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

Va. At Alick’s again to-night – The cheerfulness
with which she undergoes such labors is admira-
ble. I would not have consented for her to sit up
anywhere else. The children seem about in a- [sic]
about the same condition. The war new is not
encouraging for us, the enemy’s forces outnum-
bering ours vastly, and pressing in on every side.
The last report in relation to our defeat in Ky.
is that we lost 300 men – that Crittenden with
6000 attacked the Federalists, supposing them to
be 1500 in number, but they turned out to be 14000,
strongly posted and fortified at that. There was a
report to-day that a large body of Federalists (15
regiments) were approaching Lewisburg.

[Transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 38-258

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

Ten o’clock PM. Last night we
swung round against the Louis
iana and stove in our Wheel-house
Making a terrible crash which started
everybody up. I sat up in bed a little
while, and then lay down again com-
mitting myself to God. We got through
the night safely, but the boat cannot
be managed. It was a narrow escape.
Have read some and played checkers.
They are now trying to get up the
anchor and fixing the wheel-house
It has been a very pleasant day for a
wonder in this place.

MSS 11293

John Warwick Daniel’s previous letter continues]

[page 5]
Jan. 24th 1862.
My letter has been detained
for a couple of days by a tempor-
ary derangement of our mails,
and I have determined to add
to it before sending it off.
Yesterday the mare was sent
up to me from Manassas, and
I am glad to say in good
appearance, and condition.
I have not yet had an oppor-
tunity of testing her qualifica-
tions as a work horse, but she
has improved – quite considera-
bly in docility, and I doubt not
will admirably answer the
purpose for which she is
intended. I shall be able
in a few days to provide
her with very comfortable
quarters.
This evening I expect to
go into my Winter Quarters
which are quite snug,

[page 6]
and comfortable.
The chief topic of conversa-
tion in the regiment at
present, is the succession
to the command of our brig-
ade, that post being ren-
dered vacant by the promotion
of Genl. Ewell. Col. Garland
it is generally thought will
be the successful aspirant,
and I think my self that
his friends will probably
secure him the office.
The Col. is popular with
the regt. but I am sorry
to say that I cannot re-
pose that confidence in
him which others seem
to do. He is certainly
not the man whom
I would select as

[page 7]
my General, or my leader.
Should he receive the pro-
motion the other Field
Officers will also, I sup-
pose, rise in succession,
& the Senior Capt. (Saunders)
be appointed Major.
Kirk[wood] Otey would be the
regimental choice for the
latter position, but Saun-
ders is the ranking officer,
and is moreover acces-
sible to the appointing
power.
I am well.
With Love, I remain
Your Affectionate Son,
Jno. W. Daniel

[Col. Samuel Garland, Jr. VMI graduate in 1849,Co. G, 11th Virginia Infantry.]

Centreville
Jan. 24th 1862.
My Dear Sister,
Your letter was
received yesterday, and I write
now merely for the sake of
reply, for really, as Abram
would say, there is nothing
to write about.
I wrote Grandpapa a
letter on the 22nd enclosing
a short one to you, both
of which I hope have
been received.
The eatables Grandma
so kindly prepared & for-
warded to me have
been very much enjoyed.
The Cake & preserves sent
by Ma were likewise very

[page 2]
fine. You will please say
to Ma that they have
been received, and are
very nice.
Don’t forget to send me
by William Miller, Quaker [?]
book ( or other) Nat’l Philosophy,
Farquelle’s French Exercises,
Livy, Caesar, or Sallust,
& the book of Tapo’s of
which Grandma spoke
in a late letter, also
if you can spare it
a volume of Mrs. Browning’s
poems. I have ample
conveyance for all, & they
shall certainly be
taken good care of.
I go in my Winter
Quarters this evening.
They are very

[page 3]
snug & warm although
somewhat limited in
space & number of apart-
ments.
My love to all.
Hoping to hear from you
soon & frequently,
I remain
Your Affec. Brother
John W. Daniel.

11th Regt. Va. Vols.
Centreville Jan. 24th
1862.
Hon. J. P. Benjamin,
Sir:
A number of
men sufficient according to
regulation for the formation of
a Company of Light Artillery,
have given me their names,
and requested me to tender
their services to the Depart –
ment for the War under the
condition that the Battery
be furnished them. I there-
fore respectfully request to
be informed whether the
Company will be accep-
ted to serve in this capac-
ity or not.
The men are twelve-

[page 2]
month volunteers, and
chiefly members of this
regiment.
You will oblige myself
by affording the desired
information as soon as
convenient.
Very Respectfully
Jno. W. Daniel
Lieut. Co. A
11th Va. Vols.

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

Was at home all day
did nothing
Still sore from yesterdays
ride
Still taking medicine for
the jaundice
Cloudy icy rather strange
weather
Went out with the
the gun saw nothing
Went to Savan[nah] this
afternoon. Went this
evening to party
at Sloanes. Hannah
came home with me
Staying all night
Will
Jones stayed
last night
cloudy, snowing some
now

MSS 10317

Dear Phill & Sister
I was very glad to get a letter
from you this morning and to hear that you were well
and Sister improving for I have had Sad dreams about
Sister several nights and althoug[h] I dont think I am very
superstitious still they affected me somewhat & I was very
anxious to hear from you all. I sympathised with you all
when I heard in a letter that I received from home that you
had lost your little baby but we ought to try & believe that
“God does all for the best” and I am in hope this will be a blessing
to you all. I intend keeping my tent very closely today as I have
a very sore foot & have to wear a slipper my shoe rubbed it and
having walked too much on it yesterday last night it was very
much swollen so I thought I would try & keep quiet today but
I am Col. Robertson’s Courier still & tomorrow will be my day
to ride again. Since writing the above I have had a long & cold
ride up to Centreville I thought I was fixed for the day here & had
the Capt Heath (who is Captain in the Qr. Master Department)
and Dick Pemberton to carry up the dispatches but they went
off without them so I had to squeeze on my boot on my poor old
foot and travel off but I am used to that sort of thing now.
Maben Hobson is our Captain now and is very popular both
in our company & the regiment he is one of the best men I ever
saw & makes a very good Captain I think I am better fixed than
I have ever been yet stay in an elegant tent with Capt. Heath
& mess with our officers I used to stay in a tent with Dick
Pemberton but then he got tight so often and there were so many
people always in there that I was very glad when Captain Heath
got one & asked me to stay with him and since then have
gotten on finely but Dick does not drink so much now I am
very glad to say. I heard the other day that the Yankees were
rebuilding Accotink bridge but dont believe they will come

[page 2]
here this winter for the roads are almost impassible from
the late rains & snows I was out a great deal in that bad
weather & it seems to be com[m]encing again as it is hailing now
& right cold & raw. I would get you to send the socks down home
as I am in need of some & thank you very much for knitting
them too Sister if I knew what Pa was going to do but I
cant tell, he said he was going up to see you as soon as
he got back from Richmond and then wrote Col. Robertson
that he was thinking of coming up to pay me a visit
but I expect he could send them to me any way. I wish
I could be with you all this evening I want to see you
both very much but there is no chance of my getting
off yet as they are just as obstinate as they can be about
granting furloughs & never think of doing it except in
the most urgent cases. I dont think we have seen any fighting
at all compared with what has got to come I differ with
you though on that point. There has been right heavy
firing nearly all day down towards Evansport they may
be firing on Yankee vessels as it has continued so long
but I believe they frequently fire for practice down there.
I must now close up. Give my love to all at
Liberty Hall write soon & believe me as ever your
affectionate brother
Richard M. Bolling
P. S. Excuse this paper as all my writing paper is gone
Richd M. Bolling

Co. F was known as the Goochland Light DragoonsRichard M. Bolling, Private Co. F, 4th Virginia Cavalry
Captain Alexander Maben Hobson, later Major of the 4th Virginia
Richard Pemberton, Private, later Sergeant Co. F, 4th Virginia Cavalry
Colonel Beverly Holcombe Robertson,1827-1910
MSS 38-111

[from the diary of William M. Blackford of Lynchburg, Va., a former diplomat whose five sons were serving in the Confederate Army]

[Blackford has been in Fredericksburg, Va., attending the funeral of John Minor. See his son Lancelot’s letter of January 18]

Friday 24 After breakfast the colonel sent me
in his carriage to the Junction; and I took the
cars for Charlottesville in the hope of reaching
home by 5 oclock. A slight accident detained
us past the hour at which was published
to move until the down train came by and
this broke the connexion at charlottesville
I went to the University and enjoyed a visit
to friends there–On the cars met two officers
of the 5th Alabama and made myself known
to them as Eugenes Father–saw also a gentlemen
who saw Lanty quite well[?] last Sunday at
church in Romney, & said he told him the ar-
tillery were ordered back to Winchester.

MSS 4763

Dear Sisters and all the rest of
you I seat myself to inform you
that we are both well at this time
we had a slight tuch of the
yellow janders a bout a week ago
We have got over them now hoping
you all well Virrilla stated you
all had bad colds in her letter
of the 12 of January
it is suposed that we will come
back to old Virginia in a short
time we are very comfortably situated
where we are good warm winter quarters
and I would prefer staying out
hear untill the spring I have written
one a week ever since we come out
hear and I will continue to write
every week whilst we stay–

[page 2]
out hear for your satisfaction
write me word how often you all
receive letters from us we have
received three from you with the
one John N. Eubank braught
us since we landed in Kentucky
write me word whither or not you
got the one where I requested Father
to send over in Bedford to John H
Hawkins after the waggon an my
other tools &c I sent an order in
that one thinking probibly he would
not deliver them with the order
and I will send another one if you
did not get that one
tell Sam to write to us sometimes
and let us hear the news from his
side of the River and how he is
getting along and how much force
he works and who they are

[page 3]
I have no news to communicate
for I have not left Camp as
far as a half mile since I have
bin hear the country is very rich
an that is all I can say for or
against it write me word did
Sam get the letter I wrote requesting
him attend to some buisiness Mr
John Y Barrott had to draw of
of mine they was Blacksmiths
acounts
I think Arthur Davis and
St. Johns is playing oposum at
home write me word if it is so
arthur said he had soar foot when
he left
direct your letters to Bowling green
Kentucky in the care of
Col0 Wharton Floyds Brigade

[oage 4]
direct your letters to
Bowling green Kentucky in the
care of Colo Wharton 51 Regiment
Floyds Brigade
good bye for the present
Keep your spirits up and do
not give way to the hippo or
for it will not pay

Wm.W. Martin
Jas. Martin

[The hippo was an old expression for hypochondria]

James Martin, Private Co. E, 51st Virginia Infantry
William W Martin, Corporal Co. G, 51st Virginia Infantry

MSS 11250

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

Got safely through the night
thou we got aground. It
rained very hard this morning so that
the soldiers caught several barrels of fresh
water. This evening they had the rest
of the charade of last night with
singing &c. They hit off the staffs
whiskey drinking and card playing.
The charade was “crossing the bar.”
Have felt very well today.

MSS 11293

[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]

Friday – January 24th, 1862
Still raining today so that we are
confined to our houses – no roll calls
except Reville – Spent the day in
reading & playing chess, & drawing –
The constant rain has wet the mud
from between the logs in the north end
of our house & the water is oozing in
between the logs – Heard the news
tonight of our defeat in Kentucky
under Zollicoffer – Have seen no papers
yet – Took a bath tonight & retired
at 10 ½ o’clock – Emmett got a drink
tonight & is quite lively.

[Logan is recording news of theBattle of Mill Springs, Logan’s Cross Roads, Fishing Creek, Somerset, or Beech Grove, Kentucky, 19 Jan. 1862]

[Transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards and annotation by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, Civilian Clerk in the quartermaster Dept., Staunton, Va.]

Friday night, Jan. 24, 1862
Bad news! Yesterday received a report that
our General Zollicoffer had been killed and his
army defeated in Southern Kentucky near the
Tennessee line; but as the news came through
a Philadelphia paper received at Norfolk, and we
had no such intelligence through channels open to
us, it was not credited. This evening, however, we
have a full confirmation from Richmond. The
battle was fought near Somerset, Pulaski Co., Ky.,
Maj. Gen. Crittenden commanding on our side. He
made the attack, and the battle lasted till Brig.
Gen. Zollicoffer fell, when our army became de-
moralized and left the field. It is said we lost
five hundred (500) in killed and wounded, cannon,
army stores, etc. etc. In a word, that it was a com-
plete route, and that Crittenden was in full re-
treat to Knoxville. The news has had a very depress-
ing effect, particularly as it was believed that,
without some such signal success, the Northern
people would soon give up the war. There is still
reason to believe that the Federalists are about to
make a general assault at all points.
Little Mary has seemed better to-day, and Addy is
at least no worse. His father has been somewhat
relieved from this depression of yesterday and last
night. Addy is a wonderfully smart boy, but very
bad and unmanageable. He wished to know last night
where he would go, if he died. He is between four &
five years old. We have had a terribly stormy day –
snow, sleet and wind.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 38-258