[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox, of the Albemarle Border Guard]

Skirmishing was renewed this morning and continued all day–enemy are closing in upon us–must be a great [unidentified word heavily lined through]

MSS 38-211

[from the diary of Harrison B. Jones of the 33rd Virginia Infantry]

to day Mr Cullers came
down a[nd] brought several
boxes for the company

Perhaps the father of Joseph Cullers, a private in Company H

[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox, Albemarle Border Guards]

10 1/2 A.M. Up at daybreak this morning and got early breakfast–at 8 got orders to pack up baggage, strike tents and put the same on wagons to be sent east of “Little Sewell”–enemy is approaching and we shall meet him soon. We have already fired four cannons at him–and are still firing–our advance have been engaged with the enemy all the morning–9 P.M. Enemy retired to the top of the mountain before noon–he has made no other forward movement up to this hour–is understood to be trying to flank us and has evidently secured re-inforcements to-day–all quiet here now–Genl. Lee arrived here this evening with four or five regiment to assist the Legion–in the womb of a short future important events now slumber–

MSS 38-211

Dear Ma,
As this is the last opportunity I will have to write
to you for some time and as a good opportunity is afforded
to Front Royal this morning I drop you a line. We will leave
in a few minutes with the entire regiment to go on Pickett
some ten or eleven miles below here near a little place called
Annandale. We received orders at 3 o’clock this morning to
prepare five days provisions to go on Pickett.

I am very sorry I could not get my overcoat before I
left. I do not know what I will do at nights without it.

Ma please send me down a pair of drawers by the very
first opportunity as I have the only pair on now that I
have with me and have been wearing them for a week and torn
in the bargain.

Mr. Steel will give you the news generally. I suppose
you received my little note with the box and boots by Mr.
Boone yesterday. My time is up I must bundle up my bed
clothes and fill my haversack ready to start. Love to all.
Write soon. Your affec. son

R[ichard] B[ayly] B[uck]

Richard Bayly Buck, 1844-1888, sergeant in the Warren Rifles, Co. B of the 17th Virginia Infantry

MSS 3064

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale, 34th Ohio Zouaves]

I feel a good deal
better this morning
but not quite well
I went up to the
hospital this morning
they have a good many
sick there 3 are wounded
they have 12 prisnors
in the guard house
two are secesh one
is a young man he looks
pale the other is an
old man he looks
sour an ruff an like
we had beef for
supper that the
boys shot the other
day and butter
cabbage to one of
our boys went
out for thing and
got a good many
sweete potatoes and
Irish potatoes corn
bread and is going
out a gain soon
I guess I drew
a dollars worth
of checks to day

MSS 13465

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

wrote to bro. Peter. read 4 chap
ters in bible – Done but little else

MSS 5526

My Dear Wife
As Mr. Rosboro leaves to-
morrow morning for home I will again
write a few lines, although I sent a letter by
Mr. R. B. Sloan a few days since. In your note
sent by Mr. Whitier you stated that you had
not received a letter in two weeks. I can
only account for it in this way. We were
absent on Picket duty for one week and
when about to start I had written a letter
but would not send it, until my return.
Wm Creight has probably delivered the letter
some days since. I sometimes think that I
write so often, their certainly must be
some very uninteresting and nonsensical
letters. If this is the case take the will for
the deed. I received the haversack and
am very much pleased with it. I have
written a note to Wm Creight directing
him to leave with you $90, ninety dollars.
As I before wrote you do let me

Direct your letters to
Fairfax C.H.

know from time to time the state of your funds.
Do write me soon, and let me know if
the clothes etc came to hand. Within the past few
days, the weather has been quite cool and I have
felt the need of another pr. of blankets. Last
night I slept with 3 Shirts on and part of
the time with my breeches on. This however is
only a cool spell as we some times have
at home. Matters are still quiet, something
is however brewing an there is considerable
activity among the troops. We expect soon ^ ‘again’ to
go on Picket duty at Munsen’s Hill or
some call it Munson’s Hill. In this event
I will again write you. Say to Nett that McGin-
-niss is said to be the ugliest man in
the Legion. Gen Jones has his wife with
him. It makes me feel that I would like
to have mine with me. When I get to be
a Genl (now don’t) Probably somebody else’s
wife wont be with them. You see what
kind of paper I have to write on. Send
me three or four packs of good yellow
envelopes with the paper. The sick are getting
well and the health of the Company much
better. Give much love to all, Your ^ ‘husband’ in purest
Affection JM Phinney

James M. Phinney, 1st Lieutenant in the 6th South Carolina Infantry

MSS 12661

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

March from Edrey to Greenbrier
bridge – distance 4 miles
read 3 chapters in bible –
receive a letter from bro.
Peter – dress parade –

MSS 5526

[from the diary of William M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

9 A. M. Slept well last night–have a very fine day–p P. M. It was rumored to-day about noon that this command is to be taken to the East–We were ordered (for some purpose not known by us) to fall in promptly at two o’clock upon the firing of a signal–this we did—but to our great surprise the news came that the enemy had driven our picquets in and were on the top of the mountain and coming down upon us–at about 5 o’clock. Their advance guard and ours met and commenced a brisk fight–the enemy retired immediately–our loss nothng more than four wounded–Capt. Lewis (cavalry) and three of his men –loss of the enemy—–Expect hot work to-morrow—ordered to sleep with our eyes open and our arms close at hand–

MSS 38-211

Dear Genl [John H. Cocke]

Sir yours of the 13th inst.
which was recd a few days since you speak
of going to Richmond before you come up
here I am going down to Rd tomorrow
on business & hope I shall find you there
but if not, I wish you would inform
me of your movements, & if it is in
my power after getting thro’ with my busi-
ness in Rd. I may run up & make you
a little visit, if you will be at home
My mission to R is to find out the chances
for employment in some of the departments
of the government. I find I can do nothing
by writing. Whether I succeed or not, I
supose I shall be there a week[?] [hole in paper] within that
time & hope to hear from you, or see you, if
you can make your arrangements to go down

[page 2]
Richmond College is now used as a
hospital for soldiers, & we will not open
in Rd: as usual. I suppose you will
spend this Winter as usual in the south
What time do you go?

Mother writes with me in kindest
regards to yourself & our friends at Bremo &
Recess

Your friend sincerely
Wm G. Strange

William G. Strange [d. 1900?], a University of Virginia alumnus, was a professor at [Richmond College?]. Strange refers to Cocke’s regular journeys to Alabama to see his plantations there
MSS 640