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

4
                     Steamer “Dunleith”, Ohio River.
                               January 4th, 1862.                          
Came this morning on the “Silver Lake” to Charleston,
and there took passage on the Dunleith at 10 A.M.
for Cincinnati.  Day raw and chilly, so that the
fire is more enticing than a view of the country
and scenery.  Feel somewhat better than yesterday.
Passed Gallipolis just after nightfall.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

Dear Father and mother
it is with pleasure that I seat
myself to drop you Few lines
to let you know that I am
well at present and hope
when theas few lines come to
hand they may find you
enjoying the same blessing I havae
nothing of importance to write to
you only I have left orange
Co Ho I was going to stay there
all winter but they got too hard o
one me they made me work like
a negro and I could not stand
it father I want you to have
me a pair of boots made and
I will send you the money
In a few days If you can send
me any honey or an other provis
ion send when It the first chance
I have my health better now
then i ever I did I am in the
mess with James & William harttan
we have fine times I Just come
of picket yester day It was
so cold that it froze frose
the buttons of my coat I have
Got Cordian that was Given
to me at orange By Adams
and I send it to Benton
By Jas. Murphy thell[sic] Benton
to have it fixed I want
you to write to me soon
in the other letter I sent
you a anvelopes

[page 2]
tell George I am tired
Reading his letter Giv Give my
love to all the friends I would
like to see you all fustrate
tell all the prety girls
to write to me It is snowing
here a little now

now I must Bring theas
few lines to a close so nothing
more at preasant give my
love to Joel Hamilton folks
Farewell Father & Mother

James B. Painter

Dear Brother it is with
pleasure to drop you a few lines
to let you know that I am well
at preasent and hope when
theas few come to hand they
may find enjoying the same
Blessing I have know mor news
to write to you I want you
to write soon I want your
to write to me what was done
wigy [?] my oxens
Nothing More But hope
to remain your Dear Brother
James B. Painter

Corporal Co. K, 28th Virginia (Roanoke Grays)

MSS 10661

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, Private, Ferguson’s Battalion, Virginia Cavalry (Guyandotte Battalion)]

Saturday night,
No news to-day from any quarter, of spe-
cial interest. I have read the correspondence
between the British and U. S. governments in
reference to the Mason & Slidell capture. –
Seward’s letter to Lord Lyons must appear to
the world contemptible excite the contempt of
the world. After accepting the Confederate
Commissioners at the hands of Capt. Lynch
and holding them as prisoners, applauding
his conduct and etc, etc, the Yankee Government
the now surrenders the Commissioners to Great
Britain, because, says Seward, it is right and
proper to do so! If the liberation of the surrender had been
made before the demand came across the waters,
the Washington Cabinet could have pretended to
be influenced by right principle; but as it
was made afterwards, it is apparent that the
demand, and not regard for reason and justice,
brought about the result.

MSS 38-285

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

Played as usual
no Dress parade
Wrote Furlough for
myself had it signed
by Colonel [Rutherford B.] Hays
Have not been very
well today

Cloudy cool

MSS 10317

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

I applied for a furloug
to day I do not know
whether I will get
it or not
it has commenced
to snow but it did
not snow very mutch
there was one
of the Co B Boys
died last night
he was sent home
to day there was
one of Co. I Boys
died this evening
both of the typhus
fever
it is very cold to
day it will be hard
on the pickets there
is a good many Rebels coming
in and giving up

MSS 13405

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

Went ashore this morning and
went up to camp. Found that
Charles Maynard was dead. Got my pay
up to the first of Jan. I ate dinner up
there and then came back down to the yard
where I got three letters and a paper
and a bundle of cake. Saw Frank Gill
and George Crane[?]. Bought a pair of
boots in the city. Came back to the
boat about three. Wrote a letter home
this evening in which I sent my picture
and fifteen dollars. Snowed a little to-day.

Franklin Gill, Private in Co. F
Charles H. Maynard, Private in Co. F.

MSS 11293

Dear Father I have just set down to tell you that I received your two
letters of the 26 & 29th & one from Mother which was enclosed in yours of
the 26th three days ago & should Not have answered them now if it had
not been for the kindness of one of the members of the Company [w]ho lent me
A stamp you said you thought that I had found them stamps enve
lopes which I have not, the stamp that I put on the other letter I got from
one of the members yesterday I received A Letter from Aunt Remick & she
wrote that she had receved a letter from Mother & that they was all well
at home I want to know whether Mother told Charly, Henry & Walter
to write to me if so I want to know tell Frank Crawford that I have not
forgot that letter he wrote & you can tell the reason why I have not it looks
more like winter to day than it has before since I have been here the ground
all covered with snow which fell last night, day before yesterday Colonel
Jackson arrived back from Maine where we thought he had been for
recruits tell Johney that he does not write much to me lately. I am well
& think whe will get paid off next Tuesday & then I can get some stamps
but if you are amind to you may send Four stamps if not more from your
Son Joseph Leavitt, give my love to Mother & all tell William that I should
think that he would write once in six months to me, I did not take much
pains to write this.

Letters from Joseph Leavitt and his brother George Leavitt were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865: “because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid.” Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864.

MSS 66

My Dear Sir [General John Hartwell Cocke]

I have been absent from
home for some days, & on my return
home last evening, your letter giving
me the sad intelligence of the Death
of your Dear Son & my true friend
was handed to me, I was prepared
to receive it better from your hand,
by a telegraphic dispatch which I
read last Saturday night–

He is gone, but I feel God is
merciful & that, he now rests
from War, cares & anxieties—
He wrote me a letter soon after the
manassas Battle, & in which he
wrote nothing but the hand of
Proficence could have preserved his
life, & his son’s 10 1/2 hours hard
fighting- & that he felt God was
on our side through the day
Can a man express himself
thus, who is not a Christian & who
at a time like that, must be honest
in all he writs, or says?–All

[page 2]
the letters I have recd from him
since the Spring were written as if
his trust was in God—
I must stop the subject. My Dear
Wife is very nervous & since reading
your letter took her bed–You
& the dear family have our warmest
sympathies. May the grace of God
be sufficient for you & the family
in this trying & deep affliction–
Our love to you, & the family
yr friend
R. D. Powell
Genl. John H Cocke

[page 3]

P.S. It is the beginning of a new
year, & it is important that you, or
whoever may be authorised to do so
to write me, to go a head in the
discharge of the duties of agency.
Settlements to be made of the current
affairs of the year past. I suppose
he left a will & appointed his excr
as he was out in the defense of his
Country—God knows what is
best for us, & let us cast all our
care upon him who careth for u
“In this world we have our tribulation
but be of good cheer” says Jesus
I have overcome the world “In me
ye shall [have] peace” Oh! Blessed Jesus
Give my Dear old friend peace–Give
peace to the Dear family &
save all at last in Heaven.

Farewell
R. D. Powell

whoever is the excr should
loose as little time as
possible till an inventory
of the Est. &c is taken
by him, & the people
know that all that is
done is according to law

MSS 640

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

Played and practiced
no Dress parade
Arthurs Smyth and Fox
on a spree last night
with Capt Howard
Had disturbance with
Smyth. Struck him this
morning for abusive
language
Lieut Hood came in the
evening
Hear that the 26 Regt
are ordered to Kentucky
Cloudy raining some this
afternoon

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]

Gen. Fosters aid was here to
dinner, and the Gen. himself and three of
his staff were here in the afternoon
looking at the boat. The reporter went
ashore this morning and has not got
back. I have been reading and sitting
by the fire most of the day.

MSS 11293