[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Friday Liz & I went a shopping–But I bought but little. In the
afternoon we visitted –4 ladies & 2 gentlemen we found had arrived
at the Hotel when we got back to tea–They have left here for Mrs
Whites–to board there–& we do not regret as they had crying
babies.
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Friday
May 9
Left New Berne this forenoon about
nine, I should think. Hired teams
to carry our knapsacks. Marched to the
red House, about twelve miles, stopping
to rest occasionally, Got pretty tired but
was detailed for picket tonight. We pitched
our tents in a field near the house
They are Sibley tents.
MSS 11293
Camp at Pearisburgh or Giles C. H. Va
Dear Father
On Tuesday Morning
last I went with a part of Co J
on a scouting expedition . Went
out about 10 miles form Camp
and returned the same evening
did not accomplish anything
except to scare in some citizens
to take the oath, We had a hard
march but not so hard as
what we were obliged to make
the next day
From information received through
Contrabands comeing into Camp
we learned that the
rebels had left Giles C HI and that in their retreat
they had left large quantities
of forage, provisions &c On the
strength of the report Col Hays
of our Reg’t sent out 2[?] Companies
of Inf and 1 of Cavalry Tuesday
Morning which force arrived
at this place the same evening
haveing marched a distance
of 30 miles. Their advance was
so rapid that the citizens were
not able to get away. they were
prepareing The town was ordered
to be burned by the Rebel Comd.
but the timely arrival of our men
prevented them. Wednesday morning
[page 2]
the remainder of our Regt
with 2 or 3 hundred Cavalry
left Princeton and advanced to
this place We marched the
whole distance the same day
The road for about half the
distance follows the course of
the New River the scenery was
very fine, We arrived here
before sundown and found
the boys enjoying themselves
We entered the Town to the tune
of Dixie. The town is about as
large as Savannah situated
about a mile form the New
River among the Mountains
The scenery is certainly the
grandest I ever saw. We
are now among the mountains.
Our tents and bagage have not yet
arrived but we have rooms
at the Hotel ( a fine large House)
The Keeper[?] is a secesh so we
take the liberty to occupy his
rooms without asking his leave
We have two large rooms
with plenty of good feather
beds to sleep on
The Band and Commissioned
officers only are allowed to enter
the house. Situated as we are now
it seems more like an excursion
to us than soldiering. We found
[page 3]
here about 300 barrels of Flour
1000 bushels Corn some Oats
Bacon Shugar Quartermasters stores
&c. Large Quantities of Whiskey
peach & apple brandies were also
found every day We find more
which has been secreted by
the citizens.
Reconoisance was made yesterday
which discovered the rebels in
a quite strong force about 10 miles
from here on the Newbern road
I believe it is supposed they have
about 2000 men We have been
looking some for them to come
in and attack us but I guess
they are too cowardly
A printing press was found the office
had just been evacuated. Our men
expect to commence the pub
lication of a paper on it tomorrow
I will inclose this letter in a
secesh envelop as they seem to
be very scarce of paper
I will write again in a few
days
Yours Truly J. D. Templeton
James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio
MSS 10317
[from the diary of William M. Blackford of Lynchburg Va., bank officer, editor and former diplomat, with five sons in the Confederate Army]
Wednesday 7
Thursday 8
Friday 9
Various circumstances have
prevented my making daily
entries and on a retrospect
I cannot perceive any thing very
important, except the battle of Wil
-liamsburg which took place Monday
Evening, between the enemy and our
rear guard amtg in the whole to 9 or
10,000 men under command of Gen.
Longstreet. There never was more gal
-lant fighting–Our men dispersed re
pulsed the attack, drove the enemy
back a mile or two, & took 80 pieces
of artillery. Our loss was severe, some
1800. The enemy’s still more. One
Regt the [8V?] suffered to the extent of
132 in killed and wounded–Our [home?]
companies suffered greatly–the Greys
had 7 killed & 7 wounded out of 40 on
the field–the Home Guard had 15 woun
-ded, mostly but slightly–Garland &
Meem, his adjutant were wounded
It was a better fight, and a bloodier
one, than that of Manassas–Gen. Early
was wounded severely. There was a
painful anxiety about the fate
or our citizens. It was relieved
by the list of casualties published by
the paper of Friday.–Then we had
next day the news of a victory gained
by Jackson over Milroy, west of
Staunton–the enemy were routed
and pursued–
MSS 4763
[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 9th 1862
Rose this morning at five & started for Richmond –
overtook the 2nd Co Washington Artilery, & marched
with them until noon when we haulted &
Camped on the bank of the Chickahommonie
River 14 miles from Richmond – Met many of
my N.O. [New Orleans] acquaintances with the W. Artilery who
treated me finely – this is the first day since
leaving Richmond that I have had enough to eat.
Can learn nothing of Gen Magruders whereabouts
or my valise which went with the baggage
of his staff – after resting until 5 o’c I
started for Dispatch a point 13 miles from
Richmond by train – West Point railroad –
Heard nothing today of McClellands movements
in our rear – Suspect that the Yankees got enough
of us, in the fight near west point day before
yesterday for the present & that they will be more
cautious on advancing on our rear again. Left
Camp at 8 ½ by rail road & reached town
abt ten o’clock – Took charge of
a few very sick men & sent them to
Richm the Hospital – Put up for the
night at the Columbian Hotel – will
Went to Mr Harveys – this night –
Mr Harvey came in at 12 ½ o’c –
having just come down with a train
of sixty Ambulances which he & some
gentlemen took up to bring in the
sick & wounded
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]
Giles (or Pearisburg) May 9th; 8 P.M.
Have just arrived here, after a weary
horseback ride of 28 miles. Was furnished
a horse this morning at Princeton, &
jogged through today, thermometer pretty
well up. In this trip, I found myself
in a much better country, & better
cultivated than I have yet seen in
Virginia. After striking New River,
some 12 miles below here, we find
rich bottomd [land], well adapted for raising
corn. Farmers were at work planting
corn, as though their neighborhood
was not the theatre of active warfare.
Find the town in a state of feverish
anxiety, consequent upon one small
force, no reinforcements at hand, &
the enemy in large force, but a few
miles out, making anything like friendly
demonstrations. The truth is, we are in an
unpleasant locality, only 21 miles from
the Rail Road having direct communi=
=cation with Richmond, from which
they could bring a large force in a short
time against us, & which they have
undoubtedly done. As I compose myself
to sleep tonight, it is with the conviction
fully impressed upon my mind, that if
an attack is not made tonight, it will
not be deferred 24 hours. All I ask is,
that in my present wearied condition,
I may be allowed a full night’s rest,
& my breakfast in the morning, & then,
if fighting must be done, I can relish
it better.
From what little I have seen of Giles,
I can say it is really a pretty town,
and substantially built. The style of
architecture is better than we usually
find in this country. The people are
wealthier, much more intelligent, and
not given to the use of such idioms
as ‘thar’, ‘whar’, somewhar’, ‘right smart
sprinkle’, &c, so peculiar to most of
these Western Virginians. But most are
unquestionably ‘secesh’ all over.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13925
[from the diary of James Dismore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday, May 8, 1862
Had breakfast at
the Hotel Played for
Guard mounting.Tom the cook came in
this forenoon foxed
up to cook We fired[?]
the Court House: Had
dinner at a private
house with Critchfield
Called to see Mrs
Jenstron at whose
husbands office we
now stop
Played on the Piaza
this evening. Boys
on a drunk yesterday
acted badly
Several Secesh about
here. Reconnaissance
made this day. Enemy
about 12 miles off Clear
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of the Letcher Artillery]
May 9th Did
not get up this morning till after
breakfast was over so Tom B. Ellis
M. & I took our breakfast together.
Very warm today. Wrote a letter to
Jennie. This afternoon heard firing
of artillery for an hour or two on our
right, have not heard the cause yet.5 6 Yankees were taken today & brought
by here, in a wagon with an old negro
driving. They were straglers [sic] from a
regiment which some of our cav-
-alry pounced on and captured on
the other side the Rappahannock.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
A windy but bright day. Rode down to Glenvin. Found Susie quite sick. Mary G. dined with me. cousin Mary N. and Liz too unwell to come. We drove in the buggy to Prospect Hill fearing all the time that we would be overtaken by the horse thieves. Mary returned to tea with me and sat up very late writing letters to send to Winchester.
MSS 9759
[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U. S. regulars, as copied by him at a later date]
I rode to day with Captains Brown & Keyes &
Dr Forwood[?] of my regiment to visit the intrench-
ments & batteries around Yorktown. it was one
of those exquisitely sweet May Morning for
which the Sunny South is so justly celebrated.
Nature had on her face her sweetest smiles &
it seemed more fit for parties of pleasure than
for war. A short ride brought us near the
rebel lines. We were cautioned as to going off
the road on either side, as the rebels before retiring
have buried many torpedoes which would explode
upon the touch & several of our soldiers had been
wounded & killed by them. Wherever they had been
discovered a little stick had been placed with
a rag at the upper end to indicate that a
torpedo was there. It was an infamous and
cowardly proceeding—worse than highway murder–
for in the latter a man had some chance of life
We were not long in reaching the village
of Yorktown. the entire town was enclosed
with a high embankment of earth, at the
base of which on the outside was a deep ditch
Big guns frowned upon the passerby every few
yards. After skirting perhaps half the circum-
ference of the fortress we reached the principal
entrance & proceeded to take a view of things
inside. The first & most prominent object
that attracted our attention was —dirt.
Such quantities of dirt around and about a
Military Camp. where every thing is supposed
to be peculiarly clean & neat. I never beheld–
It was enough of itself to cause evacuation.
This was the principal part of the legacy left as
a large number of heavy guns yet protruded
their ugly mouths from embrasures in the
parapet, but all were spiked. Fixed ammunition
lay around in piles. The number of guns left
by the rebels was over seventy, with a large
quantity of ammunition. We rode over and along
a great part of their works. their water batteries
their breastworks running entirely across the Peninsula
to James River, strengthened here & there by batteries,
all showed the immense strength of their works &
what would be the immense cost of blood to
take them. Here we also saw the fragments of
tir terrible two hundred pounded parrott
guns which had burst & with such fatal
consequences to the gunners–their powder mag-
azines which they had closed & which were left
unopened, suspicions being naturally excited
that any attempt to open them would be at-
tended by an explosion of the contents dealing
death & disaster to all around–It was
understood to be the intention of Gen McClellan
to cause them to be opened by some of the pirs-
oners he had taken as a just punishment ofr
their cowardly attempt to destroy his soldiers
with the treacherous torpedo.
It seemed to us that the whole country was
dug up Batteries on the waters edge. Batteries
on the bluffs. Batteries every where. It must
have been the work of thousands of men for
months. Gloucester Point on the opposite
side of the river was no less favored. Though
we did not visit this. Yet from Yorktown
we could see that vast works had been con-
structed there also–but there as at Yorktown
the stars & stripes floated gracefully and tri-
umphantly in the breeze–a tribut to the
strategy of the young commander.
During our ride & before reaching Yorktown
we visited the old home in which it is said
that Washington and Cornwallis signed the
articles of Capitulation in 1783. It is of course
a miserable habitation now, but has been
until very recently occupied–Its style of
architecture, the moss upon the roof, the
decayed timbers, all denoted its antiquity
We took as mementoes pieces of the sill yet
sound, which had been splintered by a rebel shell
We returned to camp amply compensated
for our ride by the sights we had seen and
more than thriced pleased that our friends the
rebels had spared us the trouble of taking
their works by force.
MSS 9044
