HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
February 4, 1862
General Orders
No. 21

The commanding General calls the attention of the twelve
months’ troops under his command to General Orders No. 1, from
the War Department, on the subject of their re-enlistment under the
act of Congress, approved Dec. 11, 1861.

Soldiers! Your country again calls you to the
defence of the noblest of human causes. To the indomitable courage
already exhibited on the battlefield, you have added the rarer virtues
of high endurance, cheerful obedience, and self sacrifice. Accustomed
to the comforts and luxuries of home, you have met and borne the
privations of camp life, the exactions of military discipline, and the
rigors of a winter campaign. The rich results of your courage, patri-
otism and unfaltering virtue are before you. Intrusted with the de-
fence of this important frontier, you have driven back the immense
army which the enemy had sent to invade our country and to establish
his dominion over our people by the wide-spread havoc of a war inau-
gurated without a shadow of constitutional right, and prosecuted n
a spirit of ruthless vengeance. By your valor and firmness you have
kept him in check until the Nations of the Earth have been forced to
see un in our true character, not dismembered and rebellious commu-
nities, but an empire of Confederate States, with a constitution safe in
the affections of the people–institutions and laws in full and unob-
structed operation–a population enjoying all the comforts of life–
and a citizen soldiery who laugh to scorn the threat of subjugation.

Your country now summons you to a nobler duty and a greater
deed. The enemy has gathered up all his energies for a final conflict.–
His enormous masses threaten us on the West; his naval expeditions are
assailing us upon our whole Southern coast, and upon the Potomac, within
a few hours’ march, he has a gigantic army, inflamed by lust, and mad-
dened by fanaticism. But the plains of Manassas are not forgotten, and
he shrinks from meeting the disciplined heroes who hurled across the

[page 2]
Potomac h is grand army, routed and disgraced. He does not propose
to attack this army as long as it holds its present position with undi-
minished numbers and unimpaired discipline; but, protected by his rot-
tifications, he awaits the expiration of your term of service. He recollects
that his own ignoble soldiery, when their term of service expired
“marched away from the scene of the conflict to the sound of the enemy’s
cannon:” and he hopes that at that critical moment Southern men
will consent to share with them this infamy. Expecting a large por-
tion of our army to be soon disbanded, he hopes that his immense num-
bers will easily over power your gallant comrades who will be left here,
and thus remove the chief obstacle to his cherished scheme of Southern
subjugation.

The Commanding General calls upon the twelve months men
to stand by their brave comrades who have volunteered for the War–
to re-volunteer at once–and thus show to the world that the patriots
engaged in this struggle for independence will not swerve from the
bloodiest path they may be called to tread. The enemies of your coun-
try as well as her friends are watching your action with deep, intense,
tremulous interest. Such is your position that you can act no obscure
part. Your decision, be it for honor or dishonor, will be written down
in history. You cannot, will not draw back at this solemn crisis of
our struggle, when all that is heroic in the land is engaged, and all
that is precious hangs trembling in the balance.

By command of General JOHNSTON

A.P. MASON

A.A.A. Gen’l

McGregor A1862 .C432N6 Feb. 4

Extract from Special Report of Gen F. H Smith, Supt of the V.M. Institute to the Governor of Va Feby 4, 1862

“I hope to be able at some
future day to present in a complete view,
the part that the Graduates and Cadets of
this Institution have borne int he present
struggle. The record is an honorable one and
deserving of preservation. Some have fallen on
the battlefield–others have died of disease,
all have done honor to the Institution and
to the Country.

But no loss has fallen more
heavily upon the School than that of its late
President and benefactor, Brig General Philip
St George Cocke. He died at his mansion
on the 28th December 1861.

General Cocke graduated
with distinction at the U.S. Military Academy
in 1832, and was commissioned a Second Lieuten-
ant of Artillery. He was subsequently
appointed Adjutant of his Regiment, and
after serving two years in the Army, he resigned
in 1834 and returned to his estate in Virginia.
It was my privilege to be associated with him on
terms of the closest intimacy for the period of
32 years and I can say of him, in truth, that
I never knew a purer-more hightoned or more

[page 2]
useful gentleman. True in every noble impulse,
his life and his fortune were alike tendered in
the hour of his country’s peril, upon the altar of
his country’s service; and after a campaign of
eight months in the face of the enemy, and
winning laurels upon the plains of Manassas,
as a Brigade Commander, he returned to his
home, worn out by protracted care and toil, to
die.

The history and progress of the Virginia Military
Institute for the past 12 years are intimately
associated with the name of Gen Cocke. His
clear, discriminating judgement aided materially
in the organization and developement[sic] of that system
of scientific education which has added so much
reputation to this school; while a munificent
donation of $20,000 put into operation his cherished
plan for a separate chair of scientific agriculture
His benefactions to this Institution did not stop
here. Death has broken the seal of confidence,
and in recording this tribute to the memory of
a friend, it gives me pleasure to state, that
the means which enabled the Superintendent to
make his tour in Europe in 1858, for the purpose
of examining the systems of military and scientific
education there, were supplied by his liberal and
generous hand

It was in this delicate manner he

[page 3]
aimed to promote the cause of scientific develope-
ment[sic] in this Institution of whose Board of Visitors
he was the President

I am not permitted to speak of the individual
cases in which he has stepped forward as the
friend of the orphan,or of the poor boy strug-
gling to secure an education. The means to
supply the deficiency were contributed at times
without the knowledge of the party most
interested
such was Philip St George Cocke.
True-brave-generous-modest-all these high
traits were united int his hightoned Christian
gentleman, and will be preserved in lasting mem-
-ory by those who knew and honored him here,
“For tho’ his earthly sun has set
“Its light shall linger round us yet
“Bright-radiant-blest”

I remain very Respectfully
your obt Servt
Francis H Smith
Bvt Manor Genl of Engrs
Superintendent

MSS 640

[to be continued]

Centreville Feb. 3rd. 62.
My Dear Father –
I returned
from picket this evening
after having had several
days of rough duty to
perform, and soon after
reaching Camp received
your letter of the 1st. Ult.
Tomorrow I hope to hear
something from the Communi-
cation addressed to the Adjt.
Genl. of Va., but I anticipate
that it will meet the fate
of its predecessors.
Should it succeed I have
no doubt that in 24
hours I could swell the
number of my Company
to the Complement altered
by law, and pick the
men to compose it.

[page 2]
I have tried to give the
subject of which we have
so frequently spoken mature
consideration, and after
doing so I am scarcely
able to say what plan
I deem most expedient.
Were it certain that
the Heavy Battery to which
we were sent, would not
be located in the [?] [word smeared and not discernible]
to which the Enemy would
only penetrate by overcoming
the main body of the troops,
the men would join
such a Corps with alac-
rity. But liable as
they are to be situated
at some such out of
the way place as Man-
assas Junction or Glou-

[page 3]
cester Point, they would
not so speedily connect
themselves with that branch
of the service.
The detail to go home
& raise a Lt. Art. Co. I
regard as a “dernier [last]
resort”. The favorite
scheme, next to that of
forming a Company of
Field Art. from the present
Vols. is the raising of
a Co. of Horse, to
be employed as Couriers
& Guerrillas. Seven
men of the Greys have
been to me, & without
encouragement previously,
requested me to form such
a Co. saying that
that they would gladly

[page 4]
join & aid me. By perse-
vering I think success in
this probable, as the men
are generally disposed
to avail themselves of any man-
oeuvre by which Infantry
service can be escaped.
Now above all others
is the occasion which
should be improved by
the adoption of some plan.
This morning the offi=
cial announcement was
made that men Enlist-
ing for the war would
be immediately granted
a furlough of 30 days.
This inducement
will rapidly swell
the ranks of any Com-
pany of a popular

[page 5]
arm of the service &
with a suitable person
at its head.
I shall hope to hear
from you soon, and in
a few days to undertake
and prosecute some scheme.
A heavy snow over-
spreads the ground and
is yet falling.
I continue well, &
comfortable-
With love I am
Most Affectionately
Your Son,
Jno. W. Daniel.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

John Warwick Daniel, 1842-1910, Co. C, 27th Virignia, and later Co. C, 11th Virginia, rose to rank of majore before permanently disabled in the battle of the Wilderness in 1864. studied law at the University of Virginia. Eventually a U. S. senator called the “Lame Lion of Lynchburg”; know for his oratorical skills.
MSS 158

Centreville Virginia
3rd. Feby 1862
My dear Little Nannie:
Yours of 29th ulto’s came to hand
in due time –
I am glad to hear that you were able
to pay your nearest friends a walking visit & hope
that you can & will go out very often though I
prefer that you employ some other means for getting
about – Let the Boy smile on & I’ll show him
how to laugh when I get home & then if he don’t
cackle right out Lucy must go right straight to
the peach tree for you know what – I would much
prefer that Lizzie should not do the work, but if she
were to offer the proposed Helmet of course I would receive
it, wear it, & be much obliged to him – If you don’t
like your new dress you must either change it or
get another one at once – It is not my opinion
that the blockade will be raised or the war ended
before next winter – I have plenty of socks & other
clothing all in good order & can do very well without
the cap cover you so kindly propose to make – I am

[page 2]
a thousand times thankful to you for your considera-
-tions & kind offers to do for me & am rather sorry
than otherwise that I can think of nothing for which
to call on you –
I suppose that Clark will be with you
this evening – He seemed delighted with his new appoint-
-ment which I think is a very good start for him
if it is a regular army appointment & he desires to
be a solider for life – On leaving here he borrowed
20$ from Brown giving him the enclosed draft on his
Father but afterwards said that he would leave the
money with you – If he left it with you, you can
keep it & destroy the draft & I will pay Brown here –
but if he did not leave it with you, you must present
the draft & get the money from your Father – In a word
I have agreed to pay Brown here & I want you to have
the money at home so as to save the risk of trans-
-mission by mail when I am paid off in a few
days –
The snow lies now about three inches thick

[page 3]
on the ground and continues to come down from
above “like flugens” – I hope it may not get much
deeper or lie long as we have to enlarge our wood
pile in a day or two –
Grey Latham seems almost to have
deserted this Company – He has not been here more
than 20 hours for the last six days – No one can
well imagine the loss accruing to the public
interest by the management of this Company –
I do not think he is looking to the soldiery for pro-
-motion now but is an applicant, for the same,
to the War Dept. – The announcement of Clarks
appointment was recd. by him & his two Lieuts.
without a word from either –
My love to Our Mother – remember me
kindly to the Col. & tell the Cap’n how d’ye –
With unalterable affection
Your Own
Choctaw

William King, Captain of the Saltville Light Artillery

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6682

[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]

Miss Galts Wmsburg
Monday – February 3rd 1862
It commenced raining abt reville this
morning, & before ten o’c hailed & rained –
the ground is very sloppy & disagreeable.
No drills or roll calls – Harry Fairchild
won the third game in our last tournament
today – After dinner I got the letters &
walked into Wmsburg after the mail
Rec’d a letter from Willie Huger saying that
he could not see Mr Memminger, or get
my furlough – So that I have given up hope
of reaching Carrollton by the 20thFFebry!
Took tea at Miss Galts, & spent the
evening with Miss Hattie [Hettie Cary], played
five games of chess, with her & won them
all – she plays a good game – Mr Vest gave
a large party in town last Thursday – Genl [John Bankhead] Ma
-gruder was present.

[Harry W. Fairchild, Co. B, 1st La. Bn.]

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

MSS 6154

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician, of the 23rd Ohio, returning to camp from furlough]

left Home this
morning. Stopped in
Sav[annah] a short time
Saw Eliza
Went with Will to
New London took the
9 am Train. arrived in
Cin— about 3 oclock
went to the Gibson House
left baggs. Went to
uncles
cloudy

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetss, currently with the Commissary on the steamer “Admiral”

No order has yet come for me and it
is nearly noon, but it will come
out all right I know. this morning a boat
was discovered, and one of our gunboats
went in pursuit and after a little chase came
up with it and towed it down here, but I
have not learned what it was. Evening. This
afternoon Lieut Richardson came over with a
boat, and I went over to see the Adjutant
General again. One of the aids gave me a
permit to join my regiment, so I came over
to the New York. I was assigned to the room
occupied by the commisary, and much better
accommodations than I had last night to sleep
blessed be God for His favors. He is continually
showering blessings upon me, and yet how
poor a return I make to Him. To Him be
all the glory forever. I spent the evening chiefly
in singing with George Lowe. It seems good
to get back with my old associates again
We still lie here at anchor

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, civilian clerk, quartermaster dept., Staunton, Va.]

Monday night, Feb. 3, 1862.
Alick’s children – Addy & Mary – much
better. Kitty, also, improving. No news of
special interest for several days. Webster, the
[-] soldier who killed Snider some two
months ago, was discharged, on Saturday, by
the examining Court, after a protracted inves-
tigation and discussion of the case. It is said
that the testimony tended to show that the killing
was accidental. Another snow storm to-day.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 38-258

Dear friends
I received a letter
from you Saturday night with
a few lines from Francis Symonds
and was glad to hear from you,
but I should feel better at ease
if I had heard from the money
I sent to Portland I hope I shall
hear from it the next time you
write. I was sorry to hear that
Walter did not live with you
I think you had better get a boy to
come and stay with you to do the
chores around the house and barn.
We have been packing up a box
to send home it will be sent to
Isaac McLellen at Webbs Mills
I have put in some things I though
to give Walter but if he does not
live with you I do not want him

[page 2]
to have anything there is some
books and other things I want
for him to have if he stays with
you. I have put in a Springfield
musket that I picked up I want
you to get Francis Symonds to clean
it and put it together if Mr[?] Washington
cannot do it. I want Washington to
fix if if his hand is well enough
and he has time to do it you will
find all the things in an old
knapsack the musket is tied up
with a piece of rope with fathers
name on it. I do not want any one
to have the musket to carry away
they may try it at a mark if they
wish to but not to carry it away
from home. I want you to keep
it well oiled to keep off the rust
If Walter lives with you he may
call it his but he must not handle
it. I have sent my over coat and other
things you will find in the knapsack

[page 3]
all my letters are in there you
may put them in my trunk
We have had wet weather about
all the time since I wrote today
it snows but the ground is not
froze and the snow will soon
melt away. It has been terrible muddy
here for two months nearly all the
time. I have not much news to
write as every thing remains about
the same as when I last wrote
all of the returned prisoners will
take the field to put down the
rebels that are able to do so. D. P.
Wood and some others that belong
to this company have gone home on
a furlow for a short time but they
will soon be back and assume their
place in the ranks again I want
you to go up and see Isaac as soon as you
can after you get this and ask him what
the bill will be if it is not more than
150 cts you may pay him I think

[page 4]
or any other one he will be glad
to get it. If them things
get home safe I do not want
you to give Walter any thing
unless he is with you. There
is some books there that I got
at Dr. Masons last summer
[fold in paper obliterates most of this line] much but
[fold in paper obliterate most of this line]I would send them
home. I have nothing more
to write this time so I will
close write as soon as you
get news from that box
Yours in haste
H.M. Cash

Hiram Cash, Private, Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916

[The following clipping from a recent issue of the South Western Baptist was included in R. D. Powell’s letter to General John Hartwell Cocke. It describes Cocke’s Alabama plantation by the minister who was hired to preach to his slaves]

A Model Plantation

Mr. Editor: It is my lot to visit sometimes, in
a certain neighborhood where I preach occa-
sionally, what may be considered a model
plantation; one I think after God’s own heart;
one which I think dignifies and elevates the
institution of slavery to the position which I
conceive the diving originator would always
have it to occupy. The arrangements on this
plantation have been attended with such hap-
py consequences to master and servants, that
I think it my duty to give to the world a de-
scription for the benefit of many Christians
who are going contrary to their own interest
in not giving their servants the very highest re-
ligious privileges. The owner of this planta-
tion has provided, in connection with two of
his neighbors, for having the Gospel preached
to his servants three times a month, having
gone to the expense of erecting a neat and
comfortable brick church for them, with a
stove to keep it warm. This you will say is
no unusual thing, except the stove. And I am
willing to grant it is not, for I am rejoiced to
know that our planters are, many of them,
awaking to their duty in this respect. But,
brethren, this is not all he has done for their
religious instruction. although, as a resident
of another State, he is compelled to be absent
from them himself a greater portion of the
time, he has arrangements made by which the
word of God is read and prayers are daily of-
fered up among his people. Every morning
at daylight they assemble in the basement of
the dwelling house, where ample seats are
supplied for about sixty to hear the good Book
read, to sing a hymn, and to lift their hearts in
devotion to God. And what has been thus far
the result of all this? Is it like the morning pray-
ers in some of our schools and college chapels,
a dull and formal drag? Far from it. I do not
know where my soul ever has such a refresh-
ing influence from association with the holy
atmosphere of devout hearts, as it as
when I meet with those Christian ser-
vants. There is very little of the dead feel-
ing of formality there. Out of sixty hands
on that plantation there are only two who are
not members of the Baptist church. All are
members of the same church, not by any rule
or law requiring them to join that church, or
no other; not because any great effort is used
to get them to join that church; but they have,
we trust, been led by the Spirit to cast in their
lot among the true people of God. At another
plantation near there, belonging to the same
master, out of twenty-five hands twenty-three
are members of the Baptist church. They are
all orderly, well behaved members, too. Every
one is held to a strict attention to Christian
duty. Occasionally there are one or two who
may deviate from the right path, but not often.
Well, what is the effect of t his on the planta-
tion? It is marvellous:–fine crops are made with
little or no trouble. Fat mules, horses and
cows, the soil well supplied with guano and
plaster of Paris, a plenty of vegetables, nice
clean clothing, and an abundant cotton crop,
and hosts of little negroes attest the benefits of
the plan. Nay, I would not be surprised if
the good health of the master at the unusual
age of eighty-five, is not some way con-
nected with that prayer meeting.
His servants are more intelligent, healthier,
more obedient, and do more work in the
course of the year than any man’s in the coun-
try, who pursues a different course. Now, is
not ths example worthy of imitation? God
send it into the hearts of his people to give
their servants religious instruction and to see
that they attend to it.
Brethren, God has a blessing for you if you
will attend to your duty in this respect. If
every slaveholder pursued such a course
as I have described, with his servants, all the
abolitionists in the world would never get a
slave to leave us. C.E. BRAEME
Greensboro, Ala., April 9, 1861

MSS 640