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

Rose Hill  1862
Saturday Aprl. 19th

My darling brother
We have quite a
package of letters which we have
written from time to time but have
never succeeded in getting them
off.  We are all well as usual. The
Yankees have not disturbed us yet.
We have the pleasure of entertaining
southern soldiers sometimes.
I wish I could write more.
Sue has been with us now nearly
two weeks, she wants to [go]  home this
evening, but the rain I hope will
prevent her. We do not know where
you are, have not heard since
Will left you, of course feel very
anxious.  Sister is writing to cousin
Lucie Johnson to hunt you up if you
are in Norfolk. Walter dined with
us to-day.  some of his company are
scouting around us.  I fear they
will leave us soon to the mercy
of the Yankees.  I am sure you will
write if possible.

[page 2]
I hope Mr. Miller will bring us a
letter & good news.
It is just 5 weeks now before your
time in the infantry is out.  I hope
you can come home as you go on
to the other company.
Don’t you need summer clothing?
I wish it was possible for us to
send you some.
Our love & kisses to you my
precious brother. May God
bless you & return you to us very
soon.  Ever love your own
sister Ettie

MSS  3064

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

                                       Raleigh, April. 18th, 1862.
     The Reg’t, being supplied with new
tents, will, today, move a mile from
town, preparatory to a further march
tomorrow.  This is done to give room
to Col. Scammon & Staff, and the 30th
Reg’t.  Col. Scammon, although Colonel of
the 23rd. Reg’t, by virtue of the seniority
of his commission, commands the 3rd.
Prov’l Brigade, consisting of the 23rd, 30th,
& 34th. Reg’ts, Gilmore’s Cav. & McMullin’s
Battery.  The 34th. Reg’t (Zouave) now occupy
Fayetteville.

MSS 13925


[the editor of this blog was disappointed to discover that neither of the two diaries from the 23rd Ohio blogged on this site mentioned the Seder held on the night of the 18th, by Jewish soldiers in the Regiment, with the encouragement of Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes]

Camp Near yorktown
April the 19 1862

My Dear Cousin
I write you
a few lines to let you know whare
we are, we are on the out post
the yankees are shooting at our
men constantly tho it is very cildim [seldom?]
thay hit eny of them, thay havent
shot bout one man in our Regiment
he was shot thursday, the he was
shot in chin his name was
Tucker be longing  to Capt Carters
Company, thay was a battle fought
here last monday eavning thay
a good  meney killed on boath sides
tho a greatmeny more on the enemys
side than thay was on ours
we was not in the ingagement
the yankees sent a flag of truse
this eavning to berry thar dedd,
if they we have a general ingage
ment

[page 2]
here I think it will settle the
war for the best of the two
armys is here, the yankee prisners
that our men have taken say that
thay have got to whip or die
here, and & thay will have
to die at least I hope so,
John got a letter from you
the other day and one from
Mary, you must write
to me soon and direct your
letters to york  yorktown
please let sister Mary know
when you get this tel her
Pinkney has not got here yet
he came with the wagons
gave my best respects to all
inquiring frends and share a large
portion for your self
Nothing more but remain your
afectionate Cousin Jimmy Booker

James Booker, 1840-1923, with his twin brother John, served in Co. D., 38th Virginia, the Whitmell Guards

MSS 11237

[from the diary of Captain Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U. S. Regulars, as copied at a later date from the original]

Apr. 19  With some friends I paid a visit to day to
see some siege guns which were parked near our
camp. We witnessed some splendid ricochet
firing under the superintendence of gen Barry
Chief of Artillery on Gen. McClellans staff.  We
also visited Farmhold house (where after-
wards was established Battery No 1) and could
distinctly see Yorktown & Gloucester Point, with
there immense works & the rebel flag flaunting
impudently in the breeze)

MSS 9044

[letter of unidentified Union soldier “Robert” to his wife ” Priscilla” continues]
Saturday Morn, Apr 19th
 We have got through the night in very comforta-
ble manner, It is very muddy this morning, and
still raining a little, a light shower makes it very
muddy,but dries up very quick, Some of the “Boys”
have just been and had their miniatures taken (there
is a Daguerreotype Saloon  here all the time) I think I
shall have mine, as soon as my mustache gets grown
a little longer. they charge 50 cts, and get good ones,
Perhaps it will be gratifying for you to know that
I have the best mess in the company. We are all
yankees, and all but two belong to Lynn, among
the number are, Perkins, Paine, & Pedrick of Lewis
St I shall probably go down to Alexandria in a few
days and then I shall probably have something
to write you about that, I have not much more
to say this morning, but I want you to write as
often as you can, and although anything is very acce-
cptable from you, I should like to have you write
on whole sheets of paper.  I should like to see you and
the children this morning. but I dont suppose I shall
so Kiss them for me.
Robert

MSS 1242

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Friday
April 18
On guard first division No 4. Got
shaved this evening by Mike Fitzgibbon
was on the third relief.  Occupied myself in
reading Robinson Crusoe this afternoon

My darling wife

I am sorry that you have received none
of my letters written since the enemy made their
appearance– I have written as often as I could, but
have had to trust to chance for an opportunity of
sending them–It has been two weeks now since the
enemy first appeared and they have not yet made
an attempt on our works except one evening before
last then a paraty of them attempted to storm our
works in the neighborhood of Winns Mill; but we
repulsed with some loss.  They fire at us almost
every day with their rifled cannon, but as yet have
done no damage–It is extremely difficult to get at
the truth of any thing that occurs within a mile
of this place so you may judge of the reliability
of reports published in Richmond. God grant
that we may give the enemy an overwhelming
defeat and that I may be spared to see my
precious wife again.
As I have told you before I left my testament
in Wmsburg and have not been able to read it
regularly since I however read something religious
every day dividing my time between the testament
and prayer, according as to the one I can obtain.
The weather is and has been for several days most
beautiful, though at first I never saw such a
disagreeable spell in my life–The continued
anxiety and expectation of a battle are very
trying on one’s spirits, besides we have to be
always on the alert  God grant us patience
under our sufferings and a happy issue out of
all our afflictions.

[page 2]
There is hardly a minute of the day-but that
I think of my darling wife–and how much
I have sacrificed in being separated from her
I understand, though I have not seen the bill, that
Congress intends to draft all for the army
between 18 and 35–if so I must look out for
some soft place the present life doesnt suit
me at all  I understand the 19th Reg is at
Lebanon church
Give my love to all at home individually
and collectively I am glad to hear that Ma
is improving–when does Jimmy’s company leave?
Write to me frequently.  Your letters are very
precious and believe me as ever your devoted husband

unsigned letter from Howe Peyton Cochran

MSS 9380