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

         May 20th

At one P. M we received marching orders
and by three were on the go.  about six
halted and encamped on a plantation
in Hanover County.  This county is so
thinly inhabited that it is not divided
into town ships.  We are but twelve miles
from Richmond.  Pleasant and quite
warm. during the day: in the evening a
rain storm set in which lasted all night

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

Near Richmond  May 20th 1862

My darling precious wife

When I was at the Long Bridges in Charles City county I
heard that you were in Richmond and of course had some curiosity to know
what you were doing there and some hopes of seeing you there when we
arrived–we arrived here after several short and tedious day’s
journeys and I had to stay two days within a mile and a half of
Richmond believing you to be there, without the power of enter-
ing the city.  I tried every way–applied in person to Genl Hill
wrote to you uncle Tom and at last was determined to enter
the city on another man’s pass when I received your letter of
the 15th stating you would leave the next day for Ch:ville.
You may judge of my feelings at being as I thought within two miles of her
I love best without the power of seeing her–I wished the
Southern Confederacy and all its officers at the bottom of the
red sea and altogether was in a desperate state of mind.
I obtained the signatures of Capt Wyatt & the commander of
our brigade to my application for a transfer, which I hope
is sufficient and forwarded it as you directed–It took
me about five hours to make out what you wanted, you
had written so hurriedly, and when I came to the proper
names I was in despair–I intend to keep the letter & show
it to you when we meet again.

[page 2]
If my application for a transfer does’nt succeed, I am deter-
mined to get a substitute and in order to cover all
contingencies and be ready in time get Pa to look up one
who is in good health and over forty five–you will see
the regulation with regard to substitutes in the  Enquirer
and see what I mean  I am willing to pay $500
in addition to $51 dollars due me by the C.S. and $50
bounty to which I believe I am entitled–I will try and
make it up by teaching–but as for staying in this com-
pany, I cant do it and wont if I can help it–the com-
pany has been ruined by the reorganization but of this, more
when I see you.

The next letter you write give me some news with regard
to the different members of our families and dont hurry
yourself so–commence your letter about four oclock in
the evening and let nothing disturb or interrupt you
until you have told me every thing and also that
you love me with all your heart your devoted husband
Give my best love to Mother and Pa, Mittie Maggie
and the rest white and black–Tell me all that you
did in Richmond and what induced you to run away
just when I was comeing, though as it turned out
it was for the best–Write to me the very evening you
get this  With a heart full of love I am ever yours

Direct to care of
Capt Wyatt’s Artillery
Early’s brigade
Hills Division
Richmond, Va.

Unsigned letter of Howe Peyton Cochran
1st Virginia Artillery

MSS 9380

West Point Va  May 20

Dear Mother
I am still at this place
though the last I heard from
the Regt it was 17 miles from here on
the road to Richmond and I dont
know how far it is from here
by this time as that was 2 days ago
and they said they were cooking up
three days rations to go on again
There is 6 of us here with a Lieut
guarding commissary stores
that they could not carry and
we dont know when we shall
join them probably not till
they get into Richmond.  The
weather is getting awful warm let
me tell you but we are having
a good time here living on
fresh fish & oysters which we
catch ourselves and to day

[page 2]
we had CHICKEN SOUP
for dinner, only think of it-
We bought two hens of the darkies
for 75 cts The only thing that
troubles us here is that we have
not got any sugar for our coffee
nor any Saleratus but plenty of
flour but we get along tip top
and have got provisions enough
to last us a month so we dont
care whether they send for us
or not hope they wont till
they get into Richmond
for then we shall ride
and not have to carry our
“shoulder trunks” 35 miles
over a hard toad to trabbel
Tomorrow we are going to do
escort duty to one of Berdens
Sharpshooters that is dead he
was guarding stores and we
re going to give him a good
a military burial as

[page 3]
circumstances will permit
There is not much news stirring
here in fact we have not seen
a paper for most a fortnight
in fact we that are behind are
entirely out of civilization as
we get no mails but  before
next Sunday we shall
probably be with the boys.
Is Asa at Norfolk doing
provost duty or not I have
not heard any thing from
him for a good while and
I think we shall stop at
Richmond through the summer
and if so I shall have plenty of
time to write to him and all
other friends I would write to him
now but that is the last
stamp I have got and I
cant get any here and I
cant send them without as I
have to depend on uncertainties

[page 4]
about getting them to the
mail as there is no mail
from this place but I
must close and be on the
lookout for a chance
to send this  Give my respects to
all enquiring friends and take
my love yourself.

From your son

William Wallace

William Wallace Smith, Co. B,  22nd Massachusetts

MSS 15360

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, formerly a Sgt, Co. B, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor’s), now with the Hampton Legion]

                        Tuesday – May 20th 1862
     Borrowed Mr Harveys Mare this
morning & went to Head quarters
with Capt Harrison, where we paid
off some of the staff – & made
arrangements to get rooms with the
daughter in law of Mr _____________
for our accommodations – we move
out tomorrow.  Returned to town
by three oclock – Felt the symptoms
of a chill while in the country &
had the shakes by 4 o’c – took
to bed – fever & violent headache
most of the night –

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

Camp near Richmond
                           20th May 18862.
My Dear Father –
                                I wrote you yesterday
by Mr. Boyd and today as I find
that Young Green leaves for Lynch-
burg in the morning I avail
myself of the opportunity to drop
you a few additional lines not
knowing at what time we may
be removed from our present
position and be excluded from
such opportunities.
     The battle for the city of
Richmond which has been so
long & anxiously expected seems
just now to be as far off as
it appeared to be when we
fell back for its protection.
     I do not think that there will
be any considerable engagement
immediately before the city but
that Mc.Clellan will more prob-

[page 2]
ably contend for the capital
at two points – near Hanover
Junction, and somewhere on
the line of the Richmond
& Southern Road. It can be
seen at a glance that
apart from the disparity
of forces, and appliances
of War which he can bring
against us, we shall fight
at tremendous strategic disad-
vantages. The Enemy with
his facilities for transportation
on land, & water, can rapidly
concentrate at any point
without our knowledge, while
unless we assumed the offen-
sive we cannot expect to
meet him with anything like
an equal force.
     I feel assured however that Genl.
Johnston who has never yet been
outdone by the Young Napoleon

[page 3]
will be equal to the Enemies,
and if he & his Co adjutors can
sustain their part, I cannot
for a moment entertain a doubt
of the result.
     Our soldiers have the most                  
unbounded Confidence in their
leader, and in the gallantry
of their Comrades, and anima-
ted as they are with the loftiest
sentiments of Devotion to
their government I feel
satisfied that they will prove
faithful guardians of
Our liberties.
     The recent engagement at                        
Williamsburg did more to
reassure me, and to confirm
the Confidence of our army than
any event that has occur-
red for many months.
 I regard it as one of the
most splendid achievements

[page 4] of the war. We had not
more than 8000 men Enga-
ged while the enemy accor-
ding to his own acknowledge-
ment had not less than
30,000 & claimed that we
had 50,000 – With this
immense odd we drove
the Enemy before us a dis-
tance of a mile & a half –
Captured 14 Cannon, &
only left the field on
account of want of provi-
sions, & ammunition.                    
     Adj. [James Lawrence] Meem leaves for Lynch-    
burg for Lynchburg [as found]in the
morning, and I am detailed to
act in his stead until he re-
turns.
     Let me hear from you soon.
I am extremely anxious
to get a letter. Affectly
                Your son
                      John W. Daniel
[page 5 – (The following page (numbered 5 & 6) is glued to the preceding letter so that page 6 comes
                 first. However it appears that in context page five comes first.]    
P.S.
     I have just learned that a
letter over my signature has
been published in the Repub-
lican, and I am exceedingly
surprised as I have never
written any with a view
to its appearance in public.
     I concluded that it must
be the hasty one that I
wrote you immediately
after the battle, and I
feel assured that no serious
oversight could have occurred
in it, or you would not have
permitted its publication.
     Please send me a copy
of the paper. I should like
to see how it appears.
     Young Green who carries
this will return in
a day or so & will afford
you an opportunity of
sending me papers and
[page 6]
letters direct.
     There is a rumor in camp
that Gen. Hill our Brigadier
is soon to be made a Maj.
Genl. and if so Garland will I
think succeed him, in which
Event I think I will be offe-
red  a position – on his staff,
or the adjutancy of the regmt.
     As I have no letter from
you since we evacuated the
entrenchments near Yorktown –
nearly three weeks since,
I hope I may receive one to-
morrow.
      Remember me affectionately
to Mr. & Mrs. Cabell,
      & believe me your affect
                            Son
                     Jno. W. Daniel

Lt. John Warwick Daniel, Co. C, 27th Virginia Infantry and Co. C., 11th Virginia Infantry, 1842-1910. Later a U.S. Senator from Virginia and noted orator.  Known as the Lame Lion of Lynchburg.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158

 4 miles of Richmond

[letter of William H. Perry of the Richmond Howitzers continues]
                                                 

7 A.M 20th my Dear mother I could not fin-
ish this last night before dark. Nothing
active this morning seems to be trans-
piring. We got a cook (a slave) this mor-
ning, paying $10:00 a month for him. I
don’t see how General McClellan can claim
a victory at Wmsburg. We certainly had fewer men
a engaged – took more prisoners than they did –
killed & wounded more men than they did – took
every piece of artillery they had on the field.

[A fragment of a letter in this file may be the ending of this letter. See below.]
Tho’ the mud prevented us from bringing it all off; we did
bring the most of it away. At the close of the day our
position was exactly the same as in the morning
when the battle began. We were on the retreat or
the defensive, yet succeeded in making the
battle ground beyond the enemies lines. And
only resumed our retreat, according to original
intentions, when we felt disposed & when the
enemy did not see fit to molest us. It
seems we drove the enemy’s gun boats
back on James river. There has both in
Richmond & in the army great fear been felt

[Next page]
lest gun boats should reach it. The people
of Richmond are very violent against Mr. Presi-
dent Davis for his criminal neglect of its
defence; until within [?] a very short period. Do
not forget to direct to Richmond care of George
& Herring. I am sorry Tom & Patsy are sick.
Give again my love to little George. How long
has Diphtheria been prevailing in our
neighborhood.[?] Is it the same that
was prevalent in the upper end of
Lunenburg before I left home.[?] I must
close. Dear Mother farewell
                                     Yr. Affly   W.H. Perry Jr.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 7786-d

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Monday, May 19

Spent today in trying to have my ruined house put in tolerable order but it has
been so destroyed by Northern and brute vandals I feel little spirit in attempt-
ing putting it to order.  I never saw it look more lovely outwardly.  Nature
seems putting forth all her powers this spring and I trust its tender beauty
will soon throw off the pall of war.  We hear cheering accounts from every
quarter and I feign would believe that the bloody feud will be over in a few
months.  Spent the evening after tea reading Bulwer’s novel.

MSS 9759

Philadelphia  May 19th 1862

My own dear Ella [Elvira Ellet]

On Saturday Marys kind letter reached me
and todays yours of the 17th inst, it has comforted me greatly to hear
that you, Charles and the dear children are all well, but Oh my
dear Ella I am suffering beyond endurance with anxiety and despair
on account of my three sons unheard from so long; Edward must
be ill or he never would let three weeks pass without writing to me
His last letter was dated the 18th of April and enclosed the latest
from Alfred, John still keeps on in [?] silence and you have read
of the deplorable state of  his family when he wrote now nearly
three months since.  The distance, the distance, which separates me
from my family precludes the possibility of going to them, or they
from coming to me, was it not for that nothing not even age or infirmity
should keep me from them.  I fear greatly that Charles unsatisfactory
letter to you arrises[sic]  from his mind being disturbed not only by his
business but some sad news from his brothers. if I could only hear
from them no matter how brief I should feel better.  I think sometimes
that if my apprehensions were well founded that surely Sarah, Lydia, or
Ann Crandall[?] would write to me. I go to bed at night, anxiously
waiting for morning, and morning comes, but no relief to my poor
heart.  This my dear Ella this is a sad and anxious state of existence, nothing
would make it endurable but the assurance of an immortality free from
sorrow or pain.  you also my poor child have you full store of trouble
but neither  you or I can realise the misery the agony of heart that

[page 2]
that now has desolated so many once happy homes, where now the voice of wailing
and shrieks of agony are also heard.  I cannot tell by what means this
most wicked and unholy rebellion is to be ended, neither do I care so that
it is accomplished but my voice has ever been against any peace unless
based on the most honorable terms to our offended government.  a complete
restoration of the Union, and the insulted[?] laws once more maintained,
no compromise should be listened to, no interference of foreign aid.  The insolence
of the nations who offer such mediation should be met with dignity
and repulsed by our government without a moments hesitation none
but the craven who wish to see the republic destroyed have any desire
for such an adjustment, the war may continue and many hearts with
my own be broken, but yet with the certainty of all I hold dear more [or none?]
to become victors, I shall with my last breath sustain my beloved
country, my government and the just rights of her citizen.  I have no
faith in Hunter. I fear that  his proclamation has some hidden motive
besides the emancipation of the slaves, for time is doing that most
effectively and it will be by the consent of the owners without inter-
vention on the part of the government or the military, but by the united
consent of the whole people North and South. for it will be
for their best interest, and the world is governed by interests, yea ask my
views and I have stated them. you are tender hearted and wish to [?]
the efusion of blood my dear Ella but much I fear that Oceans are yet
to flow from the bad management of those in command. Our Charles[?]
would have subdued the rebellion without bloodshed, but he was not
heard and behold the consequences, the President and a majority of the
people hold fast to McClellan [?] [?] will not see the thing as it
is the plan is and has been to clothe him with imaginary glory in
order to place him as a Candidate for president on the Breckinridge
ticket. the great serenade given to his wife in New York.

[page 3]
came out today and hailed her as the future lady of the White House
and this is why that he has always held back, never advancing until
every place is evacuated, first Munsons Hill, with one wooden gun
frightened the whole army under him, then the Potomac Baterys
then the time allowed Manassas to be shoved out. and ten York
Town, and now Richmond, all these tardy movements is to please those
with whom he sympathizes it is in vain to hope that life will be
spared by this shameful policy, for the great battle will come sooner or
later and the slaughter will be greater the longer delayed. had he
acted like a true general at York Town, I doubt if half the number
had been killed as had been at Williamsburg.  Tho I despair the man
and his party, but his worshipers are still blind and will be until
the horrid fact stares them in the face that he is a Traitor.
I only wish that you were nearer to me so that I could go to you
and tell you all my troubles, and hear your own. your anxiety about
not hearing from your family will now be removed for the mails are
asured[sic] and communication restored as soon as the Union troops get
possession  I do not believe that there will be a fight at Richmond
McClellan delays augers that  our boats were repulsed but they
will soon advance again. where has those of Charles construction
gone the papers are all silent.  to day I see that Curtis’ army
under whose command I believe Alfred and Eddy to be placed
is now in Arkansas passing on to Little Rock. but nothing
satisfactory or reliable.  I do hope that if Charles does not return
soon that he may be ordered or have to go further West and that
he will see his father and the family.  I wrote a long letter to Saml
three seeks since but have no answer, I have written to Edward three
times since his last.  what can this uncommon silence mean.  I have said
so much against concealment in the case of Johns illness that they surely
will not  practice that course with me again  [?] [?] [?]

[page 4]
to keep any thing back no matter how painful it had better be known at once
when you write to our dear Charles give him my best love I do not
write to him because I think he had enough on his mind without my
additional care and he would be depressed to hear of my anxiety, but I am
in good health with the exception of my heart have nothing to complain
of in that respect. it continues inflamed but no more painfull than
[?] Sarah [?] has not been able to see me for some
weeks, she rode out a few days since but was not benefitted by the
ride.  William comes as usual and is well. my sister often comes to see me
she is well but too much engrossed with the details of housekeeping to feel
her real griefs.  several of my old friends now that the weather is
pleasant often come and spend the evening with me the ladys of this
town are both kind and agreeable and pay me much  attention.
I do not go out atall.  confinement does not disagree with me and
I feel much better to remain at  home in my own rooms yet I cant
help sometimes wishing to see a great tree on green grass.  I recall
all the beautys of your  beaytiful place and take pleasure in seeing
you all there as formerly  if Miss Hunter is with Mary remember
me kindly to her also to Miss Kate Bernard[?]  I am really sorry
to hear of the illness of Mrs Dent.   I hope your next will tell of
her recovery.  You have had several deaths in your imediate[sic]  neighborhood
since I left you, but this affliction is from providence & on poor
murdered s[?] by the hand of their brothers all [?] no blood
the kin are to her. it is dreadful to contemplate such diabolical
acts as have been perpetrated on this home & hers. you said
nothing about Charley will the Hospital be retained in George Town I do
hope for your sake and his that it will not be moved &c my best love
to Mary and both of my little darlings.  I think I should love their
tender sympathy ?] more if they were near me.  Kiss them for me and
now dear Ella farewell with much love ever yours Mother

Mary Israel Ellet, 1780-1870, was the mother of Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr., 1810-1862, the noted engineer and naval innovator who pioneered the use of iron clad steamers as battering rams  and who would soon be mortally wounded in the battle for Memphis while commanding the “Queen of the West.”  Three other sons also mentioned in the above letter were Alfred Washington Ellet, 1820-1895,  who commanded the ram “Monarch” in the same battle, and was later the brigadier of the Mississippi Marine Brigade; John Ellet, an early California pioneer whose sons served under their Uncle Alfred as did Charles’s son Charley; and Dr. Edward Carpenter Ellet.
Granddaughter Mary, also referred to above, married the widowed William D. Cabell of Nelson County, Virginia, after the war and became a founder of the Daughters of the American Revolution.


MSS 38-111