[from the diary of Samuel Johnson, 1st Massachusettts Independent Light Artillery]

[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]

Mulberry Pt  April 24 1862

Dear Mary
Yours of the 14th with letters from
my boys came to hand yesterday.  I showed Barry
Franks letter–Wickham called on me, or rather
called to see the Fort, & to his surprise found
me in command he told me he saw you & the
children in the road–he promised to send Chuck
to see me.  We have had no fight, & I fear the
Yankees will play us a trick, & try to reach
Richmond from some other quarter–Dr. Kellam is
with me–Tucker & Barny were on shore to see me lst
eveng—I wish you & the children were not so near Richmond
I fear our own soldiers, nearly as much as I do Yankees–
I do not believe they can get up the Penla, but it is only
my opinion–If we are forced to flee our great
men in Richmond are to be blamed–I am sure
that the war has been badly managed on our side and
I tell you that now the chances are against us–I greatly
fear that our State will be over run–but you & the chil-
-dren must keep quiet & trust to God–You know I was
never in favour of this war but now I am in for
the end, or for death; & may, if I see we have any
chance, go south & help to keep them at bay.
things may take a turn for the better, before this
reaches you I hope they may–God bless you
and my children  Your Cal

[Callender St. George Noland]

[page 2]
Tell Mr. [or Wm.] Phil Nelson, I
know that a Democrat
cannot be trusted–And
all our bad luck
was brought on us
by the rascality of
that Party–& they are
playing tricks now
& like Nero, will fiddle
away, when we are
over run

MSS  6463

Camp Near Yorktown Va

April 24th 1862

My Dear Creek

As Mr. Walters contemplates
starting home in the morning I will
avail myself of the opportunity of
droping you a few lines by  him,  I
have no doubt but your minds are
all on the rack at home, as I suppose
roumers are plenty, of an expected
Battle in this vacinity, but it has
not yet taken place, and most of us
are beginning to think that the great
Battle will not now take place at this
but some other point, probably
on the coast of North Carolina, or on
the other side of Richmond near the
Rapidan River, in the neighbourhood
of Fredricksburg and Gordonsville
but this is only supposition on our

[page 2]
part, and we are very liable to be wrong.
there is plenty of Yankees close to us here
our pickets are skirmishing with them
all the time, we are close enough to
hear the fire of there Musketry very
plainly, but this is a  duty which
our Regt has escaped so far, and we
are very glad of it for of all other duties
picket is the most disagreeable, we
would all rather fight a big battle
than go on picket. I don’t think we
will have any of it to do here as our
division did nearly all of it last
winter, and Genl Longstreet will keep
us from it on that account as long
as possible; We are all very much
pleased with our new Regt our Col
is one of the finest officers I have
ever seen and a Gentleman of the
first water besides, every thing has
to be done in apple pie order about

[page 3]
him very different from the way
which they were done n the 4th Regt.
I have not heard from you since we
came here we are looking for a mail
from Richmond today.  I hope there
will be some letters for me, as I am
getting very anxious to hear from
you.  I have a good chance to get  home
now as soon as times are a little quieter
Both Col Jenkins & Lieu -Col. Walker
have been home recently and are
willing to grant me the first opportune  word is opportuny
offered, which you may depend I will
avail myself of,  We are still living
in the woods we have only two tents
for our whole Regt which are used by
the Col. Lieut Col and myself, the
others are just sleeping und[er] brush
arbours &c but we are all satisfied
and fancy ourselves very comfortable
and are willing to suffer many

[page 4]
more privations for our countries
happiness and independence.
I wish you would send my blue Jean
Pants by W. N. Major when he starts
back as my others are nearly wore out
I do not know of anything else that
I need in the shape of clothing as the
Less I have the better and I can get along
with it, You may send me some good
whiskey if you can find it, but do not
put yourself to any trouble to do so,
everything is very high here I had to
give three Hundred dollars for a
saddle Horse, and if I had not
happened on a good chance I would
not have got him for that sum
he is a beautiful dark Gray almost
black, and a very fine animal.
did Jim get the articles you wanted
for you, and Maggie doll baby, is
she growing much and getting smarter
ever day?  Kiss the little darling for
me and tell her Father will soon be
home to see her, give my Kindest
regards to all the Family and
except my Love for yourself

William

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366

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

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

Thursday–Liz & Eliza have been to see Mrs Parson & Ryan
also shopped & purchased dresses–Eliza a blue Berage &
white muslin–Liz a black Berage–My blankets have
come safely.  We have heard of Joe Wrights death — Cut off
so early in life–Mrs Hargrave called on us for the 1st time
to day—

MSS 6960

[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]

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

Thursday 24  Letter from Lanty 21 March
dated 19 miles from Harrisonburg
on the Swift Run Gap Road–The
enemy had not come up higher than
New Market.  Reinforcements from
Ewells Division have certainly gone
to him.  Letter from Eugene–but of
no latter date than the last recd. Weather
cold & unseasonable.

MSS 4763