Monthly Archives: May 2012

1862 May 2 New Bern, N.C.

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

Friday
May 2

Got a letter from home and one
from Mary yesterday.  On guard
at the hospital.  Came down to quarters
and wrote to Mary this forenoon.  Staid
round all day as I am on the third relief

MSS 11293

1862 May 2 Lynchburg, Va.

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

Friday 2  rain and cheering sight- a
bright sun and genial day–Bought
for Mr Robertson 700$ gold for which
I had a promise of 82 50 gave, as he
requested, the money to Mary R. It is
intended for contingency which I
trust may not arise.  Jane Kean &
her sister Sarah–a very pleasing &
distinguished looking girl–dined with
us. Mr. Lee’s brother, Charles, arrived
this morning from Richd, where he
has a clerkship–visited the lower hos-
pitals–sight very distressing and familiar
with which soon hardens the feeling
as I approached I saw them bringing[?]
a body to the dead house–I had seen
two funerals in the morning.  There are
1500 sick here now and preparations
making for 1000 more.–Langhorne, fairly
within half a square of our house
is now fitting for a hospital.  I dont
like the vicinity at all.

MSS 4763

1862 May 2 near Yorktown

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Yorktown on the Steamer John Brooks May 6th 1862
Dear Father–I thought I would set down & try to pen you A few
lines to let you know where I am & what i am about at this time we left
Alaxandria on the 17th of last month & have been on board of the steamer
most of the time since, we went Ashore day before yesterday at Ship Point as we thought
to stay two or three days but the news came into our Camp yesterday informing
that this place has been evacuated by the Rebels & that our troops was follo
wing them up on a duble quick & then we had orders to go on board of the boat
& started at 4 o clock this morning we started for this place as you can see
that I am on board of this Boat close by the Wharfe of the immemorvalle [sic]
Yorktown the place that the whole World has been looking on to see our side
whiped but we took it without hardly A strugle on our side but if the rebels
surrender a place so strongly Fortified as this I do not know h\where they will
make A stand in the State of Virginia I wish you could see the Place the
River side of the Town is Fortified natural so that you would think it was
almost impossible to take it & to see the large points where their batteries which
they have got all along the Shore anyone would think that it never could be
taken but I can tell you they do not like to face General McClellan for he
Pounds on them with so many large guns that they know that he will whip
them for they think it no better to run than to get Whipped in your letter to me
of the 17th you say that I Patronized the Suttler & you think there is no cause for
me to buy any thing from him because I do not complain about the Food
that i get I get enough to eat of the kind & I can tell you that when I get
anything from hi it tastes kind of good you said something about my
not keeping my promise i know that I did not send any of my last payment
but you will never have cause to write again to me about the Suttler because
I will send it after this, the Payroll has been made out for two months
pay so look out for fifteen dollars you kind of spoke as though I did not
think anything about you, now I want you to know think something of
you & why should I not you have treated me as A Father & why should I not
treat you the same I know sometimes that you have been Plagued & I
have caused you A Great deal truble but them things are all passed I
will now close my letter & Just as soon as I get ashore I will try & give you
some more information of the Town of Yorktown yesterday I received your
three back letters of the 17th, 19th, 25th & one of yours was one from Mother &
I also received one from William dated the 19th I am well & enjoying good
health which I hope is the case with you & the rest of the Family
From Your Son Josep Leavitt, P.S. Direct your letters to Washington the
same & answer this as son as you get it because I want you to answer every letter
that I write.

Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George Leavitt of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865: “because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid.” Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864.

MSS 66

1862 May 2 Princeton, Va.

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[from the diary of Charles Hay, Co. H. of the 23rd Ohio]


                                       Princeton, Va., May 2nd, 1862.
     Yesterday morning at daylight, the
troops were on the move from Flat
Top southward.  A heavy fog, that the
vision could penetrate but a few rods,
hung like a curtain around us, &
on the mountain sides.  Our march
commenced with the descent of the
mountain upon which we had encamped
the night previous.  We had traveled
probably four miles, when the Cavalry
& some Infantry were suddenly ordered
into position, & the remainder sent
scouring the adjacent hills, an
undesirable job, truly.  Away we went
tearing through underbrush, & over logs
& stones, keeping both eyes wide open,
as was necessary in order for us to
make progress, & examine the country.
     Our hunt proved to be a “wild goose
chase,” & we returned to where the others
were in the road, & learned the cause of
all the warlike movements.
 A small body of the enemy, numbering
about 300, had decamped from this place
but a short time previous, after having
a severe fight with Co. ‘C.’ of our Reg’t.
     The circumstance is as follows.  This
Company had been sent out the day previous
to scout and reconnoitre in advance.
After scouring the country considerably,
& burning up a “bushwhackers” camp,
they started to rejoin the Regiment, & should
have reported to Camp that evening.  All
were so tired, however, that they concluded
to stay in a house about four miles
from Camp.  Intelligence of their doings
& whereabouts was forth with made known
at Princeton, & the rebel forces started out
in pursuit.  Just as Co. ‘C’. was ready
ready to start in the morning, they
were found themselves surrounded by a
greatly superior force, fully four times as
great as theirs.  The position our boys occupied
was a poor one, but the enemy, posted as they were
on surrounding hills, unquestionably had the advantage in every
                                                                                       respect.
     The fight continued about an hour,
when the enemy suddenly withdrew,
probably hearing of our proximity.  The
damage on both sides was severe.  What
the exact loss of the rebels was, is
unknown, but enough is known to make
it certain that they were worsted.  Co. “C’s’
loss was one killed & 23 wounded, one of
whom has since died.  It was a fearful
decimation, but that heroic band
would have fought to the last man, before
allowing themselves to be taken.  All
honor to the heroes, say I, & say all
of us. – The wounded were sent to
Flat Top Mountain, & will remain
there, under charge of Ass’t Surg. Mc Curdy,
until able for removal further.
     The regiment proceeded forward without
further delay, and, although an unpleasant
day, and the roads slippery, they reached
Princeton before sundown, 23 miles from
Flat Top.  Having tarried considerably,
I did not reach here until today.
                                                                           
     Our boys were a trifle too late however,
as the enemy, being made aware of their
approach, had fired the town, really a
pretty one, subtstantially built, and were
just “skedaddling” over the hills in sight
of town.  All was destroyed but 3 or 4
houses.  Public buildings, which had cost
the people thousands of dollars, shared the
common fate.  What possible benefit to
them, or harm to us can accrue from this
piece of vandalism I am unable to see.
Let rebels talk about & condemn Vandalism
now, as confined entirely to the Northern
hirelings, when they wantonly destroy property
against the protests of the citizens, & have
no “military necessity” to justify it.
     “We come to protect you,” say they &
their press, “to guard your homes & firesides
from the encroachments of the Northern
invaders.”  Their proclamations are as false,
as their actions are damnable.  We can
truly acquiesce, (ironically,) “Aye, such protection
as vultures give to lambs, covering & devouring them.”

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

1862 May 2

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

May 2nd rained all day tried the
horses in afternoon but ground was
so bad could do nothing with them.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150

1862 May 2 Princeton, Va.

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[from the diary of James Dismore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Friday, May 2, 1862
Played  for Guard
Mounting felt sore
from yesterdays
Tramp.  Wrote letter
to Father Had parade
this evening
Cavalry have been
skirmishing some to day
Ruins of the Town yet
smoking
Had roast Pig for
supper.  Very fine day
Cloudy very warm

MSS 10317

1862 May 2 before Yorktown, Va.

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

                       May 2nd
Yesterday and to day.  also during the
entire nights of both day’s.  the rebs have
kept up a very heavy and rapid firing
upon our lines, but they have done
very little or no damage.  Their. Artiller-
-ists are very poor calculators of ranges
and distances: more than one half
 of their ammunition is foolishly wasted.
   Weather changeable, at times rains hard
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493

1862 May 2 near Yorktown, Va.

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[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, and a Sgt., Co. B, 1st Special Battalion, Louisiana Infantry]
                     Friday – May 2nd 1862
Spent this day in getting up my things
ready for sending to Richmond – going to
Yorktown via Mullies Camp – Got my pay                   
today from Capt Harrison with transportation – 
Also made arrangements with him                      
for staying in his department                        
until I make some arrangements
for the war – will have a horse to
ride more with Genl Magruders
staff & go abt among the different
regiments & pay them off   examine
their pay rolls &c – It will do for
the present – At Yorktown this
Evening I took a walk through the
batteries & woods – It is a great pity to
abandon such works – Yet Everything has
been moved that it is possible to get off –
the balance must be  is being destroyed
for tonight the Army of the                   
Peninsula with the army of Johnson –
Evacuate the scenes of our last years
Campaign.  It looks very strange yet
it is to be presumed that our Comd’g
Genl. Knows what he is about – shot & shell
flying thick & fast in the town this afternoon
The Logan cannot now come to the whf [wharf] except
at night – their shot reaching our whf
fairly – A large amt of ammunition has
to be destroyed & left – I got a good
view of the Yankee batteries today, which
they have [-] on the Temple farm –
Wrote to Mrs Roy today but could not send
my letter – Walked back to the Legion &
spent the night with Mullie who had
changed his camp to an open field
on the York & Wmsbg road – Missed
my chill today
 Mullie: his brother Thomas Muldrop Logan
Captain Harrison : probably Capt. Thompson Harrison, New Orleans Zouave Battalion        
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]      
MSS 6154                                                                  

1862 May 1 On the road [Virginia]

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On the road  May 1 1862

Dear Pa
I have but a moments time
& a heep to say, I am quite well & in
good spirits, I think it probable that
I will see Dick as soon as the great
victory is gained, I want you to do
me a favor & not hesitate one day
but if you please at soon as you
rec this go to Mr. Grant & but that
black stalion of  his give  him as high
as three hundred dollars if you
cant do better but I think as the
yankees are so close you ought to
buy him for $225–I send you
fifty dollars it is all I have in
my pocket the other five I will
send you by the first oportunity, I
met with Mr Triplett unexpectedly
or I could have sent it all.
dont hesitate to buy the horse & give
mine or your note for him I will
send you my signature write the
note over it I am quite able to
buy & pay for him  I git ninety
dollars a month.  please send

[page 2]
him to Jackson’s army by Jack
Willie Buck With Cousin Willie Jackson
or some little boy I will pay his expense
he can ride him easily & lead a
horse to ride back bring him immedi
ately or I will have to buy another
that will cost as much & wont
sell for half as much

Walter
Please start  him the day after you receive this
& also send the key to my trunk by complying
with the request made in this note you
will greatly oblige your affectionate
son
Walter

Walter Buck to M.B. Buck of Front Royal, Va.

MSS 3064

1862 May 1 Fredericksburg, Va.

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Fredericksburg  May 1st 1862

Dear Mrs. Noland

Now that our poor little
town is in the hand of the enemy, all
regular communication between us and
our side is of course cut off; so that it is
only by stealing stray chances, that we
can send letters out by persons going a=
way. In consequence of this, Oscar has
not heard from us, and he has been
left solely to your keeping—
We have no one out at Green Branch,
our old home to attend to having his
summer clothes made and sent
and after being perplexed greatly about
it I have concluded to take the liberty
of sending some materials to you, to
have made for him in the neighborhood

[page 2]
or as you may judge best and convenient.
I would not trouble you so, at any other
time, but under all the circumstances
surrounding us, I can see none other
expedient.  I send materials for coat,
vest and two pair pants; with linings,
buttons, thread, silk &c for all.
Enclosed $6.00 for the making of them
which I supposed would be sufficient;
if not, you will supply what is neces=
sary, and let me know by the first
opportunity.  Give much love to Oscar.
I hope he continues satisfied and happy
We shall always remember with grati=
tude your kind care of him–
Remember me to all your family, and
believe me with cordial regard
Yours sincerely
Sue Crutchfield

[presumably little Oscar Crutchfield is being tutored at the small school run by Nolands in Hanover County, Va.  The identify of Sue and Oscar is uncertain.  Confederate artillery officer Stapleton Crutchfield had a sister Susan and a father Oscar. Little Oscar may be a younger sibling or other relative]

MSS 6463

so