[From the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio, returning from furlough]

                                       Wheeling, Va., Feb. 3d, 1862.
No boat today.  A slight sprinkle of snow
fell last night, rob[e]ing the earth in fleecy whiteness.
I havn’t a much better opinion of the city
than yesterday.  A little more activity today is
about the only perceptible difference.  I notice
considerable of ^ ‘the’ military fraternity on the streets, and
as sport shoulder straps, whether they deserve them
or not, and get all the glory, while the common
soldier who does the fighting, and endures the
hardships, is passed by, unheeded and unmentioned.
But for him, and where would the reputation & glory
of such self-conceited puppies be?  These remarks, be
it understood, apply only to those weak-headed
individuals whom a position will make a bigger
fool of than they were before.

  I don’t think that the principles of square measure
will apply to Wheeling.  It has length, but no
breadth.  It is stretched along the river bank
for two, three, or four miles, but extends back
but a short distance on account of abruptly steep
hills. ~ My furlough expiring today, I reported
myself at Gen: Rosecrans’ Head Quarters, and,
stating the cause of my delay, the matter was
made “all right.”

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

Dear Genl.

I have recd your welcome letter of the 20th Jany:
In reply, am thankful to God that Mrs. Cocke has
tranquilly submitted to the Power of the Almighty
& is praying for his Consenting Grace.
May the God of all goodness & mercy answer her
prayers the Prayers of us all, for the entire
family while living here, & that it may become
family undivided in heaven.
You & the Dear family have the prayers
of our friends around us here.
I wrote to you since my last visit to Greene
& no doubt you have recd before this time.
Smith will continue to live at Hopewell
Nickley has left New Hope & I have sent
young Frank down to take his place.
Dont be uneasy about the boys; I think
I can get on Well, if I can keep my
health–I shall attend to the improvement
of Hopewell as much as possible in my
respect–
I was on Genl. Phil: St: Geo: Cocke’s
Plantations last monday & tuesday.
The stock of every kind looking very well.
The servants very well except some

[page 2]
few with colds, & 9one very sick woman at
Lake Place, but she was thought to be better
than she had been several days before my
visit to the Plantations.
We are getting on well on the Plantations
Plowing & cleaning up for another crop.
We can not finish packing cotton till
we can buy more baging & Rope, & I do
not expect to be able to buy till the Block
=ade is raised, & then we can get us
much Rope, & india baging as we well
need for the present & next crop–
You wrote three Excrs had qualified on
the Est. I would like to know their views
about planting the next crop of cotton
if the blockade is not raised.
The people here think it best to plant only
half a crop, as a half crop will be
worth as much as a whole one & make
more grain & raise more meat-
The people here are going upon the
cash system & we have no cash, & I
would be glad to get the consent of
Doct Cocke or all the excrs to sell corn
&c &c to raise money to buy supplies
for the plantations as they do not intend
to come here till apl. I have sold
some corn, & bought sugar & molases

[page 3]
but do not know now how we are to pay
debts, or the taxes, if we cant sell cotton
The Est owes the last payment for the Yazoo
place $13000 or $14000, & 10 or $12000 to the Comss
merchants in New Orleans, & other debts amounting
to several thousand dollars for the purchase
of mules for the Bottom & other things necessary
for the use of the Plantations–
The Legislature of Miss. has passed a stay[?] law
& no money can be collected till 12 months after
the war is over, & if we can pay taxes, we can
get on well, till we can sell cotton.
The est. has a few hundred Dolls. due it for corn
&c sold in the past year but the people
can pay or not-& for that reason all are
doing a cash business, & letting all old debts
lie till the Blockage is raised
I am now sick with a cold, but as soon as
I am well enough will leave for the Bottom.
Smith writes me I will have to settle with Robt
& armistead for marking & killing some of Capt
Cockes shoats & 2 sows.–If I had a copy
of Genl. P.St.G’s Cocke’s will, I could know how
to act till the excrs come out without troubling
them at present–but you can judge what
is best to be done. In haste yr friend
R. D. Powell
Genl. John H Cocke

[page 4]
The $200 I borrowed to pay our taxes in Green
County will be paid by Messrs Jas. E. Saunders
& Son & charged to us–RDP
The state of Ala assumes the paymnt of the war tax
of Ala. It is 57c for every $100 worth of property
in Ala & in this state (Miss.) I think.
all the taxes of the est of Genl. P. St. Geo. Cocke
will amt. to $10,000 if no more in this state

[in the left hand margin of page 1]
I shall request all the overseers to write to Mrs Cocke
till I see the Excrs & will write again from the Bottom
next week if I am able to travel–

Dr. Cocke, i.e. John Hartwell Cocke’s son Cary Charles Cocke who resigned his captaincy in the Fluvanna Light Artillery to serve as executor of the estate of his brother General Philip St.George Cocke.

MSS 640

[From the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, newspaper editor and postmaster at Lynchburg, Va, with 5 sons in the Confederate army]

Snow–It fell during the day to the depth
of 4 inches but became a slush–closely con-
fined all day at Bank & at last got up
my work. when every days work fills up the
allotted time, it is hard to make up leeway. I
recd a letter from Lewis directed to his mother
which gives an account of his courting a
young lady–she asked for time–he required
an immediate answer and she said “No”–apparently
to his relief–What a fellow he is, to think
of marrying a girl, as poor as himself, so he
says in times like these–He sent us also
a letter from Dr J.M. Minor to his sister, dated
21 January. He has recd a letter which Charles
wrote to him and sent to Leesburg, informing
him of the death of his brother.

MSS 4763

Monday night Feb 3 1862

My Dearest Mother
I received Ken’s letter yes-
terday, enclosing brother Henry’s & the stamp
& newspaper articles from Bessie–many
thanks to all for them–Ken says he reckons
“Sister Mary has told me so & so”–so I sup-
pose she wrote some but forgot to put
it in as I did not get any thing from
her–Letters from home are more & more
a treat and the pieces from the papers are
read by my mess-mates (room-mates I might
call them now, as we are in a comfortably
furnished cabin) with as much interest as by myself–Every
letter I get, they ask if there are “any
scraps” We see the papers now rather
more frequently, and I have just been
reading that abominable “Bill for
raising Virginia’s quota of men” which
the Senate has passed–I hope the House
will have common sense enough to quash
it–but suppose not–If not it will
cause a “rumpus” throughout the army=–
and all of “Virginia’s quota” will have
to be drafted, for they will not vol-
unteer–It makes no adequate or proper

[page 2]
distinction between volunteers & the militia-
gives the former no credit for past services
& except the paltry reward of $50 there is
no difference made–It does, it is true, allow
a company to be filled up from the militia,
to remain in the field under its old officers provided 35 of its present
members reenlist–This amounts to nothing, as
very few companies now number twice that
many–and not one in ten will reenlist in
that way–The officers as a general thing wd
be very willing to do so, but the men will
take their chances in the draft, before
they will continue in service without having
furloughs–Our Co. is as good as any of the
others–better than most==& of it not one in ten
will volunteer in this way–They ought to
have some credit for the year they will
have served–I think myself that the
whole militia now at home ought to be
called out & gotten ready for active ser-
vice–If that were done & proper credit given
thus to the present volunteers twice as many
of these would reenlist, & then if not needed
a portion of the militia cd be discharged–
It is the common saying of all the men
with whom I have talked on the subject
that they “will not thus be thus forced to vol–
unteer”–in this class are many who until
this Bill had declared their intention of re

[page 3]
enlisting–Capt. Lilly has determined to make
up a Cavalry Co. & a great many men of
his Co. had signified their intention to join
it–If I went to the service again I intended
to go with him–as it is I shall wait for
something to turn up–I am glad Ken is
at College & Lance out of the scrape–
According to this Bill the Officers now in
service, if they cannot get 35 of their men to
reenlist (& as I said they cannot) will if drafted
(& they stand even chances for it) be tacked
on to Militia Companies at home or in
the field which have already organized &
elected officers–Thus tried & experienced officers
will become privates under raw militia men-
The whole thing is absurd–The “Fool-Killer”
should visit Richmond-
I am glad brother Henry is getting along
so well & writes so cheerfully–I will write
to him soon–My term of enlistment ends the
27th of May–I don’t expect I can go home
before that time–Furloughs are almost unknown
here–But it is less than 4 months & I hope
we will all be spared to meet then–I have
just finished “Hedley Vicars” read most of it
today–It has been going the rounds of the
Company & I did not like to take it from
any one who wanted to read it–There are
some to read it yet–It is a most excellent

[page 4]
book for Camp, & if I cd be such a sincere & earnest
Christian as he was, I wd have no more fear of
death than he had–I suppose no such other
mere man ever lived–I shall try to profit by
his example & so be prepared for any event that
may await me–We have preaching twice every
Sunday in the little church (I think it is marked
on that map I sent you) Capt Miller generally
preaches in the morning, but last Sunday the Chaplain
of the 12th Ga. Regt preached)–Capt Miller seems
in earnest & never lets the weather interfere with
his arrangements–He is fully as fine a preacher
as Dr. Hays–He holds prayer meetings at the
Church Tuesday & Thursday evenings–The church
is a very small one & is always crowded to its utmost
capacity–I have read a good deal of “Baxter’s Saint’s
Rest”–You must not think that I spend my time
very idly–I generally have a good deal of writing to
do for the Capt–“Powers of Attorney” for sick men to
draw their pay–Requisitions, Notes of thanks to ladies
for presents &c &c for the “Staunton Spectator.” That
paper came out with a notice of my election the
other day–the Capt had sent it–I have received
my Commission Lieut. Wright & I are going
down to Crab Bottom as soon as the weather clears
up to “qualify” to our Commissions–We can’t get
at a Magistrate nearer (10 miles)–We were thinking
this morning while it was snowing of making a
“Yankee (Secesh) jumper” to go to Hevener’s in, but it is
now raining–we can get horses for the purpose–About
15 of us have established a select Debating Society & I was
Chairman of a Committee to get up By-Laws & a Constitution
& also on the Debate–Every member has to speak each
night–there are also two declamations & two original compo-
sitions to be criticised—We have had only one meeting–meet
Friday nights–I pitched into the Capt & Tom Opie the last
meeting & for some time we had it up & down–I have read
two or three plays of Shakespeare, “Quentin Matsys,” “Nicholas Nickleby”
Sense & Sensibility tracts & other good books–have some to read yet–so you see
I haven’t been quite idle–I write a good many letters too am fonder of it.

[in right hand margin of page 4]
I wrote to Ellen the other day.

[cross hatched on the left hand side of page 1]
Lieut John Cochran of Staunton a cousin of Miss Mitties died her
of Typhoid fever a few days ago–There is not much
sickness in camp–I am in good health & good spirits
The roads are impossible & no Yankee demonstrations
Good night & may God bless you all
Your afft son
C. D. McCoy

upside down in margin of page 1]
Tuesday morning–How does Ken get on with his German &c?
Remember me to Redwood & best love to all CDM

Charles D. McCoy, 1st Sgt, Co. D, 25th Virginia Infantry

Presumably the “Memorials of Captain Hedley Vicars” the biography of a British officer killed in the Crimean War

Quentin Matsys: perhaps a biography of the Dutch painter of that name

Joseph B. Wright, Corporal Co. B, 25th Virginia Infantry

MSS 6830-a, -b

Home Sunday Evg Feby 2 1862

Dear Richard [Bayly Buck]

Mr Wesley Jenkens[?] informs
me he will go down in the morning;
and I will send you a line by him.
We have not heard from you for some
time past; and am quite anxious to
know how you are getting on.
Why do you not write more
frequently?
I have just been to see Dan Span
gler, Newton Garnet, Peyton &c. All
better, but Daniel; and I am sor-
ry to say his symptoms are quite
unfavorable.
Tell Amos his little boy Alfred
is not quite well–The remainder
of his family in usual health.
He has not replied to my letter
about fencing &c.
We have had a very sick family.
All are better now. Cous Mount is
greatly improved.
I regret very much the delay in
getting your box on and am at

[page 2]
a loss to account for Mr Pettys not
taking it. By this time, I hope you
have it. If it has not gone yet,
Wesley promises to take charge of it.
Alvin and Irving have been
up. We have had horrible
weather for some weeks past–and
my work is greatly behind in con
sequence Must close, for the
messenger waits–All send love
Write by returning train

Truly Your Affectionate
Parent
M.B. Buck

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio, returning from furlough]      

     
                                       Wheeling, Virginia, Feb. 2nd., 1862.

Took a peep at the city this morning, and
don’t think much of it.  although a place
of considerable celebrity and importance, yet,
I must say that I am not prepossessed
in its favor, and decidedly dislike its looks.
What I have seen is nothing more than dirty,
black-looking houses, and these of a very plain
order of architecture.  Streets are narrow, and
I see nothing attractive anywhere except the
wire Suspension bridge, which spans the river
from Wheeling to Wheeling Island, which lies
opposite Wheeling.  This is a splendid piece of
mechanism, and is truly one of the wonders of
Art.  The space here spanned must be some 1200
feet without a single pier, and is probably 80
or 100 feet above low water mark.
  Visited the Hospital, and took a look at things
there; and found everything looking trim & tidy,
giving evidence of the existence of a good
managing head.  Most of the seriously sick of
our army in Western Virginia have been sent here,
and have been greatly benefited thereby.

                                                                             
I have been looking anxiously for a down river
boat all day, but have seen none, and no
regular packet for farther down than Parkersburg
is due until Tuesday evening. ~~ This is Sunday,
and a dull day to me, which possibly may have
some influence in my giving such an opinion of
Wheeling as I have.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

[from the diary of Sgt. Z. Lee Gilmer, Co. B, 19th Virginia (Albemarle Rifles)

Left for Picket post No. 3 about
midnight it began to snow and
continued all the next day
most of the night follow
ing we had no shelter but a
few Pine brush this post
has recently been drawn in
about a mile & a half. The
morning after the snow we
boys went out & caught
three hairs The three
Shepherd & myself on the
5th we returned to camp

MSS 4459

Head Quarters, Dist. of Cairo
Cairo, Feb.y 2d 1862

Flag Officer Foote
Comdg Naval Flotilla
Cairo Ill.

Sir:
The bearer Dr. A. Blake
was the Surgeon of the regiment of which
I was Colonel and I always understood gave
general satisfaction. He is now desirous of
obtaining a position on one of the gun
boats which if you can give I have no
doubt Dr. Blake will be able to fill
satisfactorily.

Respectfully
Your Obt: svt.
U. S. Grant
Brig. Gen

MSS 10645

My Dear Mother—I suppose you think by this time I owe you A letter
I am asshamed[sic] of myselfe for neglecting you so long for the future I will
try & write you at least once A week now I have begun to write I hardly
know what to write about we have had nothing but snow & rain for
the last three weeks the frost is playing the Old Heavy with the Fort
by next spring the walls will be down & then there will be more
work for us last Sunday I saw Elder Peck he looks as large as ever last
Sunday we also had A visit from Mr. Charles & Jermny Jackson & all of
the Boys Mr West is in the Fort verry often I like him, we are hard
to work in learning the bayonet drill we may remain in Baltimore some
months & we may be called off any moment but if I were to Judge by appea-
rances I should say that we would remain untill the close of the war
I think we have seen all the service we ever will their inactivity
in[sic] making the men dissatisfied, I cant see why this Regiment is kept
back, when there is plenty of green Regts that could garison this Fort
as well as this Regiment, I received A letter from Joseph to day he says
they have not seen the sun for three weeks he is in good health that
last letter I receivd from Father I think was rather hard on me I do
not think it was called for I dont know what I have done to merit
such A letter I have always done my duty & never have been in the
guard House never been intoxicated or done anything that I
know of out of the way I did neglect to write A letter for A few days
that is all. I have tryed to conduct myselfe so that when I return
Home I can look back with pride to the time when I belonged
to the Fifth Regiment New York Volunteers I cant think of any
thing else to write about & will close hopeing we will all meet
again I am your Son
George

Letters from George Leavitt and his brother Joseph 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

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

Fry takes [-]
Sunday – February 2nd 1862
Spent most of the day outdoors – Some
ladies came out from Williamsburg to see the
review that did not come off – Maj Beard
[Major James H. Beard, 1st Louisiana Battalion]
got me to go out & invite them in – they remained
an hour & I left them at the Majors – Made
out & sent into Yorktown today another furlough
for Hazard today. Wrote to Julie tonight
& to Norvell Logan. Axson arrived
today from Richmond – he looks as fat as
a pig – played 2 games chess with Elliott
today without my queen, beating both. Harry
Fairchild beat me a game today – making us
2 & – We all exercised tonight with on
the bars of our house – & putting each others
arms, I floored ^ ‘put down’ every mans ^’arms’ in the mess – old
Harry gave me a brave tussle – Mr Ross leaves us
tomorrow – Rec’s yrs’ [yesterday’s] Richmond paper today – Henry Brown reports
Stuart to be sick of his Commission & that he would like to
return to the battalion

[John L.] Norvell Logan Co. B, 1st Louisiana Battalion

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

MSS 6154