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

Today is thanksgiven
day the captain and
lieutenants went out
and got us all sum
turkeys for to day we
had got ours sent to
a woman to cook for
us she sayd she would
cook it for nothing she
cookes us bread and lends
us her coffee mill
to grind our coffee with
if we do not have
any bad luck we will
have a nice time for
a while it is the rainy
part of the season though
now and it keepes raining
all most of the time now

MSS 13405

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts Infantry]

Gen. J. G. Foster reviewed and
inspected us this forenoon. I like
his looks and appearance much. This af-
ternoon have not drilled much, but have
been reading and enjoying myself very
well. It rains now (8 o’clock) and George
Lowe is writing a letter home. Ellinwood
is asleep on the straw. Phineas on guard and
Frank in the next tent. I went there and
staid some time this evening. I hear
that we are going to leave here next
Friday.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton of the 23rd Ohio]

No parade
I have been reading two
novels to day Nat Tod & The
Frontier Angel. practiced
rained all day. Hear that we
will certainly stay here all winter

Edward S. Ellis’s “The Frontier Angel. A Romance of Kentucky Rangers’ Life” was a published in March of 1861 and introduced several well known historical characters in the course of the narrative. Ellis was also the author the same month of “Nathan Todd,or the Fate of the Sioux Captive,” a sequel to his popular “Bill Biddon”

MSS 10317

Capt C C Cocke

Dear Sir
I write you a fiew lines
to let you no how an whare I am I am mending
but very slow I am very week so mutch so I can
hardly write I have had a rite sevear Spell of the fever
I stade at Manassas three days then I cam on to
Richmond where I stayed in the hospital nine days
My father came down to see me an with great
difaculty he got me off home I have been bad for the
last ten days
I shall bee on to join the company as soon as the Dr
thinks I am able the lord only noew when that
will bee

Yours Respectfully

John B Kidd

[The following letter was of the same date was found with the above letter]

Richmond at Hospitel
Der Sir I write you a few lines to let you her
frome me I am no better of now then I was when
I lef the Camp, John Kidd father come down en
carid him home he had Tifenid fever Openhemer
is gonne home all so if I get out of here alive it
will be the las chance the Hospital will Ever get
at me the grave an the galos or Eny place Else will have
more charmes for me then a Hospitel I woad long sence
af binn at camp if I coude af goten there the feede
us on sheep an ry coffe, if you have Eny mony
in you hands that is due me for servcis you dou me
a grate faver by sending i to me let this time
as I am aboute out I shall get oute up her as
soone as posibel yrs
Resptfaly Jon A Foster
St Charls
write to me at Hospitel to the care
of Dr Jackson in charge

MSS 640

Dear Father
As I have not receivd but one letter from you this week I thought I would set down & write to you and find out the reason that you have not sent only one letter, & no Papers because I think it kind of strange I always receive one about every other day I am on Picket & am gone to stay out Four days & am staying in A House & are relieved every sixteen hours whe have turnips & potatoes a plenty out here I like Picketing Better than Camp Life I have no more time to write any more because I want to send it in by the team I am well & hope this will find you the same & the Family. From your Son Joseph Leavitt

Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York 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 in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864

MSS 66

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton of the 23rd Ohio]

No Dress parade
I have done nothing to day
practiced. wrote short letter
to Father which I intend to
send with Snively who is going
home tomorrow I[t] has been raining
all day.

MSS 10317

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

It has been raining all
this morning and it
is very mudy under
foot the boys are
in high glee to think
they are in winter
quarters they are all
fixing up for to stay
this winter and are
getting things pretty
handy and convienint
the maile has not
started yet but will
soone and then we
will have big times
for a while if we
do not get whipt
out of here which
will take a good forse
to do that little job.

MSS 13405

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F of the 25th Massachusetts Infantry]

Got all cleaned up and ready
for review and inspection at three
o’clock but it commenced raining so we
did not have it, Got a good long letter
from home which did me much good.
Wrote an answer this afternoon. Enjoy Gods
blessings with joy and still continue to
trust in Him.

MSS 11293

Dear parents

It is with much
pleasure that I seat myself to
write a few lines to you. I have
the pleasure of informing you
that we have recieved the basket
of victuals you sent us for a
Thanksgiving dinner it was a great
deal better because it come from
Me. I want you to tell all thoes
that assisted in sending us
something to eat from Me. that
I am greatly obliged to them for
their kindness twords us far from
home and all its ejoyments as well
as at home enjoying the pleasure
of their society It reminds me
of the many happy days I
have enjoyed in their society

[page 2]
but now we are sepearated, and,
may never all meet together
again in this world of trouble
The interest my friends feel in
my welfare inspires me with
new vigor and strength and a new deter-
minatin to defeat the purpose
of the rebels and sustain the
union and constitution at what-
ever cost of lives or money. I
cannot express one half the
gratitude I feel twords my friends
but let them rest assured it will
never be forgoten by me while I have
sence and reason spared me.

I have no particular news to
write we have recieved 25
new recrites and 4 deserters
have been returned that run
away after the battle of Bull Run
Levi Small is one of the recrites
I was very glad to meet him

[page 3]
We are expecting Capt. Bucknam
back every day and I tell you
the company will be glad to see
him. I have recieved a marriage
card from Rodny and I send
it here enclosed and I want
you to keep it. I have a few
pictures I will send to Walter
you may give them to him
or keep them yourself. I suppose
you got the paper I sent you
with an account of the great
review of all the troops this
side of the Potomac it was a
grand display. Our Regt is in
Slocum’s Brigade and in
Franklin’s division we have
good officers and the men have
great confidence in them. Tell
Susan I will write to her & soon
if you see her. I have heard
from Mark Gammon he is in

[page 4]
Maryland guarding the rail road
near the Relay house in the
10th Me. Regt. I have no
more news to write this
time so I must close

Yours in haste
Hiram M. Cash

Private, Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916

Dear Howe

I recd yours by
Rev Mr Cash, & attended to your
request with much pleasure.
Rev. Dr. Doggett, Rowzie Edwards
& D’Arcy Paul &c &c–a large
majority of the Trustee[s] of R.
Macon would have elected
you to the Math. Chair, if
there had been any showing
that you had had any
experience of knowledge of
the Military government of a
College & of Tactics. Your only
real competition was Blanken=
=ship of Lynchbg College, who sent
a recommendation from Col
[Francis Henney] Smith of the V. M. Institute.
They could not elect & have

[page 2]
postponed the election till about
15th of Jany. The Trustees are
anxious to have just such a
Professor as your recommendation
prove you are; but Dr Smith,
Prest, has the war fever, & says
military qualifications are
indispensable. We do hope
you will be elected in Jany
-not only because you desire
the Chair, but for the sake
of our College
Wife sends much love.
affly yr friend &c
T Franly[?]

MSS 9380