[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, and a Sgt., Co. B, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor’s), Louisiana Infantry]
Wednesday Saturday – May 5th 1862
Monday
I was awoke early this morning by Miss
Galts boy & informed that my horse
was stolen – & stolen he still remains
tonight – it is outrageous after capturing a
Yankee horse to have him stolen – I
gave the saddle & two bridles to Col
[space left blank] of 11th Va Regt to take time
to Richmond for me – I shall follow
the Army stay & find my horse –
This has been an eventful day – The fight
or battle of Williamsburg was opened at
Early dawn by Sloans So Ca regt in
our right where the enemy was in the
woods – during the morning they were
fighting between this point & the Yorktown
road where I found them when I came
up at 1 o’c, just as the Miss Battalion
marched down through the open field
upon the enemy who were under
[The Colonel of the 11th Virginia at this
time was Samuel Garland–Robert K. Krick]
[“This was Colonel John Baylis Sloan’s
4th South Carolina. Sloan apparently
was not in action at Wmsbg, as Major
Charles S. Mattison is the one
mentioned in the reports. The
4th was in fact in front of Fort
Magruder and helped to open
the action”. – Robert K. Krick]
Monday
Sunday – May 5th 1862
shelter of the logs & stumps, & woods beyond –
it was a gallant & brave march down
to the fence amidst a shower of
bullets the like of which I never dreamp [dreamt]
of – I was abt 150 yards behind them coming
up at a double quick step, & soon put
myself behind some rising d ground from
which I shot – the Enemy was in the woods
& bushes & hard to see – The Miss Batt
alined themselves behind a fence – where
they remained until the Enemy ceased
firing – An Ala regt double quicked into
the Yorktown road, but the balls were so
thick from the Enemy that they retreated
in disorder, but redeemed themselves
by reforming in a fhollow & giving back
with a yell – from this road they sent
across road fire in to the Enemy in
the woods, which was also hotly
shelled by our artillery – when fired
Monday Wednesdy
Tuesday – May 5th 1862
over our heads – At this time abt 4 o’c a
heavy musketry was heard on our left
wing – I went over & found that Genl Earlys
brigade had charged a redoubt of ours
which the Yankees had taken early in
the day – Our men were repulsed – the
Regts repulsed were 2 Va & the 5th NC
they say that one Va Regt behaved bad[l]y
In this fight many of our men were
Killed – we did not even bring off our
wounded men – the brigade retired thr-
-ough a woody ravine – forming in
order in Genl. Rodes brigade. We
re’d [received] large reinforcements to our left
wing abt this time – when darkness
came on the artiley from Fort Page &
many of our field pieces opened heavily
on the woods to our right where the
Enemy must have been seen going up
to position on our right – It has
Monday
Wednesday – May 5th 1862
been raining all day & the fighting
has been going on in the rain – After
dark I came to town & went to bed to
get my only suit clean & dry for
the bloody moment, they are wet
& muddy up to the waist – Most of
the field is in what presents a very
beautiful appearance – it will probably be
the soft resting place of many a sol-
-dier in 24 hours – Have not heard of
or seen Mullie today – his brigade is
held in the reserve – We captured
several hundred Yankees this
morning before twelve o’clock – 310-
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Monday
May 5
Took Phineas’ place as he was sick
and it rained. I let him take
my place,where he could get under a
piazza, Read some, wrote home.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of James Dismore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Monday, May 5, 1862
Guard mounting no
parade
Wrote letters to Eliza
this evening some
contrabands came
in. one of them
we recruited to cook
for us
They bring important
information report
no force at Giles
c.H. Rained most
of the day some clear
wrote to mother
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]
Monday 5 Another rainy disagreeable
day–What weather! Rumors that
Norfolk is to be abandoned and te navy
yard destroyed–and that our army
is falling back on the peninsula 30 or 40
miles to the line of the Chickahominy
this is good policy–saw Col Tho. Pres-
ton of 28th Regt who was not re-elected
-What a wretched system it was to be adop
ted by sensible men–Hard at work
in Bank. Nothing very material dur-
ing the day.
MSS 38-258
[from the Journal of the Chairman of the Faculty]
May 5 Gave Mr Micajah Woods leave
to withdraw from the University in
order to enter the Army as a volunteer.
Gave Mr P.N. Meade leave to
withdraw from the University under a
resolution of the Faculty of the 1st inst
19 Gave Mr N.B. Hamner leave to
withdraw from the University in order
to volunteer int he Albemarle Rifles 19th Reg
23 Gave Mr Wm. M. Perkins leave to
withdraw from the University with the
view of joining Capt Taylor Martin’s
company of Volunteers–
RG-19/1/2.041
Vol XIII
Yorktown May 4
[letter faded almost to illegibility along the fold lines of the first page]
Dear Mother
I suppose you wonder
at my writing before but I
have had no time only evenings
and have been to tired to write.
The rebels [remainder of line faded away]
this morning early [remainder of line faded]
for picket but instead of stopping
at the lines [remainder of line faded]
forts, they left in a hurry their [remainder of line faded]
were [remainder of line faded]
and their bread very warm [remainder of line faded]
looked as tough they [remainder of line faded]
left in haste this morning and
Co and Co A were the first inside
the forts and soon after we looked
down the line, and there was a
line of men going doubly quick
for all the forts, and the flag of
the Mass 22d was the first to
[page 2]
wave over the forts at Yorktown.
They left all their tents and [?]
10 cannon ammunition &c
I got a few small things that I
could send in a letter, but knocking
round I lost them which I am
sorry for as I have nothing to send
home as a trophy If the express office
had been anywheres nigh here I should
have made up a large box and sent
home. Tell Ryan that Ginty was wounded
today by one of the torpedoes they had
placed in the fields. I do not know
how bad. Our officers found out on
infernal machine the rebels had
placed in the fort and stopped its
working, If the rebels were not strong
enough to hold their position here
they cant anywheres as they were
strongly fortified, our cavalry and
artillery are in hot pursuit of the
Rebs and our gunboats have gone up
the river over to Gloucester the other
[page 3]
side of the river had the stars &
stripes floating over them by 7 oclock
this morning about an hour after we
had ours flying which surprised
the folks in the various camps as
nothing was known of the evacuation
till they heard us cheering on the
ramparts, and saw our hats flying
and the flag waving. Tell Emery
Hunting[?], Martha Moulton, & May Towne
that I will answer theirs as quick
as possible, Give my love respects to all
enquiring friends and my love take
to yourself, I hope this will find
you well again.
I remain your aff son
Wm Wallace
P.S. When you write to Asa tell
him I am well and hearty and he
must excuse me for not answering
his letter as I have not had
time
W.W.
with envelope addressed to
Mrs. E. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass
William Wallace Smith, 22nd Massachusetts, Co. B
Charlottesville
Farish House Sunday
May 4 1862
My wife
I got here to day about
12 o’clk, and I don’t know
when I shall have an-
other opportunity of
writing to you. I instruct
ed Joe to meet me at this
place, we left Lynch
burg Friday morning, and
ought to have been here
last night. I was not par
ticularly anxious to get
off on Saturday because
I preferred to find him here
instead of having to wait
[page 2]
for him. I have heard
nothing as yet either
of him or the wagon
I have enquired all over
the place, and if he has
been here at all he
has only passed by with
out stopping. I have no
idea what has become
of him, and I am very
uneasy about my horses
I met with Mr Holcombe
today, and was to have
stayed with him tonight
but I am looking for
you and if he should
come I dont wish to
be out of the way.–
[letter of Edwin R. Page to Olivia Alexander Page will continue on the 5th of May]
MSS 6271-b
May the 4 1862
Covington Alleghany Co
Dear Mother
It is with great
pleasure that I seat my self to
drop you a few lines to that you
know that I am well at this
time and hope when this comes to
hand it may find you enjoying the same
blessing. Since I left home we have
traveled about 150 miles we first
came to Millboro depot then to
Jackson River then to Coving
then back to Millboro & back
here to Covington I dont [know] where we
will go from here. we have had a good
deal of rain in the lars day or two. I received
the letter you sent by R. Love and was very
glad to hear that you were all well
I heard f rom you a day or two before
by John Kirkpatrick he had seen
Henry. you wrote that you had a pair
[page 2]
of boots for me you can just keep
them until I write for them for these do
very well now I have tried to get home
for them but could not, as to the
woolen shirt I do not need it we have
not had to furnish horse feed yet but
we have had to board ourselves some times
when our wagons were behind and didnot
get up: I have not heard any thing
from C. P. since I left home but if he
has gone I cant help it. you can
tell Rebecca that I am about to
draw some money and I will draw
Cys money if I can. I will write
for my hourse and boots when I want
them or come myself I have nothing more
to tell of importance to write give
my my[sic] love to all the girls
save a portion for your self. I got a
small note in the letter you sent by
R Love there was no name to it
nan wrote it just tell her to put
[page 3]m name to the next she writes
I suppose old Capt [?]nutt cuts
quite a dash sine he has got home
I should like to see him square him
self now if I were in his fix
I would cut a dash too I recon he
is better there than here. there is bundance
dance of girls here. we had a surmon
here last night but I did not go to
hear it for I was so sleepy that Ithat thought it better to sleep.
nothing now at present so farewell
your ever affectionate
son. S. A. Walker
P.S. I will not look for an
answer until I write again for I dont
know where we will be for I expect
we leave here soon I will write again &
let you know where we are when you
write direct in care of Capt. J. A.
Gibson
Samuel A. Walker, Jackson’s Squadron Virginia Cavalry, later the 14th Va. Cavalry
MSS 1532
