Richmond May 19th 1862
My Dear Father –
                                   I obtained per-
mission to visit the city for a
few hours this morning for the
purpose of procuring some ne-
cessary articles and while here
I have determined to avail my-
self of the kindness of Mr. Boyd
to send you a letter.)
     Our regiment is now encamp-
ped about four miles from the
city on the New Kent pike,
and near the position I suppose
which it will hold in battle
Should the enemy attack in
that direction. Our soldiers
are in excellent spirits,
confident in their ability to
defeat the enemy, and unless
some great blunder is made
by our authorities I do not fear

[page 2]
For the result of the impending
struggle.
     Strange to say I have re-
ceived no letter from you since
the engagement at Wil-
liamsburg, and I am utterly
unable to account for it.
     The mails have arrived reg-
ularly, but still I can get
no intelligence from you.
     Please let me hear from you
as soon as possible, as I am
quite anxious to do so. Address
me at Richmond.
     Our march from the
Peninsula to this place was prob-
ably attended with more
hardship then any in which
we have yet participated, and
during the last day or so
I was not able to keep my
place with the regmt. on ac-
count of weakness in my

[page 3]
wounded limb which com-  
pelled me to walk slowly.
     I experienced but little pain,
and weakness (alone) of the
limb occasioned the incon-
venience. I do not feel it
now, but whenever we
are called upon to take a
long march I doubt not it
will recur. This fact makes
me desirous of obtaining some
position which will entitle
me to horse, as I am satisfied
in some such capacity I can
be of much more service.
     If Genl. Echols has not yet
selected his staff, and you
could get some influen-
tial friend to suggest my
name I doubt not he
would give me the appoint-
ment of Aid-de-camp or
Adjt. Genl. Either of which

[page 4]
positions would be satisfactory.
Should this fail, I might se-
cure some place in the
Division of State troops which
is to be raised for Genl.
Floyd – either on one of the
Genls. staffs or by raising one
of the companies of artillery
Or Cavalry. I am so exclu-
ded in the army from all
sources of Communication
with those who could aid
me that I find it almost
[im]possible to arrange any
plan of my own, and
I therefore frequently lose
opportunities which frequently
if improved would be
successful.
     I suppose that Lt. Hollo-
ways Old Company failed
to receive my letter announ-
cing my willingness to ac-

[page 5]
cept Command of the Com-
pany and have Consequently
Chosen some one else.
I have heard nothing from
them.
     Please write me at
once. I am enjoying pretty
good health.
     Remember me affection-
ately to all at home,
& believe me
            Your affectionate Son
                           John 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.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158

 4 miles of Richmond
                                                    19th May 1862
My Dearest Mother
                                    I received to day yr. let-
ter of the 9th with a P. C. of the 10th
sent through Mc Kinney & Drefuss. In
my last I suggested you direct to
Richmond. Do so to care of George
J. Herring (alias fish). It will be my qui-
kest way of getting them. This I put
first lest I might forget to mention
it. You do not dear mother know
how sorry I feel at hearing of Dear
little George’s sickness. Give him
a warm kiss for me & tell him I
have always since in the army
wanted to see him a great
deal – but I had rather be with
him now when sick, than at
any other time. Oh! How I hope he
is now relieved from that
painful disease. Tell him I
have occupied all the spare time

[page 2]
I had to day, before our march
commenced & since until now
late in the evening, in cooking
It being my turn to day & one
cook having left us about
a month ago for fear of be-
ing cut off from his woman
who lives in Orange Co. We have
tho a prospect for getting another
in a very few days. I begin to
think I am one of the experts
in camp as to cooking. Tho’ you
orJulia would  not consider
me so. I have written home, two
or three letters since the fight at
Williamsburg. I suppose you have
received them before now. I will
not say anything about it now – I
expect I talked too much about it then.
too much. We have fallen back to
this place or the vicinity of Rcd.
I see the enemy’s newspaper ac-

page 3]
counts state they had 20:000
men on the field & we fifty. I wrote
the no. we had and on the field.
Our brigade have marched a-
round Richmond & are now on
the Mechanichsville turnpike wh:
runs out towards Old Church
in Hanover county. I tell this that
you may have an idea of the move-
ments of our troops. Our Picketts
were run in to within 2 ½ miles of
us this morning, but were strength-
ened & returned to their position
about 7 miles down the Rd. I think
a battle will be somewhere about
Richmond before a very long
period of time has elaspsed, or
strategical moves on a most
gigantic scale. I did not know
until to day your mule had been
hurt – how was it done? It is
probable that the organi-

[page 4]
zation of our army compa-
ny will be revised & we will
have a new election. It is
possible Mc Carthy may be
beaten. I was quite glad
to hear of that . I think Jery [?]
is so much better off
than I thought. I sincerely
wish I was at home to see
the beautiful (the prettiest flo-
wers I have ever seen) & deli-
cate flower by Julia’s house)
in bloom, but more than
I might see my friends.

Letter of William H. Perry of the Richmond Howitzers will continue on the 20th


[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

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

Monday  Still very threatning & cloudy–I feel grieved that we
should have such bad weather during Convention–when it
was so lovely last week–Went to Church & heard a good sermon
but dont know the name of the minster.  Received a letter from
Tom at Enfield.  He had a pleasant trip that far & found Noah
ready to go with him.  Liz took tea at Mrs Persons–I have finished
Eliza’s delaine dress & it fits nicely–Mr Fetter has returned–The
Bradleys speak of returning to Wilmington.  Mary sick in
bed–also Miss Connick–Mr Branch came to see Eliza last
night all of our Convention people have gone–Jimmie
Wright now Captain Wright & Lieutenant Dick Langdon came
up from Goldsboro on Saturday & stayed until to night

MSS 6960

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

                                   May 19th

The 16th 17th and 18th were very quiet, nothing worthy
of note transpiring during those day’s,
Gen Fitz. John Porters corps (the 5th) arrived
and encamped here on the 16th.  Last even-
-ing we received orders to march at day
light.  At four. A. M were turned out and
by six were in motion, at two P.M we
halted and encamped on a plantation
some [ ‘ninteen’ lined through] nineteen miles from the
rebel capital.  Was taken suddenly very
sick last night, and was obliged to ride
in an ambulance.  Rained hard during
the fore noon, in the afternoon cleaned
up and became quite pleasant.

[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]

                        Monday – May 19th 1862
Spent this day in the American [hotel]
with Capt Harrison dispensing
C.S. shinplasters to the officers &
men of Genl Magruders division –      
Took a ride this Evening to Church      
Hill upon “Fannie” – & came home      
abt nine o’clock –                                  
     Wrote a letter today to Nowell        
Logan – Enclosing one rec’d from ]
Mrs Roy for him – which I opened
& found one Enclosed for myself –
    Read some of Jeffersons letters &
retired for the night – No letters
from home yet!  None from Charleston
Except one from Julia directed to Wmsbg
which is of old date –

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

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

Monday 19.  Morning threatening rain
Mary I. had intended to go in the boat
to Bethel, where, if the weather was
good, it was arranged Lancelot Minor
was to send for her & Rose–We thought
it too likely to rain for her to go–But
she went with me to the Boat for the
purpose of mailing a letter–Found the
packet had gone & that Rose was on
board –The day proved a fine one
Various rumors–one that Cox’s forces
had been taken in Giles County –another
that the enemy were advancing on
Richmond–not much [?] to be [?]
[?] on eifher–Charles and Dr. Houston
dined with us–Charles looks badly
and like William many years older
than before the war commenced–He has
seen a great deal of action & hard ser-
vice –very unwell all day–For the
first time feel that my cold has un-
dermined my strength.  Mary Gwathmey
who came up Saturday called at
night. She returns to Richd.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of the Letcher Artillery]

May 19th  Married just one month to day.
Cloudy this morning & has rained a little.
A letter was brought over this morning
from Genl Andersons headQuarters, from
Jennie, which had been there from date,
three or four days Dated 14 th inst.  Conduc-
-ted N. C. O. drill at 11 o’c.  Had Battery
drill at 3 o’c.  Rained this evening.
Wrote Jennie.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

were up this morning
at daybreak marched to
the summit of Flat Top Mt
arrived there soon after
noon  Marched 14 miles
Rained some last night
hense the march was at
best a little fatigueing
Road very mountainous
Find that when on a
march my thoughts
generally revert to
home Wearied with
the march methinks
that these little trials
that I once regarded hardships
are not to be compared to
what we are now enduring
Would like if some of our Friends
at home could be with us such
a day as this past one.

 MSS  10317

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

                                  Great Flat Top Mountain, May 19th, 1862.
     We marched 14 miles today, and
arrived here about 2 P.M.  The heat
of the day rendered it quite unpleasant
marching, & the road being quite hilly,
made it more disagreeable.  Whether we
remain here, or continue our retreat,
remains to be seen.  Certain it is, that
whether we go farther or not, we cannot
help feeling as though we could have thor=
=oughly “cleaned out” the rebels from Princeton
and the surrounding country.  Instead thereof,
an army of 6000 men, well supported by
artillery, retreat before daybreak from
what we all believe to be an inferior force,
leaving a number of sick and wounded
to the tender mercies of the “secesh.”
     There must be imbecility, and a want
of energy somewhere, or ‘such things would
not be.’  Soldiers can have and render
as good opinions as those high in authority,
and it is a universal opinion in camp, that
Gen. [Jacob Dolson] Cox is not the “right man in the right place.”  
                                                                         

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

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

May 19  Monday. to day we moved to Tunstall’s Station
a station on the Richmond & York River R.R.
eighteen miles from Richmond.  It rained
during our march and did not cease until
some time after our arrival.  We however got
our tents pitched and the everlasting and
indispensable arbors made–These arbors were
becoming absolutely indispensable.  Without
them tents were uninhabitable. The burning
sun beating down upon them made them
more like ovens than habitations
The great variety of evergreens Y the infinite
quantity found in this portion of Virginia
served an admirable purpose & these arbors
were constructed with great taste  by the men
over both the officers & their own tents.
A camping ground looked more like the
adornments for a festal occasion than the
shelter for rude warriors
Black Creek, a narrow, but tolerably deep
& rapid stream of water ran near our ground
and afforded most charming opportunities
to all for bathing and after so long abstinence
in this respect it was much improved[?]

MSS 9044