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

Sunday, Apr. 13, 1862

Was out this morning
found Mr Harpers a
pleasant place had
breakfast after talking
a while came with
the boys to to[sic] the
old Church no singing
came on to Mr Bayleys
stopped some time had
dinner. Came in with
a fellow of the Battery
arrived at home in
the afternoon have
had pleasant visit
Rainy most of the
day
Wrote letter to Mrs Cam-
pbell

MSS 10317

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

Sunday 13 Mild but threatening rain
Large congregation at church. Went
after service home with charles &
after dinner walked with him
to Springfield cemetery to see the
lot he has bought, & to which I am
to have the bodies of his children
removed from the University bury
ing ground, the remains of my
father. The lot is quite large–
too large indeed as it will be
troublesome to keep in order. the
cemetery is becoming populated. It
is a beautiful spot, and when the
trees attain more size and the lots
are improved it will compare for
beauty with any place it the kind in
the South. it rained slightly upon
us. Passing Mrs. Irwin’s new re-
sidence called for a few moments
to see the family. A night came
young Rutledge, a member of
Lanty’s company, of whom he had
spoken in his last letter. He left
camp about the date of that letter.
He was in the fight and gave us
many details. He is from Hampton
County Md. and was a student of
Medicine at the University. He
says the Rockbridge Artillery had
swollen to 240 men & was lately
reorganized in three companies.
The one he & Lanty belong to con-
tains 60 young men educated at
the University or colleges on the State
and at Theological seminaries
Seven theological students also
joined them on one day. It is
commanded by Poague, late of L.
of the Rockbridge artillery–McLaugh
lin expects to be made major of
the Batallion–Rutledge staid
all night with us–He is a re
-lation of Chas Lynch–His mother
being Lynch’s cousin.

MSS 4763

Catlett Station Va. April 12th/1862

Dear parents

I have a few moments to write
and I thought I would improve the time
I saw Alonzo yesterday it was quite lucky
for me for he was just returning to his
camp when I met him on the rail road I
had been to head quarters with Mr. Catlett
he was obliged to have a guard with him
whenever he went out away from his house
Last night about 4 oclock the guard was
all called into camp patrolls guards were
sent out to bring in all the men that were
strolling around and about 8 oclock we
got orders to march but to our surprise we
were ordered back to Alexandria. I did not
feel fit to march so I reported myself to the
doctor and I was left here with the hospital
steward and 10 other men from our regt. we are
to stop here for the cars to carry us to Alexandria
The news of the great battle near Corinth Miss
and of the capture of island No. 10 has reached us

[page 2]
with the news of the death of A. S. Johnson
the rebel Gen. and Beauregard lost one
arm in the battle I suppose you have heard
the particulars ere this so I can write no news
about it. Our Regt. started this morning about
6 Oclock for Alexandria on foot we are still
waiting for the train to come along.

[letter of Hiram of the 5th Maine will continue on April 13]

MSS 12916

[on patriotic stationery depicting a red colored vignette of a spreading eagle holding in its beak a banner “The Federal Union, it must be Preserved]

Nelson and Markle Redman
Dear Brothers:
It is also my very pleasant for
me to write to you. I am just
in receipt of yours, dated April
first. I am and always shall
be pleased to learn of your
prosperity. So Father has sold
both the colts. You must not
mind it, but work away
on the farm until the debts
are paid and by the time you
will need them other colts will
grow up. You must be good
and obedient boys. Use all pos-
sible ways to keep the work going

[page 2]
and do not, by all means, quarrel
between yourselves, but do
everything for each other to keep
harmony and peace in the family.
When you work, do your work
good, and when you play, try
to enjoy yourselves; but remember
always that work is first and
then pleasure. If you wish
to reap a good harvest, you
must put your seed in the
ground good, at the right
time. You must also take
good care of your horses
if you wish them to stand
the fatigue of hard labor.
Sow a good deal of grain for I
shall be there to help you to
harvest it. Plant a good deal
of corn, for I know that you
are the boys to work it. In short
try to employ all your time
profitably and juditiously.

[page 3]
I shall send some money
about the first of May, and
then you must get some one
to help you fix the fenses.
You better get some lumber and
make a board fence around
the corner near the school-house.
You say that Annie rock is
married, will I am sorry, but
can’t cry. Markle I could’ent
guess whom she married. Boys
you must read all the papers
I send home, and don’t forget
to do so. Study all you can and
try to learn to write and have
Emeline show you how to com-
mence a letter. You must learn
all you can so that when you
become men, you can accept
of any position in society which
may be offered you. who knows
but that you both will become
efficient lawyers, or good politicians.

[page 4]

Don’t fail or forget to improve every
opportunity to get knowledge
so that you may become useful
in the world. Remember
that Hank says–you will never
regret it and when you
become men you will
thank me for it the advice. I shall
see that both of you will have
as good a chance as I have
had if you only try to do something
yourselves. I want you both
to write to me often and
I shall see whether you make
any improvement in writing
or not. When you write tell
me all the particulars.
Oh! yes, about 1,000 more Secesh
came in today from Island No.
10. We now have to guard
three thousand and they are
rough looking custermers I
tell you. I want you to send
Strock’s, Wooley’s and Brock’s likenesses
to me and send one at a time.
Give my regards to all the boys
and tell Charley Durrin to write to
me again. Give my love to
all the girls. so good-by for this time.

Yours very truly,
W. H. Redman

Nelson L. Redman
Markle E. Redman

P.S. When Virgil comes home, tell him
to write to me and tell me all about the examination a
Tell A. S. Ferguson that he had better answer my letter.

William H. Redman, Corporal, later Captain, 12th Illinois Cavalry

MSS 7415

Hd. qut. Dist
April 12th, 1862
Major
Yours of yesterday is at
hand. I have already made appli-
cation for out Insp. Genl. But should
he not accept, I will be free to act
in this case, and would be glad to see you
have the posn. But I fear that there will
be a difficulty in consequence of your
Regt. thereby being left with only one
Field officer.
Very truly yours
T. J. Jackson
to Maj. E. F. Paxton

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 658

Saturday morning – April 12th
My dear Ma;
I was on guard yesterday & c’d not finish
my letter, so I will write a little more today. The mail is very
irregular now – we do n’t get it oftener that twice a month – Some
of the boys got letters yesterday dated 21st of March.. We’ve
expecting letters by Marcelus Beadles for several days…
We have not found out yet whether we will be compel=
ed to remain in the same company or not – there is a great deal
of talk about it. I think it is time we were knowing, as
our twelve months will soon be out. As far as I am concern=
ed I hope we may have to stay in the same Co., but most of
the boys will be very much dissatisfied – some even go so
far as to say they will desert first – that is all talk…
I could not hear from the Richmond Howitzers, so I’ve

[page 3]
joined Carrington’s, the same Battery Pen has joined.. I have not
seen Pen yet – don’t know where he is, but w’d not be surprised to
hear of his being at home…. We are still on picket & are hav-
[ing] a fine time this good weather. There are a good many wild hogs
about here – that is, hogs that have been left here to roam at large,
& if we do n’t kill them the Yankees will – so we’ve been feasting
on shoat since we’ve been here.. Every thing has been very quiet for
the last few days – since this good weather commenced our post has
been ba moved back a little where we stay in the day & go
back to the house at night. We expect to be relieved to day or to=
morrow… The Culpepper Minute Men joined our Regt. a
few days ago. Cousin Bailey Ashby belongs to the Co. – he is Ser=
geant I think. Bro. John was at Culpepper CH. a few days ago – he is
at camp now. Major Terrel has gone to Orange after the militia.
Gen. Stuart has left here – he was at Rapidann with his caval=
ry the last time I heard from him. I w’d not be surprised at
our leaving any day, but have not the least idea where we
will go – we may go to reinforce Jackson… We have
heard of our great victory at Corinth – I hope Ma, it has
put you in rather better spirits. I would judge from
yr last letter that you w’d n’t be surprised to see the
Yankees by Louisa CH…. I w’d like very much to see
Willy & little Carter… We are all well. Best love to all
& accept a share for yr self. We will write by every
opportunity, & you must do the same. Yr fond son
P. S. Edloe
My love to Miss Daisy & tell her Henry is here & is well –
he says the reason he has not written to her is because his knap=

[page 4]
sack is at Culpepper CH. & he had no paper – will write as soon as
he can get some – he has been on duty at Gen Ewil’s headquarters
for about
a week – was relieved yesterday. Please send my Confederate
coat back first opportunity – my Jacket is wearing out –
Edloe

[Bailey B. Ashby – enl. 3/15/62 as Sgt. in Co. B. 13th Virginia Infantry.]

P. Edloe Jones with his brothers John William Jones, and Francis Pendleton Jones served in the Louisa Blues, 13th Virginia Infantry.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13407

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept., and a former owner and editor of the Staunton Spectator]

Saturday night, April 12, 1862.

Legh was with us at dinner to-day, and as he was
about to return down town, I saw him, from the yard,
in the porch with some one. He called to me that a
young soldier was applying for quarters. I was
getting some shrubbery to set out at my office, but
came in, and was surprised to find Addy Stuart.
He had arrived with a large party of recruits and
re-enlisted soldiers from Montgomery and neigh
boring counties. His parents agreed to let him come
this far, hoping to cool his ardent desire to join
the army. He is sixteen years old, and of delicate
constitution. No news to- day — no mail nor dis-
patch from Richmond. Twelve Yankee prison
ers were brought up from Jackson’s army this
afternoon, and placed in the room over the Coun
ty Court Clerk’s Office. A drunken soldier
threw a brick at them, which missed, and was
put in jail for his pains. Our young man
Sherrer left this morning to join his company.

[transciption by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

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

Saturday 12th It is very unpleasant today–Cold & chilly– Tom
had a chill & fever last night–& recovers slowly–Eliza was in
-vited to take a walk & fish today with the Miss Martins –But
from some mistake of the girls in delivering the message–She
has been disappointed–At 1/2 past 9 Mr. Martin called
for Eliza –& she spent a pleasant day in the woods–
returned in time to meet two students who called on
her–And while absent 3 others called in the morning.

MSS 6960

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

Turned out at 4 A.M. Breakfasted,
packed and harnessed up, and by six
were in motion. Forded the Bull Run Creek
passed through Centreville. at four P.
M. we arrived and encamped on the
north side of the town of Fairfax Ct. Ho.
Cool and very pleasant.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

[from the diary of Milton W. Humphries of Bryan’s battery, as recopied an annotated by him in 1893]]

April 12 We fired a salute, by permission of Brig. Gen. Heth, in honor of the battle of Shiloh, –or rather, I suppose, in honor of the death of Major General Johnsotn, as there was nothing gained by the engagement on either side. My detachment loaded and fired at the rate of 4 times per minute.

MSS 1578