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

Played for Guard mounting
Wrote letter to Pap
was weighed to day weighed
172 lbs. Three more companies
left this morning on scouting
expiditions mostly clear cold
magnificent view from the Hill behind our Hous

MSS 10317

(contemporary copy by a member of the Noland family)

Captain,

I received with great regret, you letter of yester
day, stating your intention to leave on Wednesday next-
asking permission to turn over the battery and the stores &c.
to the Senior Officer on duty at the Fort which you have
commanded so beneficial to the service & so satisfactory
to myself.

I am gratified to learn that you desire to return
to this Department. I assure you that I consider the pub-
lic interest will be promoted by it.

I do not know how I can serve you better than to state my
opinion, which I now do, that you former rank in the
U.S. Navy, justified you in the expectation that you ought
to have received the rank of Major in the Provisional Army
C.S. & to add from my own knowledge that your services
on the Peninsula, constitute a just ground upon which, that
rank could be bestowed upon you independently of former
rank elsewhere.

You are at liberty to make such use of this
letter as you may think proper.

I am Captain,
Very truly, Your Obt. servant
J. Bankhead Magruder
Major Genl. Comdn.

To
Capt. C. St. George Noland
Comdt of Battery
at Mulberry Island Point

Callendar St. George Noland, 1816-1879

MSS 2718-d

Dear Sister

I seat myself this beautiful
morning to write you a few lines to let you
know that I am well hopeing these few lines
will finde you all in good health. John
Howard got hear Sunday eavning I got
my fance shirt slips socks gloves & pillow
but my over coat & quilt was left at Henry A Storrs
Store. Charles Johnston said that he saw
my over coat at A Storrs Store he said he
intended to bring it by he forgot it.
I got some chestnuts with my clothing but
I did not get them that you sowed up in
my coat pockets for Cate & Jim Tell Cate
that I did not get her apples. I got the paper and
envellopes tell peggy that I got the comb and
was very much pleased with it. I reckin C[h]arles
sent apart of the paper you said he was
sending me some paper and envellopes. Tell
him that I got the paper and that I am
much obliged to him for sending it I recken
he sent the envellopes. I wrote a letter to uncle
Vincent but I dont know whether he got
it or not. Tell Charles M Browning that
I will write to him in a few days

[page 2]
I reckin he comes to see you all evry
two or three days if he comes to see you
all as often as he useto. The yankees come
down yesterday morning and fired on our
pickets and one of the new gasden tigers killed
a yankee. I will be on picket about day after
tomorrow and I think the yankees will be
down about that time and maby I
will get a crack at some of them
It is quite warm hear this morning.
the sun shines warm and it is clear
and pretty morning it looks like I ought
to be at home hauling corn and so I
ought I expect Hayes and Cummings is a gather
ing corn this pretty morning. Martha when
you write again write whether you
sent my over coat & quilt in a short time
or not and if you can send them write
when you can send them while I was writing
i received a letter from you dated 5th and was glad
to hear that you all was well. my over coat is
at a store you can make me a coat or
send the olde one just which you pleas
maby you can get a chance to write
to send my over coat before long
Write if you think you can send my coat
before long Write soon
W R Gilmer

Private, Co I, 37th Virgnina

MSS 5194

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

Snowed last night–very cold
this morning Benham’s Brigade
left. We went back to our
Old House Horns arrived last
night. Played for guard mounting
300 men left on scouting expedition
partly clear

MSS 10317

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

9 A.M. Snow last night was quite light, not more than an inch deep–weather very cold this morning– 9P.N. Nothing new to record.

Dear Aunt

I take my pen in hand to write
a few lines to let you know that I am
well and enjoying myself very well at this time
and I hope when these few lines reach you they
may find you also enjoying the same blessing
I have not received any answers to the last
I wrote you some four weeks ago which
made me think that it has not arrived
at its proper place; there was so many different
ones carried letters to the post office that there
was a good many of them never got to the
office. I heard of Uncle Johns death through letters
from home; and it surprised me greatly as I had
not heard of his being dangerously ill but we
have good reason to believe that our loss is his
eternal gain. We are now camped near Winchester
in a flat piece of woods mud about shoe mouth
deep; that is wherever it is tramped any: this week
has been very rainy, and now it is spitting snow
and very cold our tents are a great protection
from the cold, and wind, but still not as much
as could be desired; during the storm of last
friday two weeks there was not more than a
dozen tents left standing in the whole regiment.
the wind was so strong it carried them off

[page 2]
as fast as they could be put upp. you ought
to be here to see us cooking; making bread and
pies too! we get better bread sometimes which
comes in very good; we get plenty of sugar and
coffee, and beef of the very best sort: butter is selling
at from 25 to 50 cts a pound in Winchester that is
of a good quality: eggs is 25cts a dozen, cabbage is
selling at from 10 to 15 cts a head, according to quality,
apples 25cts a dozen, and every thing else in
proportion. yesterday was fast day and I suppose was
as well kept in the camp as it was at home.
our side was issued that there should be no
drilling and no other duty except that which could
nob be dispensed with and we certainly did not
eat much because they have it in their power
to withdraw our rations and keep it from us:
there was preaching here by some strange preacher
but I did not hear him as I had just come
off guard, and was wet, and cold; but I believe
he preached a very good sermon. We are expecting to
move away from this camp, but I do not know
whether its is to town or not we expect to take
winter quarters in Winchester but I do not know
how soon we Will get them. I must now draw
my miserable scroll to a close; as it is getting
late. Give my love to all Uncle James family
Aunt Ann, and receive a due share yourself.
Thomas A. Smiley
Direct your letter to Winchester Frederick Co. Va T. A. Smiley

Co. D, 5th Virginia Infantry

MSS 1807

Dear Sister Hetty

I arrived here safe
& sound with Mr Banks, was met at
Manassa[s] by Willie & have been enjoying
the hospitalities of the Qr. Mr’s Dept. ever
since. I have had a horse placed by
them at my disposal the whole time,
& have had a very good time ranging
around Centreville, inspecting the
defences &c The day before yesterday
I spent at the M’d Camp with Bill
Murray–the Regiment had of course
(just my luck) gone on picket. I had
however a very good time with Bill.
Dined with him that day & invited
him over to dine with me the next
day–Accordingly he came over yester-
day & spent the day–I got a horse
for him & we went around together.
I made him stay all night, but he
would go back to camp this morning.
Major Barbour has not come back
yet, & consequently Willie can’t leave to-

[page 2]
morrow. The Major will certainly
return on Monday or Tuesday, therefore
I will wait until that time & bring
Willie down with me. Mr Banks asks
me to say that Genl. Johnston has
received your flag & is perfectly de-
lighted with it & has replied to your
note in his very best style–which
reply he hopes has ere this reached
its destination–Genl Van Dorn has
also received Connie’s

Mr Banks says he can certainly
arrange to get me a pass; he desires
to be particularly remembered to you.
Willie is looking remarkably well,
but is worked pretty hard.

Love to Jenny & all at Aunt S.’s
Good-bye, yours affect’ly

Jno B. Cary

Miss H. C. Cary
Care of Mrs S. S. Carr
University of Va

MSS 1174

[from the diary of Harrison B. Jones, 4th Sergeant, Co. H. 33rd Virginia Infantry]

Strasburg. It rained
considerable to day
we unloaded the bag
gage to day &c; put it
in a warehouse

MSS 14169

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

9 P.M. This is the day set apart for the fasting and prayer–have had several sermons in our regiment today–bad weather is upon us–for it is now snowing. Commenced since dark—

MSS 38-221

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

obliged to leave our quarters
to accomodate Benhams Brigade
which has returned. Rebel Col
killed saw his remains

cold cloudy indications of a
snow-storm

MSS 7786-g