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

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

Saturday, May 17th

Delightful news today. McClellan sends a dispatch to Washington saying that
he is at a standstill.  The Confederate forces are too large for him to con-
tend against.  All is confusion. More papers are suppressed etc.  Johnston
whipped Milroy at Staunton horribly, drove him back into the mountains. Ashby
defeated Shields with great loss, taking all his baggage.  We spent a delightful
day at the Briars.  Mrs. William Smith arrived while we were there. The tender
passion will bud in spite of the warlike days.

MSS 9759

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

Saturday
May 17
Came off picket this morning. Two
of Co. E. got scared last night, and
fired their guns.  Kept a pretty close watch but
saw and heard  nothing.  Rained very hard this
morning before I got off, and the roof of the
house caved in partly, so we got pretty wet.
Fired off and cleaned up gun this afternoon.
Wrote home this evening and went to bed early
as I dd not sleep any last night hardly.

MSS 11293

May 17th 2 oclock
My darling wife
We are on the
Charles City road about 3
miles from Richmond and
just to think I am so near
you without the power of
seeing you–How long we
will stay here or where we
will go to I have’nt the
most remote idea.  We may
stay here a day or two–I
wonder if you would by any
possibility get me permission
to visit Richmond while in
the neighborhood–if you

[page 2]
only knew how anxious I
am to see you, you would
try your best.
with much love and very
anxious to see you, I am
Your devoted husband
I wrote to you this morning
before we left our last
stopping place

unsigned letter of Howe Peyton Cochran of the 1st Va. Artillery

MSS 9380

May 17th

My darling wife
We have arrived
within seven or eight
miles of Richmond
I dont know on
what road from the
Long Bridges.  I
tried this morning for
permission to go to
Richmond, but was
refused–it seems
hard to stay away
from you when I
am so near.
I have’nt yet heard
from you but hope
sincerely to do so
to-day–Capt Jones
by whom we sent
for our mail
has’nt yet returned
are you still in
Richmond and

[page 2]
what are you doing
there?  I have no
idea when we will
leave this place
nor for what place.
I wish we may be
sent to Richmond
or near enough
to that place to
see you
I am very anxious
to hear from you
we are attached
to Early brigade
Hills division.
I wrote to you day
before yesterday
by Dr Maupin–I
hope you got the
letter–I ope to
send this by one
of Genl Hills staff
With much love
your devoted
& loving husband

unsigned letter of Howe Peyton Cochran of the 1st Virginia Artillery


MSS 9380

[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]

                        Saturday – May 17th 1862
Spent this morning in the office with
Capt Harrrison paying off men & officers, of
Genl Magruders army – Capt is very busy until
3  ½  o’clock – dined at the American hotel with
Capt Collins & Harrison – After dinner rode
down to Rockets to look up lost baggage but
without success – Stood upon Church Hill abt
Sunset & remained there a hf hour Enjoying the
delightful breeze & scenery – This is one of the
most delightful & beautiful spots I have Ever
seen – Spent this Evening at Mr Jenkin’s with
my friend Mr Gibson’s family – Retired to
Mr Harveys at ten o’clock – Read awhile &
retired – Spent a few hours this afternoon with
Leber whom I found very restless & unwell –
Got a large no of letters today from the
post for the Battalion, but none for myself

 Oscar M. Lieber was in the Washington Light Infantry, Charleston, S.C.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; annotation by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]

MSS 6154

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

May 17th  Up this morning a [sic] 4 ½ o’c
to roll call.  Wrote & sent off a letter to
Jennie directly after breakfast.  Lovely
day; sun rather warm.  Conducted N. C. O
drill at 10 ½ o’c & battery drill at 3 o’c
commenced drilling with bugle.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Saturday  17  Rain occasionally–sometimes
quite hard–very small offering.  We
learn that Banks has certainly fallen
back upon Strasburg and that Jack
son is expected to return to Staunton
to day–Six or seven thousand troops
are at Gordnsville intended to reinforce
Ewell.  Coming home at dinner time
learned that Charles had come.  He has
been sick and the medical director
of Ewell’s Division advised him to come
home. He has shaved his face and looks\
quite strangely.  His regiment is in Page
county–I wish he could have gone there.
The enemy in large force occupied
that county and retreated via Front
Royal. Went over after dinner to Chas
and staid until sun down.  A Better [?]
feeling seems to prevail in Richd.  Recd
letter from G[?] informing me
he had paid the note on which
Charles & I were endorsers due 21 Inst
and to renew which I had sent him
a blank, which he returns.  He sent
me also a check for 250. Two hun-
dred of which I applied to pay a
note of his, in which I am endorser
renewed a fortnight since–The other
50 of I gave, at his request, to Mrs C
Blackford–The note being payd in
F.B. Richd . I gave Norvell the money
and took his order for the note. No
telegram today.
MSS 4763

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

Saturday, May 17, 1862
Were called up at
Day break with orders
to prepare to march
a Left Tents standing
had to carry our knapsacks
very fatigueing
Passed the mill where
the Second Brigade had
been camped large quanti
ties of knapsacks camp stores
quartermaster stores &c
left, Arrived at the Bridge
beyond Princeton about
sundown made some
coffee Had crackers issued
to us.  very ravenous  1 Dol
offered for a cracker
Bivouacked in a field
near Princeton. marched 16 miles
Humphrey Marshal supposed
to be near us near the Grave
yard expect a battle
tomorrow.  Rained this
morning.  very war partly clear

P.S. For May 17th
Had severe skirmish at
Princeton Result [?]
probably 25 killed wounded
& taken prisoner Rebels greater[?]
to driven off

 MSS  10317

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

May 17  We struck out tents this morning and at
9 o’clock took up our line of March for
White House some five or six miles up the
Pamunkey River, which place had been made
the base of McClellan’s operations.  The day
was excessively hot and the roads excessively
muddy. We encamped in a beautiful spot,
on the edge side of a hill, on the edge of a
woods bordering an immense field of growing
wheat.  The field contained some two or three
thousand acres and belonged to Col Lee, son
of the rebel General Robt. E. Lee.  It made
a splendid pasture for a large herd of
Cattle which was driven with the army to
supply it with fresh beef.  The wheat also
made good beds for the soldiers and they
profited by it to no small extent.  White
House is the name given to the landing.
The Mansion itself is an unpretending ten-
ement. revered and celebrated as the
house in which Genl. Washington courted his
wife Mrs. Martha Custis.  In this house Genl.
McClellan had established his Head Quarters.

MSS 9044