June 19th  Falls Cottage
My Dear Doctor

                         Your letters
by the politeness of Dr Hackley
have reached us since that
time we have nothing from
you.  i can not think
why you have not written.
Sometimes I have thought
it best for sundry reasons
not to write you at all.
Father’s health is very feeble
and I fear the effect of
warm weather on his sys=
tem.  Mother is well but
more busy than she ever
was in her life.  Even
Emily (poor infirm creature)
is gone. What will become of
these poor people?
Their last state will be worse

[page 2]
than their first.  I regret to
say.  Fitz Taylor has been at
deaths door with Typhoid
Pneumonia, for several days
I thought he must die,
but now he is growing
better slowly…George Thorn=
tons wife’s Mother a Mrs Ro-
now in your city
berts ^ came up to Fbg under
a flag of truce some days
since  You had better call
and see her.  I do not know
her address, she spent a
night with Sister Mercer, &
I will get her whereabouts
form Mercer and let you
know it in the bottom of
the sheet.  All are well as
could be expected, both far
and near.  Col Kane of
your City who seized a
part of Cousin Annas House,

[page 3]
has died of a wound in
Richmond.  Edmund Taylor
H’s Aunt’s Son died of a
wound about the same
time.  but I turn from this
picture of death; who holds
a high carnival in our land
to your own fire side.
   To Cellie give much love
& little E a bunch of
Kisses.  I will take this
to Capt Mansfield Provost
Marshall of Fbg to have it
forwarded to you  Direct
your reply to him me
in his care.  I have written
you these few lines most
hastily, that they may go
to town this evening—-
Do let us hear from
you soon  all untie in
kindest love to you &
Cellie

[page 4]
Your affect Bro
David S. Forbes

Letter to William Forbes of Philadelphia sent across the lines from his brother David in Fredericksburg, Va.

Perhaps a reference to Col. Thomas Leiper Kane, 1882-1883, of the Pennsylvania “Bucktails,” a former abolitionist and friend of Brigham Young’s, who was severely wounded and captured in the Shenandoah Valley in the spring of 1862, but recovered.

MSS 15127

[from the diary and letters of George Hazen Dana, of the 32nd Massachusetts, as copied by him into a “War Journal”]

                                                 June 19th
     I have been on active duty ever since the receipt
of your letter, as Officer of the Guard, and Judge
Advocate on a Court Martial.          The Colonel seemed
to wish to teach me thoroughly all military duties, and
I am glad of it, if it does take off a few hours sleep
occasionally.          It is now 11 o’clock A.M. and
at 11 ½ we act as funeral escort to Lt. Col. Palmer, so
must be getting ready.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130

                   Philadelphia  June 19th 1862
My dear grandaughter
                   Your cousin Sally has kindly
permitted me to enclose a note to you in
her pretty little letter, allso the likeness of
your cousin Libby[?] sent to you by your
Aunt Lydia. since your dear Mother
and sister left you, and your darling brother,
to join you beloved Father, I have thought
much and often of you both, but have not
been informed how to address you, even if my
health and stren[g]th would have permitted me
to write, when the news of the great and
glorious victory obtained by the bravery of
your valient Father, and Uncle reached me
my nervous system was completely prostrated
and my stren[g]th gave way prostra[t]ing me on a
bed of sickness.  I am now better, and embrace
the earliest opportunity of my recovery to write to

[page 2]
to you my dear Nina, I receive letters dayly
from your beloved Father, an[d] Uncle the last
dated on the 13th inst. says that he is
better, and hopes are entertained now that he
will soon recover from his injury, your brother
on that day had gone to Cairo to bring your
mother, your aunt Sarah had allready
arrived.  and all would be assemble together
before that day ended. your dear Father will
be well[?] and appropriately cared for and we
will look forward to a happy reunion
before may weeks, in the meantime you
and Willie must do all that is in your power
to preserve your health, you know how
essential it is to your parents happiness that
you should keep well.  do not expose yourself
too much, you had scarcely recover’d from you
recent illness when the sad necessity for you
dear mothers absence appeared.  I hope that
you write to her frequently & heartfelt letters
let them have the comfort of knowing
that their absent darling are well.

[page 3]
your mother told me in her letters that
she had placed you under the card of
friends in whom she had implicit faith
Miss Barnard I have the happiness of
knowing and allso know her worth and
great eficiency and of the Miss Brocks
under whose care you are placed is the
same that I once saw at your house
you could not be in safer hands,m and
you my dear child must be obedient and
affectionate to these good friends.  Keep
cheerfull, be hopefull and let your young
heart rejoice that you are the child of such
parents.  Your Father has covered himself
with glory, he is the bravest of the brave,
he has fought and bled for his Country,
and you and I may well be proud of him
and allso of Charley he has acted as a
Hero, placed the Stars and Stripes with
his own hand in the City of rebellion
you will see that brother rise high in
support of his Country when her blessed

[page 4]
Constitution and laws are completely
restored. write to me my dear child allso
to Sally Wainwright and your Aunt Lydia, the
employment will be pleasant and help
pass the time usefully in the absence of your
dear parents.  present my regards to both
Miss Kate and Miss Brock, give my
kisses to darling Willie, and recieve[?] the 
       affection of your devoted grandmother
                                          Mary Ellet

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

Thursday, June 19, 1862

Guard mounting
after which we
practiced.
Fox and I then went
down to Mr Harris
after waiting a time
we went down the
mountain to Mr Lilles
Mr Harris came then
and we got some
milk and butter
there  Came back to
camp were caught
in a rain
Will West came in
this evening
Showers all day
with sunshine
view of the sunshine
on the mountains in
the distance very fine

MSS  10317

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

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

Wednesday–Threatening rain all day–I have been busy sewing on my mus
-lin dress–Eliza paid two visits yesterday one to Miss Jones & Mallett the other
to Miss Copefield B—–Mr Fetter & G. Rensher have been here all morning
They came again at night & started from here to Raleigh. Wm Rensher & Mr Vandyke
came in after they left & remained with Mollie & Eliza until after 12 oclock-
playing cards–I wrote to Liz to day–& went to prayers in the afternoon.  It has
been raining off & on all day–Two young gentlemen from Wilmington
called on Eliza–Mr McIntire & Mr Reptiton–No letters to day–But 3 papers

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

19th  Mother & I have serious talks
about the prospects of servants leaving.
It is a serious matter.  Droves of
negroes go through the streets–Many
women with babies in their arms.  A
Hundred passed to day about to take
passage for Hayti–poor creatures!

MSS 2563-b

[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]

     Thursday – June 19th 1862
Spent today in the office – nursing Capt
Harrison & Brother, both of whom are sick.  Brother made
an attempt this morning to ride out on Billy to see
Mullie but had to come back without finding his Camp
being too sick he had to return – he put up with me for
the night – I left him Easier at dark & went into town to
see Mr Coffin & let M Dunlop Know where Brother
is – Spent the Evening at Mr Dunlops with the young
ladies & the old gentleman – Mrs being sick with Croup –
after leaving them stopped at the Spottswood hotel &
learned from Geo Morgan the sad intelligence of the death
of John Didlake! at the battle of Cross Keys, the
noble fellow fell pierced through the head with a
Yankee bullet – as I learned afterwards from Capt
Dan Wilson whom I saw at Mr Frielands – Oh my
God ! this war is taking away our most gallant      
men! I had hoped to see my old friend again – but
like other “heroes he has died the death they like to
meet.” John has been sick all this spring, & was very
feeble upon going into battle, he was among

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
the first to fall – Returned to Dr Burrills &
Sat up tonight nursing Mr Geo Coffin who is very low
with Dysenterry – His Son’s wound is doing well –
They telegraphed yesterday for Mrs Coffin who had
returned to Charleston – Heard today of heavy
skirmishing between Kershaws Infantry regt  & the
Enemy yesterday in which our men took the contents
of a yankee Camp Church – they run the Yankees –
G.M. Road – Skirmishing also on our right by the Va
Reg’ts


[Brother: George William Logan, Jr.]

[John H. Didlake, formerly of Rightor’s Bn., killed at Port Republic, actually
the day after Cross Keys, as a lieutenant in Co. D, 7th La. Infantry. -RKK]
[Dan Wilson: Capt. Daniel A. Wilson, Jr.,  of the 7th La.]


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; family note by Sally Rice Forsyth Donelly; annotations by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

           Poe’s Farm  2 miles below
         Richmond June 19th  1862
Dear Mama
                              If Nannie has
received my last letter written
a day or two ago in which I told
her how long it had been since
I had heard from home. You
may imagine how delighted
I was to receive the last three
letters from Pa & you & Nannie.
It was a real family talk
as Pa called it  & I am sorry
now I scolded so about
you all not writing, as it
seems from Nannie’s note
that she has written several

[page 2]times & the letters were lost.
I was very glad to hear that
you were all so well, because
I knew that some of the family
had been sick & was fearful
it was still the case.  I myself
am enjoying my usual good
health. There is nothing new to
write about at all & my letter
must necessarily be a short
one: I reckon you all see
the papers pretty regularly
and they have published
all the late news.  Old
Stonewall Jackson, the
Napoleon of this war, has
been sweeping everything
before him in the valley &
Stuart down here, has made

[page 3]
the most brilliant exploit I
ever read or heard of.  I expect
to get the transfer to the “Ches=
apeake Artillery” today & will
probably join it tomorrow or
next day.  I went into Richmond
yesterday with a gun to have
some repairs done to it &
there met with the company
I expect to join.  Martin Harvey
told me that the Captain
(Brown) had gone over that
morning to General Pendleton’s
head-quarters, to get him to
sign the transfer & that he
would send it to me today.
The Sec War had nothing to
do with it, it only had to
be signed by the General

[page 4]
of the division to which I was
transferrred. The officers in
the company are all nice
gentlemen & most of the
men are nice good fellows,
though some of them are
right “hard cases”.  I will
either get a Sergeantcy in
the company or the position
of Gunner. In either case,
instead of having two horses
to drive & attend to, I will
have one horse to ride &
will be placed in the line
                         other
of promotion. My ^ reason
for joining the company, is
to get rid of driving horses
in this one & there is a pros-
pect of getting up in the
mountains under old
Jackson. General Pendleton
has promised the Captain
to send his battery off, the
first time any reinforce=
ments are sent to Jackson.

[page 5]
which atime he says will be
next week.  He sent the
whole battery into Richmond
yesterday to have everything
about the guns & caissons
fixed up & painted over
again ready for the march.
The battery consists of one elegant
rifled gun, two 6 pound field
pieces & one 12 pound Howitzer.
I wish to goodness I could stay
here until this fight is decided,
but I am afraid it will not
come off soon enough: I
reckon though we will have
a plenty of it to do when we
get under old Jackson. I know
you will not like my going
off up there, but I believe I
will be just as well off up
there, Mama, as I am here.

[page 6]
There is only one thing I don’t
like about it & that is, it
will be so hard to hear from
home & to get letters home.
Martin Harvey said he thought
the company would certainly be
ordered off next week; he didn’t
know what part of the week.
The company is now at Battery
No 2, down on the river road.
I am very much obliged for
sending the shoes down to me
so promptly & which suited
 me in every respect.  The pair
that Pa gave me fitted me
about the same way they
                         too
did him; one was ^ short, &
small across the toe & hurt
me so much that I sold them
to a fellow for 7 dollars after
I got the other pair. The

[page 7]
pair you sent me will last
me all the summer.  I
am in want of nothingnow
but one flannel undersirt
which I expect howevcer to
get in Richmond & two more
pair of socks. I am very much
obliged Mama for the kind
offer on your & aunt Becca’s
part to send me a box
of eatables and I should
send you word to send
them right down if I expected
to remain around R- long
enough, but we may move
off before you could send
the box down, so I reckon
you had better put it off.
I reckon you all are
luxuriating in cherries
& strawberries?  I was

[page 8]
quite surprised to hear that
I had another little cousin.
you didn’t tell me what
her name was. Give my
love to Cousin Bec & all
at Uncle Tom’s.  Give my
best love to Aunt Mary
& tell her I will write
to her next.  I must now
close Mama, for I have
nothing else to write.  I
shall look for a long letter
from Nannie in a few days.
                   to
Give my love ^ Aunts
Bec & Eliza & to all
at Grand-pa’s & to Walt
Bec, Dinkie, & little
Tommy & Leight & Frank.
Hoping to hear from you
again soon I remain
   Yr devoted son
    James P. Williams

James Peter Williams, 1844-1893

1st Regt. Virginia Artillery and Maryland Volunteers, Chesapeake Artillery; later a freight agent and the last superintendent of the Lynchburg division of the James River and Kanawha Canal 
Company.

MSS 490

                    Camp Near Richmond
                       June 18th  1862

My Dear Creek

                     I received yours by Mr
Byrum and was truly glad to hear that
Maggie had again got well, it has taken
a great weight from my mind.  I am
also happy to hear of you doing so well
I trust you will continue to do so, for
as long as I can hear of you being all right
I can make myself comparatively
happy and contented here, but when
anything gets wrong it makes me feel
miserable, as I cannot be with you to
render you that assistance which your
condition demands.  I hope you will
take good care of yourself, and I will
come to you as soon as an opportunity
offers, it will probably be some time yet
before that may take place, but you may

[page 2]
depend I will avail myself of it the first
chance.
I cannot write you much at present as we
are on Picket close on the edge of the old
battlefield, and I have not time, as the
courier starts for the city in a few minutes
and I must send this by him.
You need not send me any more socks
as I have enough to do me for the present
and I dont [want] anything, but what I cannot
do without, as we are [?] to loose so much
when we move.  I will send my trunk
home, by Stephen McCulley, if he will take
it, with mine and Bills winter clothing
in it, and if we are still here next winter
we can have it sent out again.  I have
not seen Byrum yet; but will as soon as we
get back to camp.  William is well, give my
kindest regards to all.  Kiss Maggie for me
and retain my love your self
                                                       Your William

William Anderson, Major of the 4th South Carolina Infantry to his wife Lucretia McFall Anderson


MSS 10366