[from the diary of Charles Hay, on furlough from the 23rd Ohio]

                     At Home, January 7th, 1862.
     Got home about 2 P.M., having left
Columbus at 3 ½ A.M. and coming via. Crestline,
got off at Clinton Station, and then came home
on a sleigh, 6 miles from the station.  I found
every-body “all right,” but little expecting me home,
as they had not been apprised of my coming.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 13925

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian clerk in the Quartermaster Dept, Staunton, Va.]

It is reported to-day that Gen. Loring has possession
of Romney, the Federalists having fled before him,
and that Gen. Jackson has gone on to Bath,
in Morgan county. There is a rumor also of a
fight near the latter place, in which our arms
were successful. There has undoubtedly been
some skirmishing in that quarter, but we have
no authentic or detailed account of it. My old
friend James D. Armstrong, of Romney, who
came up with me to Supper, discredits the report
as to Loring’s whereabouts. He gives a sad ac-
count of the depredations and oppressions prac-
ticed by the Yankees in Hampton county, but
says the outrages are having a good effect upon
the people, in ridding them people of all remains
of sympathy for the Yankee government. A
letter from Lewisburg says the people of that
region are in arms against the invaders, and
intend to resist them to the last. The militia came
out, waiting for the arrival of the 22nd Regiment,
when they contemplated a movement against the
Federal troops in an adjoining county. The South-
ern rights men of Braxton Co. have rallied &
burnt Sutton, the county seat, where the Fed-
eralists had located themselves. – After
Armstrong left to-night, Arch Alexander
came up, and is spending the night here. He
is on his way to Richmond. I saw a beauty-
ful pair of gloves to-day knit from the wool
of rabbits! They were as smooth as fine lamb’s
wool, and undied [sic]– a dove, or lead, color.

MSS 38-258

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond of the Albemarle Border Guards

Heard a fight took place
at Hanging Rock 150 miles
from here, principally
between our malitia and
about 4,000 Yankees.
Malitia did not stand
wrote to E. A. Hammond.

5526

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

The Conn. 10th came aboard last
night about six Hundred of them
They got on about eleven o’clock, I went
to bed once and then got up again.
The Adjutant of the Conn 10th whose name
was Coit occupied the room with me.
We lay alongside the wharf last night
They loaded the baggage this forenoon
and sailed down and anchored again
a little way below the city. They say
there is a British Man of War anchored
right outside of the harbor, I dont know
for what purpose. I have been looking
round and sitting and standing round
the greater part of the day. We are ex-
pecting to start to morrow for Fort Monroe
May the Lord watch over us and give
us success and give our leaders Wisdom
and may they depend entirely on Thee
O Lord of hosts

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]
I slept pretty nigh
all day it snowed
sum last night
but not mutch
there was another
Co went out to day
on a scout they
will be gon a fiew
days I expect I hope
they will have as
good a time as
the other boys
it is very cold
today but they had
battalion drill
for all that
Co. H is at beachfork
to stay there for a
while at Gilkensons
mill

MSS 13405

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

went on board the
Ohio No 3 at 6 Oclock
this morning
very fine boat. Fare
three dollars to Cinn
several soldiers on board
saw the house of the
rebel Jenkins
considerable gambling
on board during the
evening
cloudy cold

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Sgt. Z. Lee Gilmer, Co. B, 19th Virginia (Albemarle Rifles)]

Wm Shepher[d], Daniel
Shepherd, Palmer
Hamner & I were enjoy
ing some oisters at
Jackens eating house
Tattoo soon beat conse
quently we missd roll
call & was put on extra
duty.

MSS 4459

Up at 6–Sue called for me & I went
with her to the cars, and got her, their [or three] children
and two servants fairly started with a large
lot of baggage. Letter from Mr Robertson–want
wishing me to make inquiries of sundry articles
of freight which were sent from Abing[d]on to Charlo
-found they left here 22 ult.–about 1/2 past
10 the carrier of the Telegraph office brought
me a telegram directed to Sue saying that she
must not start that Charles was coming tomorrow.
It was dated yesterday and was recd last evening
and from neglect most culpable was not de-
livered. I was a good deal incontent and threat
-ened to hold the office responsible for the expenses
incurred in the trip. I telegraphed to charlottes
ville but the train had passed thru to Gordons
ville & Culpeper CH. It turned out that Charles
expecting, or providing against a failure had
telegraphed John Minor to arrest Sue at Charlottes
ville–In the evening went to the cars-They did
not arrive having agreed to spend the night in
Charlottesville or University. Fleming Saunders
came in very busy all day–and much harrassed.

William M. Blackford, 1804-1864, served as United States chargé d’affaires in Bogota, New Granada (now Columbia); afterwards an editor of the Lynchburg Virginian, postmaster and cashier for the Exchange Bank of Lynchburg. All five of his sons were in the Confederate Army.

MSS 4763

Dear General [John Hartwell Cocke]

Though you will
have had recent tidings of us,
through the Doctor & sister Lucy, who
went down to Belmead on Satur
day, I have determined to hold
further intercourse with you on
paper, inasmuch as you will proba
=bly be comparatively alone after they
leave you. I think it was their in
=tention to go on to Richmond tomor
=row or next day, unless the Doctor
succeeded in having his furlough ex
=tended I need not
tell you how much Sally and
I have thought of you, and of
the stricken household at Belmead
since our return home. Be assured
that our prayers continually ascend

[page 2]
to the throne of grace, that as in the
years that have passed, strength has
been vouchsafed you from on high
in the times of adversity, so now the
same gracious God would comfort
and sustain you in this trying hour.
And may He also so overrule this
dark dispensation that all those
who are now bowed down under
His chastening rod, may be led to
acknowledge at the last that it
was “good that they were afflicted.”
On the day of our arrival at home
we received a letter from Philip announ
=cing the birth of Miss “Betty Blossom Cabell,”
& that mother & daughter were doing
well. The day after this event poor cousin
Polly died, (29th Sunday) and was to be
buried at Edgewood. No particulars
were communicated, but we hope to
hear something more tomorrow, & if
we do I shall write to you again in
a few days, unless in the meantime

[page 3]
you return home. We cannot help
hoping that you soon return
to us, & make our house your
headquarters at least during the pe
=riod of Lucy’s absence in King Wm.
Sally has asked for some space
to add a postscript, I will therefore
close by sending my our love to one &
all with you, not forgetting our friend
Miss Nancy. Should you see Mr. Tyree
again, remember me kindly to him
also.– Your messages to Mr.
Hughes have been delivered and every
=thing is going on very satisfactorily-if
you will write me word the extend
of the sheds you propose to cover I will
have the necessary amount of bark
edge plank sent up.–

Yours as ever,
Arthur Lee Brent

[page 4]
I cannot let this go without a line
to you my beloved Father, even to say, what
has already been said, how constantly
we are thinking of you & those around
you; & how unceasingly our feeble
prayers are offered for you & all
in that stricken household;
We shall now be hoping soon to see
you here; & you must tell little Charley
I shall hold him to his promise to
come home with you; as he told
me he intended to do. I think Lucy
will soon be coming back & I cannot
but hope that Brother Charles may
soon be induced to believe it is now
his duty to resign, his health evidently
requiring it as well as for many other
reasons.–I am not without hope you
will go with him as far as Richmond, &
from thence home. Love to all, & say
to cousin Nancy, I shall hope to hear from
her in a few days, & believe me
your devoted Daughter
S.F. Brent

Letter concerning the suicide of General John Hartwell Cocke’s son General Philip St. George Cocke written by the latter’s brother-in-law and sister Arthur Lee Brent and Sally Faulcon Cocke Brent, with references to the late General’s younger brother Charles Cary Cocke of the Fluvanna Light Artillery and his wife Lucy Oliver Cocke, and also to General Philip St. George Cocke’s nephew Philip Barraud Cabell.
MSS 640

[from the diary of Charles Hay of Co. H, 23rd Ohio]

                                                                       
                     Columbus, O.  January 6th., 1862.
     Arrived at the “Capital City,” this morning at
3 ½ O’clock, having left Cincinnati last night
at 10 O’clock.  The snow is some 3 or 4 inches
deep, and many are availing themselves of the
opportunity offered to take a sleigh ride, and
all day the streets have been full of sleighs of
various styles, and going at various gaits.  The
State Legislature met at 10 A.M., and quite a
bustle was going on among the “big boys” about
the Capital.  I did not go in either Hall, not
feeling enough interested.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925