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

Played and practiced
as usual
no Dress parade
Trying to procure furlough
for the Band
Cloudy, pleasant

MSS 10317

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

A beautiful day warm and
spring like. Went on deck this
morning and enjoyed the air. Have
been reading Combes “Constitution of Man”
which I borrowed of the head waiter.
Went ashore and saw Brown a little
while. Steered the boat going. Wrote
a letter to the folks after supper and
then read. In commencing the new year
I have commenced reading the Bible through
in course again during the year, and I
hope I may be led to do better this year
than I have done, but I feel that in
whatever I do it must be with a
humble reliance on the Divine Providence
and Trusting in Christ alone to save me
and to direct me by His Holy Spirit.
May He ever watch over me and keep me from
evil of every sort.

MSS 11293

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

we rested all day to [day]
none of our company
had to stand guard
the boys was shooting
firecrackers and enjoying
their selves in
verious ways

the captain
gave us an oyster
supper ^’this evening’ it was very
good we eat at the
Cabell house we
had coffee with
cream and sugar
in[sic] we had segars
we had a good
time in general
I have a sore foot
from my tramp
feele well enough though

MSS 13405

My Darling Wife –
I have been expecting a letter from
you for the last week, but every day has brought noth-
ing but disappointment – no letter. It has been written
I doubt not, but stopped somewhere on the way. I have
not heard from you since the battle. Since then we have
had a quiet time and everything looks like rest for some
time to come. The men are fixing up their shanties for the
winter. They seem happy and contented. It is sad to look
back on the year just closed. We have suffered much –
Many good men have gone to their long home. Our
loss has been 1220 in killed and wounded, more men
than we could turn out for a fight today. Out of the
fifteen field officers elected last spring five have [been] killed
and six others wounded, leaving only four that have
escaped unhurt. In these losses are many whom we were
always accustomed to regard as our best men. I published
today an order naming our camp, which gives some
facts of our history and I send you a copy of it.
How are matters at home? In the excitement of active work
I have too much to do to harass myself with idle dreams of
home, but now we are at rest I cannot keep my
mind from it. I feel there is nothing which I would
not give to be with you for an hour or a day.

[page 2]
I could have gone home and have spent a couple of
weeks when I received my appointment before taking
command. But I really thought the brigade was sadly in
need of a commander and that it was my duty to stay.
Now I am fined and must apply for a leave just
as any private in the ranks. I know it would not
improve my standing in the army , with my superior
officers to ask for a leave, but still I feel very much
tempted to do it. If the snow falls deep and we have
such severe weather as to preclude the possibility
of active work, my home sick malady may get the
better of me. I would like to see you, Mathew, Gala and the baby
have the children forgotten me – it seems so long since
I saw them.
Just here an officer calls who says he comes upon the
disagreeable duty of placing me in arrest, by order of
Gen Taliaferro, who regards a communication which
I sent him to-day as very disrespectful. Very good there
is a small chunk of a row to be settled, which I shall
do in that calm spirit of which becomes the man
who means to vindicate himself and his conduct.
He says my communication was disrespectful – I say it was
not and cannot possibly be so construed by any intell-
igent and disinterested officer. I feel sure that I have
done nothing at which my worst enemy could find cause

[page 3]
for complaint. An arrest for some causes would be a serious
affair, but in a matter such as this it is trifling to me.
The offence of Genl Taliaferro in abusing his power as my
surperiour officer I think he will find in the opinion
of all disinterested gentlemen is a much graver offence
than any I have committed. I wish him no harm
however, and I shall do nothing more in the matter
than what I ^ ‘may’ think after calm and mature reflection
ought to be done. Do not give yourself any anxiety about [it]
as there is nothing in it to involve either my character
as an officer or a gentlemen. The difficulty arose about
a sealed communication from Lt. Pritchard Judge Advocate
of the Court Martial in session [as ?] by brigade, which
was addressed to Gen Chilton Adjutant to Genl Lee
and sent by me to Genl Taliaferro to be forwarded
to its destination. It was returned to me opened
with an endorsement that it did not comply with
the army regulations as endorsing and forwarding
it, I replied that as Lt Pritchard was on detached
service I did not think his communication to Genl
Lee was in any way under my control or that
of Genl Taliaferro: and that [word lined out] as he had taken the
liberty of breaking the seal, and returning the paper
it would be sent to its destination through some
other channel. Perhaps he differs with me upon

[page 4]
the point and thinks I meant to be offensive. So much for this piece of news.
I want you to write to me oftener. Let me know the state of
matters at home and on the farm. How much corn did you
have after fattening your pork? What is the prospect of getting
your wheat ground soon so as to get [rest of line illegible]
for feeding the stock this winter and saving your
corn. Have you succeeded in getting a horse? What
amount of plowing have you been able to do?
What arrangements have you made in hiring hands
I wrote to Wm White to buy 1000 pounds of pork
for you. Did he get it? What amount of clover
seed did you make? Let me know and I will make
provision to get what may be needed to sow the
wheat land. I hope that May get [got?] married and bring
you a good neighbour.
Now darling I will bid you good night. My eyes
you will think are improving as I am able to write
four pages by candlelight. Give my love to
dear little Matthew and Gala and a kiss
to little Frank. I hope they have not forgotten me [This is first time the baby is referred to by name.]
For yourself Darling accept all the love a
fond husband can offer – Write often
Ever Yours
E. F. Paxton
[The above letter is a photostatic copy, not an original. It does not appear in Civil War
Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton.]

My Dear Wife
Since my arrival
here I have had a pretty good time
drilling Hunting & playing ball – The
most of the company are absent on
furlough but will return in a few
days – . Tom Sylvester Jim Buford
and myself went hunting yesterday
evening but did not kill any ducks.
I think I shall make arrange-
ments for you to come down
here and stay awhile unless
we are removved [removed] from this point.
Mess No 1 which is our Miss fare
verry nice but our expenses will
over balance our pay very consider-
ably – Buford and myself made
a Bed stead to sleep on yesterday.
Which I find a great improvement
on sleeping on the floor. I hope
Callaway has sold Henrietta –
I will probably go home in a
week or two – Kiss all the children
for me – Your affectionate Husband
Write to me by first opportunity W. H. Locke

[Written on the back of this sheet]
I sent by Alex P. Crawford
two little promisses for
Ella & Lulu –
W. H. L.

MSS 13485

William H. Locke, member of the Eufala Minute Men, and Co. C. 4th Battalion, Alabama Cavalry; afterwards a dry goods merchant in Eufala, Ala.

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

                                                                               1
Fayetteville, Fayette Co. W. Va.
                    Wednesday, January 1st. 1862.
     I have concluded to commence the
New Year, by introducing a new feature
in my line of operations.  As time and oppor-
tunity will permit, I will try to beguile away
a spare moment by recording such things as
may prove a source of satisfaction and
interest not only to myself, but to friends in the
future.  A word explanatory may not be
amiss.  Be it known, then, that the writer
has been, and now is, at the opening of these
pages, a soldier in the United States Volunteer Army,
23d. Ohio Reg’t.  Our Reg’t was organized about
the 1st. of last June, but I did not become
a member until July 24th, when I joined
Capt. Drake’s Company (H.).  The Reg’t left the
place of rendezvous Camp Chase, O. July 25th., and next day entered
Western Va. at Benwood, 4 miles below Wheeling,
and have ever since been in the State, being
now South of the Central part, and not far
from the Kentucky line; the result of numerous
and hard marches.  We came here Nov’v 14th.

The town was almost entirely deserted at the time
of our arrival, consequently, we got good quarters, which
we still retain, our Company occupying the lower floor
of the Court-House, a good, substantial brick building.
Since coming here we have done no marching.
     This is a tolerably handsome little village, and, I suppose,
in times gone by, the people enjoyed the comforts of
good homes, and the pleasant society of friends, but,
alas, how changed.  War produces ravages, such as I
need not particularize because too generally known.
     The disruption of society, however is one of the worst
results, when neighbor is arrayed against neighbor, and
brother against brother. ~~~  Nothing exists here of
society except the name, however social or peaceful
a community it may once have been.
     The country in the vicinity is tolerably rough, but
much less than most parts of Western Va., that I
have yet seen, viz: the most of the Country between
this and Clarksburg in Harrison County.  As far
as fertility is concerned, I do not consider it the
best, probably medium.  The water is poor, providing
considerable Diarrhoea, that curse of the Camp.
My health has been excellent all summer

                                                                             
but, at last, I am attacked with Diarrhoea, and
am, at this writing, quite ill, and feel very weak, and
much reduced.  Should I succeed in getting a furlough,
I won’t be long in making tracks for home.


[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

feeling enough interested.

My very dear Mamma,

We received
a most charming Christmas present
in the shape of your sweet little note of
the 15th inst. which reached us Christmas
Eve. We were delighted to hear the
good news of your well being, and we
earnestly trust it may continue until
we meet again My little family
are all quite well. We came together
about the middle of November and are
now quite settled down to our usual
winter’s routine. George is growing in
stature and I trust in grace, is making
good progress in all his various studies,
and gives much satisfaction to all his tutors,
but although his mind is developing so well
his heart is as childlike & simple as ever
and his clear blue eyes and rosy cheeks look
almost as if evil must be unknown to
their owner. Ella is rapidly becoming
a fine looking girl and I think thoroughly
conscientious. she, of course has her faults but
I believe she really tries to cure them, and

[page 2]
she does everything, even disagreeable studies
from a sense of duty, which will surely
lead her to success. Frankie is
the pantin[?] of the family, pronounced
by everyone to be more & more like Papa,
may he be as good: noisy, thoughtless,
generous, affectionate, passionate, penitent,
he is a difficult child to manage but
I hope to lead him to good in the
end. My sweet little twins,
although somewhat grown out of their
babyhood are as sweet as ever, the veriest
sunbeams in the house, they often speak
of their absent Grandparents and wish
to see the. And now I come to the
plaything of the household, the crowning
joy, out little baby boy, a most joyous,
animated, lively creature the chief object
of the childrens merriment, always ready
to answer their play by a smile or a crow.
He was made a lamb of Christ, on the
27th of Dec. by the name of
Reginald William, the first is entirely
a fancy name, the second after a very
dear friend of yours.

You would delight in seeing my six

[page 3]
all clustered together, baby in the center,
Ella head nurse, and their dear Papa
looking down on them, with such an
amused air, and generally ending by
joining in the romps, while Mama
strives hard to keep a slight degree of
order.

I have written you a very egotistical
letter my dear Mamma but I was sure
you would like best to hear of us than
of anything else.

We had a nice visit last month from
William who was looking very well
I must now say farewell as my old
man wishes to add a few lines.
With warmest love to Papa & Ella,
I remain your affectionate daughter.
M.A.R.

P.S. He thinks it may not
be expedient for him to write.
He is well & has never for an
instant doubted the ultimate issue.
Believing the New England discussion
of the international question to be
criminally dishonest, he wrote a

[page 4]
pamphlet on the subject for private
& confidential circulation, which
has been pronounced interesting,
learned, able & thorough.

He denies the right to have
brought in the Trent for
adjudication.

I have no more to add except
the hope that a brighter Year
is now dawning on us.

Matilda Antonia Barclay Rives, 1824-1888, was the daughter of a prominent merchant. She married Francis Robert Rives, 1821-1891, a native Virginian, University of Virginia alumnus, lawyer, member of the New York Southern Society, and formerly secretary of the U. S. legation in London under Edward Everett.

MSS 2313

My dear General

accept my most sin-
cere sympathy under the heavy addic=
tion which God in his mysterious pro-
vidence has permitted to befal you
& your house. Whatever faint ray of
consolation the sympathy of friends
can bring under such an overwhelming
dispensation, I would do all in my
power to supply. But that which
no human friend can do, is certainly
within the power of our Almighty
friend & Father. May you have such
access to the source of all consolation
as to sustain you under the trial you are
called to bear. Heavy as the calamity
which has befallen your family, it
is not the heaviest that might have
occurred, for in a life on which so
many interests hung, to be cut off
suddenly is an event deeply to be
deplored; & by those most nearly con-
-cerned almost unceasingly to be Mourn
-ed: and get, in the very fact itself,
what a source of consolation is con-
tained, from the fact that you are
in possession of such convincing ev-
-idence that the soul of the departed
had made it’s peace with God; and
that the issue which has fallen with
such a shock upon his family, was
only the result of a mind tasked

[page 2]
beyond its powers of endurance, by
a large addition to the weight of
care and responsibility which was
his share in time of peace: and
which resulted in a complete prostra-
-tion of the nervous system.

I desire through you to tender
my sincerest sympathy to each &
every member of the afflicted
family of your deceased son.

Mrs. Brown unites with [me] in feelings
of regard & sympathy with yourself
& family.

ever sincerely your friend
R. R. Mason

Genl. Jno. H. Cocke

[sympathy letter on the suicide of Genl. Philip St. George Cocke]

MSS 640

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

We got up this morning
got our breakfast then
as we could not get
any Clew from the wimon
of the house all though
we tried a good many
ways some of the boys
threatened to shoot them
and cocked there guns
and pointed them at
them they would not
tell and said they did
not know any thing
of them only that they
was sent to head
quarters we heard from
a couple of little boys
that there was a boy
a bout two miles
from there that knowed
there was a part of us
sent for him he was
not at home he had
gon to the woods we
took his mother a long
she said she was there
but we could not
get mutch from her
either if we could have
got her boy we would
found out more I ex
pect while we was
there there was a woman
give us fits for a while
when we got back
to the mill we fixt
up the fellow on a
litter and crried him
a good many miles
I was an advance
guard we took some
prisners a long the
road and got a good
many thing to eat
sutch as milk corn
bread and so on
we went in to every
house a long the
road we met a woman
the wageon that we
sent for a bout
half way the doctor
was a long they
came near firing at
us advanc guards
but they did not we
came on toward camp
that is the advance
guards we came a head
we got in to camp before
tatoo time which is
a bout nine o clock
at every hous along
the road there husban
had gon to Logan or
to twelvepole or she
was a lone widow
taking care of these poor
orphan children or the
man of the house
had gon out she did
not know Where he
had gon I saw many
a heartrendering seene
while I was gon
husband parting with
his wife and children
I came near crying
my self lots of times
Wife thining we shot her husband

MSS 13405

Dear Father–As this is the last day of the year of 1861 & the new year
of 62 being close at hand I hope that you will see that good old Flag the
Stars & Stripes floating once more over all of these United States of America
& this Reblion crushed out and the Slavery question put aside forever to
day I went out with the Regiment to what they call the Mustering in roll
to get Pay in which they call all the names which are put down on the
paper the reason that they call them over for is because they want to see
whether they put down any names which are not in the Company we
will get paid off sometime next week & you look out & see how to get that
fifteen dollars I believe they will Advertise such names as they have money
for in the Papers which if you see your name in it dont forget to get it
which you will if they do it in that way & dont forget to tell William what
I Spoke about in one of my others we had new rifles they are called the minie
rifle the same kind the first Maine had they are A Splendid set & are
four Pounds lighter than the old ones the old ones weighed fifteen pounds
& the new ones weigh eleven so you can see that there is A great deal of diffe
rence between the heft, I got A letter from Aunt Remick in which she
said that they was all well this is my last Postage stamp so tell
William if he does not send them to me that I wrote about to you
you need not think it strange that you do not get any letters from me
I have send over two dollars worth of stamps since Pay day I have A
plenty of writing paper but stamps Bother me, so be sure & tell him to
send that dollars worth. From you Son Joseph Leavitt

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