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

there is no small stir in
camp this morning
a bout going to war
I will not get to go for
being sick and weak
to weak to walk far
at a time
the boys are gon now
some of them are scared
all most to death one
fellow of our men he
gave up his gun and
equipments so he
would not get to go
there was about six
hundred men of our
Regiment went
we have a young lady
in our regiment for
to atend to the sick
and wounded she is
a nice looking young
lady she is drest in
Zouave uniform a
good ele like our own
and has her hair cut
of short and has a
nice hat she is a nice
looking lady

MSS 13405

Dear Pa
As Mr Boone leaves for Front
Royal this morning I will drop you a line to
let you know that I am well it will be but
a line as I am on guard and will have to return
in a few moments. I was Sergeant of the Guard
last night at the ammunition train and
had a very rough time as no one was
allowed to come within a hundred yards
with fire they were not even allowed to
smoke.

I received the box of Peaches by Scott
on Saturday very much oblige to you, I
tell you they were acceptable. I received my
uniform also, it is very nicely made indeed
the coat is rather small. I have not had
the pants yet but I think they will fit nicely.

Ma only put two chevrons on the sleeves ^’of my coat’
three is the number required by a Sargeant
Please ask Ma to send me a half yard
more of braid and I will get Mr Williams
to fix it.

Billy Walter request me to ask you to see
Cousin T Ashby and ask him if he can get
an overcoat out of that committee goods and
if so at what price. Please let me know the
next time you write.

As Mr Brown has a great many things
to carry up this morning I will defer sending
up the box and Boots untill Mr Triplett goes
If you can get any Envelopes I wish you would
send me some I must close write soon
Love to Ma and all the children You aff 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

My Dear Creek

I returned late last night from Manassas
hill and forgot all of my troubles (caused by the long march)
by finding a letter here from you and also a box with my
shirts &c with a letter enclosed, you dont know how much
it revived me, after a march of twelve miles in the dark.
I recieved the letter you sent by Emerson on tuesday last, just
a few minutes before we were ordered to march to march[sic] to
Munson’s hill, or Falls Church, which is close to manassas,
where we have been ever since, we have been doing picket
duty, but I dont suppose you know what that is, so I will
tell you, we were sent in advance of the whole army to watch
the movements of the enemy, we were than sent out by compinies[sic]
for that purpose, some of the posts had to be defended by two
compinies, Col Sloan kindly gave me the privilege of choosing
my own post. So I chose the one where two compinies were
required and asked him to let me have the Pelmetto[sic] Riflemen
with me, which he did, and we had a very pleasant time
of it. The Pelmettoes and my company being great friends.
We had no difficulties with the enemy during our stay none
of them ever came within range of our Rifles, although we
could see them very plainly all the time, and they could
also see us, but no shots were exchanged between us

[page 2]
and after a stay of six days a Georgia Regiment came and
Relieved us of the duty and we marched back to our old Camp
which was all left standing as we took no tents with us, but trusted
in providence for good weather to make us comfortable, we
also found houses at Falls Church for the men who were not on
duty to sleep in, my company slept in a new church (which
has just been built) when they were off duty, when on duty
we slept–or rather watched under the blue Canopy of
Heaven, with the silvery moon for a candle, you will
think this was very hard fare, but the boys enjoyed it
finely after being cooped up in camp so long.

I send you this by Sam Langston he is going home on
sick Furlough, whether he is sick or not I dont know,
but he is the fattest sick man I have seen lately.
You will find two pieces of Evergreen enclosed, one of them
arbourvitiae and the other Silver Fir. I send them as relics
from Munson’s hill. I plucked them both with my own
hand from the top of it, and in sight of Washington City
and within six Hundred yards of the enemy’s pickets.
I have no doubt but you have heard a great deal about
Falls Church and Munson’s hill as they have become
celebrated places lately, so you can show the little sprays
as having come from their[sic], if I had any means of
sending you one of the silver firs without its dieing
I would send you on or two of them to plant in our
yard, it is a very pretty tree and grows about the same
size as the cedars in our co[u]ntry, but is very hard to grow
after transplanting if I can secure any of the seed I will

[page 3]
bring some with me. You ask do I want any
undershirts. I have still the two red ones you made me last
winter, which are still good, and are all I need, the new
Flannel shirts you sent me are the very thing I wanted
and I had the finest dinner of dried Beef to day that
have had in some time Dugan came and had some of
it with me, he eat his raw, me and billy Major had
ours boilled, when I got here last night I was teasing
Billy Major about having no wife to write to him and
send him shirts &c when he got the dried Beef today
he said he believed he would get married when he
got home and told me to send his kindest Regards
(through you) to Jullia Webb and for you to do all you
could for him, I think Julia is a great deal to good
for him, (which I told him). When you make my pants
fix them as Evans told you I expect it will be much
better than lining them. I do not need any of the money
I sent you here, as soon as we are paid off again I will
send you some more home as it is to much for me to be
carying loose about me, and you make any use of it
you think proper, do nt want for any Comfort–it
you can get it for money. I would like to write you
more but Sam is hurying me, as he wants to start. Dugan
says he is going to send a few lines inside of this, give
my Kindest Regards to all Kiss our Little Darling
for me and tell her Papa will bring her something
nice when he comes home. Good Bye Dear Creek
would that I were with you
William

[page 4]
P. S. You say you dont get many letters from me
I make it a rule to write you every sunday and Wednesday
and sometimes I write you oftener but never less than
twice a week they are lost in the mail somewhere like
a great \many now, I hear every one complaining of the
Same thing here.

Did you pay Jink the money I Borrowed from him
W A

Dear Sister
You will please Send me the
foloing list of Clothing one
Pair of Homade Pants
the Same of Bills one Vest
to button all the way up
one heavy flanel or wolen
hunting Shirt for winter
one pair heavy drawers one
heavy overShirt tell Ma
that is all I want at present
I kned the pants right off
as the Cloth Mike McGee bot
for our uniform is too light
for winter if you trim the
Pants or Shirts trim them
with green obliged yours
W. C. McFall

William Anderson, Captain of Company J of the 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters). His brother-in-law, W. C. McFall was a private in Company B

MSS 10366

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

Wrote to Father – Read 2
chapters in bible – march
from Brake down – to Edrey
Cross the Elk Mountain
View of nature’s scenery

MSS 5526

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

sick this morning
yet feele like I was
called for a could not
go
the boys are going out
a scirmishing to day
I will not get to go
being un well
this evening news came
that we would have
to go to fight the enemy
we was to get ready
against 3 oclock
in the morning.

MSS 13405

Dear Sister I thought i would write you a few lines but i cannot think of think of much to write without it is something i have written before to night it is raining Hard we had some Indiarubber Blanketts sent to us by the State of Maine & such a Night as this we need them Whe are gone to have some Hats they are gone to be Like the New york regiments that are in this Brigade & whe are gone to have some new Guns Soon i had two pieces of the Flag that Elsworth took of the Marchal House I was gone to send a piece of it to you & the other for Mother but i lost both peaces, the Enemy is Building another Fort about a quarter of a mile from where whe are encamp i think they are Building them so that they can Fall Back into if they have to retreat Before they get it done, Because some Morning they will Be surprised by having some shells Poured in to them whe have beans two or three times a week & the way whe Bake them is this We Dig a hole about three feet square & two deep & then build A fire in it, in the Morning & keep it so untill it burns up the coals & then take the pots of beans & place them on the coles & cover the dirt over them and i tell you they are worth having Ben spying this Afternoon at the Rebels & see them Build their Forts i can see them Plaine from Camp they have got some of the teams that went to Bulls Run with us and they are useing them to haul dirt with you Must excuse this letter Because i cannot write any thing that is new I Hope that you are well and the Children From your Brother
Joseph Leavitt

Soldier in the 5th Maine. After his death in 1864 his father copied all his letters into a copybook for preservation.

Leavitt was not the only member of the 5th Maine to cut himself some souvenirs from the Marshall House to send the folks back home. See the letter of Hiram Cash of August 15, and the thanks from “Ella” on September 8.

MSS 66

My dear Pa;
We were very glad to hear from all of
you yesterday through Dick Johnson, & as there is no preaching this morn=
ing I will occupy a part of my time in writing to you, though I’ve just
written a few days ago, & news is very scarce in camp. We try to let you
hear from us as often as three times a week, but very often it is impos=
sible for us to write even as often as three times a week. Bro. John
has to write to Sister Page so often he can’t write home often. I believe
he writes to Sister Page every day, & quarrels very much sometimes
at not hearing from her, abuses the Post Master at Murrel’s shop for
misplacing his letters, says he knows his wife does write to him often=
er than he hears; he got a letter from Sister Page yesterday, dated the
18th, she was well. We were on picket at Burke’s station, four miles
below here, Friday night & yesterday; we had a very nice time, took
supper, breakfast, & dinner at Mr. Marshal’s, a very nice place, a we enjoy=
the eating very much of course – I had to wait at supper, as there
was not room for all of us, & when I ate I had a nice lady to wait
upon me – you just ought to have seen me eat battercakes, a plate
full was placed right by me, & you know I did eat. I left one in
the plate for politeness. It made me think of home very much
to eat in at a nice table in a house; the battercakes reminded me
as much of home as anything else; I thought of Sister, how she
used to talk to me about eating so many, & tell Rich not to
hand me anymore, for I would certainly eat as long as he would
bring them in. I had almost forgotten how to eat like white folks,
found my self several times eating with my hands. I took a long
walk ing the country with some of the boys, to a very nice house where
we got as much watermelon & mus[k]melon as we could eat, the

[page 2]
first I’ve had this season; I also found two very sweet little children,
one baby. We were relieved yesterday evening; it commenced raining
hard soon after we started home & rained all the evening, we got very
wet, & but for that part of it, the whole trip would have been a very
pleasant one…..It has been a very qu^‘i’et morning, no preaching
or anything of the sort. Bro. John had an appointment, & went to the
church to preach, but found it occupied by a Co. of Stewart’s cavalry
& some sick men & it was too damp to preach out doors, so there
was no preaching at all. We had inspection of arms this morn-
ing, will have dress parade this evening. We have not heard anythin^‘g’
from Munson’s lately; – the Tenesee Regt. started down there early
this morning – would not be surprised if we relieved them,
as we did before – if we do have to relieve the Tenesseans, I sup=
pose we will go in about four days – .. Bick Johnson is trying
to get Tip home, but I don’t think he will succeed. Tip is not
sick much. Ira Kennon is right much complaining, is
better to day – Jimmie Pettus is good deal better – Henry’s boil
is get[t]ing nearly well – Jarman [Pvt. James Jarmin]Gooch is going home in
a few days, we will write by him. I must now bring my
letter to a close, so as to have it mailed in time to go tomorrow.
Our best love to all at home, all of our friends & accept a large
share for yr self. We are very well – write soon to us.
yr devoted & most
aff son
P. S. P. E. Jones
Bro. John wrote ^‘this morning’ to Edward Joyner, who his [is] in the
war department, to attend to his business; he thinks he will
get [-] the appointment in a week or two.
Edloe.

MSS 13407

My dearest Wife:

Your letter of Friday has just been handed
me & gave me much pleasure by the intelligence con-
tained in it so favorable to yourself & Richard. I trust
that you[r] neuralgia may not return & that our dear
brother may soon be quite well again. Tell Dick
I gave Lieut. Fleming his paper & he promised
to attend to the business for him. The paymaster
had not visited the troop & at this time has gone
to Richmond to replenish his empty pockets–Mr. F.
promised to send me Richard’s money as soon as he
got it if the paymaster came before I left for home
If otherwise, he will send it by the first opportunity.
I have gotten as much money now as I shall want
from Joseph who seems to have his pockets full–you
can get what you want from Dick & I will pay him
when I see him–
Uncle P. this morning sent in resignation to the
war department & for his sake I am glad of it. He
has served his country faithfully & disinterestedly,
has submitted to indignities & neglect which no other

[page 2]
military man would stand and I think is per-
fectly justifiable in going home & serving her in a
private Capacity–His resignation may be answered
by a Brigadiers Commission, but I doubt it. Don’t
say anything about this until the thing is made public
which may never be. Uncle P. seems to be in rather
low spirits & I think I had better remain with
him until his resignation takes effect if it is not
many days after the time I appointed to meet
you at home–It shall not detain me many days
however & may perhaps let me off sooner–
This cool cloudy weather makes fire quite comfort-
able here & reminds us that the cold cheerless win-
=ter will soon be upon us. How much suffering is
in store for these two America peoples, especially
for our vile & malignant enemies. Perhaps the
Lord by permitting weeping & wailing among them
may turn their “gnashing of teeth” upon themselves.
But we must all suffer to make us look to Him
for aid & whenever we stand in the way of His Providen-
=ces. There is nothing now can prevent this from
being a long & bloody war but some miraculous
interposition of Providence. And I believe it will
come sooner than is generally believed if it is for good.

[page 3]
I am happy to tell you that my valued little friend
Tafel is almosat well having cured himself by his
own treatment–I rode all the way to Manassas
yesterday to see him not having seen him the day
I came down–It is really beautiful to see how
he preserves unspotted, among the wretches he
is obliged to associate with, the purity of his heart
& of the New Church truths with which his mind
is well stored–He has fully & from principle
cast his lot with us & so long as I live Tafel
shall never want a friend. By the way one of
the men in the same company who was taken
sick since Tafel is now nearly dead under the
treatment of the regular physician. He, Tafel, was
pronounced to have strong symptoms of typhoid
fever by the medical director, but has never lost
his strength at all having taken as he said in
his peculiar accent “only a little pulsatilla and
a few grains of rhubarb after he was nearly well
already”. The latter was by my advice when I
saw him, tho’ he wouldn’t touch it until he was almost
recovered.

Every thing is perfectly quiet at the seat of war
I do not much like the news from the west tho’

[page 4]
I am sure all will be right there too–by the
end of the Campaign.

I have heard nothing from home since I left
there though that has been nearly two weeks. I
suppose they do not write being under the im-
pression that their letters would not get through–

I am going to write home to day–Sister went
with William on his way to the Springs as far
as Lynchburg where she now is with Mrs. Brown
The school there opened on the 15th. I have not
heard with what success–

Dr. Harrison’s school opened with 3 scholars!
goodbye now Dinner is nearly ready. I shall
direct my next letter to Bolling Island–
May God our Lord Jesus protect & keep you
Prays your Own loving Husband
P[hilip] B[arraud] C[abell]

refers to the resignation of Philip St. George Cocke.
Cabell refers to the New Church or the New Jerusalem Church, a church following the principles of Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1668-1772), to which many of the Cabell family belonged.

MSS 38-111

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

Sunday 9 A.M. Spent a very disagreeable time last night–had a cold and chilling rain and wind allnight–Thus dawns another Sabbath upon us in the dreary dress of wet and muddy weather. In right good earnest has the season of “Mists and mellow fruitfulness set in upon us–the season of the ‘sear and yellow leaf'”–
Genl. Lee arrived at “Meadow Bluff” and will visit this command to-day–the clouds have cleared away and we have the promise of a fine day–9 P.M. Genl. Lee was here this evening to take a general view of our position, etc.

MSS 38-221

[from the diary of Hiram Cash of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

it rained this morning
like a herrican our
tents was all wet
in side we had
to take the wet
i was pretty sick this
evening and all night.

MSS 13405