[from the diary of Samuel Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

A Journal of the proceedings of
the 1st Mass Independent Light
Battery. During its original term of
service in the Rebellion of the
Southern Confederacy

Journal

The above mentioned Battery, was
organized and sworn into the service
of the United States, on the 28th
day of August. 1861 for a period
not to exceed three years. Was sent
into camp at Camp Cameron,
North Cambridge, to recruit to its
full number, and to prepare
for active service. Remained
in camp at North C. until the
3rd day of Oct. when, having received
orders to report to the Chief of
Artillery, Army of the Potomac,
we broke camp at that place
and proceeded by rail to
Washington D. C. Via New York,
Philad, and Baltimore. Arrived
in Washington on the 6th
of Oct. went into camp at the
Camp of Reserve Artillery Capitol
Hill. While laying in this camp,
the Artillery and cavalry of the
Potomac Army was reviewed by
President Lincoln. Gen. G.B. Mc
Clellan and Staff. In this review
the battery was highly complimented
for its fine appearance. Remained
in this camp until the 14th inst. when
we were ordered to march and report
for duty to Brig. Gen. W. B. Franklin
who was at that time organizing his
Division at Alexandria. Va. Went
into camp on the Leesburg Turnpike
Camp Revere, where we remained
until the 10th day of March 1862.. drilling
and preparing of active and field service
During the winter were reviewed a
number of times by Gen’s McClellan.
McDowell Franklin and Barry,
On the 20th of Jan. 1862. Henry A. Carpen-
ter one of our wagoners was accidentally
and instantly killed by his horses:
running away with, and trampeling on
him. Were paid off twice during
the winter. The weather has been
extremely unpleasant. have had rain
and snow storms in abundance, the
mud has been constantly from 6 in,
to two feet deep in the roads. Two of our
men have been discharged for disabil-
-ity and several sent to the Hospital’s
From the 20th of Nov. until the
last of Dec. I was dangerously sick,
with a fever.

[Transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

Winchester Va 1862 abt Mar 1
My Dear Wife –
I intended to have
written to you to day but have just
received orders to march – not
known where. We have been
expecting a fight here for some
days but it seems all expectation
& no reality. I will write
again very soon – no more
time now.
Ever Yours
E F Paxton

[The above letter is not included in Civil War Letters of Frank “Bull” Paxton.]

Elisha Franklin “Bull” Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus and Confederate general; commanded the 27th Virginia Infantry and later the 1st “Stonewall” Brigade.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 2165

Camp near Centreville
March 1st 1862
Dear Pa
Mr Miller did not succeed
in getting off yesterday and consequently
my note was not sent. I neglected in my
note yesterday to ask you to send me down en
ough leather to half sole my boots and put on
heels. you will please attend to it and have it
sent down as soon as you can conveniently do so.
There is a young man in our company by the
name of Spicer whom I have engaged to mend
them.
Things are rather more quiet than they
were yesterday, but we are still in the dark
as to what move is in anticipation, a very
large quantity of baggage was sent back
to Manassas yesterday.
When did you hear from Walter.
it is rumored here that Gens Jackson & Hill
have united their forces, and intend making
a determined stand some where between
Leesburg and Winchester. I am afraid
Walter and myself can not get in
the same Company, as it seems we are not
to have our preference of the different
arm of the service. Willie Richardson
E Lehew myself and several others
are very anxious to join cavalry.
Mr Miller will hand you a
bundle of dirty clothes, please ask Ma
to have them washed and returned against
we come off picket if she can
possibly do so. we will start on tomorrow
(Sunday) and return Wednesday.

Charles E. Lehew, private and wagoner, Co. B, 17th Virginia
William Richardsson, private. later 3rd Lieutenant, Co. B, 17th Virginia
Richard Bayly Buck, 1844-1888, Co. B of the 17th Virginia, the Warren Rifles.

MSS 3064
MSS 1091

Cavalry Camp near
Leesburg March 1st 62
Your letter from Lynchburg
dated last Tuesday reached me
this morning my darling, I
should have read it yesterday per=
haps, but we had no mail, a
thing that happens frequently
now, I am very glad to hear
that Robt is doing so well, and
rejoiced to find that you have
reached home again, but why
do you talk of being sick
my darling, it grieves me to
hear this, for if any further
harm were to befal[sic] you now,
I should be completely upset by
it, I have suffered enough, God
knows, already since I parted
wtih you. I knew that you were
suffering all the time, and it
seems that a life time of sorrow

[page 2]
almost has been crowded into
this short space. I can’t imagine
why it is that you have not
received any of my letters, I have
written to you regularly every
other day since you went away.
I knew it would be some comfort
to you and I would not have
failed to write to you for any
consideration, but every thing
seems to go wrong with me now
somehow, I have read two letters
written whilst you were in Nor=
folk, the one you intended to
send by Dr. Jackson, and the other
about ten days afterwards, I have
told you all about my appli=
cation for leave of absence, and
my resignation , a copy of which
I sent you, and of my being
prevented from pressing it by the
assurance of Genl. Hill that he

[page 3]
expected to have to fight the en=
emy in a very few days, when he
should have need of all of his
officers, we have been on the
alert, waiting for orders to move
for several days, our heavy
baggage was sent off yesterday
to Warrenton, a report came in
this evening that a large force
of the enemy was in Lovettsville
about 14 miles from here. I went
up there about 4 o’clock with a squad
of men to observe there[sic] movements
and obtain information; went in
sight of the place, and saw some of
them, I ascertained however that
the report of the amt. of the ene=
my’s force was greatly exaggerated,
they have cavalry, infantry and
artillery there, but I do not think
they are in any great force, they
may be reinforced however from Harper’s

[page 4]
Ferry at any time, they are not
near as strong at that place as
they have been represented, I
do not think, from present in=
dications that any thing serious
is likely to happen just ow.
I have just returned, drank a cup
of coffee and commenced writing to you
so that I may send you a letter by the
morning’s mail, I sent you on yester=
day morning by Henderson who started
home, he promised to go by and carry it
to you, I trust my darling that you
may see a little rest and comfort now
at home with our little children,
it seems to me if I could spend but
one brief hour with you and then
now[sic] I could be happy, when shall
I see my beloved wife and my dear
little children again? god speed the
happy time, you must write to
me my darling as often as you can

[sideways in top margin of page one]
without trouble
to yourself, Kiss
my little darlings
for me, what a
happiness it
wd be to me if
I could clasp
them to my
breast once
more, and
to be near you–to tell
you, and
to prove to
you my
undying
love for
you–
God bless
you–all
this night I
am always
your own
husband
E.R. Page

Edwin R. Page, 1st Lt., 2nd Virginia Cavalry

Page is referring to his wife’s son Robert A. Camm, 1842-1892, a midshipman on the CSS Ellis who lost his left arm in action at Roanoke Island in February 1862, but survived and returned to service. He resided in Lynchburg, Virginia, after the war.

MSS 8937

Head Quarters Fifth Maine Regiment near St Johns Seminary Alaxandria Va March 1st 1862 Dear Father As I have just received A letter [from] William dated Feb 26th in which he said they did not expect William Banks to live which I was sorry to hear it was no longer than last Monday that there was A member of this Company by the name of Turner he was buried he was liked by all of the Company this makes the second death that has occured since we left Portland it has cleared up & all the mud has dried up & we have been under Marching orders ever since day before yesterday the Regiment has gone on Picket & have their knapsacks packed ready for A March this & Company H & F is stopping in doing Camp duty they say that we are to March for Centerville next Monday & Mayby by the time you get this we may be marching for that place I am ready for the March & never could be in better health for the work, which I suppose you will be glad to hear we are not to be allowed to carry anything more thn shirt & drawers & one Rubber Blankett & one wollen which I am glad, Tell Johny I got his letter, I had given up writing to you and should not if I had not received any from William Because I had not received any from you it is getting time to turn in so I must close my letter by saying that I want you to answer this as soon as you get it & if we have to March I will write & let you know give my Love to Mother & all of the Folks especially Mary Wallace From Your Son Joseph Leavitt

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

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

Richmond Friday – March 1st/62
Rose at 8 o’c this morning – after break
-fast – made search with the boy Somer
-ville & found my Valise in an old
lumber room of the Columbian Hotel!
to my great joy – But find my boots,
pants, vests; & other things out of
it. But those most valued – studs,
sleeve buttons, Breast pin & my Small
gold pencil safe – This recovery is
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 –

John D. Harvey’s home in 1860, was on 9th, between Clay and Leigh Street. [R.E.L. Krick]

[from the diary of Charles Hay of Co. H, 23rd Ohio]
Fayetteville, March 1st, 1862.
Since the date of my last entry, there has nothing
transpired in our unusually civil community that I
have thought of such nature as to entitle it to a place
in my dairy. Not that I wish to over estimate the merits
of my book, (if such it has) the opinions written upon
the pages here of being mine, full of blemishes, I must
confess, and weaknesses such as all are heir to. “To
err is human.” Differently constituted as are all of
Adam’s frail children, and dissimilarly situated as we
are, it is to be expected that we will view the same
subject in different lights, & yet be honest in our
opinions, although often caused by prejudicial influences.
This will serve, I hope, as a sort of apology for the
general tenor of my records, & I hope it is satisfactory.
Mud is the most plenteous article here, it
being fully six inches deep, and, as boatmen
say, still rising.
The health of the Regiment continues good.

MSS 13925

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Saturday
March 1

Another pleasant day. On guard today
but by the blessing of God was
placed on a post where no one is
required at night. So Lieut Lawrence
who is officer of the guard told me
I could go to my quarters and stay till
to-morrow morning. Have enjoyed the day very well.

MSS 11293

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

Saturday March 1, 1862
Helped prepare Breakfast
Played for Guard Mounting.
Went to the mill with
Merl [Flint?]
The day has past and
I have done nothing
Hear that we shall
]probably move now
Col Scammon left
Camp to day on a visit
Col Hays arrived at Camp
mostly Cloudy raining
this evening
Cos J & C on a Drunk

MSS 10317