrote to G.J.H. & Mrs. M. A. H____
Read several chapters in bible –
Took a good bathe – Heard ‘of the’ ^ ‘that’
Yankees had fallen back – the
chance not so good for a fight as
yesterday – Company drill.

MSS 5526

[From the diary of Francis G. Hale, Co. F, 34th Ohio Zouaves]

Steal not this Book
for fear of shame
For with in you will
Find the owners name

Francis G. Hale

Bellbrook
Ohio

Was sworn in to
The united states servise
under Col Piatt
Capt West Co F
in camp Denison
Ohio

Sept the 7th 1861
I was sworn into
the united states
servise on the 7 day
of sept 1861 A D
34 Regiment OVM
under Captain West
Colonel Piatt

Abram Sanders Piatt, 1821-1908, an Ohio farmer, lawyer and editor, recruited and became colonel of the 13th Ohio, a 90 day regiment and in September became colonel of the 34th Ohio. He was promoted brigadier in April 1862. A fall from his horse at the battle of Fredericksburg left him with a serious back injury and he resigned his command and returned to his life as an Ohio farmer. He was active in the Granger movement and in 1878 he ran as a Greenback-Labor candidate for Governor of Ohio.

MSS 13405

My darling Jennie
We have orders to march tomorr
ow morning at 6 o clock for Munstons [i.e. Munson’s] Hill
with four days Rations-which means four
days service out of camp. I hope I
will get a letter from you to night
before

or in the morning before we start as
we will not likely
have
get any mail
before we Return. The news I wrote to
you about taking another Hill seems
not to be so, though I have heard to day
both that it was & was not so, Every
thing is now buisy[sic] in camp preparing
for an early start in the morning, and
I am making my arrangements by
writing to you a letter which I in-
tended to be full of instructions about
things I wanted you to attend to for
me & yourself-but I cant take
time to other you now about such
things. I pity Maj Walker[?] his wife
will be at the junction tomorrow &
Genl Elzey refuses him permission
to go & meet her. I told him to go any

[page 2]
how and I will take his & my place
both. His wife will be there without
any protection whatever which is far
worse than I left you & my darling
little brats. I suppose they think
I am a large owner of bees- by the
way Examine our bees and report
to me their condition. I have thought
of them oftener than any other piece
of property–down here it has been
a very fine season for bees and
I expect ours have plenty of honey
to spare. Have a long talk with
Stephen & find out all about the
former & let me hear every thing
HIs wheat ought to be in the ground
but I fear it has been too wet for
him to work. I think of your
visit to Rockingham with real
pleasure, sorter[sic] like I was going
there too. How I wish I could
be with you & hitch up old Top in
the buggy & go to the farm and
lay out the grounds for our new
house as you know we have done
at least 100 times–I would like
to see Jim & little daughter chase
butterflies out in the field and

[page 3]
eat grapes down in the garden–one of
the boys gave me a fine bunch yester-
day which put me to hard thinking on
the subject of grapes & home in partic-
ular–But to return to camp–Since
you left here a large quantity of pro-
visions have been sent to this station
which has been made a post from whi-
ch supplies are issued to five brigades.
Two large bake ovens have been con-
structed which looks very much like
not backing out from this place. Both
Genls Johnston & Beauregard have been
down visiting our advanced po-
sitions the former was down two
or three days–They are noble Genls to
have an eye to everything–Genl
Johnston gave Elzey a very ser-
ious rebuke for the manner in which
the sick were treated w ho were
send

sent up the day or day after you
left. Tattoo is now beating & I must
draw my letter to a close–I will
direct several envelopes & take them
with me & write you a letter if
I can get a chance to send it from
Munstons most affectionately
ETHW

ETH Warren, Colonel of the 10th Virginia

Major Walker is Samuel T. Walker, Major, 10th Virginia Infantry [John P. Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g

[from the diary of John Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virginia Infantry]

Regular Company drill
Read 8 chapters in bible
Wrote to E. A. & L. A. H.
Thought I heard cannon-
ading – supposed to be at Cheat
Mountain. We have been
expecting to be called on to
day at almost every hour to
march – for the purpose of
fighting – Tennesseans
wanted to attack the Yan-
kees – I lie down to night
not knowing how soon
we will have to march-
probably in an hour.

MSS 5526

Dear Genl [John Hartwell Cocke]

I should have written
before this to thank you for your kind
letter of July 29th (which however was
delayed for some weeks on the way)
but expected for a time, that you would
make a visit to this place, as I heard was
your intention–& then I decided to
make you a visit myself–Accordingly
I directed some of my correspondents
to
write to me at Bremo & will thank
you to send me any letters which may
come to your care, to this office, as it is
now out of my power to make you a
visit as my mother would be left
entirely alone–my aunt having gone to
Richmond I have made the

[page 2]
acquaintance of your friend Miss Moon
& am very much prepossessed in her favor-
She told me she expected to have seen you
up here sometime since–I hope you have
not given out coming altogether–
I learned from Mr Ryland a few days since
that our college buildings had been rented
as a hospital & consequently our session
would not commence in Oct: as usual-
He said, at the time of his writing, the Board
of Trustees had not fully decided their
relation to the faculty during the prolonged
suspension–Phil: Cabell staid one day
with me on his way to join his uncle P
I have heard from once since- & he
seemed cheerfu, & was comfortably rixed–

Hoping to see you soon, with kindest
regards, in which my mother unites,

I am yours truly
Wm. G. Strange

P. S. When you write please direct to the
University, not to Chlle as you did before
which may have occasioned in some
degree the delay of your letter–

William G. Strange, 1824- of Dunlora, Charlottesville, Va., was the brother of John Bowie Strange, 1832-1862, for whom the local United Confederate Veterans Camp was named.

It is not clear whether Strange is referring to Dr. Orianna Moon of Scottsville, now serving as a doctor at the University hospital (see letter of July 19) or her sister, the missionary Lottie Moon who had interceded on Orianna’s behalf (see letter of July 29)

MSS 640

My dear Father [General John Hartwell Cocke]

I have received yours of the 31st Aug
accompanied by [one?] (hole obliterates text) from my dear little Charley
who has been spending some time with you–
I am truly gratified to have these valued evidences
of affection & remembrance–and to learn through
them that all are well at the three Bremos

I have a recent letter from Courtney written from
Richmond where she had been spending a few days
by which I learned that all are well at Belmead–
I find it impossible to leave my post even for a day
and so could not go to meet Courtney in Richmond–
Since I wrote you last I have been ordered from time to
time to advance my Brigade–first after the battle
of Manassas–from the battlefield my old position to
near Centreville–then to Centreville & finally to this
place–where I have been for a week–So that hereafter
you may direct your letters to Fairfax C. H.–

We have outposts now at Munson’s & Mason’s hills
only for or five miles from the Potomac and from which positions
the enemies entrenchments are plainly to be seen–the capitol
at Washington & the spire of the Theol: Seminary are also [viewable?]
from the same position–& our pickets are in sight of

[page 2]
the enemies I visited those hills a few days since. The
enemy is hard at work upon his entrenchments which he
doubtless making very extensive & strong covering the
whole of his position from Alexandria to Arlington heights
inclusive– His encampments & [fort? or posts?] (hole in paper) are also to be seen

I could tell you what I think of all their positions
&c &c but such an observation would be contrary to
Army regulations–and could effect to good results[?]

The North has already passed under a military despo-
tism the most absolute & rigorous It remains to be seen
whether the people of their States will submit to it–or will
rise up and shake it off–In any event we have
nothing to hope for but in a united & firm defense of
our soil against the vandal invaders–and the sooner
we can make this war offensive rather than defensive
the sooner shall we be likely to bring it to an end–
We want nothing but our right to govern ourselves
in our own way–and this we should have or perish
in the effort to obtain it–

I am anxious to learn when brother Charles will
be ordered to for active service with this company
He is a better correspondent than I am but I suppose
had not had time to write me since he took the field–

I regret to tell you that the Rev Mr Slaughter has
resigned his commission as Chaplain and left us very

[page 3]
much to my regret. I think he was exercising a very
good influence–but he thought his duty to his
family required that he should not leave them so much
alone as his duties here required him to do.

I find that the sacrifices that I am making are
[?] to the neglect of a young & numerous family
and an extensive business whilst my services do not
seem to be appreciated by the powers that be–Younger
men are currently promoted over my head–and I have
no influence “at Court” at Richmond– What think
you of my resigning when affairs at this line shall
be in such a state that I can do so without injury
to the service or without leaving any ground for the
charge[?] [?] report of avoidance of any immediately
impending duty? My connection with the service
has been one continued scene of [?] and
neglect by the powers at Richmond–Genl Beauregard
however has given me a command which I still
hold far above my literal rank–But of this I may
be deprived any day by some of the new Brigadiers
appointments–Give me your views?

With love to all–with my thanks to Lucy for
the nice box she sent me & to Sally for her letters–and
my dear little Charly for his letter–with love to [?]
I remain Yr affec son
Philip St Geo Cocke

The three Bremos refer to General John Hartwell Cocke’s adjacent plantations on the James River in Fluvanna Couunty, Va., Bremo, Lower Bremo and Bremo Recess. All three are still owned by family descendants. Belmead was Philip St. George Cocke’s own residence in Powhatan County, Virginia. Designed by renowned architect Alexander Jackson Davis, it was later purchased by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who conducted two schools for African American children there, St. Emma Agricultural and Industrial Institute for boys and St. Francis de Sales High School for girls.The schools claim many famous alumni including members of the Tuskegee Airmen. It is now on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s most endangered historic places list.

Courtney is his wife Courtney Bowdoin Cocke who was at one time General John H. Cocke’s ward

Brother Charles is Charles Cary Cocke of the Fluvanna Light Artillery.

MSS 640