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

Played and practiced as
usual. Drilled some
on manual fomrs
very pleasant day clear

MSS 10317

Cousin Carrie

The other day
I received a letter from you and [page torn; word may be “mother”]
and she requested me to wrigh you
Consequently will improve the opportunity

I was on guard last
night consequently do not feel very
much like wrighting so everthee so will
ling so here goes!

Our Present
location is situated on the lower
Potomac some fifty miles below Wash
ington when first ordered on here
we were first Regt on hand
it being a four days march here,
we came on expecting to return in
a week of so but as the Rebels had
put in operation several batteries
and had several thousand men here
though they might attempt to cross

[page 2]
at one of our Camps a man by the name
of “Posey” gave information to the rebels
of our Position and they thinking they
could “shell” us out came to this
side with the rebel Steamer “George
Page” which immediately began throw-
ing shells, however our Col. found
out what they were going at and im-
mediately drew us up at in line
when we loaded our pieces
and commenced a retreat to a
more secure position he[re?] we qui
=etly waited and saw them throw
several shells in the direction
of our Camp one striking near
heard them give three cheers and
could hardly keep from firing
on them but we were so situa-
ted that we could do nothing and
so let them keep at it hurting noth-
ing and wasting there powder.
That night we marched in
the mud and darkeness till af-

[page 3]
ter nine haulted for the night
by the side of a rail fence most
of the boys laying down beside
it, but low in the morning
no fence was to be seen, all
burnt up-After breakfast
of hard-Thack and Coffee marched
one mile where we camped for
the day, most of us needing rest
But we have
been largely re=enforced now
having over 2000 men here and
ninety piecies of artilery, and
every day more or less leden
pills are sent over the River
for our Secession naibor’s to di-
gest and every hour in the day
we here the Bull dogs barking
and can see their spitfire–
The other day one of our boats
fired into one of there Batteries
throwing two shells in there Camp
after which they went over and

[page 4]
fired two of there buildings
containing at the time Sutlers stores
mostly–every night as our boats run
there blockade they belch forth at them
generaly doing no damage but making
a good deal of noise, we can see
the flash at any such time and all
the smoak as it curls up in grand
colums and can here the balls whistle
as plane as if they were aroned us, some
of them strik within half a mile one
sixty four pound shell struck near
and burst shaking our very tents
But one needs to
here and see to know the horrour of
war we have been in one little skirmish
one six of the Regt getting wounded
how soon we may be called into act-
=ion I know not probably soon as we
are making preparation to cross the river is
evident-and we have been furnished
with a new Rifle a fine gun shooting good
five hundred yards But I must draw
my letter to a close hoping you will ex
cuse past offences and trusting you
will answer soon, while I am now
wrighting there is a constant discharge of
cannon in the direction of Alexandria
do not know what it is–
Bulls Run is twelve miles from
here so you see how near the scene
of action we are–good Bye
from Henry P.[?] Ford

MSS 9722

Dear parents
I have bought this paper this morning and I thought I write a line and send it home.

As we were out on brigade drill yesterday an accident happened worthy of note There was two brigades on the field while we were maneauvering in our brigade the other brigade was practicing on fireing blank cartridges by some mistake there was ball cartridges put in and they were fired directly twords our brigade and the balls came whistling over our heads and made some of the men dodge and one all hit one man in our Regt. on the shoulder it went through his overcoat but did no other damage he soon found the ball and has got it now. The officers soon put a stop to this kind of fun.

It is very pleasant here at present we have not had any snow here yet and I guess we shall not have much this winter.

I should like to hear how Washington gets along with the mill this winter and all other news.

There has been a great stir here about the war with England but we do not fear it in the least if our government will remain firm and I have not doubt it will

We are all well except Estes Small and Duran he was not very well to day he was out but did not drill

Yours in haste

H. M. Cash

Hiram Cash, Private Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916

[By internal evidence this letter could not have been written earlier than the 19th.

Dear Willie
I have only a few
moments in which to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter containing the
Genl’s, and to give you a slight idea
of Richmond, the Clifton and the
Beaux We left the Hill Monday
morning attended by Major Banks
and Mr Old a very nice fellow by the
by and an Q M, these two gentlemen
entertained us until we got to Gordons
-ville where we changed cards and
met on the platform Willie Robinson
& Harry Sullivan, we had a short
confab with them and then proceeded
on our way rejoicing & reached R.
at about six oclock in the evening
Arrived at the door of the Clifton
we were amazed at the gloomy pros-
pect of that renowned house, and
were not at all cheered when we
were ushered into our apartment, you
will not be surprised when I tell
you that four walls, four bedposts, a
bare floor and a dense cloud of the
most horribly smelling coal-smoke
was all that greeted our astonished
eyes–Mr Goss although he had promised
Aunt Mary faithfully to have our
room ready, was not at all

[page 2]
prepared for our advent, and we
were thankful to get a bed to sleep
on–Since that time our room has
received the additional elegancies
of a small remnant of carpet in the
middle of the floor, a pitcher &
basin in the our window-sill (a very in-
convenient place by the by as the room
is on the ground floor and there are
no curtains) a small glass three
by four inches in size on the other
window-sill, and a rocking chair of
the kind that endangers one’s nose if
they you are not particularly well balanced,
we are promised a bureau, and a
gas-jet, and these will complete
the elegant appointments of our
luxurious chamber–a good many
people called that night but we
did not sit up late as we were
very much fatigued by our day’s
travel. On Sunday morning directly
after breakfast, which allow me to
say, par parenthèse was a very
good one for the living is excellent,
we entered the parlor a most
charming room at all times, but
especially now that it is divested
of all furniture save a piano
which I am sure was the one
taken out of the Ark, and
remained in it all the morning
receiving scores of visitors, ladies
and gentlemen –among them
several Maryland men.

[page 3]
After dinner we took a short
stroll and bought some [?]
to wear to the concert to be given
that night for the benefit of
The Richmond Volunteers. we got
home in time to dress and then
started for the concert having
as escort eleven gentlemen
we each (Con, Het and myself)
took two arms, and the rest
knocked around generally. We
got in very late and the gentlemen
got us very conspicuous seats in
the gallery, you may imagine
we created a sensation, it
being our first appearance in
Richmond, and having such
a number of gentlemen making
such a brilliant entree, by the
time we were seated every lorgnette
in the house was levelled at us–
They say that we struck terror into
the hearts of the belles of Richmond.
Wednesday morning was spent
receiving visitors, I can give you
no idea of the number, they
came in shoals until eleven at
night–
Thursday was passed in
the same way, except that at night
we went to the concert given for the
Md.V. we had a crowd of gentlemen
with us as usual and came home
to a little supper which Major
Banks gave to the Cary Invincibles,
and sent round from a restaurant

[page 4]
it was a very elegant affair and
was honored by the presence of
the celebrated Genl McCullough
and his staff officers, also a
great many other grandees–Today
we intended going out shopping
but were obliged to stay in to receive
Mrs Genl Johnston who sent up
word that she was coming, she is
a very charming woman and paid
us quite a long visit, of course we
have had our usual levee-dont
be surprised at this letter it has
been written in little scraps of
time–What do you think of Ma’s
last letter? Het has written to
request permission to stay and
spend the winter–I don’t know
what I shall do, at any rate I shall
wait for Ma to write again before
I decide. I dont like to leave Het
here by herself-and I dont want
to separate myself so entirely from
you boys–Tonight we are invited
to spend a sociable evening at
Cousin Caryanne’s I expect it will
be rather stupid, but it will at least
be a comfort to be in a decent house
again. Mr Banks told us that he
would see about and arrange our
writing business today, and I suppose
we will fairly begin on it the first
of next week–Excuse this letter
but Albert & Dr. Carew are sitting
by me making so much fuss

[page 5]
that I really dont know what I
am saying. You did not tell me
what you thought of my letter
to Beauregard or his to me.
Imagine me on the top of
the Washington Monument–What
do you think of the news from
England? Is it not glorious?
People here think that peace will
soon be declared–Mrs. Genl Johnston
received in a trunk which was sent
her from Baltimore a small
bundle for Sister Hettie containing
her Zouave jacket, and the small
package and note for you, which
I send you by Mr Banks–You
will have to write a short note
of thanks to Alice and send it
in your next letter to Ma–it
would gratify her so much-
Jim Clarke, John Hull, George
Thomas and a host of other
Marylanders are here and we
see them constantly–Write to

[page 6]
us soon and tell me every
thing that you said and every
thing that Genl B. said when
you presented my flag–Mrs
Barbour intends calling on us
so Mr Banks says very soon–
I am so glad you have recovered
your carpet bag–I cant write
any more for the parlor is
full and I must give this
to Mr Banks to night–
Good bye, best love to
Johnnie-
Your devoted sister
Jennie Cary

Jennie Cary, her sister Hettie Cary and their cousin Constance Cary were known as the Cary Invincibles. They did sew the first Confederate battleflags as related above and in previous letters which they presented to Confederate Generals Johnston, Beauregard and Van Dorn. Hettie eventually married Confederate general John Pegram.
MSS 1415

Camp __ ____
Dec 19” 1861.
My darling wife
We all arrived on the ground
designated as our Winter Qurs to
day in good condition unless it
is myself. I am complaining from
diarhea [sic] & cold. We were all in
find glee preparing to build huts
&c when an order came Requiring
5 of the companies to go on picket to-
morrow. Col G after being Relieved from
all picket duty & almost every other
list has the littleness to send me
in command of the cos & himself Re-
mains in camp. I will Remember him
for it, certain & shur [sic] I have
not time to write you a letter or
even to tell you any of my Reflec-
tions just now. I will not be able
to write to you for the three days
& must in the mean time say
To my darling Jennie adou [sic]
Most affectionately
E.T.H. Warren

“Qurs”, line 2 – ‘Quarters’

“Col G”, line 9 – ‘Colonel Simeon B. Gibbons, commander, 10th VA Infantry’

[transcription and annotation by John P. Mann IV]
MSS 7786-g

Camp near Centreville
Dec 18” 1861.
My own darling Jennie
I have just Received both
your letters dating from the 14” up to the
morning of the 17”. I am sorry you labor
under so many disadvantages in geting [sic]
your mail and hope you will be able
to make some permanent arrangement
by which you will be out of dificulty [sic]. You
complain that I do not tell you any thing
of my plans & prospects. My darling if I had
anything Reliable to tell I would cer-
tainly tell you, but I have been so often
disappointed and have so often disappointed
you that I am actually afraid to write
anything. We now have orders to move to
morrow our camp will be as I told you
about 2 or 2 ½ miles below the Junction
we will make a very early start and have
our tents up before dark and be Ready
to go to work at our cabins the next day
this move does not look much like we
expect a fight here in a short time
or before Xmas. The truth is so far as
I have been able to learn no one expects
any fight here until next spring. I dont
that is certain. I can make you no [sic]
certain promises about going to see you
but am strongly in hopes that I may
make some arrangement whereby I can
get off if it is only for one day & night.
I will make the effort for a longer time
but will take the shortest possible that will do

[page 2]
I would like to come & Reclaim the bride
I sought & Received on the 5” of December 55
when full of pride & bouyant [sic] with happiness
I met you as Jennie Magruder in the parlor
of Frescatti. That I might meet you alone I left
the carrage [sic] & crossing the dam on the foot
crossing met you in as I desired Dont you
Remember how I put my arms around your
neck & kissed you again & again. I Re-
member as well as if it was on yesterday
how sweetly beautiful you looked and how
blushingly yet gently & confidingly you Re-
ceived the impassioned attentions of your
lover. You did not seem to be an the bride
at all – there was none of that false modesty
which Required you to not to appear before
strangers & none of that abominable deceit
which holds the lover at a distance. but plainly
dressed and unassuming and beautiful
as an angle [sic] in your sweet virgin purity
you appeared before the world with an easy
unaffected manner and when we were
alone Jennie was most happy & most beau-
tiful when with full confidence & devoted love
she placed her pretty little hand in his & heard
her lovers & heard his oft Repeated story of
love. If at such moments a kiss was stolen
from your pretty lips who could condemn me
Then followed the weding [sic] night. We met in
the hall up stairs Oh how beautiful you were
in your flowing dress – which in its pure white
emulated the purity of the wearer – in your orange
blossoms & veil. You have often told me
how nervous you were while dressing in
the presence of your friends & old playmates – how the
least allusion to the occasion excited you

[remainder of letter currently missing]

“Junction”, line 16 – ‘Manassas Junction’

[transcription and annotations by John P. Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g

[map of Centreville by Sgt. James L. Daniel, Co. B, 19th Virginia]

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

March from cross roads to
Pernassas Gap. Travel 13
miles through quite a hil-
ly country – pass by the Augus-
ta Springs – quite a beautiful
place.

MSS 5526

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

Played as usual did not
practice any. Helped to haul
load of wood. Walked out in serch[?]
of cave visited house on the hill
received some drey oats today
received letter from Father
clear very fine Am now going to help
the cook [?]

MSS 10317

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

No news to day partickular
Drilled this fore noone
had some of a time
had Batalion drille in
the after noone the Colonel
has gone to cincinnatti
for a spell he will not
give the privates any
a furlough the boys
do not like it mutch
for they like to go home
and will go if they have
to make a stampede
for cinicnnatti
the pay master
has not come a round
yet to pay us off
but will be a long
soone I hope if not
sooner

MSS 13405