I recd. your letter yesterday morning my darling
and my purpose was to have written to you last
night, but I did not get into Camp until late
after a very fatiguing day, having been in the
saddle nearly the whole day from 9 o’clock in
the morning until the same hour at night.
I went down yesterday morning, as officer of
the day, to visit our piquet stations at Belmont
and below that place on the Georgetown turnpike
soon after I returned to Belmont from the lower
station I was informed by a courier that the
enemy had advanced in considerable force
to Dranesville, a small town on the turnpike
about 8 miles below Belmont, I returned im=
mediately, and passing our freight station on
the turnpike below, turned off to the right
and took a circuitous route towards Dranesville
in order to communicate with Col Radford’s
piquets on the road from Dranesville to
Frying Pan Church, when I got about half
way some of Radford’s men informed me that
Genl. Stuart had attacked the enemy at
Dranesville and that they were probably fight=
ing at that time. I dashed off towards Dranesville
with the view of getting there before the fight
was over and lending a helping hand if necessary,
but when I got near Dranesville I found the
enemy still in possession of the place, and
learned that Genl Stuart, after a sharp
skirmish had retreated. I reconnoitered in
the immediate vicinity of the town, and in
close proximity to the enemy’s lines until after

[page 2]
sunset, when we learned from a courier
who had been dispatched by Capt. Pitzer on
the route of our forces, that Stuart had
engaged the enemy, and was then in full re=
treat, having been smartly worsted. Stuart
has with him four Regiments of infantry,
four pieces of artillery, and one hundred
cavalry. We hear to day from a dispatch from
Genl Stuart himself that he has about 1200
men, and that he lost 27 killed, that the enemy
acknowledged his force to be 3.000, (supposed however
to have been not less than 5,000) and that he
killed fifty one of them, the 11th Va. Regt (Garland)
was with Stuart, but I have not been able to find
out, although I have made diligent enquiry, whether
any of them were killed, Latham’s battery was
with them, and I understand, suffered considera=
bly, lost nearly all his horses and had one of his
guns badly damaged, and one of his caissons ex=
ploded, this is the latest intelligence we have, and
I fear it is even worse than this, as it is getting
late I will finish my letter tomorrow

[letter of Edwin R. Page to be continued on Sunday the 22nd]

Dear Miss Fanny [Dickins]

I most grateful
ly acknowledge the receipt of
your charming note in reply
to the letter which I ventured
to write you. For some days
I have meditated writing you
in pursuance of your most
kind permission, but felt I
could not do justice to the
occasion. I am sadly changed
since you saw me last, ah
me–become dull and moody–
have lost the sparkling vi-
vacity for which you thought
me distinguished, “for an old
man,” and ever fear I shall

[page 2]
soon become “a melancholy
Jacques” or get jaundiced if
some remedy is not soon
applied. Here, there is no
trace of civilization–nothing
refining–I have seen but
two bonnets in a month
and they concealed plain
features and unfamiliar
faces. Your charming re-
mittance brought time
by relief, but alas, reminded
me too sadly of the distance
which separates us. You
will naturally wonder
that I do not substitute
something for the freezing[?]
tankard of “blessed memory.”
Alas, i have tried that, my

[page 3]
Fanny, but find that with-
out the purer inspiration of
the presence of the fair
“Maid of Accotink,” there is
but madness and folly in “the
flaming bowl” instead of wit
and humor and generous af
fections, and now, I no longer
resort to that. You know I prom-
ised you a poem. “The Maid
of Accotink”–I have lost my
muse. With your assistance,
she may yet return and my
promise be fulfilled–my
gloom removed and the sun
beam once more shine through
the lattice of my heart. Write
me a sweet letter as
soon as you receive this and enclose

[page 4]
a few extracts from your
journal, which chronicle
my visits to your dear old
home. I am a man of ho
nor–a soldier and a gentle-
man and pledge my faith
that no eye but mine shall
rest upon a line and none
shall know traces ever sent.
Send me this to relieve my
dull Xmas and my heart shall
our forth its gratitude n
flowing verse. Business will
call me to Carolina about
the first of January; how I
would love to see you on the
way! I sent your letter to
Frank but have not seen
him. I hear nothing more from
the Hall. My hands are chilled
by writing in the cold air
in front of my tent, though a
fire is near–but my heart
is as warm as ever towards you
and yours. If in your exile you
need a friend remember me.
Warmest regards to Miss H.
Most sincerely yours

J.B. Kershaw

General Joseph Brevard Kershaw, 1822-1894

MSS 5533-d

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

Take a look at the Hospi-
tal and other principal
buildings in town.

MSS 5526

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

I had to stand guard
1 houre last night I
went from the house
I got my dinner to
the house where the rest
of the boys to take them
some coffee & sugar
for they had none
I slept in a bead
the first one I have
slept in since I
left home pretty near
5 months it went
first rate we started
out this morning
to correll some hourses
we have got lots of
them we are on mud
creeke we seperated this
morning part went up the
creeke part went
up those that went
up heard that there
was a lot of cavelry
coming down this
way so they come
back and some that
was on horse back came
back and told us
we are now waiting
for the enemy at the
end ofr a lane we
weighted untill toward
evening but they did
not com so we
went a rabit hunt
ing but did not
catch any but
we saw a lot of them
they run faster than Ohio

MSS 13405

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

Gen Burnside was here and reviewed
the division. I went on guard.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private of the 23rd Ohio]

Played and practiced
as usual. Drilled
some this evening
Alex & I made a stand
this forenoon
mostly cloudy cool

MSS 10317

My Dear Father your letter of the 23d is received as you think
my last letter was rather long I thought I would make this A short
letter for that purpose I have taken A small sheet of paper the first
question you ask is are we in comfortable quarters yes, we are, we
moved into Barracks Tuesday we are all in with the exception
of the Officers & four companies,& they will be in less than A week
who is the writer that makes so much fuss about the Soldiers on
Federal [Hill] suffering so much from the cold, as I wrote you in my last
we have as much wood as we want to burn there are some that would
grumble if they had roast turkey every day, those that grumble are
the ones that always play sick when there is any duty to do, I cannot
stand the cold better than anyone else, I have not suffered any yet
now it is true had A few cold nights & there has been but two of us in
A tent while the other tent had from three to five in them you
would not think the men suffered any if you could see them get
up in the morning & go to the Hydrant & strip to the waist, that is
done every morning the whole story is the Colonel of our Regiment is A
hard working man & whatever he can do for the comfort of the men
he will do he has worked himself sick several times while we were
at work on the Fort he was not absent halfe an hour in the day
he was all over the work first with A shovel next with A pick
then again with A Baltimore Hack, that is the name we give it
some folks call it A wheelbarrow if the men behave themselves they
have no better man in the Regiment if the men do not behave themselves
they can find no harder one to deal with, The men that do not
behave themselves & get punished are those that make complaint
to give you some Idea what kind of A man we have for A Colonel
I will relate A little incident that happened one evening on dress
Parade, every evening on dress parade it is the rule to read off the
Order such as trial of court martial Regimental order Y the evening
I speak of it was rather cold & the men having no gloves their hands
were verry cold when the Adjutant took the book for the purpose of
reading the order the col stoped, this may seem A small matter but to us
it was A big thing. the one that told the story about Genl Lockwood left out
the best part of it he said he could find out the man so he went along the
line & picked out A man that was sick & had not been out of camp since the
Regt had been at Easville the man happened to have some feathers on his blanket
it was then that the men began to gobble, Gen Lockwood was verry much disliked
by the whole Brigade as for taking turkeys & chickens when we were hungry we
did what was right we were in an enemys country & every man countanenced
the Rebellion we were hungry & provisions here gave out we wanted something
we wanted something to eat we got it that was all, we took no property nor
destroyed any no one was injured, as for Gen Lockwood perhaps he is not
the most Loyal Gen in the Army, now about Suttlers it is true they charge
tremendous prices for their goods but many of the suttlers may be situated like the
suttler of our Regt untill this month he had no commission from the government
has been doing business here the men knew that he was not an authorized
suttler & of course he could not oblige the men to pay him of course he must
charge enough to make up for those that did not pay him & I have no doubt
that A great many others have lost large sums of money, but now the suttler
of the Regt is appointed by the Government & is oblidged to charge no more
than A fair profit if he charges more than he ought the men are protected
by law in regard to suttlers, it is no use Suttlers cannot be dispensed with
‘they do not make any more than the Quartermasters if you was A soldier
used tobacco writing papers, pens, & blacking you must have them & if
you are verry far from any City or Village & want these articles the suttler
is indispensible in regard to setting price the suttler of this Regiment does not
keep any the men do not buy of the suttler if they can help it there are A
number of poor Women that bring pies, cake, apples &c to the Camp & the
soldiers buy of them I can keep away from the suttler unless I want their
things & must have them this is all I have to say about them. I saw A letter
in the transcript from A member of the 8th Maine dated at Port Royal, the
writer of the letter I think shows A lack of good sense when he writes as he
does about the 10th Maine suppose they did not have A battle suppose they
did nothing but to guard their Corps as the writer says what of that did
they not do what they were ordered to do the 10th of Maine is as good A
Regiment as any in the service & if they are ordered into Battle will be as
ready & willing as any other I am sorry that one from the same state should
write in such A manner I am personably acquainted with the Col, Major
& A large number of the Officers & I know they will not be behind any of
Regiments in Battle I notice what you say about Cols Dow & shepley with
the exception of their want of A Military education they I think will
prove to be two as good Cols as Maine has sent to the war I am not surprised
at all that the folks in Portland should say what they did of things for
there are some if they are not fortunate enough to obtain them get
commissions themselves turn & abuse them that are fortunate enough
to obtain them as for myselfe I am satisfied I am on good terms with
every man in the company & can get as many favours from them as
an other one in the company there has been A large number of
commissions given to men in this company men are being promoted
every day there are four vacancies to be filled in company F caused by
two of the men obtaining commissions in other regiments & two Men
were promoted I have written Just what I think & just what I believe
& hope the letter will prove interesting I recd A letter from Joseph
yesterday he says he as signed the allotment bill by which you can
draw fifteen dollars every pay day from you Son Geo W Leavitt

MSS 66

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nf Virgnia]

Leave the regt. to day – go to
Staunton. Rest go on to
Winchester. Travel through
some nice country to day
arrive at Staun. about
sun down. Trav. 18 miles.

MSS 5526

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

last night there was thirty
of us left camp for a
scout there was five virginians
with us we traveled
till after or near two
oclock then we put up at
private houses and
slept untill morning
we got our breakfast
and started on we crost
over mountains and
through creekes untill
we came on to Mud creeke
we got there about
three oclock in the after
noone stopt to get our
dinner stayed all night
had a very good dinner
we was at three different
house against morning.

MSS 13405

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

The whole division was reviewed
by Gen. Foster, and the Maryland
Legislature. This afternoon had company
drill. Sent my check home in a letter.

MSS 11293