Harwood’s Mill–Saturday March 22
1862

My darling wife
No sooner had I written to you from Wmsburg
than we were ordered to Yorktown, at which place we
bivouacked one night and the next morning went to
within a few miles of Bethel. the next day we came
here, at which place we are and that is all I can
say–I received a sweet letter from you the day before
I left Wmsburg–I was glad to see that you were in
better spirits and more hopeful than when you last
wrote. That is right. Keep a brave little heart in your
bosom and it will all come right after a while
and when we do meet wont we be happy? I cant
help hopeing to see you before long and yet I have
no particular reason for doing so–if I had not that
hope, I would be miserable indeed. You certainly
cannot want to see me more than I do you. I feel
sometimes like I would willingly give fifty dollars
if I could see you–I expect another letter or two from
you this evening and if they as sweet & cheerful
as the last I will be satisfied–while I like to hear
that you are cheerful I should yet feel badly if
I thought that you did not feel my absence–but I
know that you do and greatly too. I dreamed last
night that I saw you and friday night dreams
they say come true. I hope they do.

I received you letter this evening telling me of
my Mother’s sickness but Green Peyton and may the
Devil fly away with him, wont give me a recom-
mendation for a furlough–the wagon is about
to start for Yorktown–so god bless you and
restore my mother to health give my love to her
Your devoted husband

Mrs. H. P. Cochran
Charlottesville, Va.

MSS 9380

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

Saturday – March 22d 1862
Rise this morning at 8 o’clock – breakfast
with Jannin, Powell, McLean & Addison – Went
over to the Camp of the Battalion – Camp
“Essence” (Essence of Camp Misery!) a few hundred
yards from old Camp Misery – on going round
to the orderly sgts find from the [-] 14
[-] 15 – Co C 22, Co A 25 – [-]
8 & Shreveport Greys 12, 10th Regt 12
Volunteers – ordered five men from company
“C’ & 5 from Janins Comd – all sailors to
Yorktown – where I arrived with Poissen, Capt
Fenner & Col Marigny – Found Lindsay has
gone to the Sand box – Fenner & Poissen had
to return without seeing them – Took the ten men over & put them aboard Schooners Mary
Ellen & Ryland discharging the Captains
of these vessels – after supper rowed over
with Knowlton, Eggleston, Ingraham & Baker taking 5
days provisions to the crew. A letter from Norcum
tonight – Retired

[Col. Antoine James deMarigny]
[Capt. Charles E. Fenner, 1st La.Bn.]

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

MSS 6154

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

Saturday
March 22
Got off guard about eleven. Did not
get any breakfast. Help spread out
tents after dinner and then drilled a
little. Wrote to Jennie this evening. Have
felt cross and rather sad but I know
that God is the same kind father
and will take care of those who trust in Him.

MSS 11293

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

Saturday, Mar. 22, 1862

Played for Guard
mounting no Parade
practiced
Stormy snowing bad
day Telegraph boys of
Co A came in this even-
ing with wire
Some beef cattle
came in to day

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Charles Hay, Private, Co. H, 23rd Ohio]

Raleigh, March 22nd.
My pen is called into requisition
again to continue my Records.
Portions of Cos. H. I. & B, have been on
a scouting expedition in the edge of
Greenbrier Co, for 3 days past, returning
yesterday, after a successful descent
upon the “bushwhacking “, fraternity
early Sunday morning. For our
deluded Southern brethren to wake up
on a fine Sunday morning, &, on
opening the door, to be confronted by a
‘posse’ of ‘Yankees,’ the effect would be
easily imagined. In the course of
the morning, we picked up about a
dozen prisoners, and 12 horses. We
then recrossed the river, here some 200
yards wide, having to swim our horses,
and ourselves cross in common “dugouts.”
We staid at the house of a Mr. Richmond
all night, and reached camp next
day. Having been fortunate enough to capture
a horse the day previous, he came most
opportune on this occasion.
The Mr. Richmond mentioned, and
his neighbors have experienced no
little annoyance from the pestiferous
“bushwhackers” across the River. For
this reason, Mr. Richmond requested our
aid in “wiping them out” a little.
How effectually it has been done,
remains to be seen.
A single remark here about our
prisoners which can be generally applied.
With one or two exceptions they are
a most illiterate looking set, and none
the less so than their appearances would
seem to indicate. This is the usual
proportion, so far, at least, as my
observation & inquiry extends, or probably,
the class of ignorance is even greater.
Dressed in their homespun habiliments
of ‘linsey’ or ‘blue jeans’, made after a
pattern not unknown to men of
revolutionary memory, with a shambling,
awkward, striding gait, and that
stolidity of countenance as next akin to
the vacant stare of the idiot, & we
have the principal ingredients of a
genuine Western Virginian. To him,
books are a trouble, newspapers a
toy, works of art works of folly, the
arts, sciences, & education a cheat.
And the effect can plainly be seen.
And these are Virginians, & this
is Virginia. The land of the F.F.V’s, the
“Mother of Presidents,” the “Old Dominion”.
It seemeth to me that “her glory hath
departed” somewhat. Now that she is
the scene of a great struggle, it is hoped
it may be the means of renovating
and purifying her of the disloyalty
and corruption with which she has long
been infested. Certain it is that the
broad fields & wide domains of more
than one active conspirator will become desolate
from the scourge of men, & they will have cause
to regret having instituted a rebellion, which
unluckily, visits such calamities upon them.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13925

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.c.]

Friday it has cleared off–but not peermanently. Mr. Wiggins has
been in the parlour with Eliza for the last hour–Mr. Ramsey called & left
a paper which I was glad to read–I received a long letter from Mary
& one from Fan Bradley–Eliza had one from Richd.
Bradley Junior–& two papers from Mr. Grahill–I have
felt unwell & dull all day–But have promised to walk
out with Mrs. Tyler.

MSS 6960

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

Friday
March 21
On guard at the engine house
not much going on. Read Robinson
Crusoe.

MSS 11293

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

Friday, Mar. 21, 1862
Played for Guard
mounting and Parade this
evening. practiced
went this afternoon
alone to a house east
of this place about 2 1/2
miles. got some milk
& Buckwheat flour
Received letters from
Father with Aunt
Cooks inclosed
Wrote letter to Aunt
Cook
Cloudy lowering morning
same this evening

MSS 10317

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, of Lynchburg, Va., former diplomat, newspaper editor and bank officer, with 5 sons in the Confederate Army]

Friday 21 The story of a fight near War-
renton Junction turns out a miserable fa-
brication. the fellow has been drunk so long
that he has lost the power of distinguishing
truth from fiction. There was no fight or
skirmish at all. The militia are coming
in from the neighboring counties–I am stuck
with their fine physical appearance –bet-
ter material for an army need not be wished
–could they be drilled sixty days before
their services would be needed, they might
be relied on–Recd letters from Wm. Meen[?]
saying Jackson was only four miles down
the Valley & thought of making a stand at
the river—-Wm. Meen has lost 9 negroes–the rest
are on the way hither. His farm would be
a splendid battlefield. Many hundreds
of times forty years ago, when sitting on the
porch of the house casting my eye over
the spledid domain have I fancied
it the scene of a battle. Little did I then
think I should live to see it the scene of
civil war and that son of mine should be
one of the combatants Rendered further
service to my refugee friends–attended
a meeting at 4 oclock in the young mens
Hall, to organize a society to bring to bear
upon the men the moral & religious feeling
of the country–very few present–Bishop
Early in the chair–B[?] made a speech
as did Goggin–Rev. [?] Mitchell (not J.D.)
Edwards, [?] & Dodge. a committee was
appointed of which I was one, to make a
report to an adjoined meeting But the whole
affair is a failure–The mistake was in
putting the clergy forward. Made prepar
ations to go to the University tomorrow to see
Sue, though not altogether assured I
shall get back in good time.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, former editor and owner of the Staunton Spectator]

Friday night, March 21, 1862.

The first news I heard this morning was, that the Feder-
alists were in force at Woodstock! I did not believe it,
but still the report was repeated. Finally Peyton told
me that it was actually so, official information hav-
ing come. Afterwards Alick told came by the office &
informed me that an army surgeon, just from Jack-
son’s camp told him the Federalists were really at Wood-
stock and that a battle would certainly soon come off.
Jackson had 7000 men. The sick, commissary sup-
plies &c, were on the way to Staunton. When I came home
with the news, there was a general consultation as to
where Va., Kate &c should go, if the Federal army came
to Staunton. Va.decided at once that she would stay at
home. Kate was at a loss to know what to do. The children
appeared very hilarious. After dinner I rode up to Legh’s, to
communicate what I had heard, to save them from fright
should they hear the report. Bell and her mother were very
calm and contented apparently. They are to come to our
house upon the first alarm. Legh to wrote to Bell from
New Market, in good-spirits. He said the Augusta militia num-
bered six hundred. It is said the number will be in-
creased to 800 to 1000. Some 8 or 10 stage loads of sick sol-
diers arrived this evening. A large number of wagons with
supplies from the army, also arrived to-day. The wagon
on which a large cannon was drawn, broke down oppo-
site the Valley Hotel, and the piece was lying there at
3 o’clock this afternoon. A train of wagons went down
the Valley this morning to aid in bringing up the stores, &
a large party of volunteers from Roanoke went along.
The ten stages take down others in the morning. For the
last week or more, two or three stages full of recruits have
left here every day. Frank Preston took supper with us
to-night, and will probably come back to sleep.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258