Head Quarters 4th Division
                     Army of the Tenn  Camp Campbell
                       at La Grange  June 22nd  1862

Special Order
No 18
                      Chaplains Episcopal Church
Will not omit any part of the Service
laid down in the Prayer Book of the Holy
Catholic Episcopal Church
Official attention is called
to the Prayer for the President of the
United States.
                    By Order of
                          Brig Genl Hurlbut
                               c. c. campbell
                                 Major & Chief of Artillery


MSS 10645

Camp near New Bridge Va, Sunday June 22  1862
My dear Mother–although I have not written A letter to you this some
time past, I have not forgotten you, moveing about as we have been for
the past two months it was a much as I could do to answer the letters I
received from Home & as I answer Fathers letter as soon as I get an oppor-
tunity I thought they would do for both to day haveing nothing to do &
no letter to answer I thought I could do no better than write you A few
lines informing you how I get along & what we are doing here my health
is verry good & I hope it will continue so, nothwithstanding we have had
verry hard times since we have been on the Peninsular my health has
been first rate, as good as it ever was this season of the year, we have
passed through A great deal of rough wether & hard work at the present
time we are taking A little rest which we need verry much all eyes I
suppose are turned on Richmond & everyone at Home I see by the papers
believe that with the fall of Richmond the war will end whether it will
be so or not time will tell, you need not look for a move on the part of
McLellan for several weeks as he will not commence opperations untill
the siege guns & Morters are in Position & to get the siege guns & to get the
mortars up from the White House wil take time, those that remain at
Home can have no Idea of the immense amount of labour that is required
& the difficulties that are to be overcome preparing for A siege in this
part of the country we that belong to the Army of the Potomac know
what difficulties have to be surmounted & account for the long delays I
believe in some of the letters I have written Father I spoke about the long
time it took six mules to move A waggon eight miles now they can move
from the White House Landing to the chickahominy there from the fcars the
guns & amunition have to be drawn to the different batteries in which they
are to be placed Oxen are used for this purpose instead of Horses as at the siege
at Yorktown, all that is now required is pleasant weather  which I hope we
will have as we have had any quantity of rainy wether since we have been
on the Peninsular last thrusday 19th, we received shelter tents the first we have
had since we left Yorktown they are welcome I can tell you we have no shelter
whatever except what we could  rig out of our Ponchon & a verry poor shelter some
of them made if it had not been for the rubber punchons which some of the men
were fortunate enough to have we should have been poorly off, as it was some
of us might as well have been out in the rain as under our rude shelter but we
soon forgot our troubles, if we have two or three days rain trhen we look at the
clouds overhead but as soon as the sun comes out bright & forget all about the ran
then another cause for A growl is the Grunt fall in for dinner Co F, sings out oll[sic] pop
the Cook what have you got for dinner rice perhaps will be the answer any sugar
or molasses to put on it No, then keep your rice sometimes it will be soup which
is made in this way take five pails of water in three of them put some fresh meat
& boil it untill you have used up every drop of water in the other two kettles then
take out the meat & fill up the kettle water to put in A little rice & some prepared
vegitables & boil as long as you chose stiring all the time with A stick, then there
is the coffee which we have only morning & evening perhaps you would like to know
how that is made, the same kettles that are used for boiling pork salt beef & soup are
used for making coffee the Kettle (the kettle has no cover) are filled iwth water and
put over the fire as soon as the water begins to boil the coffee which is of A good quality
& light colour is thrown into the kettle ans left to boil until the dirt fromt he inside
of the kettle gets mixed  with the coffee which gives it A splendid black look, then it is
given out to us then we sit down to our breakfast which consists of hard crackers, by way
of  change we have McClellan pies which are made the same as the crackers, do you
think you would get tired if youhad to live on  hard crackers for six months
now why I ask you this if for this reason you know there is A large number of us that
have lived on just such food ever since we left Baltimore, well now would n\you
wonder if we should wish to get something better, & would you wonder if when we see
A suttlers waggon approach our Camp we run to that suttlers waggon if we have any
money in our pockets to get something good to eat no matter what the price, I say
would you wonder, do you think A piece of cheese would go bad, or a few gintercakes
or A few lemons or oranges, in Fact do you think anything the suttler would be
likely to have would taste bad & then would you wonder if the waggon should be surrounded
by A Hungry crowd willing to pay any price for A small piece of cheese & A few cakes,& then
would you wonder if I was disappointed after waiting an hour for my turn to be served & have
the cheese all gone before I get A piece now the Suttlers take advantage of these circumstances
& charge awful prices to give you an Idea how we are swindled I will Just name A few prices
which the suttlers charge cheese 40 to 50 cts per lb butter 50  & lemmons 3 for twenty five cents ginger
cakes the same as the bakers sell for five cents pr doz the stutler gives 10 for 25 cts preserved meats
such as are sold in the groceries for 50 cts pr can 1.50 & everything else in proportion now
I know what you will say. You will say George you are not oblidged to buy of the suttler
you should save every cent, the only answer I shall give is come out here & try our
grub live as we have lived since we have been on the Peninsular Jo was over to se[e] me
A few days ago he looks well I was glad to see him as I cannot get out myselfe that is
to go any distance, how I should like to drop in some fine morning & get A good cup
of coffee (something we seldom get now) I was going to say warm buiscuit but
happened to think that mary Wallace is not there now I dont wish you to understand
by this that you dont know how to make god bread but you know that Mary
Wallace could beat the world on buscuits. I will close by hoping to meet you
next Fall in Portland from your Son
                                                             George

Letters from George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph  of the 5th Maine  were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in the fall of 1865 in order to remember his sons who were both mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862 and Joseph at Soptsylvania, May 18, 1864.


MSS 66

[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later date]

June 22   Bright, beautiful, balmy Sabbath. Services now
              held in the Camp of the 4th Infantry. A large
              hospital tent was tastefully dressed with Evergreens.
              Sears were improvised and all the necessary
              furniture for the altar.  Our minister of
              last Sunday, assisted by the gray haired,
              venerable chaplain of the 5th N. Y. Zouaves
              and another minister performed the services.  A
              very respectable congregation of Generals,
              Colonels and all ranks down to privates
              attended. After the sermon the Holy Communion
              was administered.  It was an impressive scene.
              If it had been known that before another Sabbath\
              all then present would have been engaged in a
             deadly conflict with a desperate foe, the occasion
             would have been indeed more solemn.  All passed
            off pleasantly & was productive of good results
            Nothing, it seemed to me, could have been more
            necessary & becoming than the humble worship in
           God’s first temple, at the time when it was not known
            how soon the deadly conflict might begin and
           many of us hurled into the judgement seat.
           It was an hour not spent in vain to me and I
           know it had a good influence upon others who
           spoke of it, who had not been much accustomed
           to speak or to think of such things.  May the
           seed then sown all fall upon good ground_______

        
MSS 9044

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

Sunday 21st  [sic]  We have all been to church and heard a fine sermon.
But I  have felt dull to day–Hearing or at least reading in the
dispatch of this morning that Burnsides has sent from Norfolk
& Suffolk 6000 troops to take Welden- & they are now only
30 miles from that place–at Franklin Depot–From the same
paper I learn that the Yankees have been shelling the 18th
Mississippi Regiment–& have done very little, but some da
-mage–The girls went alone to church–.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Sunday, June 22, 1862

Have been busy
all day int fact too
busy for a sabbath
was employed during
the morning drawing
back rations belonging
to Sweet who commenced
boarding with us this
day Alex and I went
down to Mr Harris
got some butter chicens
paid Sweet for his
rations Went to
Mr Brumer[?] p[resented
an order and got
from him 3 dollars
recd Letters from Father & Eliza
Parade.  Clear fine day

MSS 10317

                                  4 ½ miles of Richmond

My Dear Father                  22nd June 1862
                     there is nothing
whatever happening along the
lines wh: would interest you.
The lines are close, & sometimes
heavy skirmishing takes place, but
nothing more. All the news I have
wh: it is probable you may not
have, is that General Jackson
is coming down with his army –
to join us. He is said to have
been at Louisa Court House
 yesterday with his army. That
is the only item,I know of, wh:
looks like a fight was expected
soon. I heard to day that General
Johnson is riding about. I sup-
pose it is true & sincerely hope it is.
The evening of the fight, just
before he was wounded, our

[page 2]
gun was just opening the
fight & firing very rapidly to cover
the attack of our infantry,
nearly all of our generals of any
note, among them president Davis,
were stand sitting on their horses
close by us; Johnson’s face was excited
& I thought him the finest look-
ing man I ever saw. McCarthy
started to Johnson to ask him
to withdraw as he was exposing
himself unnecessarily, when
he was checked by the wounding
of corporal Crump of our guns!
Not very long afterward Johnson
advanced farther & was wounded.
But I don’t suppose McCarthy’s
advice would have had much
effect. It is Sunday evening – I
was prevented writing this mor-
ning from writing by the

[page 3]
moving of our camp & as I am
driver this week it gave
me some trouble – The regular
driver is absent sick or pretend-
ing sickness & the different mem-
bers supply his place – a week at
a time to each man. So to conclude
my letter may be a little later
than usual this time. We moved
only about a mile crossing the
road & passing a little to the south
but further back from the
enemies lines. Our army seems
more busy than ever fortify-
ing. They have fortified the place
I wrote you they were not for-
tifying. We brought “Long
Tom” & some other guns down
& silenced their battery completely
some several days ago. Stuarts        
exploit was a gallant one.

[page 4]
I see the Lunenburg cavalry
was with him. I wonder how
Lan liked it. Is there not some
mistake about a company
from Lunenburg being  dis-
banded for want of arms?
My opinion is that the  govermt.
can furnish arms to every
man they can get. Our army
is well armed – a great many
improved arms among them.
It is said that Pryor’s brigade
did not come up to expectation.
Indeed that Huger’s entire di-
vision did not its duty. Huger      
is blamed. It is said he was
ordered to begin the fight
on the right at six A.M. but
he did not so until about
eleven. I don’t suppose any blame
could be attached to Pryor.

[Written upside down on the top of page 4]
Do not send any more paper in
your letters until I write for it.

[Written upside down on the top of page 3.]
I got hold of my knapsack a few
days ago, but it was badly rifled. Of

[Written upside down on the top of page 2.]
all outer clothes & socks. Drawers & a few
articles alone were left. In it I found
some paper. I have not time to write

[Written upside down on the top of page 1.]
anymore. Give my best love to all.
My dear Father farewell. Affly yr son,
                       W.H. Perry

William H. Perry, Jr., 1836-1915, of the Richmond Howitzers, after the war a Virginia lawyer

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

[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 – June 22d  1862
Rose late this morning – Capt H quite
sick today – Wrote a letter to Fry & one
to Miss Madge Tabb today – After
dinner rode into town on Fannie to
get a prescription filled for Capt H –
Spent one hour with Mullie & Bro at
Mr Harveys – Mullie came in this
morning to spend a day or so with Bro’ –
Rec’d a letter from Fry today of 12th Insta[nt]
from Coopers wells – Poor fellow is terribly
dissatisfied with Fenners Company which
will not be able to take the field for a
month.  Heard of most of No. 3. Every
thing is very quiet on the lines today, that
persons think there will be a great battle
in a few days – probably tomorrow or next day,
Mr Coffin is very low – Heard that “the family”
are going to InisKillen plain – I long for this
battle to occur so that I can get a furlough.  Return
at 11 o’c


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

Richmond June 21 1862

Dearest old lady–How my heart glowed with affection for
the best of mothers a few evenings ago when the girls showed me
your dear old face smiling so pleasantly as of old when we
used to have such delightful family chats in the library
at home–Oh how often have I longed to have one of my “talks”
with you concerning the “family (& every other man) in general”
such as you indulged me in walking down street together or cosily
sitting alone in the aforesaid library–But, alas, I have not even
had the privilege of writing, much less talking, to you–You know
your hopeful filial well enough to be aware that he never was
anxious to impress the world with belief in his importance to its
well being & discreet government–nor that the “multiplicity” of his
affairs precluded my attention to the small duties of social life–
But, I assert & affirm it to be a veritable fact that since I last
wrote to you in September (as which was the first or last epistle you
have received from me) the Confederate States of America have
had such a lively appreciation of the importance of my services
to their success & have so overwhelmed me with the “multiplicity”
of their business as to have renderd it absolutely impossible for me to
have kept the great family of Cary across the Waters (or the lines) apprised
of the existence & epistololamy, luminosity of the eldest scion of their noble
house–My anxiety has always been so great to do everything for C.S.A.
since I came into service that I never felt justified in think-
ing I might take time to indulge my own desires!! I really have
could not have written to you until I came to Richmond to stay—

[page 2]
which was about the middle of May–& dear Madam I declare to you
that I have duly felt the usual amount of shame, expressed & experienced (?)
by letter writers, since May 15 up to date–self approbation has now
gotten one page ahead of shame and before I finish this letter will have
entirely effaced its painful memory–
“Dear Old lady” -how I love to repeat these words–their utterance seems
to me like giving you a kiss–Do not imagine for an instant my dear
madam that I use the “old” in it aged acceptation–for it is
well known that your heart keeps you young in spite of “father Time’s”
envious detractions–What would I give for a glimpse into
no 269–I would even like to see old father McNabb amidst
his unionited family flaming with flags–How I would enjoy
a sight of the artless Dodge–I who never used to “visit” would
now almost take the oath to drink in the warblings of my beloved
angels whom fancy once persuaded me to enshrine in various
corners of my heart & worship at various times with with[sic] vane
                                                      (excuse my familiarity) 
intensity–Mary–Mannie–Carter, Betty, Alice ^ these are the sweet
voices that thrill through me now and then &
imagine the rest–shall I furnish you with a disquisition
upon love?  Well my ideas have set us that direction
for some time.  I have two gentlemen looking up for a
rich wife for me–and one has absolutely promised me
one who is a judge of beauty &c the prettiest girl in the
country–rich (imprimus)–very intelligent–very beautiful
splendid house keeper–sweet & amiable to distraction–
will be rich either way the fate of war goes–I have
determined to do something for myself–so look out for
something startling–This letter seems very abrupt in its
style it strikes me–but I have scarcely time to do


[page 3]
fix up anything decent–You know I  have not actually
written a letter for two years–I feel consequently rusty–my
thoughts never were many nor fluent–At present I
can only say I love you all and would give the world
to be at  home with this war at an end & any Yankee
that may read this letter at the bottom of the red sea
I have been many times (as is my wont) very “miserable“
but since I left home & “took up” with CSA, but on the
whole have enjoyed better health & have gained more
kknowledge of men & things than your despondent son
could ever have hoped for unless under common circum-
stances–It has been so long since you have heard of me
that I scarcely know what to day where to commence my time
bing so short–I expect for fill up this epistle with constant remind
er of the want of time &c as is usual with inexperienced letter writers
This war has made me feel strangely reckless–I do not feel
a part of fearful of anything & am ready for anything that
turns up–I had a great notion a short time ago of going
         on a certain scheme
to Europe ^ but could not get off–having so much to settle
up in this Department  in which I am which could not get
settle e without me–A battle will probably take place to morrow here
which will decide the fate of Richmond (& the Confederacy
for some time at least) & probably I may be able to see
you sooner than we either of us expect if we thrash
the scoundrels–Remember me most affectionately to
all my friends–give my love to Miss Alice & thank her
with all my heart for the nice “what do you call it” she made
for me–which I have yet though I  have lost almost all my things
my momentoes & such like–I see by your last letters that
MissB etty Blackstone is in town–tell her


[page 4]
that just at this moment she rises before me as she appeared in
                                       (what an unique expression)
all her “unsurpassed loveliness” ^ &c in a cloud of “delusion” the
night of the first soireee on thanksgiving
day night as distinctly as if it were yesterday–my heart
has never recovered from her charming manners & her
peculiar style–In vine veritas (?) I have just taken a
glass of champagne (8 oclk P.M.) dont you see that
my fate in love–I could write of beauty for hours
Sam donaldson & I are going into partnership in odes
to the Beautiful in animated nature–Remember
me to Miss Ida & the Winns–How comes on Syds attachment
to the fair haired Miss Mary–but it seems now he is in
general demand–a great beau is Mr [words inked through]
he has more brass than I believed was in the male part
of the family–How I would like to hear Pa in some
of his tongue lashings of the North–I wish he were
here–he might be of such use to this Government
I wonder if this is imprudent to write – but the devils know
that he wold have them all in a warm place if
wishing could do the thimg–Rememger me to all at Sudgrook
and to “Lutie” whose picture her uncle Willie has just kissed having stolen
it from the girls–he has the book which contains it in his office where he is now sit
ting–13th Street between Main & Cary–Give my love to Nanny–bless her–& to
aunt Betty & Nancy & to your school generally in which I might have been teaching at
this moment–How come on my ancient Latin Scholars–I wish this letter was more
interesting–but I must stop–Maj Barbour is sick with bilious fever & I must go out
to Church Hill (where we live) & attend to him–Good bye dearest Ma
                                                   Your how! affectionate Son

                                                           WM. Cary Jr

[In lower left margin of page 4]
A kiss for the “girls Ive left behind me”
Kiss all my sweethearts &friends [?] & then tell them
send me a return by letter or sent a token

[in lower right margin of page 4]
Please excuse
this letter
I cant do better now

[in bottom margin of page 1]

Oh but I cant express the love I feel for all at home–it seems as if I have been

[in bottom margin of page 2]
pent up all this long time–was just bursting [?]

MSS 1415

[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later date]

June 21  An occasional shell fell about our camp
             today, but they did not disturb our comfort.
             Nobody hurt.

MSS 9044

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

Saturday  Finished my dress and sent off a long letter to Sarah–Eliza received
the long looked for letter from Jr Mason & I received one from Tom.\
in which he says he has been made Ordinance Sergeant to the 18 Miss
Regiment by Mr Mason’s recommendation, & tho the position does no
warrant his wearing epaulets yet is a responsible and an honour
ble one, & but one step from Lieutenancy–He has the sole management
of all the arms & ammunition connected with his regiment & has
to keep them supplied always with those things.  He says his things are
now put into a wagon that he used to carry on his back–that instead
of Mr-he is now called Sergeant–his pay being $31 or $34 & he is
now exempted from picket duty which is very hard–& the throwing
up of breast works & roll call.  His wagon –& the 3 others belonging
to different Regiments of the Brigade are all under the control of Mr
Mason. He & Tom have a Tent to themselves–& mess together, & he says
he lives much better now than he has been doing.

MSS 6960