[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]

Thursday – March 13th 1862
Sent our little fleet over to the cove today
to await further orders – Gave Capt Flemming
an order for 15 additional water bls [barrels] –
and ordered them to be filled up. Had
nothing much to do today – Wrote a
long letter to Sallie today – Spent the
balance of the day loafing about town –
Spent two [h]ours with Capt. Seymour
Heard all his charges against Col Hunt
who’s universally despised by the
regiment – he is a grand old fool
in military matters – The papers of today
contain very conflicting & exceedingly un-
-satisfactory accounts of the battle –
Price is reported to have fallen back
13 miles – the loss of McCullough, McIntosh,
Hebert, McRae & Simmes makes it a
dearly bought fight even if our arms are victorious

[Captain William J. Seymour, 6th La. Bn.]
[Col. Theodore Gaillard Hunt, 5th La.]
[Battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. March 6-8, 1862]

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

MSS 6154

Strasburg March 13, 1862
My Darling Wife –
I doubt not you have heard of many bloody
battles actual and anticipated about Winchester for the last few days
and if you credited every flying rumour have been somewhat
apprehensive of my safety. You will then I doubt [not] be surprised
to hear that we have had no fight – none killed except perhaps
one or two of our cavalry pickets – none captured except some
50-70 who stayed behind in Winchester, many of them I doubt not
wishing to be taken. Twice since my last letter we have had reason
to expect an engagement – Last friday evening the long roll always a signal
for battle was sounded and the regiment formed under arms. We marched
out and took our position and remained there for a day but the
enemy did not come up. On Monday Tuesday evening the long roll was
beaten again and we took our position. The enemy having ad-
vanced his whole force within two or three miles of us we remained
there until dark but were not attacked. Then we moved back
five miles on the pike and this yesterday morning came to this place. Here
we are and what next? Will we continue our retreat or fight?
No one knows. Jackson always shows fight and hence we never
know what he means. Don’t suffer yourself to be alarmed by
any rumours which you read or hear. So soon as we have an
engagement if I get out of it I will write to you enclosing the
letter to your father & requesting him to send it out to you
immediately. So soon as we have an engagement every body will be
writing letters and I doubt not your father will send you immediately
any reliable news which may come.

[page 2]
The militia I see from the papers are called out and John
Fitzgerald will have to go. Give him the shot gun to take with him.
I don’t know what you ought to do to supply his place. Consult
with your father and do what you think best. You can leave
the place and go to town if you do not feel safe there. Your
happiness, Love, I value and wish to secure above every thing
else. The Gentleman by whom I send this is leaving and I
cannot write more. Good bye dearest Ever Yours E F Paxton

[The above letter is in Civil War Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton, but with a few omissions. It is signed as above and not “Love, Frank” as stated in the book.]

Elisha Frank “Bull” Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus and Confederate general; commanded the 7th Virginia Infantry, and later the 1st “Stonewall” Brigade at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

[Transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

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

Thursday 13 Rain in the morning but it held up about
8. Went with Launcelot to the Island. He took
the cars there for Richd. intending then to go in
search of his company, his furlough having expired
I parted with him with poignant regret and
with some forebodings that I might see him no
more. He is a noble fellow–a true man–[?]
conscientious, devoutedly pious. I never know a
purer minded man. May God bless him &
give protect him from all danger–Went with
[?] who wanted to examine Garlicks house
No letters from any quarter. I learn that
the bridges on the Manassas road are destroyed
as also those on the orange beyond the
Rappahannock–that our whole army has
fallen back to the Rappahannock–that the
rolling stock of the Manassas Road is on the
track from Gordonsville to Charlotteville for
three miles–thus blocking up that road &
preventing any communication with the Valley
in any situation I cannot see the wisdom
of this falling back & giving up communication
with the Valley. Their surrendering up to the
enemy without a strike–Adjourned meeting
did nothing. Lanty Minor spent the evening
with us & staid all night–my eyes very sore
–Mary laid up with bad cold and rheuma-
tic pains aggravating all her other complaints

MSS 4763

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

Thursday
March 13
Came to anchor last night, as near
as I could estimate, about twelve
miles from Newbern. This morning
the troops commenced landing and
the gunboats moved up and commenced
shelling a battery on the shore. We got
on our things and waited to be landed
all the forenoon. My things weighed 35
pounds gun included. We landed and
marched ahead awhile, when I with
fifteen others was detailed to help draw
cannon. It was very muddy and hard work
When we were relieved George Lowe and
I went along to catch up with our regiment
I carried an umbrella which I picked up,
part of the way. It rained almost all the
way. We caught up just at dark, as the
regiment was encamping in the woods.
We are almost tired out. We passed through
an intrenchment which the rebels had
evacuated.

MSS 11293

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

Thursday, Mar. 13, 1862

Played for Guard mounting
also for morning parade
Practiced. Wrote letters to
Pap and sent with
Slocum. Wm Arthur left
for Cin this morning
Jo & I went out to Beckleys
and got some straw for
Bed. Received letters with
Campbell from Bates
Dress Parade this evening
Major Brown took his place
Went this night with
some boys of Co H to
Fox about 4 miles into
the Country and got some
fowls. Pickets fired on
the boys in there first
atempt. [sic] Cleveland came in
Rained this morning Cloudy

MSS 10317

Home March 13 1862

My Dear Richard

Your Ma has just closed a
letter to you–but i must not lose the op-
portunity to say a word more to you.
It is now past 10 & Cousin Willie starts
early in the morning–I must therefore be
very brief–We regret very much you did
not come by home altho’ it would be
a very poor satisfaction knowing we must
so soon part–probably too for ever–
If Cousin Willie can take your Boots
I will send you a very good pair–
perhaps you can send the others back
and I will have them mended for
you! Walter staid home last
night–He is greatly improved
and is looking very well–
We regret very much that we did
not know of the Wagon going over
today, that we might have sent
you something–Tell Amos his family
is quite well–and that I will if I
can go to see them–It is now impose-
ible to say how long–

[page 2]
For I am quite unwell–
Try to write to us quite frequently
and when ever you can get a spare
moment have a letter written to
come by the first opportunity–
When you are tempted to
engage in vice and dissipation- think
of our once happy home- of your
Dear Ma & the little children–
Look daily to God for protection
and guidance–May he watch over
and defend you–Remember me very
affectionately to all the members of
your Company. If you cross over the
mountains I will try to meet you
Good – bye, god be with you!
Truly Your Affectionate
Parent
M.B. Buck

Mr. Richard B Buck
Co. B 17th Regt Va Vols
Kindness of
W W Richardson

MSS 3064

My dear wife

I reached this place last night
& return home to day–In view of the state of my health
& my business demands I employed a substitute
for the war & am therefore not liable to be
called out with the militia–I have an
idea of sending another wagon load over
to Carysbrook or may come down myself as I
wish to see you & your boys very much–Dont feel
uneasy about the condition of affairs, things often
look worse than they really are–With my best love
I remain your attached husband
A.G.G.

Dr. Andrew Glassell Grinnan, 1827-1900

MSS 49

Camp in the Woods
Near Raphock Station
Wednesday [Mar] 12” 1862
My own darling Wife
I start Billy Rolston this morning with
Frank to be left at Frescatti. He is in a very bad con-
dition and needs rest & plenty of hay. Tell Walker if he
will attend to him well – curry him 3 times a day &
keep him in a warm dry stable until he gets in
good order I will give him $5. He ought to be
fed on corn meal. He has a very sore back and
ought not to be rode at all. I cant say what
day I will come to see [you] but have a hope it may
be this week. I dream about you every night
and dreamed once of seeing the baby. Of course I
am anxious as I can be to see you but must bide
my time. Our army is rapidly arriving here
without accident except loss of some baggage and
that not important. I am told that a large
amount of stores were destroyed at Manassas. the
enimy [sic] attact [sic] our pickets just as we were drawing
them in one Marylander was killed 1 wounded and
5 taken prisoner, no other loss. Lt Col Johnston
was in command at the time. I cant yet find
out how long we are to remain here. No one
seems to know but Genl Johnston himself.
I have to write on my knee & cant write much
or very well. take the will for the deed.
Most affectionately & devotedly
E. T. H. Warren

“Near Raphock Station”, heading – ‘Rappahannock Station, present-day Remington, Fauquier County, Virginia.’

“Billy Rolston”, line 1 – ‘William Rolston, private, Company H, 10th Virginia Infantry.’

“Frescatti”, line 2 – ‘Frascati. Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren’s ancestral home located a few miles north of Gordonsville.’

“Marylander”, lines 18 & 19 – ‘Members of the 1st Maryland Infantry. This regiment was part of the brigade which included the 10th Virginia Infantry.’

“Lt Col Johnston”, line 19 – ‘Bradley T. Johnson, Lieutenant-Colonel, 1st Maryland Infantry.’

“Genl Johnston”, line 22 – ‘Joseph E. Johnston, Confederate general, commanding Army of the Potomac.’

“E. T. H. Warren”, signature – ‘Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel, 10th Virginia Infantry.’

[transcription and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g

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

Wednesday night, March 12, 1862.

A telegram this evening reports that Gen. Price
has gained a decisive victory in Missouri — Gen.
Ben. McCulloch and Col. (or Gen.) McIntosh
killed, and Price wounded. Whether this is the af-
fair reported several days ago, we do not know. —
I saw Ben McCulloch in the summer of 185-
(I forget the particular year). He was then an
indifferently dressed, melancholy-looking man-
not at all soldier like. He was distinguished as a
Texas Ranger. The Railroad train arrived at
9 o’clock to-night, as we were returning from meet-
ing. Jimmy Tate went down to get the paper, but
came back without any as the cars brought no mail.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

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

Wednesday, Mar. 12, 1862

Went to work on the
house this morning
Moved in. Played for
Guard mounting
also for Parade this
evening. Col Hays
came in with news
that Price McCullough
& McIntosh have been
defeated also that
Manassas was evacuated
very fine day clear

MSS 10317