[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Tuesday 13 the day looks bright & cheerful out–But my spirits
are low–& my heart sad–tom leaves for the Peninsula to night
Liz & I took a walk all around the Campus. Mr Armstead sent
Eliza his guitar to keep while she is at Chapel Hill–He came
to see her at night.
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
Cross roads New Kent Co
May 13th 1862
My dear Cary
Robert has been
quite sick for several
days past and I have de
termined to let him go
to Richmond to recover–
The news about the
Merrimac is sad indeed
hideously so. I am ashamed
almost to be a southern
man when I reflect that
we had no marine
willing to give her a clean
fight and a glorious death.
The spirit which has sad
=owed all of our acts & which
[page 2]
has culminated in this last criminality
of destroying the only impregnable
Marine outpost we had, is a
key to all our defeats and a
forerunner of coming events
too painful to be anticipated
by meditation–God above knows
who are worthy of free Government
and Republican liberty and I fear
he is about to decree against us.
Our people nowhere exhibit
the sort of spirit which ani
=mates a people in earnest and
determined to “die or do”–.This
whole thing seems a splendid
farce–We whip the enemy
and retire until he goes
home and fixs himself up
in perfect trim–then we blow
up everything and retreat–
[page 3]
By the battle of Manassas we established
the Southern Confederacy as a certainty.
By our own cruel conduct and
preposterous failure to reap the
fruits of the battle we lost a
certainty and are now nearly en
=slaved–. We deserve it for having
such leaders–. We acted likepeople a small man who in
a fight with a giant accidentally
knocks him down and then
quietly and coolly stands by and
waits until his giant friend
is refreshed–. Excuse my crude
expressions–My office is full of
people crying “corn, corn, corn,
fodder, fodder, fodder, wagons,
wagons, wagons, horses, horses, horses,
ambulances, ambulances, am
=bulances, stationery, stationery,
shoe my horse, give me a bridle
[page 4]
where is the mail for head quarters”–I want
pay for some forage Mr Grinnan took–
Mr Rush pressed a horse from me “agin”
law–. Your boy sir, came over and took
my ice & [?] without my leave–“Got
any blank pay accounts”–. “I am dry
give me a drink” (L____y)–I am
dead–famishing–
Been up ever since six o’clock–
worked almost down to my bones and
annoyed to death by all sorts of
vagabond laggards from your
gilded staff officer with brass
in face his face and lead in his
brains, down to your wagon master
with iron constitution, honest
heart and bronzed faced–bronzed
by patient endurance & brave service
in the cause–You can scarcely
form an idea not of my labors
(because you know of them) but
of my petty vexations–Lay wants
a little stationery and a big drink
Cole & Cole want everything–
Washington has run Rush
off his legs to get him a horse.
McKinne wants this & that &
that & this &c &c &c &c
[page 5]
Heath is here with the melancholy
and heart rending intelligence that
after today I will have to furnish
forage for the whole of the Cavalry!
Where & how can this great
man be satiated?–Stuart
is “fuming” for artillery houses for his
(one) horse artillery–Rosser
is urgent–Genl Pendleton
beseeches & prays I will let
him have horses–Reilly
wants horses–Lay’s “nigger” is
without shoes–Alexander’s
driver has not been paid
for four months.–Mr Somebody
from Madison has come to
have his leave resolved–
Mr Somebody else reflects he
was in Richmond and heard
somebody else say that there
[page 6]
had not been sufficient trans
portation afforded the sick in
our retreat–(D___n the sick)
And here I am reminded of the
scene in Sheridan’s Rehearsal where
the Bookwriter was informed he was
being severely criticised by Mr__
& Mr___ “Yes and says he it isalways consolatory to know if a
man is absent at all there is
always about some damned
good natured friend who will
tell one what is said__
Excuse my length–I am writing
now not against time but
against a bevy of bores in my
office who dare not talk
to me while I write–There
is now a Problem in my mind
whether these creatures are
waiting to be invited to drink
[page 7]
or to hear the eloquent voice
of Thom announce–“dinner is
ready sir”–If the former they will
be disappointed, if the latter I
am sure I shall not be [?]
if they consume everything in my
larder–L-y has just arrived
as I commence this writing What a volume
may not be written–some false
rumours [?] evidently–Whiskey
suspected in these quarters–Why
else this unnatural & [?]
visit–Like the poet’s apothe
=cary with his medicines, lets
throw these fellows to the dogs
and talk about real existing
& worthy subjects–
How do you come along any how?
Have you rested your weary bones
& recovered from your hasty retreat
from the seething [?] & [?] under
the nice old elm tree–
[page 8]
Have you taken a peep in the accounts
& seen how things have been done.
I have great faith in you–You
know this–Whether you are better
than other people really is questionable
but I just think so–and you must
indulge the “whims” of an envious and
as you often say “strangely eccentric
old man”–I do “She may have her
faults, but she is my Countrey”
Send me a barrel of good [?]
by first chance–Send me a few
bottles of claret and of gin–.
I shall want Lessure–You had
better send him her–Tell him
to bring a horse & buggy that he can
leave for a while—I ride so
much I cant stand the hot
sun–Be sure to see him on
this point–I dont want him
to bring any fancy things–Simply
a strong one horse buggy to keep about
& could relieve myself greatly in
marching. I have [?] everything
up to tonight–Press things forward
keep Beckham in this duty.
We will require 4000 bushels [?]
& 100 bales of hail–Send me a
light black or blue coat that I may
send this one to Richmond to be mended
God bless you my dear boy –yr devoted friend
AM Barbour
[in left hand margin on page 1]
Pardon this tissue of nonsense and
its melancholy tone–The gloom of the
Merimac affair casts its sombre hue
over my whole path today whither I go
& what I write–I seek labor to drive it away
but no use–Disgust–desperation haunt[?] me
[in left hand margin on page 8]
Receive me kindly to your sisters and
to Johnny–God bless you all–I feel
warmly attached to all of you–yrs trly
AMB
Confederate Quarter Master Alfred Madison Barbour, 1829-1869, to Wilson Miles Cary, 1838-1914.
MSS 1415
Camp Near Chickyhominy River
May 13, 1862
My Dear Wife
I reached here yesterday
morning having left Richmond on Sat-
-urday morning. I find the men in
good health generally, but they have cer-
tainly seen enough usage during the last
4 weeks. We are now in a clump
of pine woods without tents and
nothing to eat but army crackers a
little salt port and a little beef.
A severe engagement is daily expected
but how soon it may come off is not
known. Our Regt. was engaged in the
fight at Williamsburg on Monday the 7th
but suffered very little. Hugh Smith
was killed. 4 of our Company were slightly
wounded. viz Mr. Dane, Jas Turklen, Rabb,
and McCreight not our Joe. Our Joe
is still in Richmond and looks very
hearty. James Cassady is in Camp
but will probably be discharged, as his eyes
are not much better. I was not able
to learn any thing of Jimmie Elliott, but
feel that his case may be a bad one.
Jos. A. Lewis of our Company is missing
and is supposed to be a prisoner.
Johnnie is very well and seems to have
stood the hardships as well as any one
of the Company. The boys have lost nearly
every thing they had save what they had
on. I am about to complete arrange-
-ments for getting all the boxes to
Camp. I brought Johnnie’s little box
with me. Our Company now numbers
between 90 and 100 men and is known
as Boyce Guards Company “G”. I
will furnish a roll for publication as
soon as possible. I hope to be able to give
satisfaction to all under me, yet I feel
the heavy responsibility that rests upon
a Captain. As I have often said I
would prefer a different position, but
as the matter now stands, I must do
the best I can, relying upon the aid
of the author of all things. It is my present
prayer that we may all be permitted
to join our families and friends, once more
hoping that peace may soon prevail our
happy land. Mr. Ellison is now in Camp
with me, and will no doubt be able to
give a very glowing description of Camp
life.
There is so little that has occurred
since I last wrote you that very little
of interest presents itself. Do write
soon give me all the news. Let me
know how our ex. Capt. and ex Lieut. are
getting on. Give much love to all
Your true and ever affectionate husband
J.M.Phinney
Direct to Company “G” 6th Regt.
S.C.V.
Richmond
Va
Write soon and often you can tell
me of “abram” also
James Monroe Phinney, 6th South Carolina Infantry
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12661
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
May 13th
Lay still all day yesterday. Were turned out
at three A. M. harnessed and packed up,
and by five were once more on the tramp.
At 12. M we arrived at Cumberland
and encamped on a hundred acre
corn field. This place is the Head Qrs.
of Gen McClellan. Quite a number of
prisoners are being brought in, or give them-
-selves up voluntarily. there are 1300 in one
camp. Very warm and 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]
Thursday – May 13th 1862
Up at early dawn – after breakfast
to day took Mr Harveys horse
went to Zacharies funeral as pall
bearer – buried him in Holliwood [Hollywood]
Cemetery – It was well attended by Louisia-
nians – Spent all day in looking
among the stables & enquiring for
my Yankee horse – found one place
where he had evidently been –
Advertised him tonight in the
Dispatch – Capt Harrison has nothing [See ad below]
$25 REWARD – Stolen from Miss Galt’s
yard, at Williamsburg, on the night
of the 4th instant, an iron gray PONY, stout
build, quick action, and very lively under the
saddle; has the U.S. brand on his shoulder,
said horse having been captured from the
Yankees on Sunday afternoon, the 4th inst.
The above reward will be paid for the delive-
ry of said animal to Capt. Thompson Harri-
son, Paymaster C.S.A., or to Capt. J. B.
Eustis, of Gen’l Magruder’s staff, or to Com-
pany A, Hampton’s Legion, or to Messrs.
Spotts & Harvey, of this city, and no ques-
tions asked.
[May 13th continued]
for me to do today – Have not
yet found his & my baggage – Saw
Dr. Goodrich today, & learn that he
& Mr G E Tabb had to leave
Mathews – The Mathews Batt
nearly all went home – Learn that Mrs Roy
intends staying at home – Monitor [famed Yankee ironclad]
reported at City Pt today! I Must get
to our Army tomorrow
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of James Dismore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday May 13, 1862
Remianed all day
in camp Played for
Guard mounting for
brigade also for
Parade
Considerable skirmishing
going on Capt McMullens
with one Howitzer
advanced some distance
up the river but was
obliged to withdraw
hastily
We have now been
three days without bread
recd this evening 2 crackers
apiece. Cloudy warm
commenceing to springle
rain
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of the Letcher Artillery]
May 13th My birthday. Excessively
hot, as usual on my birthdays. Had
a Company drill this morning of which
I took charge, also a drill of non-
commissioned officers later in the
day. In afternoon had a battery drill
very dusty, and disagreable[sic], of course
in consequence. Wrote a letter to
Florrie this evening. Rec-d a letter
from Jennie also, late in the evening.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Tuesday
May 13 Was detailed for picket but the Major
sent twelve of us back, and we
went out about a couple of miles scouting
but did not see anybody, staid round
the rest of the day. Had a good talk with
Frank to-night, News came to night confirm-
ing the sinking of the Merrimack and the
occupation of Norfolk.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U. S. Regulars, recopied by him at a later date]
May 13
We broke Camp this morning at a reason-
able hour. The morning was very hot and
we all suffered much from the heat. the
roads for the most part were very muddy,
though in the sandy parts where the sun had
opportunity to exercise his power it was
very dusty, so that between heat, mud, dust
and want of good water, the march soon
became tedious & tiresome. We however kept
ourselves to the work. An occasional rest
helped us wonderfully & we made a respectable
distance by the middle of the afternoon.
We were trudging along slowly, hoping soon to be
called to a halt for the night, when there came
an officer galloping up in furious haste with
orders to hurry us up as we were wanted imme-
diately at New Kent Court House. It seems that
a regiment of Cavalry had been attacked by some
rebel infantry and artillery. They imagined that
the whole rebel army was at their heels, and
fell back on their re-inforcements. We hurried
up at double quick. This gait I must say
is not altogether agreeable to my feelings after
a long days march. The excitement however
nerved us & there were no stragglers. During our
run we passed by a Volunteer regiment drawn
up alongside the road. One of them said toone
of our men, “Give em h___ boys they drove us back”
This was refreshing. there seemed work to do and
we were expected to do it. New Kent was soon
reached. There evidently was fighting to do
The 5th N.Y. Zouzves which had been ahead of us
all day, had drawn up one side & divested
themselves of t heir knapsacks. We filed to the
left & entered the field when the whole brigade
was posted in line of battle. The Cavalry was
drawn up in our rear. The 5th N.Y. then came
along. About one half were deployed as skir-
mishers. They plunged gallantly in the deep
dense wood in front of us, apparently anxious
to meet the enemy. I confess I was not this
anxious–This was my first trying hour.
I do not deny that I felt fear but was
determined to do my duty as an officer
and a man. We lay here upon our arms in an
open field, without a particle of shade, under
the burning rays of an afternoon southern sun.
For an hour or two we expected the enemy.
How glad we were when no enemy came. Finally
we were ordered to march not knowing whither
we were going. We had already come some four-
teen miles that day, and before we halted
made some four more which brought us to the
miserable village or landing of Cumberland
on the Pamunkey River. Our Brigade stacked
their arms on a high hill overlooking a valley
miles in extent filled with troops, where we
awaited the arrival of our wagons. While
awaiting them, it being not quite dark,
Capt Brown & myself made a reconnaissance
towards the river in search of something one
might devour, not however expecting anything
would turn up. We reached the river a short
distance off & found it filled with every
imaginable sort of craft. We went imme-
diately aboard a steamer & loafed around
generally—looking at the sights. We accidentally
wandered towards the cabin, looked in of course,
through curiosity, when–pleasures of pleasures–
there was a table spread with a clean white
table cloth and gentlemen & ladies actually
eating supper–’twas almost overpowering. We
however had strength enough to buy a ticket for
25 cents and go in and sit down. There
wasn’t much but there was good coffee, good
fresh bread and good rich sweet fresh May
butter, yellower than gold & worth a good deal more.
It wouldn’t be considered genteel to say how much we
stowed away. That boat lost money by us.—
The scene from our encampment on the hill
at Cumberland was one of surpassing beauty.
The night was very dark & clear and the Camp
fires of the many thousand troops located in
that immense valley, looked like the reflection
of the stars in the firmament above ;upon a fast
sea below whose surface was undisturbed by
even a ripple. We so far above them seemed
suspended in air. It was a sight upon which
we looked almost with awe, with admiration
and in silence, drinking in all its beauties
as it were in a single draught, as such a
scene would most probably never again gladden
our senses.
MSS 9044
