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

Today we again leave our old Camp
on Valley Mountain and take up our
line of march in a homeward direc
tion – March to Big Spring – Distance
two miles – Have our tents and baggage
to carry – Find it quite hard work –
One of our men shot by our picket – Died

MSS 5526

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

This morning is foggy
some but we do not
run very fast now
they are wateing for
the other boat to com
up there is a great
comotion on the boat
this morning about
the secech but if
they do they will
be lots of the boys
scard all most to
death for fear they
will be shot
we have stopt at
scary creeke where the 12th had
their first fight in
the mud of the river
there is a great
lot of stone thrown
we can see them from
where we are
I was mistaken about the
stone it is what is
called the fall at
the mouth of scary creeke
scary creeke is a small creeke has a
mill or shop on the
point of the bank
we have past it now
and going with full
steame the mill at scary
creek turned out to
bee a cooper shop the
log cabbin just be hind
it has got a cannon
ball hole through it
you can see from the
river

The first slaves I saw
was in sight of Charlst
on there was 6 nigers
and a driver & two dogs
they stood on the bank
and cheered for the
union they looked like
they was greesed
you can not see any
houses a long the river
at all it looked like
no body lived here
the Kanawy doe not
look to be mut larger
than big Miama
there is a good many
riffles in it ‘a long her’ wee ar just going
over one now a long
these riffles they make
necks out of stone to
throw the watter high
enough so a boat can go
up
we stopt at Charleston
and got of and marched
around town and
came back and got
on the boat and are
now of for 10 miles up
the river
there was a fellow at
Charlston Camp that had
a hat that was shot
through on a nothers
head while the fellow
was standing a g ainst the
fence it killed him and
he never fell but rema
ined standing a g ainst
the fence at Boon ville
we have come to the
coal regions of virgine
a long the Kanaway
a bove Charlston
I was mistakeing they
are salt pits or salt
works
we saw one boat that
the secech burnt up
be low Charleston a
man by the name of
Clarkson burnt it
there is the lar gest
hills here that I ever
saw in my life they
are small mountains
we arived at camp [?]
this evening and encamped
found three companeys
of the first Kentucky
Reg three are wounded
in the hospittle now
there was one died
yesterday from a
wound in the shulder
from a double barrel
shotgun we have not
got ourr cooking uten
sils yet our mess
and we have not
any plesure a geting
our meals but we
do get a long some
way and contrive to
get a long a mazeingly
the second boat has
not come up here
yet we do not know
what has be com of her

MSS

MSS 13405

My Dear General [John Hartwell Cocke]

Very soon after the receipt of
your maxims for manufacturing a new mode of wafare etc
I had it published in the Richmond Whig. Since
then I have received your favor of the 9th instant
enclosing 10$ and asking for a few copies of the maxim
which after diligent search could not be obtained
at the office of publication. I then took a copy
from the files of the paper reserved in the
Whig office which I had republished in the
Enquirer of this morning and ordered 25 copies which
(minus 2 copies) I have sent you by the packet boat.

Enclosed you will find receipt from the Planter
office. We are in constant expectation of stirring
news from all most every part of our armies.
From reliable private sources, I have reason to believe
that in about two weeks the Potomac will be very
effectually blockaded by our land batteries and
a wide space left for our troops to cross the
lower Potomac at will. When this is accomplished
the day of deliverance for Maryland will have
arrived, involving nothing less that the downfall of
of[sic] the Federal Capital as a necessary means to than
end.

Yours with Christian regard
Ch. B. Williams

MSS 640

[letter of Edward T. H. Warren to Virginia “Jennie” Warren continues]

Thursday morning 18th A very heavy rain
last evening gives us this morning a very
damp unpleasant atmosphere & a bright sun
will however soon remedy the evil.

I told you either in this or the letter previous
to bring me buttons for shirt Bosoms & a candlestick
& nothing else–I take back the nothing else
& say you may bring what ever you please
one of the childrens pillows would be accept
able indeed–you must certainly bring your
riding dress–Matches are very scarce here,
you say butter cant be had & tomatoes scarce
dont bother yourself about either we can
get along well–but it will come in
well if Mr Boyd will bring a bag of corn
meal–I will send him a note about
it. Give love to Mother & Ellie & Lizzie &
tell them I am not going to stop writing
to them & they must not either–I never
hear a word from Grandma–my love to her
& tell me something about her. Affectionately E. T. H. W.

MSS 7786-g

Tuesday night

My own darling

I have just heard from David through the
young man who has been with him since he
was wounded and am happy to be able
to say, that his chances for recovery now seem
to be as much in his favor as they appeared
against him on yesterday. The wound is of such
a nature that it cannot be probed, but judging
from the symptoms exhibited last night & to day
the surgeons have concluded that his stomach is
uninjured–if this is true Davids good consti-
tution & calmness will save him. I
am sorry that I sent you so unfavorable
an account this morning, but having as I did
so little hope of his recovery, I could not flat-
ter you with an unfounded hope–and even
now I fear I am too sanguine–but I tell you
his situation as he is reported to day. Your
Father got down safely–I forgot to tell you
in my last that your father says Edward is
almost able to return to his regiment and
George who went home sick last friday is
improving–he only has billious fever

I got to day your letter writ[t]en Sunday and
monday–scolding & crying about coming to see
your no account old man–even wishing for
me to get sick enough to have a furlough
now I can tell my precious old lady, that as
much as I want to see her and I know I
want to see her as bad as anyone could
want to see a wife–yet I have no idea of having
to pay for a sight of her either by a spell of
fever or rheumatism–I have never had

[page 2]
much of either but from what I have seen
of their effects I am not at all disposed to try
them–So Stephen is full of complaints I ex-
pected it–but cant help him he must do the
best he can–In regard to the plank let S[?]
buy them and I can either send money to pay
for them or Stephen can pay for them when
he sells his wheat & corn $15 or $20 will pay
for all he wants–Tell Stephen whenever he
can sell anything off of the place which he
thinks ought to be sold he must sell it and
use the money to buy such things as he needs
on the farm–by the way you may take
full notes of all he has to say & tell me when
you come down–

[letter of Edward T. H. Warren will continue on Wednesday the 18th]

MSS 7786-g

My Dear Richard [B. Buck]

Mr Thomas Petty very kindly took charge
of your boots this morning, I hope
you got them–I send you this eve-
ning by Billy (who pledges himself for
their safe keeping and delivery) your
coat & pants– The coat is unquestionably
too small–you will have either
to exchange or reject it–as it
would be of no value to you.

I shall make immediate ar-
rangements for an overcoat for you.

If Walter will not want his for
a week or two, will send his to
you–Tell Amos I am just from
his house–All well their & doing
well Greatest Haste
Very Affectionately M.B. B.
Just heard from Walter’s Co
One man died Mr. Stephens. All else well

Richard Bayly Buck of the Warren Rifles, Co. B of the 17th Virginia

MSS 3094

My Dear Sir [Nathaniel Francis Cabell]

At the instance of many
friends, I have announced myself
a candidate for congress from our
District–Removed from party conflict
in the past, I have endeavoured since
the secession of the State to unite our
people by discountenancing every
thing that tends to revive or perpetuate
our old differences–Many gentlemen
of both parties have assured me that
this course & position would enable
them to harmonize in my support–
I should be very much gratified
if this meets your favourable
judgement. I propose to address
the people of Nelson on Friday week (Sep
c[our]t day) & hope to meet you there
very truly–James P. Holcombe

James P. Holcombe, 1820-1873, was a professor of law at the University of Virginia. Although his parents were ardent abolitionists who freed their slaves and moved from Lynchburg to Indiana to escape the institution, Holcombe believed in the institution and in 1858 published an address on the slavery’s consistency with natural law. His bid for the Confederate Congress was successful.
MSS 38-111

Captain [Cary C. Cocke]

Please understand and explain to the
Captains under your Command, that even in case of
sickness and Surgeon’s advice, no leave of absence can
be granted, to privates or Officers, except at these Head
Quarters, and when men are absent for health, it should
so appear on the morning report. Please give this your
attention, as a looseness exists at present, which we
wish to have promptly corrected.

I am Captain
Very Respectfully
J E Johnston

MSS 640

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

we got to gallipoliece
a bout 10 o clock AM
went on shore got
some hot coffee stash
armes felt pretty well
we do not know where
we will go to yet
the boys on the Arazona
had a big fight on deck
as they came up one
fellow got stuck
with a bayonet through
the cheeke and came
out in his mouth
one fellow got byoneted through the leg
we have got our
can teens a bout
half full of coffee to go on now
we left galipolis at dark
and went up the Ka
na wha we grounded
two or three times be
fore day light the boys
are all a fraid that
we will be attacted on
the boat some have
their guns loaded for
fear some body stole
Dan Stratons gun this
morning the officrers
of the boat have a
great time to keepe
the soldiers out of their
way this morning
some are drunk and keep runing roun all night

MSS 13405

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

All quiet here today–The Legion only remains here to guard this point–the whole of Floyd’s force has gone to “Meadow Bluff”—

MSS 38-221