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

Commence bustding,[sic]
building cabins. Began
to snow early this morning
continues pretty much all

MSS 5526

Dear parents

I thought I
would send you a paper
containing a description
of the review last thurs
-day it was a sight worth
seeing the paper will tell
you the whole particulars.
I spent thanksgiving very
pleasantly. I with the rest
of my tnets crew was at
work on our winter tent
we are building it after
the Calafornia stile a log
house about 4 feet high

[page 2]
and then our canvass
tentgoes on over to
make a roof we have got
a fire place and chimney
built of brick and clay and
I tell you it is a good one
I should have written to
you before but I have
been waiting to see if
that box did not get here
befor I wrote it has not
got here yet we expect
it it to night. I do not know
but it will be best to
let the place but I
should think it would
be best to keep the hay if
you can

[page 3]
if he will not take it
without he has half of the
hay I would let him have
it. I heard of the capture
of port Royal and beaufort
I wrote to Robert Smith
about it as I owed him a
letter every thing looks
prosperous on our side n
regards to the war Slidel
and Mason are captured,
they were the rebel commis-
sioners to England, I
cannot write much now
we are all well and we
enjoy ourselves first rate
you may give this pin to
Walter but you had better

[page 4]
put it iup for him when
he gets big enouch to wear
it I shall write as
soon as we get the box
Yours in haste
Hiram M. Cash

[private, Co. K, 5th Maine Infantry]

MSS 12916

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

I was detailed for guard
this morning there was
three of us sent to one
place we had no word
hardly and the wind blows
like big guns but toward
night it let up I stayed
on the forepart of the
night till the moon raised
then I woke the other
boys and went to sleepe
it commenced to snow
towards midnight and when
I got up the ground
was covered with snow
and it is still snowing
there was two boys went
out last night and got
a turkey apiece bully
for them

[from the diary of F. Alfred Welton, musician and private, Co. D, 9th Indiana]

The General and about five
hundred men paid a visit to
Camp Bartow which they found
entirely deserted. the Enemy hav
ing left the day previous.
Quite a number continued on
the pike toward Staunton and
found th Enemy in force
at Camp Baldwin on the Al
legheny mountain, some nine
miles from their old camp.
Not having sufficient force to
cope with them the General and
party returned, bringing in
one Georgian as a prisoner

[this is the last entry in Welton’s diary. On November 1st 1863 Lieut McCullough, Co D 1st Md Battalion begins recording daily events in the same book.]

MSS 2822

Capt. C C Cocke

Dr Sir:

I received your letter of the
18th Inst to day and was sorry to learn that you
had not received neither of two letters which I had
written you–After the receipt of your letter containing an
extension of my furlough I went to Richmond five days
previous to the expiration of the furlough for the purpose
of getting an extension there of the your furlough to the 10th,
which if I could not have procured I was determi-
ned (though there under medical treatment) to proceed
to Centreville in order to report n the time prescribed by your
furlough–I found upon application at the Adjutant
General’s Office that it was only necessary to forward
the certificate of Dr. Winn which I had with me, to
the Captain of my company and that each certificate
sent at intervals would answer the renewal of the furlough
I then had & showed them–I therefore forwarded to you
from Richmond on the 6th Nov. the certificate and also
wrote a letter–In that I stated that my strength was returning
and I hoped to be able in a week or so to rejoin the company;
notwithstanding the opinion of my physician and those who saw
me during my sickness that my recovery would be slow–
The bronchial affection however under which I then suffered
and which has not yet released its hold upon me, thwarted
me in my expectation and at two weeks from that time

[page 2]
I again wrote you and asking your opinion as to my
resignation, basing it mainly upon the inconvenience and
dissatisfaction which my continued absence owing to
sufficient or insufficient reason would give
the Company–I am still incapable of performing my
duty of camp, not daring to expose myself with all of
the advantages of home life to camp atmosphere, and
I therefore submit to you my resignation and as request
of you the proper mode of application–I know the
imputation which naturally falls to the lot of one circum-
strained as I am , and to broach it has cost me some
difficulty, yet to escapt it I cannot consent to do
a foolish act and do what prudence and common
justice forbid–i.e. to expose myself to imminent risk
of life for no available purpose–If you have not
received the certificate which I forwarded you I will
get Dr. Winn to give you a professional statement of
the my condition of health–Hoping Sir that
you may yet receive my former letters, which will
show that no indifference towards the Company
or remissness in my line of duty has controlled me
during my absence–I should be glad to hear from
you at your earliest convenience–Excuse
the haste & drollery of this letter as I am replying
to be in time for return mail–the encelope being a
roadside invention

I am respectfully yrs &c
F S Johnson

MSS 640

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

Played as usual
did nothing this forenoon
practiced some made
another bench this
afternoon, rained last
night mostly cloudy
cold

MSS 10317

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

opposite a New York regiment.
A nice beautiful day, I wrote another
letter home making the sixteenth I have
written since we came to Annapolis.

MSS 11293

Deaar Mother, I have just receved Fathers letter of the 16th and was glad to hear that all of the Folks were all well, I am well & Never was better in my life last wensday there was A grand review of Part of the Army on this side of the Potomac at Baileys cross roads by General McClellan & his staff & the President & Vice President & the Cabinet And about three thousand of the citizens of Washington there was Seventy Frive thousand there I did not go with them there because I had just come off Guard & the morning the Guard is relieve they have the hold day to themselves each man had to take twenty rounds with him so if there should be and attack Maid on them, the suttler of this Regiment is got to leave I do no know what for now I dont care how quick that he does due it I receved A letter from Ellen & she wrote that Elizabeth took tea there I have lost the direction of Mister Stevens box I want you to tell me the number because I want to answer it right away
From Your son
Joseph Leavitt

Letters from Joseph Leavitt and his brother George Leavitt 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 Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virginia Infantry]

Move down across the
river where our cabins are to
be built.

MSS 5526

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

Have not written any lately except
letters, of which I have received
five, viz:–One from Jennie Lund, one from
Henry Russell, one from home, one from a
Mr Young of Worcester, and one from Mary.
It was thanksgiving in Massachusetts yester-
day and we observed the day here. Had
no drill. Services in the afternoon at which
Mr James spoke very feelingly of home.
In the evening had a social gathering
around a camp-fire, at which we
had a good time. During the night one
of the Milford Company died of typhoid
fever. The funeral services were held
this afternoon. His body was sent home
with his father who came on here before
his death. His name was shepherd.
This afternoon there was a box came to
our company containing Thanksgiving dainties
from our friends. I received from father
two big pies. We are occupied about as
at Camp Lincoln, Expect to leave here soon
for some southern expedition. I have
written home five times since I came
to Annapolis, to Daniel once, to Mary
twice, to Jennie twice, to Henry Russell twice
to John Sawyer once, to Dea. Thurston once
and to a man by the name of Young in Worcester
once making fifteen letters in all.

MSS 11293