1862 April 30 Western Virginia


[from the diary of James Dismore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Wednesday, Apr. 30, ’62

This morning early we
were mustered and
whilst at breakfast
were ordered to fall
in struck our tents
and started early
marched about 10
miles and camped
soon after noon. the
Cavalry came up in comd
of a Lieut Col
then immediately
after camping went out
travelled about 3 miles
found in a house some
Bacon which we apropriatd
Passed through some
rather beautius marshes
Cloudy raining this
afternoon

MSS 10317

1862 April 30 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Wednesday 30–Another most disagreeable[?] wind and rain most of
the day.  I have never known such
a season–Heard that William had
failed to be made the Captain. He was aware
of the combination against him and
did not expect it.  I confess I am
sorry & mortified, but it reflects no
discredit on him: He is admittedly one
of the best officers in the service. The
fact of his not being a S. Western
man was used against him. I dont
know what he will do. I hope the Sec
-retary will assign him to Engineering
duty.–He is in Richd and will proba-
-bly be home tomorrow. Letter from
Mathew Maury accepting invitation
for his daughter Mary to come here
which she will do at the proper time.
Letter also from Kean, who thinks no-
thing can be done for  [?] but to have
a substitute.
News from every quarter bad–the en
emys fleet 13 vessels–and among them
the steam frigate Hartford, one of the
most formidable in the service–are ly
-ing on the River at N.O.–threatening
to shell the city–The President has
ordered back the army of Lovell &
assigned Bragg to the command–Unless
the enemy land their army from
Ship Island, they cannot hold the city
and I presume it would not be their
[?] to hold it.  altogether it is a
most extraordinary state of things &
I do not see the solution.
I attended at night in the Church
the marriage ceremony of Capt Sitgreaves
of S. C. and Miss Bev. Rudd.  they
knew each other but a week before
their engagement.  I am glad she as
at length attained the object of her
ardent  [?] –Mary J. was
an attendant–returned to [?]
and did not come home until past
midnight

MMS 4763


1862 April 29 near Yorktown, Va.

Camp Near Yorktown
April 29th
Dear Cousin I received your letter of the
sixth since I have bin at this place an
was glad to here from you all.  I would
have ritten to you be fore now but we
have bin posted on the out post an I have
ent had the chance  this leaves mi self &
Jimey well an much hope en these few lines
may find you injoying the same blessing.
we have a good eal of sickness here, at least
a good meny that are unable for service
we have had a very hard time since we left
Orange CH. we havent got any tents nor I
dont reaken we will have any whayle we sta
here,  we have to sta in entrenchment every
other day an night, the entrenchments
we sta in are n in a quarter of a mile of the
yankees,s  they are constant shoot ing at
us and thwrowen barms over us.  We have ent
got but one of our men wounded sence we
have bin here, but some are get en woun
ded everay day on sum ciled.
we erlected our arfecers to day for the
next too yers,  we erlected Badgett
Capten, Price first Lieutenant, Sam
swanson secant, & John Herndon third.

[page 2]
I will come to a close as I havent much news
to write, you must excuse this badley rit
letter an write soon, give mi best respects
all the famaly write soon and direct your
letter to yorktown, Va.  Noth en more at
present but remain
your your frend

John Booker to
Miss unity Blair

John and James Booker, of Pittsylvania were in Co. D of the 38th Virginia (Whitmell Guards)

MSS 11237

John Booker

1862 April 29 Fort Albany, N.Y.

Fort Albany  Apr 29/62
6 o’clk P.M.
Beloved Wife,  [Priscilla]
I received your last about
half an hour ago.  I thought as I had nothing
to do I would write you a few lines–It
has been raining most of the day, but has
now cleared away and is very pleasant
and warm I was very glad to hear from
you. How glad I am to hear that your
Mother is better, and that the children are
well and hearty, how I should like to
see them,  I hope now that you have
got some help, you will feel better
and have an easier time, than you have
for the last month.
T-morrow we are to be mustered into
the service, and sign the Pay Roll
I believe it is necessary to go through
that operation in order to get our

[page 2]
pay, I dont understand much about it
neither do I want to, so long as we get
our money.  Perhaps Fitzwilliam can tell
you more about it than I can.
About those shirts you need not trouble
yourself any more about them. I can
get along very well without for the pres-
ent, as it is coming warm weather and
pay-day is to be shortly.  We can make some
arrangement after that comes, I should
rather have a good large Box of goodies
at present, than the shirts, not that
we dont have enough to eat, but that
goodies work in handy sometimes in
so large a family as I have got.  You
must let Ellen know when you get
ready to send also Mary Anne, Dont
forget to put some of the Indian Weed
in one corner, for that you must know
is the “grand comforter” if a Soldier & Sailor

[page 3]
I shall endeavor to see J. B. when I go
to Washington again, I thank him for
his offers of kindness, and will try and appreciate
Tell Mrs Perkins her boy is well and hearty
and seems to enjoy himself, first rate
I let him read the lines you wrote,
This morning we got the official report of the
capture of New Orleans, and it makes the
“Boys” feel first rate, I forgot to tell you
that Pratt, the great American traveller has
been here for the last two or three weeks, he
gave us some “highfaluitian” speeches I can
tell you, the “Boys” had to play all manner
of tricks on him in order to drive him
away, he was a regular nusuiance.
I did not intend to write but a line or two
when I began, and as what I have scribbled
dont amount to much, and the Boys are coming
in to the tent for the night, I will close,
Good night dear ones, Write often, God bless you
Robert

Robert: unidentified soldier in the 14th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

MSS 1242

pay, I dont understand muc

1862 April 29 Staunton, Va.

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

Tuesday night, April 29, 1862.
The feeling to-day has been more hopeful. New Orleans 
not occupied by the enemy at last dates, Gen. Lovell suspected 
of treachery, unjustly. Gen. Johnson in town nearly all day. It is said 
that our scouts went to foot of Shenandoah Mt. yesterday, 
and found no enemy. Jackson has sent here for battle 
flags, ambulances +c. The last arrival from his camp re-
ports a reinforcement of 12000 men. Sam Robinson of 
Richmond came up to-day — Says troops are pouring 
through the South towards Fredericksburg. He + Ma-
son are going to Roaring Run Iron Works to see about 
a lease of that place by the Government. It occurred to me 
that I would like to be connected with the enterprise. Went 
to see Mason — found him in bed — Said he had been 
thinking about it, and wanted to propose it to me this 
evening when we were interrupted. 
[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow Project]
MSS 38-258              

1862 April 29 before York Town

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

                       April 29th

To day the cannonading at the Point
continues quite heavy and rapid.  also a
brisk fire from Yorktown is added to
it.  News of the capture of New Orleans
and the forts on the lower Mississippi
reach us to day.  Pleasant and quite
warm.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

1862 April 29 near Yorktown, Va.

[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]

                        Tuesday – April 29th 1862
Went to the battery again this
morning,  Bob Harve [?] took a shot
with my rifle, & made a yank
get down out of a tree – the officer
would not allow us to shoot as
usual – I was taken with a chill &
fever today at 12 o’c – upon referring
back find that it is just 21 days
since my last – this could have been
avoided by taking quinine – had I
thought of it – The Co rec’d orders
today for our four Companies to go
to Sprattleys   Capt Smith went to
Wms’burg to get transportation papers
today – We hear today that N.O. has
not been taken – the accts are very
varing – Our battalion is broken up today –
the men all going South – Co “C’ & the S’
Greys remain in under the Con-         
-scription act – It is very sad to
part with the comrades of twelve
mo’s hardships – I was too sick
to go to Camp with them – but
remained in Camp Rawle with Jim –
towards night Everything is very
still – & lovely – I bid good-bye to
many of the boys, not expecting to
go South myself at present – I do
not wish to leave here before the great
fight is over – a letter from Jno Didlake
rec’d today (24th date)

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

                   

1862 April 29 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Tuesday 28  [sic]–Sewed all morning–& at night attended the
young ladies concert–Money for the NC Gunboat fund–
They performed very well–& no doubt made over a hun
dred dollars as the Chapel was crowded–We all went
from the Hotel 9 ladies & 2 gentlemen–Tom & Mr Davis

MSS 6960

1862 April 29, New Bern, N.C.


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

Tuesday
April 29

Had a very good beat where I
was, but did not sleep very well
last night.  Lay on the counter with Phineas
Read some to day and washed my clothes
Had the customary drill

MSS 11293