Dear brother & sisters

I received you kind letters
the other day and was glad to hear from you
all but was sorry to hear of Pa being sick
you said that you had not had a letter from
[me] for along time but I expect you have
had a letter before now for I wrote one
while I was at the cross rodes in morgan
County. we are know at Romney one of the
last places in virginia it is nothing but
a mud hole the yankees had tore it up
side down before we got hear. they run
away from hear in a hurry and left some
things they left about two hundred tents
and some stores they burnt up agreat
many things before they left. we have
as hard a time hear as we did when
we was at greenbrier we have agreat
deal of picketing to do hear their is
about one half of our regiment back back[sic]
behinde on the sick list which makes
it harder on us that is up. I have been
with my Company ever since we left
Abingdon and have performed most all

[page 2]
of my duties. Cummings, Fletcher & James
A. Gilmer has got up at last James is so
fat that you would not know him he
sais that he weighs one hundred & seventy lbs.
I would like to give you the history of our
last travails but I wrote some about
our travails in the letter that i wrote
while we was as the cross roads we
marched from the cross rode to this place
and we are know stationed hear and I expe
ct we will stay hear the rest of this
winter if the yankees dont run us out
of hear and you need not be surprised
if you hear of us running from this place
for it is the worst position we have
ever had I had to frank the last
letter that I wrote to you all for I
had no change nor any stamps and
I expct you had better take a five cents
in your pocket when you go to lift
this letter but I sent to town to day
for some stamps but I dont know
whether I will get any or not. We have
never been in but one schirmish and that
was at capon bridge we only lost
but four killed and some wounded

[page 3]
Martha you said that I ought to have
made that man take my likeness over
the room was full awaiting for him to take
their likeness and he would not take the
time so I had to come off the best I could
I wasnt well when I had my likeness
taken but it was the only chance Sarah
you said my likeness did not faver me
but the boys all said it favered me
mightly. Sarah I got the socks that
you sent to me and was well pleased
with them. tell Pa ma maryan & all
the rest howdy for me tell Leum
Gim Bate & all of them little fellows
howdy for me Tell Charles M. Browning
to write that they have been running
me about so that I could not write
to him tell him that I dident get
the letter that him & Wilson wrote
to me. As my fingers are getting
cold I will bring my letter to close
dont allway wate for me to write
for some times I haven’t any paper
ink write once aweak your Brother
William R. Gilmer

Martha J. Gilmer
Sarah W. Gilmer
Charles H Gilmer

Private, Co. I, 37th Virginia InfantryMSS 5194

[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guard]

landed at
Nag’s Head N.C. after
having been on water
4 days & nights–This is
very nice summer
Resort built on
a barren & sandy
waste=a long narrow
strip of land immedi
iately on the Atlantic
Coast–the weather
here at this season is
very unplesant–rains
& storms prevailing at
most constant

MSS 2223

[Patriotic stationery with red, white and blue vignette of Confederate flag]

Dear Sister and Brother
these will inform you that
I am well and have
stood the tug of an
other Battle the firen commen
ced on the Enemy side
yesterdeay at 3 [?] we
returned it with vim
and repulsed them at 3 this
Morning the Yankees
leaved We fired nine rounds
and Quit the Boms fell like
hailstones around us but
noone get hurt on our side
three boms come in five feet
of my head passed som
fifty yards and Exploded

[page 2]
I Will bee at hoam
a bout the 18th of Febu
I think I shall go to
Savanah and get a Position
in the Marine Chorps at
that place udner Capt
Boggs Jno D May is
very Sick he has Irritation of
the Stomach the other Boys
are all Well the health of
this Regt is very good I
havent seen Bunk in some
Weeks he Was Well When
I saw him last his Camp
is about 2 miles from this
place the Meassels are
thick in [?] Regt
Dolfus has had them but
is Well I think

[page 3]
as Dark is coming
I must close Write
soon times are easy
at this place tattoo
is sounding I remain
your Brether Loveing
J M P

[page 4]
Postscript
Direct your letter to
John M. Parker
1st Regt ala
volunteers
care of Capt Dawson
Warrington
fla

The identity of John M. Parker cannot be determined. A John M. Parker of Co. G, 1st Alabama is listed as dying at Camp Chase Ohio, January 29, 1865. There is also a John M. Parker (unit not identified) who died December 17, 1864, at the Battle of Franklin where the 1st Alabama lost heavily.
MSS 13240

My dear Son.

Yours of the 10 came safe to hand, and it gave us considerable relief to know that you were once more in Camp. Yet we cannot be otherwise than extremely anxious about you all. You have undergone such cruel exposure, toil, and suffering that sooner, or later it must inevitably affect your health. I hear that you have had the jaundice. How very grateful you ought to be, that you have still been able to keep on your feet, whilst so many have fallen around you. Oh How my heart aches when I think of the perils you have so lately passed through. Divine Providence has sustained and guar[d]ed you thro’ all your trials, and to him we must give the praise.

Kate had a letter from Mat Ewing at Athens last friday 17 saying that your brother Abram was there sick with fever. He left the army on the 6 and came there on the 12 he was on his way here; but was so unwell that he could not travel. He put up at the Hotel, and Mr Caldwell heard of it, sent his buggy for him, & took him to his house. he was not able to walk. He was better when she wrote, and their family physician was waiting on him. Her father had written to her saying that she might go to Richmond if she could get company; but she thinks that is doubtful. Isaac’s letter was misplaced when Kate intended sending it to you; but I have found it & will try to enclose it now. I suppose it was Franks children that bent it so: Lizzy wrote to us last week, Frank was gone to Tazewell. The rest were well. Old Billy Rutlege died lately. Since I commenced there has been a violent thunderstorm and a tremendous rain. I think the lightning has struck somewhere very near this. I commenced on saturday morning & has rained nearly ever since, this is monday.

I often think how little the bad weather effects us, in comparison with those in the Army. Some of the friends here are trying to have some gloves knit to send to your regiment. I had only yarn enough to knit one pair. They were sent by J. White. I have been waiting sometime to hear when you would go into Winter-quarters, I wanted

[page 2]
to send you some dried apples, and potatoes if you want them, also some soap. Did you get the beans that I sent? Mrs Rapp made me a present of a part of them. We sent you some butter in Jimmy Vance’s box. We will send some more as soon as we can make it. If you want any more clothes that we can make, dont fail to let us know. Goods are enormous high here, and but very few of any kind. There is enough of the flannel left to make another pair of drawers, like the ones we sent you. We shall dye the flannel some colour, thinking it will be better than white.

Your uncle John Vance was here lately. He looks very fresh and young for a person going on seventy nine years. Your aunt Polly is now in better health than she has been in many years. Their son John died lately in Missouri near the time that poor William Meridith’s remains were brought home from Manassas. William was a very promising young man, & his death is much lamented by all friends. Jonathan Vance’s son is in the same Regiment with Abram.

You will be surprised to hear that the soldier that has been here so long with a broken leg, is still here. About seven weeks ago Dr Heiskell told him that he was well enough to leave, and soon after he wrote to his Capt at Portsmouth for a discharge & his pay. He got no reply, then wrote again,and got an answer the day before New Year, and that had to be returned with his signature & some other writing that was necessary. I told him that I thought that he had better go himself and see to his affairs as he had a free passage. (which I only learned a day or two before.) I thought that he was obliged to wait untill he could get his pay. He got a letter yesterday from his Capt dated the 8 saying that he would go to town next day and get his money & send that & his discharge to him. I was as willing to have have[sic] him waited on as any person could be, untill I found that he was able to leave. Since then I have been quite impatient. He came here the 1st day of september.

His leg is very crooked, and he will always be lame.

[page 3]
I was at your uncle James’s saturday. He was at the Maxwell place husking corn; but came home before we left. Kate was there also. We seldom find an opportunity to go there. I had not been there in a long time. Jane Vance, Peggy Rhea, & Nancy Preston were there the day before. Have you received Miss Peggy’s socks? Our neighbors are well except Capt Gibson he is quite unwell with a cold. Lizzy Davis is so unwell that some think she will not live untill spring. Lee has been chopping wood for a while when the weather will permit. Frank thinks that you ought to have him to raise some corn. He says that his old hired man has raised enough of corn & oats to do him this year. I suppose that he tends the lots there at home.

[letter will continue on the 22nd]

Genl [John Hartwell Cocke]

Dear Sir

Mr Joseph Seay (son of
George Seay) is very anxious to hire a Cook
Woman, & wishes to know if you would
hire Virgn if you are disposed to hire
her, he is willing to pay what such are
hiring for, & would be greatly accommodated
In my note by Berthier, I forgot to say
anything about our Hogpen manure, I hauled
one hundred & six large Ox cart & waggon
Loads, & there is still several loads; It has been
well scattered & I think will greatly benefit that
part of the field. Our Old Bull is very troublesome
I am always in fear that he will Kill some of the
Oxen, if you have no objection I will cut
him & put him to work.
We have had a very heavy fall of rain
this afternoon with thunder & Lightning
Our little Boy I am happy to say is better & I now
hope will get well, please let me hear
from you by return mail
I remain, yours respectfully

Ro. B. Hughy

MSS 640

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

]

chills today [–]
Monday – January 20th 1862
Spent the day in Camp –
Wrote to Mollie, to Lingan
& to I read until 11 o’clock
Rec’d our pay today to the 1st
January 1862. Fred Ogden, Col
Righter & Capt Hague left for
New Orleans today – Frys Norcum
had chills today – Wrote to
Newell again today enclosing
ten dollars of his money –

Harry Fairchild went to town
today – Weather too rainy for
drill or roll calls
Charley Howell & Little Simpson
from the 14th La Regt visited

[F.N. Ogden, Co. B, 1st La. Bn.]
[H. W. Fairchild, Co. B, 1st La. Bn.]
[Lt. Charles J. Howell & Andrew Pickens Simpson, 14th Louisiana][Transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards with annotations by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

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

Little Mary still very sick – Addy taken also
in the same way. Received a letter from Da-
vy Strasburg to-night. He is near Romney, with
his company. Gives a fearful account of their
suffering, while on the expedition to the Po-
tomac, opposite Hancock, Md. Many were two
days and nights without food. No shelter ex-
cept their blankets. One night they were exposed
there in a snow storm. He and Ed. Waddell
spread a blanket on some rails, next a fence,
and slept under it. The Burnside expedition
is reported to be at Cape Hatteras, N. C. No other
news to-day. The weather is warm and wet. Sev-
eral showers to-day, accompanied by thunder
and lightning. This on the 20th January! Em-
ma Frazier has the mumps. Busy as usual to-
day in the office.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 38-258

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

Was at home this forenoon
went to Savan[nah] this
afternoon. Was with
Theodore took super
at Aunty’s spent the
evening there Stayed all
night

cloudy, cold

MSS 10317

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

Slept on a couple of trunks last
night. Rather rough, but got through
the night. The general and his staff left
this morning. It has been a very pleasant day
the first since we came here. We still lie
here at anchor. I wrote home again.
Bought a bottle of ink of the sutler. Hve
passed the day about as usual in reading
and looking round. Went to a prayer
meeting last evening and also a little whle
this evening. Warm and pleasant weather.

MSS 11293

Dear Sam[uel] Ritter]

Yours of the 4th inst. as Louis
has no doubt informed you came to hand
in due time. I had almost given you up
as dead-when lo behold one bright day your
autograph greets my astonished vision, and
informs me that you are still on this terestial[sic]
globe of ours.

I sit down at this late hour so as to keep my
promise to you pr. Louis that I would write
soon–

I note your remarks about Genl. McLellan
and the “On to Richmonders” & fully agree
with you that McLellan knows his own
business best & will not move till he sees
proper–let some of those who cry so much
for an advance, enlist, shoulder a knap-
sack &c &c wade through the mud which
at this season of the year is thick here– thick
did I say no I mean thin–& travel day
after day with a wet bed at night, & eve
will see wether there cries will not grow
fainter & fainter–it is a very nice thing

[page 2]
for those who remain at home & have all the
modern conveniences, to cry advance, advance
it don’t cost them any trouble & why should
they not be heard.

I had my opinion about the settlement
of the Trent affair, which was never to lower
the American Flag to any foreign power
to hold out to the last; if it cost the last drop
of blood in the country, they tell me I’m
crazy on this subject–but I’m down on
any degration[sic] of the glorious old stars
& stripes & will soldier for life before I see
them sullied–if it should ever happen
that the Rebels should gain the day, then
give me the Red,White & Blue for a winding
sheet & I’m contended[sic]–whatever may
have been my opinion about the Trent affair
I as a true soldier obey the orders of the Presi-
dent of the United States & submit–
Our friend the Paymaster visited us on Sat.
& consequently we have a large number
of drunken & disorderly cases–we’ve had our
hands full all day–& between chocking &
punching unruly characters, we shall soon
consider ourselves fit Candidates for a Prize
-fight–more than half our troubles are caused
by want of a Captain–we have a nonentity

[page 3]
who draws pay as such & also figures as one
in parades, which seems to be about the
extent of his authority, if we don’t soon take
the field or have a change in the management
I shall probably be in the regular army
before long–as I am making application
now for a commission–does Mr. Corson
know any iff influential parties, who might
help a fellow? I’m confident of passing
an examination & if I could only get the
proper parties interested–I have no fear of the
result–let me know soon & I’ll write to Corson
We have dull times of an evening–the only place
of amusement, being in operation by a 25th rube
Negro Troupe–they have a grand Ball to night
which in crinoline shape is only attend[ed] by
professional ladies(?), consequently I’m “non est”
There’s noting new down yare and I
reckon I’ll close–I want to write another
letter to-night and as it’s getting on to mid-
night I’d better get at it–
Give my respects to all inquiring friends
& report me safe & sound
Yours Truly
Geo. E. Wagner

George E. Wagner, 1842-1904, served with the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry and later as an officer in the 8th and 9th United States Colored Troops.

MSS 11174