My dear Miss [Hetty] Cary

Permit me once more to remind
yourself and you sister of the promise made by you
to visit the line of this army–a promise so long de-
ferred in its fulfillment that many an anticipant
has become heart-sic, and hope has become the
parent of despair.

“Piaceva madre di figlio crudele”

Now I am instructed by the General to say
that your presence is absolutely required to restore the
morale of the army; and of course the presence of
your sister and of you charming cousin, Miss
Constance, is included in the requisition. If
you resolve to obey the command, I have no
doubt you can dispose of the services of one
or more male friends to constitute your es=
cort. The General likewise instructs me to say
that, although never honored with an intro=
duction, he has yet seen enough to excite his
admiration of that combination of beauty,
intelligence and patriotism, which forms
an attraction strong enough to bring the
world to the feet of their possessors.

[page 2]
Our residence, of course, is at your disposal,
you shall have an escort of cavalry; and
the General will appoint you on his staff
as Aide-de-Camp.

I hope I shall not be
deemed presumptuous in saying that I expect
an answer to this invitation–if for no other pur=
pose than that, in your autograph, I may
possess a memento of one of the most pleasing
episodes of my life. Enclosed I send you
a copy of the verses written on the cars, which
I trust, will possess at least the merit
of legibility.

Very respectfully
Durant da Ponte

P.S. The General not wishing to make any
partial discrimination between two sisters
so lovely and so deserving, send the en=
closed button, as complementary to the
one bestowed before.

[separate sheet of paper enclosed]

Sonnet
On Seeing Miss Cary’s Pistol

Ah! why should I this useless weaon fear
When thou hast deadlier weapons at command?
Why seek to fly when I could welcome here,
The death inflicted by so fair a hand?
For deadlier, far, than pistol or than lance
Than sword or dagger, or than barbéd dart,
Are those bright rays that ‘neath thine eyelids glance,
Strike through the breast, and pierce the willing heart,
Then tell me not ’tis death to linger here;
Or that thy hand with Lethean gifts is rife;
For it were sweeter far, to perish here
By hands like thine, than centuries of life,
And if ’twere speedy death to stay, then I,
Shouldst thou command, could only wish to die,

Durante Da Ponte, 1823-1894,journalist, editor, and occasional painter served on the staffs of Confederate generals Earl Van Dorn and John B. Magruder.
Hetty Cary, a famous Confederate belle, later married Confederate General John Pegram.

MSS 1415

Brother William Your last letter is received as I have A few moments I will try & write you A few lines the work on our Post is now finished with the exception of mounting A few guns but that will be done by men hired for that part for my part I am not sorry that we have got through for it was the hardest digging that I ever had as soon as I get A chance I will send Home some specimens of the different kinds of clay we had to dig through the Fort is verry strong & it will take A verry large force to take it from us I cannot tell how many guns will be mounted some say fifty & some say one hundred the guns are so placed that one part of the Fort protects the other part & every gun points direct on the City Father in his last letter wished me to let him know how Federal Hill was situated now that is A tough Job for me but I will tell you as near as I can how it is situated it is about the same as MonJoy to Portland with the exception instead of the Hill being at one end of the City it is about the Cnter of the Hill commands the Bay & the City lays the same as if Portland City commenced at Hog Island & extended from Hog Island round to Tukeys Bridge all the Wharfes are right in Front of the Hill & the Hill is about two hundred feet from the water now if you can make anything out of this all right, we have commenced drill since we got through working on the trenches, Company drill from one halfe past eight to one halfe past eleven Battalion drill from one halfe past two untill four with knapsacks Batalion drill is tough, one hour & A halfe constant drill with about fifty lbs on you back is no Joke I have got A tremenduous lot of clothes & when they are all in my knapsack it is hard work to get it together you say you had A chance to go as Sergant Major in the Fifth of Maine what do you know about serjent Major duties if you can get A chance in either of the other Regiments why dont you go it will not hurt you how are they getting along in the twelvth & thirteenth I have about six letters to write to day this is the third one & how I am going to write the other three I dont know I will write you again soon remember me to all From your Brother George

Letters from George Leavitt and his brother Joseph were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865 “because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid.” Both boys were mortally wounded int he war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864. Presumably Brother William survived the war.

MSS 66

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

News came today that
the boys was coming back
that they had advanced
to little mud creek
and was com ing back
in a fiew days but
I do not [k]now
how soone it will be for
we never be lieve any
thing that we hear
un less it comes from
a re li a ble sorse they
are all well as far as
i can learn they got
som horses but not
many and some sheepe
a cattle they did not see
any of the enimy I
believe nor did not
have any skirmish

MSS 13405

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 32 Ohio Infantry]

Played as usual no Dress parade
did not practice any from the
fact that several of the Boys
are unwell, we had was out &
procured some apples &c, sprincled
rain a little this afternoon.

MSS 10317

Dear Father Your kind & welcome Letter of the 21st came to hand And it Maide me feel good when I came to that part of the Letter in Which you said Lieut Martin called at the House & let you know that I was in the Fight and gave me such a good name for doing my duty I do not want to put any ting in my Letters about Bragging but there is one thing & that is when the time come for action again you will not find me to flinch to act with the rest of my Fellow Soldiers without I am sick so that I cannot act with them when Lieutenant Martin Left this Regiment the Boys were sorry to part with him because he had been A good Officer with them I suppose you heard about the Boys put in and bought two watches and Maide a Present to Him & Captain Sawyer that was because they liked them as Officers but they did not like Capt Thomas on account of his tryng to push them in to every old thing that came along this Company is the second company to the right of the regiment & was the Flag company therefore they call the company at the right as the Post of honor Company when McFearson writes Home to his Wife about my being sick, I do not want you to Mind anything about it when I am sick so that I think I cannot stand it I will apply for my discharge & not before I want to stay now & see this truble out yesterday I receved A Letter from Ellen and I do not know how to direct one to her he wrote to me & said that Edward did not care enough about her to come to see her when she was at Home, I do not want you to write to her and tell her that I wrote to you about it, It is getting dark now & must close my Letter by telling you that Pay day is coming off soon & you must look out Because they are making out the Payrolls & you can have A Little money to take care of for me From you affectionate Son Joseph Leavitt

P.S. I received A letter from you day before yesterday but I cannot find it to tell you the date of it & when you write to me again I want you to write & tell me how to direct one to Ellen it has cost me A great deal for Postage stamps most every letter that I receive from you I have to pay three cents what is due on them But I want you to keep on writing every day or every two days The next letter I write to you I will try & tell you all about the march to Bulls Run & Back.

Letters from Joseph Leavitt and his brother George were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865 “because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid.” Both boys were mortally wounded int he war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania,
May 18, 1864

MSS 66

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

I took my men that was
sick to the hospittal
this morning to get their
medicin one fellow
he thought to play sick
but the steward found
him out this morn
ing and had him
a bed fix up stairs
for him and he
give him a dose of
medicin half of a
tinfull of salts
three spoonsfull of
casteroil and two pills
I think he will feele
better when he get well
H[e]a[r]d Austin is getting
better and expects to
get out soone.

MSS 13405
get out come

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

Morning cold and frosty good deal
March troop Mt. to Marlin’s
Bottom. Greenbrier Bridge. Cross
2 mountains. distance 16
miles. Hear that the Yankees have
left Valley Mountain – Left a cannon.
Received letter from N. & P. R. Y.

MSS 5526

Head Quarters 5 Brig

My dear John [B. Cocke]

Mr. Grant arrived last evening
and tells me that he received no letters or
package for you–I know not therefore who
brought the letters which I wrote you were handed
to me one day by a courier and I can not trace
who brought them–So as to inquire about the box
of clothing In your letter (received with the letters of
the girls above referred to) you say you intended to
send your letters & the box by Mr Grant with whom
you had met at Richmond So I now suppose
since seeing Mr. Grant that you must have sent
all by some other person–but by whom I am unable
to learn & so far have heard nothing of the box–
Perhaps it may yet be delivered here I write
to order those you may inform me and also enquire
yourself
You will have heard of the brilliant fight of
Evans near Leesburg in which he repulsed three or
four times his numbers & captured several
hundred prisoners & six pieces of artillery–

We suppose the enemy to be slowly & cautiously
advancing to make fight with us here but
of course we know not when or exactly when he
will come–Perhaps the advance upon Leesburg

[page 2]
was intended by him if successful as a preliminary
or part of a more general movement–We are
throwing up entrenchments upon the higher places
near Centreville which clearly indicates that
our army intends to make a final stand &
a fight here–and it may come at any time
the enemy chooses to advance–but when that
may be no one can foretell–The sooner however
the better for us–Providence so far seems to
have preserved our cause in every battle and
we must still trust that the bravery of our
soldiers and the over ruling arm of a just
and merciful God will again give us the
victory whenever a battle shall take place

Tell the dear girls I thank them from my heart
for their affectionate letters–Tell them dear John
& remember yourself, that this apparently cruel
separation of our family May be intended to teach
us all that there is no real safety & dependence
but in trust & faith in God–All human hopes
are transitory and that we must seek by earnest
prayer the guidance & protection of our Father
in Heaven–and that you all may trust in Him
and find comfort & protection & hope now & hereafter
is my earnest prayer now that I am seperated from
you and feel that none but the Omnipotent can
protect save & guide us all

[page 3]
Tell your mother that I wrote her a very hurried
letter by last mail to reply to her last dated the
1st inst.–That I trust she will excuse the many
defects of my letters which I am sure she would
to a great measure do if she could form any
adequate idea of the difficulties & distractions
attending letter writing situated in camp as we are–

Your Uncle Charles [Cary Cocke] is encamped about a
mile further in the turnpike between Centreville
and Cub run. He is well–He is in the
2d Army Corps now commanded by Genl Smith–

I still wish you to remain with the family
and not to come up here until I write for you
I suppose you can find some person to be trusted
to deliver the box of clothing–or write to me
if you have sent it on so that I can find it–

Write both to Manassas & to Centreville–sending
duplicate letters–We have a courier going
daily to Manassas for letters–as there is no
mail I believe to this place–The family should
direct their letters to Manassas

With love & prayers for you all I remain my
dear John
Yr afft father
Philip St Geo Cocke

Major John B. Cocke

MSS 640
[to be continued]

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

Played as usual Did nothing
today of any importance practiced
a little alone. Gillet & Charlie
got another tent, Phil quite
sick Abb & Milton out the sick
list. Hard frost this morning ice
formed cool cloudy.

MSS 10317

Dear father and mother
It is with pleasure that
I seat my self to let
know that I am well
and hope when theas
few lines come to hand
thy may find you
enjoying the same bless
ing we had a battle
at leasburg we killed
and wounded and taken
prisners a bout 1500 men
I dont think our
Regiment was in the
fight we air expecting
a big fight every day
father I have no
news of importance
to write to you

[page 2]
I dont think it will be very long untill
peace is made
father I would like
if you would send
me two or three
dollars if you have
it I have not got
a cent of money
we will draw about
40 dollars and I will
send you the maney[sic]
back again I want
as you to send it as soon
you receive this letter
if you can send the course
send the money
in the course 2 weaks
direct it to the Regiment
if you in the co send
me the money in a short
time

[page 3]
direct it t orange
court house Va
I made mistake a bout you
sending me some money if you
can send me the many
in the course 2 weeks direct
to orange court house and
if you cant direct it to the
28 Regiment Va Vol In care
of P. G. Breckenridge
give my love to all the
children I would like
to see you all mother
I read my bible every
day nearly i an[sic] in
fine spirits tell george
to take the answer
to amsterdam so it
will directly george write
to me often and
let the girls a lone
writ to me how much

[page 4]
wheat you sowed
tell Benton howdy
for me if i ever get
home we will have
Jolly old time
now I must bring
my letter to a close
nothing more at
preasant
but i hope to remain
your dear son
James B Painter

[caricature of head sketched below signature]

James B. Painter, Corporal in Co. K, 28th Virginia Infantry

MSS 10661