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

Camp Hurrah! Sunday – March 9th 1862
The whole of Yorktown was in a stir last
night & this morning, preparing for a march
below – Everything went down this morning – Eggleston
& myself got Rifles & started off at 9 o’c
to overtake the Miss’ Battalion – found
them at Youngs Mill at 12 ½ o’c – Went
down in the afternoon to within 3 miles
of where Dreux was killed when we were
ordered back. The boys were confident of
a fight. I was too old a soldier under McG
to be so sanguine – The Cavalry went near Newport
News & returned, saw some of the Enemy – We have
the News of the Virginia’s doings Confirmed – She
destroyed 3 & Crippled 1 vessel – Returned to Youngs [?]
Mills & bouivacked for the night – The La Batt Came
in at five o’c – marching 24 miles since 1 o’c
this morning – over such roads! A hard march –
Sat up with my dear old Miss No 3 till late tonight
Writing around Fortiers Camp fire – Fry & the
[-] – on the way in the mud – Made many acquaintances
among the Mississippians today –

[Lt.Col. Charles Didier Dreux, 1st La Ba.]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edards, annotations by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

Camp near Winchester Va
Sunday March 9th 1862

Dear Fannie
Your kind and very accept-
able letter, and not less acceptable
bundle were received from the hand
of The. Pace just as I was starting out
on picket. We went out to where
the Martinsburg Charleston & Rail
road join, about 5 miles from
Camp. we had not been out more
than an hour, before we heard the
firing of Cannon and musketry.
This was soon followed by ten
or twenty wagons coming at full
tilt down the road, followed
by a company of cavalry, cover
in g the retreat of their baggage
against an attack of the advancing
Federals. This company continued
down the road toward W. untill
met by four more companies under
Col. Turner Ashby, when they “about
faced” and with drawn sabres,

[page 2]
charged down the road, making
in all a beautiful and exciting
scene. Overtaking the “Yanks” (of
whom there were two Regts of Infantry,
one Company of Artilry & three of
Cavalry) they drove them back
several miles to Bunker Hill, where
they came. One of our men
was badly wounded. Ashby’s men
killed six of the enemy, and
took some splendid horses.
On hearing of this at HdQrs, Gen
Jackson had our whole force drawn
out in line of battle on the Mar-
tinsburg road, in anticipation of
a general advance. This is yet
expected. Yesterday our Brigade
went out and leveled every wall
and fence in front of our for=
tifications for some distance,
ready for an attack. This, how
ever, may be only a ruse, as the
same things exactly were done
by Johnson, two days before
going to Manasses, to deceive

[page 3]
the enemy in regard to his move-
ments. Now, however, it is gen-
erally believed that Winchester is to
be evacuated together with
Leesburg & Manassas. I have no
doubt myself that this will be
done. I only hope, that as we
retire, every town, village and
house will be left in ashes.
We are now at our third camping
ground since getting to Winchester.
How I have wished I could
be at home, and at church with
you this bright, warm, spring-
like day! It is in fact, tho not
literally, the first day of spring.
Being baned the privilege
of going to W. to Ch., I took this
morning a stroll “over the hills
and far away.” Nature preached
me a grand sermon, wh I am
sure I appreciated, as also I
did a nice dinner which I dis-
cussed at a little farmhouse.
The people stared when I

[page 4]
told them that I’d rather have their
nice rich milk, then the coffee they cannot
get, but of wh we have a plenty. In Charlestown
the Yankees have opened a store where everything
is sold at old prices–coffee &sugar 12 1/2 [?] calico
at 6 cents a yard &c.
What company has Eddie Gwathmey joined?
One night last week, Bro. Madison got up a
prayer meeting in the 23d Regt. I went over &
by request led the meeting. I enjoyed it more
than any. I have almost ever atten-
ded. Bro. M. is exerting a fine influence, & to
truly “The right man in the right place.”
Yesterday I received a short letter from
George. He says Jemmie has not arrived
at Staunton, & I know not where he might
be. He left here a week ago.
Capt. Cunningham is in R’d recruiting
his company. I will not join it again, but
shall look out & not hurry in re enlisting.
Last Sunday some broken down horses
were sent to the Q.M. Dept. to be exchanged. Gen.
Jackson accidentally heard of it.
&c sent then all back exclaiming “if the
North Western army dont know when
Sunday comes, Ill teach them. I think he’s a
better man than General.
Since you could not send my watch by Pace,
it doesn’t matter about doing it at all.
The evening shades appear “to such an ex-
tent that writing more is out of the question.
good night–
Monday Morning–Bro George, I will
send this by for you to forward. It
is raining hard & a very disagreable
day–I will try in future to
be a better correspondent than
heretofore

Yr Bro
CET

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, a private in the 21st Virginia, afterward a graduate of the University of Virginia, a Baptist minister, a professor and then president of Wake Forest University.

MSS 3091

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

Sunday night, March 9, 1862

Dr. Foote, of Romney, in town to- day, and preached
this morning and to- night — if his discourse to-night
can be called preaching. It was an account of the
ravages of the enemy in Hampshire county, and an
appeal for volunteers. The congregation was large.
News came last night by telegraph that the Merrimac,
ironclad +c, and now called the Virginia, made an
assault yesterday upon the Federal shipping at New-
port News, and did considerable execution. The intelligence
is confirmed by the Railroad passengers this evening. One
Federal steamer was sunk, with all on board, and
several others captured — we presume from the ac-
count. It is said also that Gen Magruder was
shelling Newport News. The dispatch of last night
stated that Gen. Price had gained a victory at
Boston Mountain, in Missouri or Arkansas, killing
two thousand of the Federalists and taking four
thousand prisoners. No confirmation of the re-
port to-day. A skirmish on Friday very near to
Winchester. Report a few days ago of a victory near Leesburg – pre-
sumed to be untrue, as we have heard nothing of it
since. Last night I was quite sick — suffering
from pain in my head, an unnatural action
of my heart.

[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow]

MSS 28-258

[from the diay of Eliza Oswald Hill, a refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

Sunday 9th Mrs Mallet kindly took us to Church this morning
where we heard quite a good discourse from Mr Hilliard the
Minister residing here–Tis a neat pretty Church & I could
but think of Bishop Green as I looked around how he la
boured to get it built–How generously he gave to it
& now far far away–Bishop Atkinson is expected soon
when it is hoped he will have many to confirm–I did not
go out at night as I did not feel well enough–Being Lent
Mr Hilliard has the Church opened twice a day–9 in the morning
4 oclock in the afternoon.

MSS 6960

Camp Franklin, Va. March 9th/62
Dear parents

It is a very pleasant
morning here it seems like a bright May
morning at home. Our Regt. has just got
through with inspection and gone to
meeting I was on home guard yesterday and
I do not have any duty to do to day and I
had a good chance to look on and see the rest
as they was being inspected, they had on
their knapsacks with one blanket an over
coat a rubber blanket and all the clothing
they need for a long march and two men
together carry a tent one half to each man
they are just large enough for two men
to sleep in or get into when it storms
the whole tent weights about 10 lbs 5 lbs to
each man to carry. The men also had their
canteens and haversacks on and I tell you
they looked nice. I have not much news to
write but since I wrote last I have managed
to get me paper enough to last me a long

[page 2]
time so if you have not sent me any paper
you need not send any but I should
like to have some post stamps.
send me a few and if I need more
I can let you know. I was in a hurry
when I wrote to you last and I hardly know
what I did write. I should like to know
if you have got your pay for being adminis-
trator on that property yet and if not what
the prospect is of getting it. I suppose Mr.
Perkins will want to settle up for the
oxen this spring and we must contrive
some way to settle with him I want
you to let me know what you conclude
to do about it. I shall send home all
the money I can spare as soon as we
get paid off we may not get any pay
untill the first of May and if we do not
I shall then have about 40 dollars to send
home. I am anxious to hear how you dispose
of the farm this summer I do not want
you to let any one have the colt or wagon
to yuse on any account unless it is extremely
necessary.

[page 3]
I want to know how much the tax was
the past year and if they have any thing
against me I do not want you to pay it
for they cannot get any thing of me I
want to hear about the proceedings of the
town meeting that will be held this month
and all the news you can think off to
write. I think you had better hire some
one to saw wood when you cut your spring
wood, Tewksbury or Frank Symonds
would be a good hand it will not cost
but little and will help you a good deal
I want to know what you have to pay
Frank Jordan for staying with you and
doing the chores. I was sorry to hear of
the misfortune of Cyrus Strout I think if
I was in his place I should not care to
live. We have not moved yet and I
do not know when we shall we may
not for some time and may move within
a day or two. We are all well except J
Spiller he is getting better but some
think he will try to get his discharge

[page 4]
The health of this Regt. is quite good,
there is but a few on the sick list
We had a good time on picket last
week we had to stand guard two hours
out of 16 and had the rest of the time to
ourselves we had good places to sleep
so we could keep warm and dry I like
to stay out there better than I like
to stay in camp. I shall try to
write every week if I can I want
you to write every week if you can
find any thing to write about
As I have no more news to write
so I will close
Your Son
Hiram M. Cash
Tell Walter to be a good boy and
stay with you and I will bring him
home a smaller gun when I come
home

Hiram

Hiram Cash, private, 5th Maine Infantry

MSS 12916

[From the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Sunday, Mar. 9, 1862

Left our camping place
at daybreak this morning
Took breakfast on a
bride about four miles
from this place.
arrived here about
9 oclock A.M. Went immed-
iately to see about Quarters
Col. came in about noon
Wrote letters to
Jenny Sangers & Uncle
Wilks
Very pleasant day Clear
am staying with
Co G

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Sunday
March 9
Did not sleep very well last
night. This forenoon wrote a
letter home and attended services in the
saloon. this fternoon attended the services
on the upper deck. In the evening sung
sacred songs. Filled up the time with reading
“Judahs Lion” and the Bible and in med-
itatin and self-examination.

Judah’s Lion, probably the popular religions novel by Charlotte E. Tonna, 1790-1846.

MSS 11293

Sunday 9th Last night about midnight we were
roused by a hack driving to the door. It con
tained William & his family. They left Abing
don Friday Evg at 8 & had been 28 hours in
the cars. The children were all in fine spirits
and recovered as if just from a walk for health
and exercise–He is obliged to go on Monday
The children & his wife will remain here.
Sermon very good to-day–Service in the af-
ternoon–Went down after night to engage
a hack for William. Heard the latest news
from Norfolk. The achievements of the Merrimac
-or Virginia as she is now called–are unsurpassed
in the annals of Naval Warfare. The Congress &
Cumberland sunk. The Cland[?] driven ashore
and burnt And the Minnesota captured. If
all this be true it is indeed glory enough for
one day–four of their best frigates captured
or destroyed. the French & English have built
five mail clad war ships, but we are the
first to illustrate their tremendous superiority
over wooden walls. our loss trifling. Ru
mor also that Magruder was attacking New
port news. There seems to be no doubt that
Johnson is falling back to the Rappahannock.
I do not like these retrograde movements
All accounts from Richd concern on the fact
of Robt Lee being appointed Commander in chief
This is the best appointment that could be made.
He has more of the lineaments of [?]
about him than any man in the Confederacy
Day of much excitement–Wrote to Garlick
weather mild as May–We should hear of
fighting somewhere else.

MSS 4763

Camp Franklin Near St Johns Seminary Alaxandria Va March 9/62
Dear Father I will now sit down & try to answer your letter of the 25th
& 4th which I received on the 7th with A letter from William & six true flags
which I was verry glad to get yours of the 25th had two postage stamps enclosed
we are not allowed with any Passes to go to the City with on account of having
Marching orders I am well & enjoying good health & was glad to hear the same
of you & all of the rest of the Family those two cards that I placed in Mothers
letter I put in for Johny & I thought I wrote the same in the letter they say
that we will March to Morrow or next day which I am glad to hear they & they
say that we will not get Paid of this month which if we do I shall not send
home any this payment as I wrote to you that I should on account of Marching
& if we do I shall want it & you must not think hard of it I can tell you that
I shall not spend it for any thing but what I need badly. I shall send you
my wages but when we get paid of this time. I shall keep this payment the
the[sic] sixteenth New York Regiment Colonel Davies that is in this Brigade arch
yesterday & I suppose the order will come for this Regiment to March you
did not say anything about Williams Marriage in your letter which I saw
in the Portland Weekly Argus there is reports going round the Camp Ground
that Leesburgh was taken by Colonel Grevy that was one of the Rebels strong
holds I will close by saying good day & if you do not get any money from
me this payment it will not be so all the time I have sent you twenty five
dollars since I have been her, & I forgot how much I gave you on Camp
Preble, but I shall send you more if I do not this payment From
your Son Joseph Leavitt March 10th it is now three oclock in the
morning & have packed our knapsacks to go on the March at 9 oClock

Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York 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

Camp Withers Near=Centreville
Fairfax=Co=Va=March 8=62

Dear Father and Mother I
take the present Opertunity
of Droping you a few lines
to let you know that
I am well at present hoping
when theas few lines comes
to hand they may
Find you injoying the
Same blessing I have
Nothing of importance to write
to you we air expecting a
Fight Before long we air
Sending all our Baggage Back
to Charlottesville we air expecting
to fall Back to Gordensville
that is the Rumor that is
going I expect we will
have some heard times
Before long we get plenty
to eat I have had my
health Better then I ever did

[page 2]
Before I here enclosed
you $50″00 Dollars if you
need this money make
youse of it and if
not loan it Out I have
$70″00 Dollars yet and if
you get this money I will
Send you Some more
we will draw $22″00 Dollars
more to Morrow I want
you to write to me Soon to
let me know if you Get it
Father if you Get a chance
you orto come down and See
us I hope the time aint
Far Distant untill the Roaring
of cannon is heard no more and
peace will be Spread over
the land there air Strong
talk of the Malitia having
to Come Down here I will
Be Glad to see the Boys come
Down here to face the Glitering

[page 3]
Baonet and the whizzing
Bums I tell you that being in
the midst the bumshells and
Grape shot it is no childs
Play O this ticlish time to
here Rattleing of the Drums
and Voice of Bands and
Roaring of Cannons and the
Strong Voleys of musketry
it makes me think of the
Dear Ones home I like Camp
Fine Give My Love to all
the Children Now I must
Bring My Letter To A
Close. Give My Love to
all inquireing Friend
So Nothing More Fare
Well Your Oobedient
Son
James. B. Painter

[page 4]
Dear Brother I Must
Say a Word or two to
you to let you know
that I am well at
present hoping when theas
few lines come to hand
they may find you injoying
the Same blessing I have no
news to write to we air
all in good Spirits I would
to see you but it a bad chance
for me to get to see you
Dear Brother we have some
lively times after thee yankys
I hope you and the girls
will share some good times
I want to know if the wound
that [?] have give you is
got well yet now I must
bring theas few lines to a close
So nothing more But Remain
your Dear Brother
James B Painter to G. W. Painter

Corporal, Co. K, 28th Virginia Infantry

MSS 10661