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

                                                                             
                                       Holmesville, O., January 29th, 1862.
Left home this evening, and shall take the cars in
the morning at this place for Western Virginia, via.
Orrville, Alliance, & Wellsville.  Attended the Disciple
church during the evening.  It is difficult for us
to determine when I shall again have the pleasure
of communings and associating with friends, and
enjoying the comforts and pleasures which home &
the association of friends will bring.  But I shall
not repine at my lot, however hard it may be; for
I know it is not the worst that has been
endured.  “There is no place like home,” I know,
but I am willing to forsake home & friends when
our country is endangered by foe without or within,
if, by so doing, I can assist her in her peril,
and to establish her on that firm basis “The
Constitution as our Fathers made it.”  What they fought
for and labored to establish, their children should with
the same courage, ardor and unanimity try to protect.
Our Country is the best the world has ever seen, and
Our Constitution has been denominated “a grand chart of
human freedom;”  for these our fathers “fought, bled & died,”
and have left them an inheritance to us to

preserve, protect, and improve, and we shall strive
zealously with “might and main” to defend them from
foes without or traitors within, so that, when through
the “fiery ordeal,” they may be brighter than before.
     Should we fail, should we allow our country to fall,
and be swallowed up in the vortex of disunion and
treason, it will be a burlesque on a Republican
form of Government, and an everlasting shame to the
American people. ~~  I’m off for Western Virginia
tomorrow morning, if I have no ill luck, but I must
say, that, during my short stay amongst my friends,
and acquaintances, that I have enjoyed myself hugely,
and for the kindness and friendly feeling manifested
by my friends, I am under everlasting obligations, and
the “good times” I have had will be classed with
my pleasant remembrance, and the thought of these
will tend to make my task easy, and my burden light.
For the cordiality and unvarying kindness of the
people at large, they have the sincere & heartfelt
thanks of     Your unworthy Servant,
                                         Chas. Hay

                                                                           
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

Winchester, Jan 29th  62
Dear Alfred,
                   I have with
great interest rad in the
Dispatch  and other papers-
both religious and secular-
of the recent efforts of the
S.S. & Colportage Board in
supporting colporters among
the soldiers of our army;
And as I have read of the
results of their labors–how
sinners have been awakened
and souls converted to
Christ I have longed to
have in our division of
the army some of at

[page 2]
at least one earnest, faithful
man, to look up and en=
courage profess[i]ons of re=
ligion, and to excite an in=
terest among that fast ma=
jority, who are “without
God in the world.”
Although I know that the
fifty colporters, who I see
by your late circular are
in your employ, are all
judicially distributed thro
the various divisions of
the army, still, I wish
to call your attention to
the division commanded
by Maj. Gen. Jackson, wh
has no colporter, very few

[page 3]
chaplains, and invites affords
an inviting field for mis=
sionary laabor.  In this
division are,
a1st the “Stone wall Brigade”, a
body of some 5000 men– the
flower of Va. troops. They were
in the hottest of the Battle of
Manassas Plains.  In a denom
inational point of view, we
should be represented among
them, as they are from that
strong-hold of Hero-ism–the Valley
of Va.
2nd Col. Anderson’s Brigade–3
Tennessee Regiments–fully 3000
men.
3d Col. Talliaferro’s Brigade 2 Va
1 Ga & 1 Arkansas Regts–the
hero’s of Laurel Hill, say 2000 men.
4th Our Brigade–4 Va Regts

[page 4]
about 3000 men.
5th Dol. Ashby’s Cavalry, of
which we’ve all heard so
much.  500 or 600 men.
6th Six or eight companies
of artillery–1000 men.
Now here is an army of
over fifteen thousand
men, with not more
than three or four among
them, to point out the way
of life.  these soldiers
have just been ordered
to go into  winter quarters
and an efficient col=
porter could do a vast
amount of good among
them.  the sick, as we
know, are very capable

[page 5]
of receiving religious im=
pressions, and if in no other
portion of the army, there
should be a colporter at
the hospitals. Winchester is
now full of sick soldiers.
Every church, public building
and private house is a hos=
pital, and sick soldiers oc=
cupy every house between
here and Romney.  Who can
tell the good wh might
be accomplished among them.
You must excuse the
liberty I take in wri-

[page 6]
ting to you so freely on the
subject. Were it anyone
else, i would not be so offi=
cious. Still, I know that at
least the subjects of my
letter is one of interest to you.
If you can find time to write
I wd like much to hear from
you.  Write me Luther’s adress,
& write to him to write to me.
I expect to leave in a few
days for Romney. direct
to me at Winchester.
Believe me to be as efver
Yr. Friend & Bro: in X
       C.E.T.

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, later a Baptist minister, college professor and President of Wake Forest college.


MSS 3091

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts, currently assigned to the Commissary Dept., on the steamer “Admiral”]

January 29
Woke up this morning about four
having lain on the table last
night. We started about four to get over the
bar and succeeded in doing so but
ran on a sand bank afterwards, where
we now remain. The Spaulding went over
to-day. I staid in the pilot house seeing
them try to get the puzzle I gave them
but they could not do it even after I had
done it two or three times. It has been
a splendid day. The gunboats have been
practising firing this afternoon. I have had
a very good day.

MSS 11293

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

Was at home to day
Father went to Ashland
went with him Telegram for
Bates. Aff Chichester and
Sister Hetty also Jeny Langar
at our house to day. had
turky for dinner.
Jennie staying all night
Campbells did not
come as per agreement
rained most of the day
some snow, snow went
of last night

MSS 10317

Winchester Jany 29-62
My Darling Wife –
I am happy to say that
I suffered no pain last night and
feel this morning as if I should be
well in a day or so. Yesterday even
ing the frequent operations on my
bowels made me uncomfortable
but this I am satisfied was the
effect of the medicine which
I have been taking. I have
no fear now of a recurrence of
the chill, and see no cause to
apprehend a confinement of
more than two days longer –
I will not write again until
Sunday unless I get worse
Good bye Dearest
Ever Yours
E F Paxton

Elisha F. “Bull” Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus, commanded the 27th Virginia Infantry and later the 1st “Stonewall” Brigade at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

[The above letter is not included in Civil War Letters of Frank “Bull” Paxton.]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158

Centreville Jan. 29th 1862.
My Dear Father,
Your letter
enclosing the recently is-
sued order of the War
Department in relation
to reenlistments was receiv-
ed this evening, and I
find, as anticipated no-
thing in the circular
at all contrary to the
plan by which I propose
to raise a company. I
am therefore still if pressed
by influential friends
the Company offered
in my yesterday’s letter to
you, will yet be accep-
ted to serve in the Ca-

[page 2]
pacity desired. The account
of the recent interview
between Assistant Secretary
[Albert T.] Bledsoe & yourself encourages me
in the belief. If the
Militia are to be ordered
out and officers authorized
to raise Companies of
Artillery from that class
of soldiers, why should
not they be commissioned
to form them from troops
now in the field? It
appears to me but just
that Volunteers who have
undergone the hardships
of a years Campaign
should be at least invol-
ved to select their corps
(If possible) for future
service, and as the Artil-

(page 3)
lery is the most desirable
arm, they should have
preference in being as-
signed to it, rather than
the Militia who are constrain-
ed by force alone to
enter the field. Allow-
ing recruits to fill up
the choice places of
the army, to the exclu-
sion of Veterans whose
patriotism & Courage have
been tested is an unjust
discrimination which
I cannot believe will
be countenanced.
Should it however prove
impracticable for me
to muster the Company
which now have into ser-
vice, and it is decided

[page 4]
to bring out the Militia
force, I think it would be
well to apply for the
necessary detail to raise
a Light Artillery Company
at home, or that being
unadvisable to raise a
Company of Zouaves from
the Infantry arm in service.
My preference rather
inclines to the latter plan.
I see in yesterdays
Republican that Congress
has passed an act instruct-
ting the President to au-
thorize Officers to raise Com-
panies, and battalions, and
this is quite favorable
to my design.
You are accessi-
ble to the department

[page 5]
Department, and I doubt not
will be able to obtain re-
liable, and complete infor-
mation on the subject.
Tomorrow morning the
wing of the battalion in
which our Company is
goes on picket, and will
return on Monday mor-
ning next. At that time
I hope to find a letter
at Camp from you, awaiting me,
with full information
and advice. I hope howev-
er that you will not
permit yourself to be in-
convenience by in at-
tempting to learn the
present status of affairs
and will only do so
when at leisure.

[page 6]
The “Army of the Potomac”
is still “resting on its oars”
and like Mr. Micawber
only waiting for some thing
“to turn up”, at which
time it expects to do
something brilliant. The
troops do nothing now
but live, lay about camp
and go on picket, and
one day is but the counter-
part of another.
I continue to enjoy
fine health, and all of
your acquaintances in
this part of the Army I
believe are well.
Stuart Cabell speaks of
you frequently and is
himself as hearty as
Ever.

[page 7]
Abram remains at Leesburg
with his troop; and at
last accounts was well.
With much love
I remain
Most affectionately,
Your Son,

Jno. W.Daniel

John Warwick Daniel, 1842-1910, University of Virginia law school, noted orator, and U.S. Senator

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan and Sgt., Co. b, 1st Special Batallion (Rightor’s) Louisiana Infantry]

Wednesday – Jany 29/62
Spent this morning in
superintending the Company clean
up Company quarters & in
making benches & fixing up
the Den. None but Battalion
Drill today –
Mr Jas Ross arrived today
from New Orleans – Willie
returned with his but not
my furlough – he leaves for
N.O. tomorrow, I wrote to Mr
Memminger tonight by him to try
& get my furlough from the War
department – Sent him my
letter of introduction – Wrote to
[-] by Willie – Returned
at 11 o’c tonight – Willie & Fry got
tight tonight – bidding farewell to Huger – they
wake me up at 12 o’c to go & take Eggnog – I would
not leave my bed

[Huger=2nd Lt. William E. Huger, Co. B, 1st La. Bn.]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards, annotation by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

[the first part of this letter is missing]

On his way to Manassas after having taken leave of
all the officers he was followed by his old body guard
each man with his sabre drawn as a mark of respect. It
was a very imposing scene. His old guard give him up very
reluctantly. Our regiment the Bloody 17th as it is called
will be well represented with the Gen. in Kentucky. Four
from our company Capt. Smith and the Major of our regiment
(Brent) who has been ordered to his staff.

Our pickett was a very disagreeable one as it was
raining and sleeting nearly the entire time we were out.
The rain would freeze on our clothes as it fell.

If you will ride down to cousin Elizabeth Richardson’s
tomorrow evening you will see a copy of the re-enlisting
act passed by the Confederate Congress which Willie will
send up this evening. I suppose Walter will re-enlist in
Cavalry again. I want to gent in a company with him next
time. I reckon though horses are very scarce in Warren and
high in proportion to their scarcity. I wrote to Walter the
other day by Harry Cline, have you heard from him lately.
I spent my birthday the twenty-eighth on Picket. It will be
long remembered by me. did you employ much force this year.
It does not look exactly right for me to be giving you
advice as you are several years my senior but I have better
opportunities for judging down here. I think the best thing
you could do would be to go into the stock raising. Prin-
cipally horses of good work stock and sheep. Horses are
going to be in great demand in the Spring and will be
enormously high. The Government will need a great number
of horses in the opening of the Spring and they must have
them, because the next will be a spirited campaign. You can
find hundreds of dead horses lying just around Centerville
by the time this War is closed. No good hourses can be found
in the country. Let me know when you write what you think
about it. If I was not enlisted and owned the Gardner or
(Barber) farm, with things in the present state I am sure I
could do something for myself and family in this business
with your assistance.

How has cousin Mount been getting along. I must close,
love to all at our house. Write soon
Ever your affec. son
R.B.B.

P.S. I am very glad to hear Almond is getting better. Let
me know how he is when you write. Love to cousin Thomas and
the Bel Air family. Tell Jack I will send his bayonet soon.

Major George W. Brent

[Richard Bayly Buck, 1844-1888, was a member of the Warren Rifles, Co. B of the 17th Virginia. His letters were transcribed and typed by his son George G. Buck at an unknown date. Location of originals unknown]
MSS 3064

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

Tuesday night, Jan. 28, 1862.
Poor little Mary very ill. She breathes with
great difficulty, and I [ ‘should’ lined out] shall not be sur-
prised to hear of her death during the night. Va
is there again, although sitting up at night effects
her eyes very severely. No war news to-day.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 38-258

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan and a Sgt., Co. B, 1st Special Battalion (RIghtor’s) Louisiana Infantry

Tuesday – Jan’y 28/62
Spend this day in Camp –
Co & Battalion Drills – Wrote
a long letter to Mrs Roy tonight
& Enclosed Fathers letter rec’d
yesterday – Walked out from
Wmsburg this morning with
the mail, before breakfast.
Willie went to Yorktown
today to see abt our furloughs

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154