[penciled letter smeared to illegibility at points]

Dear Susan as I have an oppertunity
to send a letter out of camp by a
citizen from Fluvanna I snatch the
opportunity as no doubt you have had
some uneasiness about me since the
fight at Williamsburg The corps was
not in the fight we were falling back
and the fight was with the rear of the
army our mail was stoped when we began
to [fall back?] or I would [have wrote?] to
you before now I have bin well ever since
I left Home Except a little sore throat
We have [done?] march back and forwards yester
we was Bottoms Bridge near camp carter
to day we are lower down the county some
5 mil and we are stoped here for how long
I do I cant tel It is said the Enamy
is not far below us. and I should not bee
surprised that we have a fight not
far from here In a fiew days but no=
[page 2]
=one can tel you must not give your self
any uneasiness If you here of a fight in
this Cicinaty as I will let you here as
soon as posable if I am left to tell the
news the mail has bin stoped ever
since we left york Town and I have got
no letters from you since the one dated
Thursday April the 16th on account of [our?]
moveing about so mutch though I hope
to get your letters in a fiew day write
to me and Direct your letter to Rich
mond for I am anxious to hear you all
and expetially to hear how [Eliza?] is but
I am almost a fraid that when I doo hear
it will be bad news but I hope for good
this wrote in haste as the bearer will
soon leave camp remember me in love
and Affection yours Affectionately A.J.G.

[page 3]
John Pace fell off of the trail
of the gun yesterday evening as
out of camp the wheel ran over
his arm and thy [thigh?] b[r]aking both thy
and arm and they ware set directly
and sent on to Rich John Lane
going with him Jas [Haskin?] is well
Harry is well I would write more
but I am a fraid I would miss sending
what I have wrote give my love to
all and my warmest Affection
for your self  A J Gillespie

Andrew J. Gillespie,  Ancell’s Co.,Virginia Light Artillery

MSS 9564

[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]

                        Sunday – May 11th 1862
Rose early this morning – Took the
special train with Mr Harvey & the
Committee of citizens for Dispatch
Station where we arrived at ten o’c –
I walked to Genl Johnsons headqrs &
saw Genl Magruder & staff  & rec’d
his orders for Capt Harrison – Geo Tabb
here loaned me his horse & I went & saw
Mullie ten miles beyond – Returned to
the station at five o’c after walking abt
ten miles & not finding any of our
baggage but Capt Harrisons saddle
bag which contained vouches for 80,000 $
We did not leave the station until 11
o’c owing to the No of sick later put
aboard – The Committee sent down
3 trains loaded with sick men today &
fed abt 1000 men – Reached Mr Hs.[Harvey’s]
at abt one o’clock at night – Virginia  
blown up today!

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

In the woods near Chickahominy
River Peninsula Va may 10th

My Dear Creek
As I have an oppertunity[sic]
of sending this to Richmond I avail
myself with pleasure of the oppertunity
offered of communicating with you,
we are still marching in the direction
of Richmond but our progress is very
slow owing to the bad state of the roads
and the flatness of the contry[sic], we are
stopped today to rest, which we all need
very much our brave men have stood
both fatigue and hunger with the
greatest of fortitude, and self denial
sometimes marching days and nights
without scarcely a mouthful to eat and
hardly any sleep, and all of this without a
murmer[sic] from one of them,  all seem to be

[page 2]
cheerful and willing to suffer any
privations, so the great object of defeating
our enemies may be accomplished,
of this we have little doubt the battle
which we fought the other day has inspired
our men with fresh hope, and whenever
an oppertunity[sic] again offers of vindica-
-ting our countrys rights at the point of
bayonet, no doubt is felt as to the issue,
for with Justice on our side and a just
God to lead us we are certain of success.
We are all in fine spirits today having
met the provision train, and had a
good breakfast, with the prospect of
a good rest and a sleep which we
need very much, we are now some
twenty five or thirty miles from Richd
we will cross the Chickahominy tonight
and make a stand on the other side
somewhere, and wait for the Yankees
to come on when we will again give

[page 3]
them battle, how long it will be
before this takes place no one knows,
there is some of the enemy within
three miles of us now, but it is not
the intention of our Generals to bring
on a fight till they get to their own
ground,
William stands the march finely
indeed most all of our men have, excuse
this short and uninteresting letter, I am
so much fatigued that I cannot think
hardly of anything but sleep.
Good bye for the present Dear Creek
may heaven bless and protect you
is the fervent prayer of your devoted
Husband,
Kiss our little darling for me,
Direct your letters to Richd

William Anderson of the Palmetto Sharpshooters was elected Major of the 4th South Carolina Infantry on April 16, 1862


MSS 10366

[from the diary of Charles Hay 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]
Sunday, May 11, 1862

Bivouaced in an
open field last
night lay on the
field all forenoon
skirmishing up the
river most of the time
Left and marched
to the mouth of
Eeast river & camped
12th Regt & McMilluns
two guns came up
Rebels in sight on
our last camp
Clear Hazy
P.S. For May 11
Hear that the Rebel boys
at Giles was quite large
30 killed 40 or 50 wounded

MSS 10317

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

May 11th
Quite cool this morning & wind blow-
-ing hard.  Wrote a letter this morning
to Miss Anne B___.  After dinner rode over
with Ellis Mumford to Genl Anderson’s
HeadQuarters.  In afternoon wrote
a letter to Jennie.  In evening Tanner
was here, and we had some sacred mu-
-sic.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Sunday 

May 11  Very warm weather.  Got ready for
inspection, but did not have any
after all.  Had services at four oclock.
Mr James preached first rate, the first time
since he came back from Worcester.  Had
a dress parade.

MSS 11293

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

May 11
Slept well after taking a
good bath & arose in the morning of a bright &
balmy day feeling wonderfully well.  As we were
not to march until 1 oclock in the afternoon, the
morning was devoted to lounging, which officers
& men indulged in most heartily. the only inci-
dent to vary the comfortable monotony was the
appearance in camp of a few contrabands
with corn dodgers & stewed turkey to sell.  I
was all bought up quickly at fabulous prices.
Any little addition to our mess chests in the
way of edibles is always counted so much
gain no matter what it costs.
We left this camp at 1 P.M. Had a most de-
lightful march, over good roads.  Weather not too
warm, but seeming very little like the holy
Sabbath it was.  We marched about four
miles & encamped in a cornfield near [?]
Church.  the tents of the officers of the 14th were
locate din the woods which bordered the field–
a pleasant spot–having a dense shade,
with a free circulation of air.  We remained
in this camp all of the next day.

MSS 9044

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

Sunday 11  Fine day–large congregation
–quite unwell–called in the afternoon
on Mrs. Rodes to enquire whether she
may have heard from the General– while
there she recd a letter from him dated
yesterday on the Chickahominy –His bri-
gade were passively[?] peripherally[?] in the fight only.
Evening service—

MSS 4763

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

                       May 9th

Battery drill. during the forenoon.  Early in
the afternoon, our div. (Slocum’s) and Gen.’
Sedgwick’s received orders to march to the
banks of the Pamunkey, in prolongation
of the line.  encamped at five P. M near
the river.  Warm, and pleasant.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493