[from the diary of Charles Hay , Co. H., of the 23rd Ohio]

                                       Camp at Mouth of East River
                                                                  May 11th, 1862.
Col Scammon this morning sent out Cos.
H of the 23rd & H of the 30th under command
of Capt. Drake on the road toward Giles, too
reconnoiter.  A little over a mile from camp,
their enemy’s pickets came to view.  A shell from
a Mountain Howitzer drove them in in
a hurry.  We followed as far as prudent.
The result of our reconnaissance, went
to show that the enemy were in force
at the “Narrows,” a strong natural position,
and that our present force was insufficient
to dislodge them.  After an exchange of
artillery shots, without damage to us,
we returned to camp, and this after=
=noon moved back to the mouth of
East River, where it flows into New River,
and took up a strong position on a
ridge or “backbone” of a hill.  New
River, at this place is about 200 yards
wide, water pure and clear, and quite
rapid.  We are now 12 miles from Giles.

  [transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

[from the diary of James Dismore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Wednesday, May 14, 1862

Remained all day
in camp
Played for Guard mounting
did not receive any
brad this day
Wrote letters to Father
& Will Langan
Recd letter from John
Wright
Rained some.  Hear
that Cox’s brigade is
now within 5 miles
of us
Cloudy showery

MSS 10317

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

May 14th  About 3 o’c this morning two
Regts & a battery of Artillery passed by
here on a scouting expedition.
While we were at breakfast orders came
to pack up all our baggage, and be ready
to start at a few minutes notice.  Drilled
the company this morning in the rain
it having commenced to rain about
8 o’clock.  While at dinner orders were
rec-d to unpack our baggage &  repitch
our tents.  the Regts came back this eve-

-ning and were within two or three
hundred yards of theYankees but not
allowed to fire.  It has rained all
day long, very cold & disagreable[sic].
Wrote a letter to Jennie this afternoon.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Wednesday
May 14  

Lay round in the tent and read
this forenoon. This afternoon
received orders to march with a days
rations, but as it rained we did not go.
Got a letter from home and one from Hen.
Russell.

MSS 11293

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

Wednesday 14  Rain all day–cold and
disagreeable. Pretty busily engaged
in Bank–Saw Balt. Washn. & N.Y.
papers of 6th & 10th just filled with
the most monstrous & improbable lies.
Truth, as to the military operations of
the army seems interdicted.  They are
jubilant at the abandonment by our
forces, of York Town–just as if it were
even intended they should be defended.
a half column of flaming hearsay
announces the [?]: McClellan’s
Telegram shows he is a braggadocio
A paragraph admits they buried
4000 men on the field of Shiloh– There is
great anxiety in Richd as the
strength of the obstruction in the River
at Wilton eight miles below Rich
the city. If the government have not or
do not make the barricade effective
their bodies ought to be added to it.
-The River is narrow & the channel
still more so–Our Charles Scott
would have built a dam across
in a fortnight with the resources
of labor & material they possessed.
–I cannot see why Johnson does not
attack the enemy–are we forever to
be on the defensive–Letter from Lanty
dated Sunday last on the late
battle as great as ours[?]  –He was not
in it–He wrote from Pendleton C.H.
Franklin, and thought Jackson wd
go as as far as Moorefield & then cross
into the
Valley

MSS 4763

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

By the next morning all this immense
army had moved & the plain was deserted.
Those who were left amused themselves at the
expense of some rebel prisoners that had re-
cently been taken & were to be sent to Yorktown.

MSS 9044

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

Tuesday, May 13th
A fitful day, bright morning and cloudy evening. Cousin Mary and I rode up to
Longwood.  While there the Briars girls walked over.  They are much depressed
about the times but I think God will protect the weak and helpless as we can
do nothing against the vile polluters of our land.  Cousin John came in from
dining at Pleasant Hill. There he heard that Norfolk was evacuated and the
Merrimac sunk.  There is another report that she has run up the James.  Beaure-
gard has defeated Halleck and Buel.  Thank God for that.  It is also reported
Jackson is at Strasburg on his return to Winchester.  Oh, that this bitter time
was past!

MSS 9759

My Dear Billy
Whilst at a friends house in this
county a few weeks ago, I chanced to see a Richmond
paper in which was published a list of the wounded in
the battle of “Kernstown.”  to my sorrow I saw as the
fourth name that of Sergt. Wm. Mc.Cauley of the 42d Va. Regt.
Left in doubt as to the nature of your wound, I was on
the point of writing immediately, when I recd a letter from
sister Mary stating that you had written home that it
was serious & there were fears of losing your left hand.
I sincerely hope there was no necessity for amputation
Relieve me of my anxiety.  Now let me tell you
why this letter is written at my Miss home for I am
neither wounded or sick.  From the day I gave you the
parting hand on “Ever-to-be-remembered Sewell” on the 13th of Octr.
till we were marched back to the R.R. at Dublin Depot, our
campaign was attended with much toil & privation. Fortunate
enough to spend the Christmas in Salem, I then learned your
whereabouts & that several long chapters had also been added to
your already lengthy story of dangers & difficulties.  From your friends
then & afterwards from some Tennesseans I heard that the old 42d
had been “walking” around as usual, but this time under
Stonewall Jackson.  I make it a point always to inquire
about the 42d for in it, I have a friend in whose welfare

[page 2]
I feel deeply interested–You belong to a famous Brigade if
you are under old Stonewall.  Every body here believes he is of
the fighting kind.  Well, in Decr. Floyd’s Brigade was ordered
to Bowling Green Ky.  We stayed there till the 1st of Feby.,
when we were taken down to Russellville.  Here unlike at
B. Green I was much pleased with the place, its people & sur-
roundings.  The 36th, 50th, 51st, & 56th Va & ours (the 20th) made the
Brigade.  About the 10th of Feby, we went down to Clarksville
Tenn & in a few days were shipped down the Cumberland
River to Fort Donelson.  Better that we never had gone
there.  The first day which was pleasant, we had nothing
to do but lie down on the ground in reserve, but still the
bombs, & balls from the Enemy’s Artillery passed over our backs
all day long.  It was an uncomfortable position, as we were
exposed to danger without being able or permitted to do its au-
thors any damage whatsoever. That night when it turned bitter cold
& snowed shoe mouth deep, we were taken to the Rifle pits
to relieve a Texas Regt.  From that time, we looked on the trench
as our home.  We worked all night to keep warm & strength
en our position.  Next day, friday, we had nothing to do
but keep ready.  Snowed again that night with an increase
of cold.  Next day (Sat’d 15th) was a memorable one with
me.  Long before day we were silently led out to make ready
to strike a blow for out country. We marched around
in front of & out of sight of our breastworks & about light
offered battle which was accepted & from then til near sunset, with

[page 3]
few intermissions the bloody carnage was continued
Our company lost three men killed outright & 8 or 9 wounded
besides many others having been shot through their clothing
With a thankful heart I can say that I recd not
a scratch. We drove the Enemy through their encamp-
ments & that night, though sorrowing for our lost compan-
ions, felt elated at the victory achieved.  Next morning
the sun arose upon us, a surrendered army.  You
have seen the reports of Genls Floyd & Pillow.
Col. Russell & Capt Reid were both absent sick.
Major Brown commanded the Regt. & Nelson the comp’y.
When I saw the unexpected situation we were in
& viewed the consequences of being prisoners of war, I determin-
ed to make a bold effort to free myself & attended
with four others of my cop’y, arrived here on the
25th of Feby, where I found all the people mourning
us as dead or in the hands of the Yankees.  We
encountered no great difficulties, met no enemies, but
warm & sympathizing friends, had to walk 80 miles to the
R.R. where we got transportation home.
Ever since then I have been enjoying the hos-
pitality of the kindest of friends.  I would not have
remained here so long, but did not know what to do–
At last Col. Russell has issued an order for us all
to rendezvous at Grenada Miss, where the Regt. will be
recruited & the men paid off.

[page 4]
I expect to start for that place in a few days.   I loved
the “old 20th” & if she had not been so unfortunate
would today be in the centre of this grand army at
Corinth.  I do regret so much that I am not in that
Army for in a few days, a battle will be fought by it
which will be considered great as long as history is read.
It is some honor to be in a “big fight.”
You have heard that Floyd saved his Brigade.  I do not
know of even One man in our Regt. who effected his safety through any
means of Gen. Floyd.  I don’t condemn the old Genl.  He
did the best he could & I would like to see him at the head
of another force.  He is “dead game”.  He saved most of
his Virginians for they had greater claims on him than we had.
How is the Conscript law taking in Va?  Though pronounced
unconstitutional by Gov. Letcher, I think it is the greatest law
that has passed lately. We want men, men in the field &
this brings them  We will soon have an army capable of
putting us on the offensive rather than suffering us to
fall back, back all the time.  I don’t feel satisfied here
taking my ease, chatting the ladies, fishing & riding about,
whilst my friends are in the camp & my country in danger.
I feel more patriotic now than ever before in my
life.  My desire to benefit my country increases in proportion
to her sufferings.  I (if spared) will be in the army so long as
the hated foe threatens our liberty. I will direct this
letter to you at Salem, as I don’t know where you are at.
I repeat the hope that you are fully recovered & that you
may soon have an ample opportunity of taking ample
revenge for the pain & suffering inflicted.  If at home please
give my kindest regards to your fathers family, if in the
war, remember me kindly to Jno. & Geo. Airheart & my other
friends in your company–Write to me soon, & direct to
this place.
Your Sincere Friend as Ever
Edwin J. Kizer

Edwin J. Kizer of the 20th Mississippi to William McCauley of the 42d Virginia


MSS 14953

May 13th  1852
Oak Forest
Friend Wm
According to
promise I seize the present opportunity
of dropping you a few lines that you
may know I arrived safe at home last
Thursday and am still in the enjoyment
of tolerably good health.  I stayed at
the Mooma’s on Tuesday night and I
was obliged to stay (for want of conveyance)
in Buchanan onWednesday night.
I found Mother & Father in the enjoy-
men of tolerably good health.
Bro. Hileman is slowly recovering
from a severe spell of sickness.  He
is able to walk about a little.  Abraham
was in Staunton last week,
I recd a letter from him–written
last week–He was well.  He
belongs to the Provost Guards in
Staunton.  Gen. Johnston has had
another fight near Shenandoah Moun-
tain.  He repulsed the enemy–
captured several pieces of Arttillery[sic]
camp equipage and several prisoners
Gen Johnston was wounded n the
ancle.  Gen. Jackson has gone in
full pursuit of the enemy.   I hope
he will get every thing they have &
all the Feds. likewise.  Come down
soon if you can make it conveni-
ent.  Health is good throughout the
neighborhood.  Please write soon
Give my best regards to all the family
Bro. Abraham’s family is in good
health.

Yours in kindness
David
P.S.–Excuse me for writing
on such paper–It is the best I can
do.   D

letter to William McCauley of Co. E, 42nd Virginia from an unidentified friend

MSS 14953