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

February 18
Played for guard mounting
Went with Jo Stearn to
the mill to get some
baking done stopped to
haul some wood.
Went with Jo this
evening to the mill to
get some cakes.
Arthur not well from
last nights debouch
Received papers from
Sudie Hays
Wrote letters to Libbie Weeks
& Sudie Hays
Pleasant to day mostly clear

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Eugener M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guard

Feb 18 We were put on
board of a transport
to-day for the purpose
of being sent home

[the last entry in the brief diary of Cox]

MSS 2223

[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 – February 18th 1862
No drills today – the weather
is cloudy & the ground too
wet to go out or do anything –
Remained in the house all day –
reading & playing chess.
Zollicoffer had a fight today &
whipped Folgers [-] – The boys
decided to quit the sutler today –
Harris is still in camp –
I rec’d no letters today – tho
a large mail came in – Heard
through Kate’s letter to Norvell that
the Misses Sully had gone up to
Asphodel – Have not heard
from Sallie since Dec 28th/61 –
Capt Bryant promised Capt Collins
to try & obtain my furlough from
Gen Magruder when he returns – Heard
this evening of the Capture of Fort Donnelson

Asphodel Plantation was the home of his brother J.G.Logan

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

MSS 6154

[written on paper fragment]
Feb. 18th. Dear Mother I have not been able
to send my letter to camp. I will walk over there
this morning for a short time as a trial trip
& carry it. I inquired about the coffee again last
night. Boil or scald your wheat – then parch it
some say parch it very little, others day very
much. Those who have tried this say the coffee
is not fit to drink without it. Again good
bye give my best love to father, little George & all
Yr. son W. H. Perry Jr.
[Cross written on above fragment.]
It seems we were more successful at
Fort Donnelson than Henry or Roke [?] Island.
Mr. W. H. Tatum Present.

[Written on other side of fragment and then crossed out.]
Dear Tatum,
Leake requests you to send him
a dose of calomel & one of salts, or if there
is no salts some substitute if there is any
in camp. Send also a dose of each for
Moseley. Both seem to be improving.
Please send our mail also, if there is any.
Mr. Mc Pherson’s Your friend
Feb. 17th/62

W. H. Perry, Jr.

William H. Perry, Richmond Howitzers
[transcription by Mary Roy Edwards Dawson]

MSS 7786-d

Home Feb 18th/862[sic]

When I recieved your long and interesting
letter about ten days since, my impulse was to answer
it immediately, but recolected that Ma had just
written to you the day before I forbore until now. I
have seen with pleasure that you do no object to your
letters being answered quickly, and as you are so punctual
yourself, I feel at liberty to impose my scrawls on you at
time but at the same time I will endeavor to be–
considerate enough not carry my imposition too far with you
I would dislike above all things to do any thing that would
check your punctuality, a virtue so much to be admired in
every one, and what I would rather possess almost than any
other for it brings into action so may other noble qualities
and gives so much strength to ones character, but you will
say not any more moralizing; well a greed—-
We have been looking most anxiously for Charles’s arrival
but to no purpose as yet, we were in such a state of anxiety a
day or two ago that in a fit of desperation I consulted the
table and was most exaltingly informed by his majesty
that Charlie would be with us on Wednesday evening, so we are

[page 2]
in hopeful expectancy of seeing him on that day, but only
regret is that you will not be able to come with him, and
hope you will be able to do so when he returns. Macon came
up a week or two ago, on a weeks furlough, he was with us
only two days as he was caught in the city a day or two by
the snow and rain together. I never saw any so improved
in appearance grown and fattened very much weighs 163 pds.
he arrived in Norfolk just as his company was ordered to
Roanoke Island, but fortunately the order was counterman-
ded and they are still at their old Camp with orders to march
at moments warning its thought there will be a great battle
somewhere near Weldon the North Carolina news threw a
gloom over us all for a while, but was cheered on Saturday by
our victory at Fort Donnelson, and hope to days paper will
bring us still better news. sometime John I think things
look dark and lowering and it makes me gloomy indeed
until I remember God who ordereth[?] all things for our good, will
by his divine providence so guide and protect us, that we may
not fear the power of any earthly adversary, we have only to
put our trust in him, It is generally believed now that Egland[sic]
and France will recognise in the course of a few weeks.
I hope in time to bring in Spring goods for it’s almost
impossible to get necessaries for any price, Ma complains
terrible and says if they continue so much longer she
will be bankrupt. I have made up my mind to do
without every thing that its possible for me to do.
Ma recieved a letter from Aunt Bet on yesterday

[page 3]
giving us the particulars of the death of Aunt Felice–
were you not surprised to hear it? she died suddenly with
inforenation[sic] of the stomach. she had a still born child
a few weeks before, poor thing; Aunt Bet says she never
saw any one so frightened. When she was told of her
situation she made no disposition of her property-
you know she inherited a great portion of the estate from
the child she lost last summer and [?] the stillborn–
childs part. Aunt Bet shocked us all very much by telling us
of the unnatural and ungrateful conduct of Louise at the
death of her sister, says she manifested no feeling
whatever but talked about how rich they would all be &
that she never intended to do another stitch of work as
long as she lives Oh the selfishness of this world. I always
knew that was a ruling passion with Louise, but did think
she had a sincere and natural affection for her sister.
There is something so strange and mysterious in regard to our
dear Uncle’s family, to think there is not a vestage of him
remained to us in five short years five children, himself,
and lastly his young and beloved wife has been sum-
moned before the bar of the judge of all men.
What a commentary for all worldly things–. Aunt
Bet wrote that the sale of all the household furniture
was to take place on the 17th (yesterday) she is staying
at Mr Macon’s and will come on sometime in
May she seems deeply distressed, she is truly a child
of affliction—-We heard Sunday of the death of

[page 4]
poor Gen Rodes. his death has been looked to nearly all
the winter he had become as perfectly helpless that death
was a relief to himself and his family he expressed a
desire to die and seemed almost impatient for it before
he was called he was buried yesterday the day was so
desperate that none of us could go.

I hear from Tom but seldom, his friend Mr Ogden is
still here he has improved very much since he has been
here and will leave for Manassas as soon as the weather
changes permanently. We still like him very much, he is
a perfect gentlemen and has but one objection to him
and that is, hies not at all conjugally inclined; seems
to pride himself on his resembling Paul Pry in that
particular. he is very fond of chess, and I am getting to
be a right good player under his tuition—
Did you ever see anything like the miserable weather we
are having there is nothing but snow and rain for
more than a week now, and the roads are as bad as they
were a month ago. Ma is mourning over the impossi
bility of getting any ice or even snow as it rains or melts
before they can do any thing with it, but I’ll be reconciled
as they say its the only means of keeping off the Yankees
until our reenlisted volunteers return I tell you its right
scary to see how they are leaving for their home especially
at Manassas. they say there are not more than 20 or
30,000 there now. would it not be awful if McClenhan
were to make an “Inward move” now Please write
soon to our affect sister Bettie I hope C. is on his way
to Gall Ridge

Betty Steptoe to John Marshall Steptoe of the 44th Virginia

MSS 6515

Dear Hettie [Cary]—

I have heard today of an underground
that goes tomorrow & tho I have little to say I will
not lay my head upon my pillow until I have
poured out some of the sadness of my heart to you
for only in deep sadness can I speak, write, or think.
Since the sad affair at Roanoke we have all been
deeply depressed but the news yesterday of the
surrender of Fort Donelson & 15000 including
Buckner Pillow & Sydney Johnson sent us weeping
to our beds. Southern people kept within doors
Many said the war was over & the Confederates
we feel that they struggled in vain & give up. this
of course we did not think–but the war wh a
week ago we all felt assured wd in the course
of a a few months result in the glorious independance[sic]
of the South, now loomed up hideously in the distance
thro a long vista of years. Yr Pa said “they will struggle
nobly, they will never give up to these Goths may
over-run the whole country they can never hold it.”
I asked him if it was to be a long war, & this desperate
struggle for existence, “had we not better apply at once
to Genl. Dix for permission for the girls to return telling
him how they have been supporting themselves.” Your
Pa said “I must confess if the war is to be prolonged I wd
rather get them home, but I’m afraid of this treason
bill until we see how they work it–then they have
recd. such kindness at the hands of the Confederate
Gov. that it might not do for them to withdraw abruptly
They we be the best judges of that & there it is but right
I sd tell you now–that I have made up my mind that if

[page 2]
it comes to a struggle, I am a son of Virginia & must
struggle with her, I could not stay here.” Well I was
sad enough before & this was not calculated to
comfort me–I just felt as if to me, the end of
the world was come!—–This evening we are all
in better spirits; I hope the truth is braking thro
the Federal lies–there are flying rumours thro’
town that altho McClellan did announce in
the senate chamber the surrender of Fort D-
the capture of 15000 men & three gen. that
they only took 1500 & Genl. Buckner. There is
also a rumor 5hat Beauregard has surrounded
Grant! that is too good of course, but we
are not so down-hearted & take great comfort
that so far as we can learn they had not
heard this news in Norfolk & the associated
press comes out this eveng. & denies having
reported the capture of Savannan–I never
believed that. But after this unfortunate
Roanoke affair one cant feel the confidence
they did before. What miserable mismanage
=ment was there! 3000 men to surrender after
making so slight a resistance as to lose but
8 men–I dont understand it unless they had
no ammunition, & if so why did they attempt
to hold the Island? What in the world did
Genl. McCulloch stay so long in R___d for when
every thing in the West seems to be going
to pot–and what business had he & Price to
quarrel. they ought to leave that to the Fed
=erals–our cause is so sacred it sd bind certainly
all the higher officers together.

[page 3]
Your dear H…..was here tonight& informed me that
his is making every effort to get to R___d & I have very
little doubt that he will succeed. I hope he will!
He says he thinks I had better make arrangement for
“the young ladies” to return with him. I must know
their wish about it first & after that have Genl. Dix’s
assurance of safety—our master is a gentleman
& seems disposed to act kindly towards us. I do
hope we’ve gotten yr trunk & box ere this! Will said
if I wd prove property I cd have it–I wrote to Capt
Talmage Q.M. of F Monroe who has charge
of them–he is an old friend of John I heard he
enclosed my letter in one from himself, & I wrote
at the same time to Mrs Huger asking her to get the Genl to
send over a requisition for them as I had asked Tal
=mage not to send them until he did as they might
otherwise again go over & return for want f an owner.
On Saturday last we recd a letter of a few lines from
Col. Pegram saying he had seen the young ladies in
R____d the day before, very well but Miss Hettie very
homesick (?) (could he have mistaken Jennie for you?)
but she had asked him to say in his note that she
wanted me to buy her something thin for the
summer–He seemed very hurried & I concluded that
he had just arrived in Norfolk to be sent down to
N. Carolina for when here he seemed so impatient to
get into active service. When I read the request
I cd not but exclaim at the little satisfaction
one felt in getting up a summer wardrobe
when she writes one was she lying at Fortress
Monroe. I never will send any thing again unless

[page 4]
under the care of some lady going–I have been
waiting to send a box by Kirby but he seems to
be lost in the fog as Minnie wd say & does not
return from W–& yr dear H. last night told me
not to put too much faith in him–I though tho’
he wd not be apt to wear yr dresses–still he might
not take the trouble to get them thro so I think
I will look up a lady–I’m told it will not be a
difficult matter as since Dix has the power there
is much less difficulty in procuring them— if
I had only known this yesterday I wd have gone
to gt some of the ladies who are I hear to go
to the Fortress this Even: Among others I heard
of Mrs Hoffman & Dora but I am still
in hopes they have not gone yet & if not
I will go to see them & ask them to take
you down some light things & the three silks
I’ve altered for you–I think you had
better give one to Jennie I got you yesterday
4 lawn dresses 2 apiece–they are not expensive
ones but we all think them exceedingly pretty
I’m too poor to buy expensive things. I think
I must get Jennie a white barige[?] cloak for
I dont know what she can wear when it is too
warm for her cloth & it gets warm in R______d
so soon. You see I am writing as if you were cer
=tainly going to remain where you are. This is
the 19th & I heard yesterday that the Southern Confed
=eracy was preparing for a 10 years war–long
before that time expires this Yankee Gov:t will
be so deeply in debt that it will take a wise man
to calculate the interest there[?] Still it is a per

[page 5]
fectly tyrannical irresponsible Govt & they will
not hesitate to do any thing to carry on the war
& unless Eng. & France interpose & raise the
blockade I see no end the the[sic] struggle–then
in view of this I tree tremble at the thought
of such a seperation[sic] from my beloved children.
We know better than we do for we are kept
in as profound ignorance as our masters
can desire; yesterday the editors of the South
were placed in Fort McHenry because they
editorially remarked the day before “The sur
render of Fort D & 15000 men that we can
=not give it entire credence even tho it has
been announced by Genl. McClellan.” I heard
today that the Republican was stopped Y the
“New Street” might as well be the New York
Herald for its afraid to chirp. We are looking
with intense anxiety for the next news from
Engd- the minority seems opposed to us, but
parliament may not be & thro’ private
letters we hear that the people are eager
for the recognition. What did you think of
the insolent manner in wh those wretches
in Congress rec:d the news that Floyd had
run from Fort D–They never run!
Was there ever such weather!! It is raining
now as if it had not rained for a year–& it
does nothing else. If it is good for the Confeds
I’m satisfied, but I’m all the time thinking of
my poor boys in camp. God bless them! Some
=times I have no hope that I shall ever see
them again–they are never absent from
my thoughts Oh how I do long to have them
once more in their own dear home but
having once tried their wings I fear they will
never want to return to the parent nest

[page 6]
I leave it to you about coming home my dear
children–if thing look brighter & you can
spend a pleasant spring in Richmond
why stay for you certainly we find it far other
=wise here. but if any danger is apprehended
of a successful movement upon Norfolk
or R____d do not think for a moment of re
=maining–I think I sd lose my senses at
the thought of you being in Va without a
protector if our beloved army was forced to
fall back. Oh God forbid that. But we
do not know[‘] one moment I am hopeful &
then I read some of these vile papers & I’m
in despair. Oh England! England! How cruel
has her policy been towards us! if I had not
been for her interference France we have
acknowledged us. Is’nt too cold blooded, the
way that she is drawing off? If she continues
true to this rotten Gov:t at Washington I hope
her people may rise in every manufacturing
district & force her to consider their starving
condition. the town was quite in an uproar
yesterday the roughs rushing about to force
people to hang out Union flags–But genl.
Dix soon caused them to “tut their taps” as Nellie
elegantly expresses it when she commands silence.
I sd think by the middle of May you wd like to come
home under any circumstances & if you fix some
point of time you might withdraw from your
Govt work gracefully & gratefully. But be
=fore you do come I must know of it so
that I can make application to Dix
& recd his assurance of probation

[page 7]
for you. All this you cd fully arrange with
me thro yr dear Henry sd he go far I despair
of ever getting any more letters, they all
go to the Govt–never a line recd from the
dear boys ever. I wish they had all been
written on stiff foolscap & were crammed
down Sewards throat! Do you get my letters?
I was so glad to hear that Willie Carr had
got a situation in R____d tell him I recd
his along with one to Frisby & we will both
write to him soon–tell him Sue & I
have become intimate bosom friends
interchange visits walk down street to
=gether & go shopping in company.
I hope you’ll write as soon as you get
yr trunk. Oh how I pine for a good
long letter, but I no longer expect one.
Yr Pa said last night “Oh how delightful
it wd be to have the girls home!”
The school is a dreadful drag! I’m heart
sick of it–its not what it used to be–& I think
the girls feel it very sensibly, I know I do. Very
few of them seem to feel any interest in
their studies & I do not think either Annie
or Maria know how to interest them–
Maria is sweet, sensible & dignified but
too quiet & inanimate–I am not disciplina-
=rian enough–I’ve a stupid 1st class & alto
=gether I’m disgusted. A girl at my right hand
generally talking about Ingleside & its perfec
=tions to wh no other school cd compare-&

[page 8]
Bettie at my left, gabble–gabble–gable
& if I were to knock her down with a
sledge-hammer she wd not or cd not stop
Eva Thoale near by not fat behind her
without her smartness They all
send oceans of love to you & dear Jennie.
Tell Jennie I see a great deal of the
Winns–Agnes has been staying
for the last month & they come here
& I go there–I’ve got quite intimate
with the old gentleman–if it had
not rained this eveng I sd have
gone down to tea. All are
well I’ve no more time
Yr Aunt Ellen is coming on
in July to spend the summer.
Love to all around you; my
own darling precious children
take care of yrselves. take care
of yrselves[sic]–Mr Col. Pegram
says “Miss Hettie is very homesick
but prudent.” What does he
mean? Did you tell him to tell me
that to relieve my many anxieties.
Write to the dear boys so far away
there & so cheerless–Oh my children.
Will god in His goodness ever again
give you to me under my own rooftree?
There the bell rings I expect for my letter–
No — it is Frisby H–he has just sent me up a
letter for W–& he told me the other day he sd write
it. goodbye again my own precious ones–yr devoted Ma.

[Mrs. Wilson B. Cary]

Hettie and her sister Jennie had smuggled drugs and clothing through the Union blockade, across the Potomac for Confederate troops and were subsequently forced to leave Baltimore. The two remained in Richmond for the remainder of the war and Hettie eventually married Pegram.

MSS 1415

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

Monday night, Feb. 17, 1862

Our rejoicing was soon over. This morning
it was rumored that the telegraph operator at
Gordonsville had sent word that the enemy had defea-
ted us at Fort Donelson and taken Nashville! Although
not credited, it set us to thinking that the Federalists
had greatly the advantage in numbers in the neig-
hborhood of the battle field; and in the means of bring-
ing up reinforcements; and therefore that the battle
of Saturday was probably not decisive and final.
The cars brought us precisely this intelligence. The
Federalists had been were reinforced Saturday night, and
our army also, it is said. Gen. Johnson had aban-
doned Bowling Green, and it is evident that, not-
withstanding the fighting on Thursday, Friday and Sat-
urday, the great battle in that region had not taken
place. Dispatches received at Richmond yesterday
were by the authorities were not made public in time
for the cars, and we can hear nothing by telegraph. —
So we are in a state of anxious suspense. The course
of the enemy down the Valley is threatening. Dont
know what they propose. Kate contemplated going to
Richmond, to the inauguration, which is to take
place next Saturday, but the sombre views of last
week caused her to discontinue her preparations. —
This morning she began again, feeling cheerful on
account of yesterday’s intelligence; it depends upon
circumstances what she will do to-morrow.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow]

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]

Monday – February 17th 1862
It rained all day today – did not even turn out
to a roll call – spent the whole day in
doors – Fry went to Williamsburg today to
bring in some beeves – Harris arrived
today from New Orleans & is the guest
of the Lions Den – he will stay some
days & has offered to act as my
substitute for thirty days – so that I
can go to New Orleans – Heard today
of the continuation of fighting at
Fort Donnelson – tho we have nothing
definite abt the result – The mail
did not reach us tonight – This is
terrible weather – Dick Burton returned
today – he saw one gr drove of turkeys
& some deer – but they killed nothing –
Harris gives us all the news from home – he
left today home on the 8th Ins’t –
see Asa Russ & Ames – The mail
did not arrive & I spent the
night at Miss Galts – On the road
many hundred pine trees have been
blown down – & in one place nearly
Every tree is uprooted – It has cleared
up cold & dry tonight – We
Returned at ten o’c tonight

Dick Burton: R. C. Burton, Co. B, 1st La. Bn.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; annotations by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 2th Massachusetts]

Monday Feb. 17 Had a rather wet and hard night
but made out to get through. Had
to get ready to escort prisoners at eleven
but finally did not go. Swapped Knives with
one of the prisoners and also bought a
sheet of paper with the secession flag on it.

MSS 11293

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

February 17
Did not play for Guard
mounting practised as usual
officers came in to day
Major called then other
officers all more or less
intoxicated over the
news from Tenn & Ga
ft Donelson & Savannah
taken. Some of the boys
drunk Arthurs dead drunk
Gillett & Crotty came very
near having a fight
Had a parade to hear
the news read
Went out to night and
serenaded a little
rained some most of
the snow gone up to-
day

probably Alfred Arthur, Lewis H. Gillett and Joseph I. Crotty, fellow musicians

MSS 10317