Lynchburg 20th Febry 1862
My Dear Sir
Your favor 17th was recd. last evening enclosing a letter
from John – he makes a graceful retreat, just what I expected; a noble
Boy he is and you have good cause to be proud of him – his zeal for the
Cause run a little ahead of his judgment for a while,- I hope Major
Mason is the right sort of man & officer – you can find out no doubt –

Observe what you say about Abram in regard to a re-organization
and Concur with you mainly – I had written him after weighing the matter
well that I thought he had but reinlist, and be governed by Circumstances
as to his future action, – This morning I note in the paper an advertisement
of his Cap’ calling for recruits for the Hosp – We have many rumours
pro & Con in regard to two Armies in the West, which to believe cant tell,
hope something cheering will turn up soon either in the way of recognition
or Victory at Nashville, – About your bond to Johnson I apprehend
no difficulty, the bond was assigned by Johnson to Bass and I paid
Bass the Interest on same to 1st Febry and Pass so receipted on the bond,
you seem to think Johnson Collected the Interest, if I said any thing to
bring you to that Conclusion it was a mistake of mine
I will take Care of John’s letter for you Yours Very Truly
L.C Wanwock [?]
P. S. I saw Mrs. Daniel, shopping in the Street this morning
and she reported herself & Mrs. Cabell well – Sarah is
well, & she & Carrie write a line to you – Yours. L. C. W.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158

Lynchburg, Feb 20, 1862

Dear Capt.[Cary C. Cocke]

I starter from
home on Tuesday last, {on route
to Camp} and fully expected to
go on so as to be at Manassas
at the time appointed {friday 22d}
but since getting to this place
I have been thrown back with
my bowels so that it is
impossible for me to report
in several days yet.

I am more than anxious
to be in Camp, especially since
I learn that such a spirit of
reenlisting pervades our company
but I am sure that you would
blame me very much to go into camp in my present
condition.

[page 2]
It seems that it is almost
impossible for me to get my
bowels right. Indeed they
have not been any thing
like regular since I left
camp. I sometimes fear that
I never will get well.
I have dieted myself until
I am a perfect skeleton,
and I am affraid[sic] that our
camp food will be very
much opposed to my
health. I will {whether
I am fit for duty or not}
report myself in camp very
soon. I am sure that in
my present condition I
could not stand it in camp
twenty four hours.
I have for the last 3 days
had daily about 4 or 5 discharges
of the worst character.

[page 3]
I have thought of reporting myself
in camp and leaving it for
the Drs. to say whether or not
I am able to stand it in
camp yet. I will assure you
that I am exceedingly
anxious to be at my post.
Please write to me, and
give me your views upon
the subject.
Please see that my horse
is attended to by the man
in whose charge I left him
& I will be under many
obligations to you.

My best respects and highest
regards to Maj. Richardson.
Please write on receipt, and
tell me what you think I
had best do. Very truely[sic] yours
J.W.Bledsoe
Address me at Lynchburg
Va.

MSS 640

Meridian Hill. Washington D. C.
Thursday Evening Feb 20th 1862

Mrs Edward Shephard
Your letter of the 17th
I have just received, and will try
to allay your sorrow, as I am
happy to say that your husband
is fast improving, and will
probably be well again in a
few days. I have visited him
several times since he has been
in the Hospital and always found
him in good spirits he has
every care that home could

[page 2]
afford, excepting the presence of
that are near and dear. I took
your letter to him yesterday. I shall
see him again to-morrow.
Little did we think on that beautiful
winter day that we both left home
our homes, that so soon one would
reach the Hospital, but so it seems
however I feel thankful it is
no worse, as it may be the
means of improving us us both
and making us better in the
in the future. I think
we is already improved in
a moral view. I hear from
Mr. Clark quite often I wish
they would write again, as I
wrote them the last letter.
Edward frequently speaks of

[page 3]
you all but particularly of you,
the child, and his Mother.

Answer soon.
I remain,
With respect
Will. H. Knapp

Edward H. Shephard 7th New York Light
Artillery

MSS 12324

   Camp Stonewall Brigade Feby 20th
Dear Sister
                     I will endeavor
this morning to write you a few
lines to let you know that I am
well. Hope when these come to
hand they may find you all in
the enjoyment of good health.
Mr Lucas arrived in camp last
night he told me that you were
looking for me down this week
but I will not be there until
the fifth or sixth of March, if
nothing unusual happens.  I hope
to get there about that time.  My
time would have come next
week but on sunday and I thought
that I would rather wait two or
three days and go on a week day.
Our brigade will go on picket next
wednesday I expect, but I do not
know whether I will go or not
as my shoes are nearly worn
out.  I had hoped to get them
fixed but have had no chance.

[page 2]
If there is any leather I wish
you would have me a pair of shoes
made.  Mr Lucas says you are
considerably annoyed by General
Imbodens command, but it does
not surprise me much as his
troops are a pretty rough set
a great many of them being deserters
from other armies, and prisoners
from Castle Thunder, I cannot
understand why Charlie Berry prefers
going among such a set when
he could get to a better place
and among better companions as
for the danger one is not more
so than another.  As it is
nearly night I will close by
asking you to write soon nothing
more but remain your affectionate
brother    
                 Tom

Thomas M. Smiley
Co. D, 5th Virginia


MSS 1807

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, bank officer and editor in Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Thursday 20 We have the unusual treat of a clear bright
pleasant day growing colder towards night. The news
still doubtful–but it is evident that the enemys ac
count of our losses is grossly exaggerated–Their own
loss is admitted to have been very severe. Ky was of
[?], we have our total loss put down at 2500
and the enemys at 6000 killed & wounded. Letter from
Charles–long & interesting–also one from Eugene to
Mary J–write to Lewis. He had informed me
that Mrs Gen. Huger, who has been at all times very
kind & motherly to him, at his instance would send to me
her silver. It arrived to day in a large travelling trunk
directed to me. I took it to the Farmers’ Bank and
had it placed in the vault–not caring to have it in
my house. Called on Gen. R. E.Rodes, who has been
brought hither by the death of his father–He was not
in, but I met him afterwards at the Daguerrean
Gallery–Promised Button[?] to write one or two edi
torials for him while he is away attending the inau
guration–called & took leave of Mrs Morris. I regret
sincerely the removal of the family from Town. Our society
cannot afford the loss of such people as the Dr. &
herself, a [?] how I shrink from the task of wri
ting an editorial, which used to be a mere pastime
writing is a very mechanical thing and [?] with
me, in my editorial days, for a week, made it [?]
& [?] for a while–now, having written nothing for
the press for a long time, I fear I cannot do any thing
creditable Worked a while in the afternoon in the
Library, which has now a very imposing appearance
Lanty went to Richd to day to the inauguration. He will
make a brief visit to Edgewood & then home

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts\

Thursday Feb 20 Very pleasant to-day. This forenoon
we were formed and marched up
to the Captains quarters, and told what
clothes we wished to draw. Had a
brigade drill this afternoon about a
couple of hours. Wrote home to-day and
sent a shell from Hatteras which
George Lowe gave me. Have felt much
better this afternoon than I did yesterday
Feel quite well this evening.

MSS 11293

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

February 20
Played for Guard mounting
practiced as usual
did nothing important
during the day
Wrote a little during
the evening
Stormy during the day

MSS 10317

Fort Grafton Feb 20th 1862

My darling wife

We have been very much disheartened here
by the late news from Kentucky. Our news is rather
meagre but we are satisfied it is no less better than reported.
The fact of 15000 men surrendering to any number is
looked upon as somewhat disgraceful; and the fact of
Floyd’s escape (by fighting or flying, I dont know) shows that
if there was no glory to be gained, we should not have
suffered so much loss. The executive is loosing favor badly
by bad and injudicious appointments to high command
The army of the peninsula, in this way, has lost one of
its best commanders in the Confederate service, and one
who possessed the confidence of his officers & men in an
eminent degree. Salakowski I mean who has been out
ranked by Howell Cobb–a very fine man but not much
of soldier I suppose. If the report about Floyd be true
he is a great man–every one down here swears by him
I am at this moment (2 1/2 AM) on Guard; no one except
the sentinels and myself awake. I miss you very much
and would give anything to be with you, I am not
happy away from you.

Give me a little of the news about Charlottesville when you
write again and let me know what effect the draft has.
Unless affairs take a different aspect soon, I am afraid I
shall have to enlist for the war–I have no idea that this
company will reenlist as a company–some will no doubt,
but they cant get off from this company until July, so that
they could be of no service to [?] at present.
Who did you refer to in your last letter as Thompson?
With much love to every body and a heartfull for
your self I am, my dear precious wifey.

Your affectionate husband

[Howe Peyton Cochran]

MSS 9380

Camp Butterfield Halls. Hill. Feb. 20th/62
Dear Mother.
I received your letter
to-night and was very glad to hear from
you and to hear that you are getting better.
I am well and so are the rest of the Galway boys
The weather is still stormy and it has been terrible
muddy for the last two months and everything
begun to look gloomy enough. Well you wanted
to know to know who tented with me and who
I slept with. Well Archie Anderson – the one that
went with me and a fellow by the name of Smith
and one by the name of Hammond tents with me
Smith and Hammond bunk,d next to us in
Albany and they wanted to tent with us and
as they were both good boys (that is morrally good),
we took them in. I and Archie sleeps to gether
he is a real fine fellow although not a christian
Well now I will tell you the reason why I have
not said more on religious subjects in my letters.
While we were in Albany we organized a christian
association which had every prospect of being the
means of doing a great deal of good in the Regt.

[page 2]
and I enjoyed religion as well there as I did at
home for we had divine service regular every
sabbath and we had the privilege of going to
the city to evening meetings and we hag [had] prayer-
-meeting twice a week at the barracks, but since
we have been here at the seat of war we have
had a great many difficulties to encounter. In
the first place we had a great deal to do to
get things in shape to live comfortably and our
religious meetings were in a measure neglected, and
in the next place the weather begun to get
cold and we had no place whatever to hold
meetings in but the chaplains tent and that
would not hold more than 5 or 6 men, and in the
next place our chaplain was not generally
liked by the Regt, and as we had to stand
out doors to hear him preach it soon got so
that scarcely any one went out to hear him
preach, more on account of not liking to stand
out in the cold than anything else, in fact
I have stood out there (for I always went out)
and really suffered with the cold. Well the
chaplain finally got discouraged and nearly
all winter things were at a stand still and
being surrounded by temptations of every kind

[page 3]
I have at times wandered from the path of
duty, and at times every thing looked gloomy
and I know that I have not lived at times as
I ought to have lived, but when I feel low spir-
-ited I take my bible which I keep with me
and from it I can draw consolation and also in
secret prayer. I feel that God has been very
mercifull to me and I am resolved to live closer
to Him henceforth than I have ever done before
for I find to be a christian and in the service
of God one hour is better than years in the
service of the devil, but I need your prayers.
Our old chaplain has resigned and we have
got another one and he is a very fine man
and is well liked by the Regt: and we
have got a comfortable place to hold meetings
in and everything has got started again so that
things looks more prosperous, and I find that
I can enjoy religion much better by having an
opportunity of meeting with christian friends
once or twice a week where we can converse upon
subjects of religion and sing God,s praises and
to offer up our prayer’s to Him who is ever ready
to hear and to answer. We have 64 members in our

[page 4]
christian association and it is going on finely.
Well now concerning what you spoke of in our
letter concerning me I of course shall not let it
trouble me for I dond [don’t] beleive anything in it, but
still such a thing might be for I am as apt to
get killed as anybody, but if I should go into battle
according to accounts of all battles there is not more
than one chance in 100 of getting killed, never-the-
-less I hope and trust I shall prepared to die if such
should be my lot. But I must I must close by
bidding you good night, and in the morning I will
give you the news of the day on another sheet.
this from your dear son,
James. H. Reese.

Possibly the James H. Reese who was a private in Co. B of the 44th New York, on duty in the defenses of Washington in February of 1862. An Archibald Anderson was also a private in Co. B. of the same regiment.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 828

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

Thursday – Febr’y 20th 1862
The weather has cleared up today –
No orders for marching up to
tonight – We had a dress parade
this Evening – Heard by todays
boat that the yesterday’s accts
of the Fort Donnelson fight are
false – we are said to have
lost 1,200 men Killed, wounded
& missing – & are falling back on
Nashville where Genl Johnson
has an army of 40,000 men. Zollicoffer
had a fight today & was whipped – by
Wilkins Rooster – I fear we will
not be able to go home if the
Enemy continues to be successful –
It looks pretty squally at present –
Willie & Fry leave for a visit to
Richmond in the morning – “No news
from home, no news for me” – yet
a piece of good luck which I did
not expect – Spent the day shopping – Met Miss
Mary Lloyd & called on Miss Stuart with
her – she was not in – Dined at Mr Harveys, who
sent for my valise, & abused me for not
coming up last night. After dinner called
on Mr Denean Kenner with my letter of
introduction – he promised me to do all he can
for Faries vs. Made an appointment with me
for 10 o’c tomorrow to give me an answer
-Richmond put under Martial law today –

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
To my proposition made to Mr
Benjamin through him – of which
anon. Took tea with Mrs Roy &
spent the hours of nine & ten o’c
in Mrs Harveys parlour – To bed
at 11 ½ o’c –

[transcriptions by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards with annotations by Robert K. Krick]

[Zollicoffer was actually killed on Jan. 19, 1862.]
[John D. Harvey’s home was on 9th Street between Clay and Leigh Streets]

MSS 6154