1862 May 30 Camp Alexander, Va.

 [from the war journal (i.e. extracts of letters) of Captain George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts Volunteers]

 Camp Alexander
                                                 Friday, May 30th 1862.
My dear Parents,
                         We have just got our tents up,
and I am completely tired out, but must write you a
few lines before I take a sleep.     We had a very
tedious passage, continual stoppages taking place, on
account of our train being an extra one —–
Am writing this “on top of a drum, for want of better
accommodation, the officers’ tents not having arrived
on the ground yet.     So soon as we get settled,
I shall write more fully.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130

1862 May 30

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

                        May. 30th

Yesterday several of the wounded prisoners
were brought in; they are mostly all North
Carolinians.  To day the rebs threw a
number of shells into our lines, but as
usual no injury was inflicted by them.
During the evening a severe thunder
shower set in, which lasted all night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS  8493

1862 May 30

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

Friday, May 30, 1862

Practiced this morning
after which I procured
a pass & went down
to the 37th Regt for my
slippers got them
paid one dollar for them
seem good ones & cheap
did not practice this
afternoon
Rain, stormy this
evening with heavy
thunder &  lightning
struck a tree near here
with heavy explosion
Bathed & had tom
boil & wash my
pants & shirt
Mostly clear with rain
this evening

MSS 10317

1862 May 30

[From the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]

 May 30th  Tom, B &

Ellis M – went in town this morning &
intend letting me go this evening.  The Gov
Col . Morton, Col Marshall, & Col.s [sic]
took made us a visit this morning

[in another handwriting is written:]

    “Be sure to keep up
writing.  Have amused my
self this morning, reading
this.  Do not believe they
will be so cruel as to
send you way off from
me to Jackson.”
   In accordance with the above
order I append the following.



[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

[Diary will not resume until July 30]

MSS 6150

1862 May 30 Richmond, Va.


[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]

                        Friday – May 30th 1862
     Spent the day in the house – nothing
doing in the pay department – Everything
seems to be quiet along the lines of the army –
We had a tremendous storm today –
thunder, lightning & rain – continuing
through the night – Hear today that old
Stonewall Jackson has crossed the Potomac
& occupied Williamsport Md’. – His movements
have a very cheering effect upon the army   Genl
Johnston seems waiting on McClelland, & both
seem afraid of each other –
     Went into town this Evening & spent the
night with Mullie at Mr Harveys – Mullie
is much better today & took a walk with me
tonight – No letters yet from La or Chas’ton – I  
long for the termination of the great battle here so as to
go south once more before starting in another campaign –

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

1862 May 30 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Friday the 30th  warmest day we have had this season–Eliza
has just received a letter from Mr M—n he has been
very sick–& is still too weak to join his Regiment–I feel
quite anxious about him–& wish he was here–No letter
from Tom–I am still hard at work on summer dresses
for Eliza–Have not yet commenced my own–Eliza, Susy
Wingfield & Milly Cornick–Escorted by Mr Gorrell Mr Adams
& Mr Bunting went off this morning on a PicNic & to fish
We are my family I mean all to take tea at Mrs Sam Phillips.

MSS 6960

1862 May 30 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell,  former editor of the Staunton Spectator and a civilian employee in the Quartermaster Dept.]

Friday night, May 30, 1862.
Still without news from Richmond, Corinth +c, 
Jackson’s army quiet. No prisoners sent off yet 
from that quarter. The ladies are using my 
office for preparing food for the wounded soldiers 
in the tent hospital near the Depot. Have a shed 
for a cooking store. Expect they will injure the 
property, but could not refuse the use of it.    
[transcription by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258           

1862 May 30 Lynchburg, Va.


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

Friday 30 Went at an early hour to the
Orange Depot to deliver letters to Jack
Seddon for Lanty–Jack commands the
Irish Battalion and is on his way to join
it  Met at Depot, Rev. Mr. Meade, who
was waiting for Luch Minor (Ridgway)
the cars started before she arrived–Saw
her a few minutes after with Charles
in his carriage.  Charles, Sue & Lucy &
Dr. Houston & Kemper went up in
the packet on a fishing excursion –a
frolic jaunt under present circum
stances–During the day Andrew Grin
-nan called upon me–an interesting
looking young man, who has prospered in
the world.  The mails in the evening
strange to say brought letters from all
my sons, except Charles who is here
William’s first work, as Captain of
Engineers, was to build a floating bridge
across the James at Warwick–This
he did in less than a week from
the time he recd the order.  Gen Johnston
addressed a letter of thanks and com-
mendation to him, and Gen Huger &
Secretary Randolph visited the work
and expressed their admiration–He
has recd his commission.  Lewis has
charge of the topography between the
James & Appomattox and divides
his time between the saddle & [?]
[?] [?] He has had several narrow
row[sic] escapes from the enemy. He is
animated b a furious hate of the
Yankees–Gen Armistead is very
attentive to him—All of Hugers di
vision has  [?] to join Johnston
Lanty’s letter is dated 25th.  Sunday
in the evg 4 miles beyond Win-
chester—that morning in a fight
with the enemy, his company lost
25 killed & wounded–He says the
danger they were in was tenfold
greater than at Kernstown–Robt
McKim of Bath (Ran’s cousin) and
young Gregory an Allen[?] of [?]
[?] were killed–Berkeley Minor
recd a contusion on the shoulder
from a piece of shell.  Eugenes
letter is long & interesting–written
on picket–he says he has more
confidence in McClellans doing us
good than in our own Generals
& is persuaded there is intelligence
between the Head Qr. of the two
armies.  The Yankees will think so
too,if as the papers say, McClellan
is recoiling.  His fate is sealed if he
fails, and fail he must–Jackson
has crossed the Potomac at Williams
port. Every additional particular
enhances the value of his achieve
-ments–The medical stores alone
captured at Winchester are worth
$2000 00–Eight thousand stand of
arms, quite new, and great quanti
ty of ammunition, & nearly all the guns
are among the spoils–If he can
he can take it. To threaten  at [?]
will bring back half McClellans
army–Mr. Lee & his brother came
in the packet–homeward bound–He
has not improved much.  Thunder
shower between 3 & 4.

MSS 4763

1862 June 29 Winchester, Va.

    Taylor Hotel Winchester
     May 29 1862
My own darling Jennie
     This morning the 10” was ordered
on the road to Charlestown, but I
found myself entirely too unwell
to go with them and so Billy
& I came to this place for rest.
I think I will be able to take
the field tomorrow or next day.  I
am suffering from nothing but
my bowels & am only necessaryin
need of rest to cure them.  Mr & Mrs
Cartmel are very kind indeed and
do every thing they can for me.  I dont
need much it is true yet it is a pleasure to
have friends near to attend to any wants you
may have.  And still a greater one if Jennie
& my darling little pets were only here to see
& plague papa, but that is now impossible
I would go home to see you but with the
[page 2]
means of transportation between here & H Burg
it will would do me more harm to travel
that distance than to remain with the regim-
ent.  So I must be content to remain as I am
for the present.
  I wrote you a long letter yesterday but
have mislaid it.  In it I was giving you
various reasons why I thought we were
approaching the end of the war.  our
victory here has been complete and has
resulted in clearing all this part of
Virginia of the enimy [sic].  we have captured
more army supplies & prisoners than were
captured at Manassas and that too with-
out scatering [sic] or demoralizing our troops
except Ashbys Cavalry which are of
no earthly account for any purpose
whatever.  A victory now by Genl John-
ston will terminate the strife, and I
cant help but feel that he will certainly
gain such a victory in a very few
days if indeed he has not already
gained one.  Johnston has been too slow
[page 3]
I could do better myself.  he must now
fight or loose [sic] all his reputation and
that of his army.  Lincoln says the war
must end by the 1stof July if so it ends
in favor of the Rebels.  The latest news
from Richmond is that our men are
perfectly confident of success and I learned
from Yankey prisoners here that they are
of the opinion that Johnston has more
men than McClelland, so they of course
have no great confidence in their cause
our victory here will cause the Yanks
to withdraw a portion of their men
from Eastern Va to defend Washington
for Jackson will certainly make believe
that he is after Washington, if indeed he
is not really after it.  All that is now
necessary is to make a bold & vigorous
dash at McCleland & he is routed
and destroyed.  Beauregard I understand
is in position to hold his own and
I am daily expecting to hear good
news from him.  Look on the bright
[page 4]
side my precious darling, cheer up  all
will yet be well.  I got your letter
sent by a member of the 37” Reg.  I
feel very sorry for you, but trust
in God who has been with us &
near us in all our troubles and
who has in mercy protected me
amid so many dangers, and all will
be well.  I will write to you
again tomorrow.  Give love to
all & believe as ever your most
  devoted & affectionate husband
  ETHWarren
“Taylor Hotel”, heading – The Taylor Hotel was utilized by many Confederate and Union officers during the War.  Recently a number of grants have been awarded in order to restore the hotel to its former glory.
“Jennie”, salutation; line 15 – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder.
“10””, line 1 – 10thVA Infantry.
“Charlestown”, line 2 – Charles Town, Jefferson County, VA (now WV).
“Billy”, line 4 – William Rolston, private, Company H, 10th VA Infantry.
“Mr & Mrs Cartmel”, lines 10 & 11 – Nathaniel M. Cartmell was the proprietor of the Taylor Hotel.  His wife was Ellen Moore Sydnor.
“my darling little pets”, line 16 – Warren referred to his children: seven year old Lizzie, six year old James M., and three month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.
“H Burg”, page 2, line 1 – Harrisonburg, Rockingham County.
“Ashbys”, page 2, line 16 – Turner Ashby, Jr., Confederate colonel, commanded the Valley Army’s cavalry.
[transcription by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g

1862 May 29 Clarke County, Va.

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

Thursday May 29, 1862

Yet another delightful day.  The boys have been visiting around.  It is so pleasant to expect them back at night.  It is reported that our troops have taken possession of Harper’s Ferry. There was a little skirmish at Charles Town yesterday.  We took some prisoners and killed a few.

MS 9759