From the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts

Friday
June 13
Mended my socks this forenoon.
Laid round and read the newspapers
&c this afternoon.

MSS 11293

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

June 13  Very hot day. We were ordered about 5 p.m. to be
              in readiness to repel any attack that might be
              made on our right. We crossed the stream which
              furnished the water for Gaines Mill & halted in
              sight of camp until nearly dark when we
              returned to camp with orders to be in readiness
              to move at 3 a.m. next day.  Reveille at this
              hour is exceedingly refreshing and in order to
              enjoy it to the full we all retired early.

MSS 9044

                                                                   Friday– June 13, 1862
                               Camp of the Rockbridge Artillery  1st Brigade A.V.
                                2 miles from Wyer’s Cave Augusta co. Va
       (2 miles from Port Republic Rockingham—-17 miles from Stunton)

Mr, Wm. M. Blackford–Lynchburg,

                      My Dear Father

                                             I despatched to you yesterday
morning or more properly speaking the evening before, three letters
through Rutledge who was going direct to Lynchburg.  I hope
and presume thy have already reached you and shall there-
fore resume my narrative with the morning of Wednesday, 28th ult.
   At the usual early hour our Brigade was roused and under
march for Charlestown.  From our camp it was 18 miles distant.
The day was dark and showery and the road indifferent
but before we had gone very far–at least soon after
getting into Jefferson, the celebrated hospitality of the people
became evident.  The good people living along the road brought
us bread and butter and meat to eat and milk to drink;
in some cases throwing open their spring houses and dispensing
their delicious contents to all who presented themselves.  Of
course such things would not go anything like around to all
though a great many got at least a comfortable draught
of milk.  I did myself.  We were marching on quietly, not
Ferry, when, within 6 or 8 miles of Charlestown, we heard some
cannonading.  Shortly afterwards we learned that a regiment
or two of cavalry and infantry and a battery of the enemy’s oc-
cupied Charlestown, having shelled out of the town the company
or two of cavalry we had there quartered.  We sent forward a how-
itzer and one or two Parrott guns from our Battery, some Infantry
and cavalry and leaving the rest of our force and the wagon
train in the rear succeeded in driving the enemy out of Charles-
town and sending them at a rapid pace back to Bolivar Heights.
I was in the rear myself as our smooth-bore guns–except the
howitzer were not carried to the front.  After tarrying there
a couple of hours or so we were ordered forward rapidly to join
in the pursuit, which was subsequently continued 2 or 3

[page 2]
miles beyond Charlestown by the whole Brigade (sans the 2d Va.
which remained as Provost Guard in Winchester until next day)
We subsequently dropped back to within 1/2 mile of the
town to a very pleasant camp where we remained until
leaving Jefferson.  Our passage through Charlestown resembled
that through Winchester the Sunday before in several respects.
In the first place we were detached from our main body &
going on like them rapidly in pursuit of the flying enemy,
and in the second, our reception was just such another
as the memorable one we had there, already described to you.
Charlestown is loyal to the back-bone and on account of
this fact being so well known to the dastardly foe it has
suffered peculiarly.  The Yankees quartered their troops in churches
there–in all of them I think, of course much to the injury
of those edifices.  Rev. Jno. Ambler told me that his church
had thus been desecrated and a good deal injured–dirtied
more than anything else. There was not the least occasion
for this on the part of the enemy as they have always ex-
cellent tents and it was spring weather.  It is notorious though
that they will never stay in tents at any season when they
can get houses. As we passed through we saw the smo-
king ruins of the market house, one of the handsomest
brick edifices in the town, with Odd Fellows Hall, etc.  above.
It was wantonly burnt, on the lying pretext that some one
fired on the enemy from one of the windows. This I was told
by a responsible citizen, Mr. White.  They fired in the street
with the most reckless disregard of the defenceless that mor-
ning about the time of the stampede.  Mr White shewed me
where a bullet hole pierced his parlour window, the curtain
and finally lodged just above the folding doors between two rooms.
I was assured by him and many others in and about Charles-
town that the insolence, and offensive bearing, together
with the actual outrages on private property and rights
practised by the invader made them feel keenly his yoke
and rejoice with a peculiar satisfaction at being relieved
of his hated presence even for a time. I very much fear that
since the enemy returned the lot of our gallant people there is even
                                                         harder than before

[page 3]
An incident occurred on our approach to Charlestown which
is worth recording.  As mentioned before, our two brass smooth
bore six pounders were bringing up the rear, the rest of the
Brigade preceding us by several miles.  We were wholly un-
accompanied and without support.  Just outside of the town
on this side two turnpike converge, one, that upon which
we were coming, direct from Winchester, the other leading
from Charleston to Bunker Hill.  We were trotting on quickly
                                       cannoneers all mounted, and having no
  small sketch                        idea the enemy were withing 2 or 3 miles
in this space                          of us, when upon rising a slope we
 saw upon the Bunker Hill turnpike a body of about a dozen     
of the enemy’s cavalry pursuing a smaller number of ours. The Yankees
had probably been cut off from their main body and determined
to put a bold face on the matter by chasing some of our stragglers.
My first idea was that our two guns must be captured
as we had no support, and no small arms to defend ourselves
with, and that probably many of us would be wantonly
shot down first, for we knew the rascality of these fellows.
We were within 200 yards of them, though there were 2 fences between.
But on a sudden, and to me somewhat unexpectedly, the order
was given to unlimber, and in a few seconds the pieces
were turned in the road unlimbered, and about being charged
with canister.  We had leveled on the Yankees, but had
not time to put in the load even, before they yielded to
the demand to surrender and displayed a white handkerchief.
Our own cavalry then with some hesitation–probably abashed
at our stand when they were running so fast-advanced and
receiving their arms took them in custody.  This little
affair soon became widely known at least in our Brigade
and gained us some reputation, I think.  It was certainly
a novel and not discreditable little exploit.  Thus though
in the rear and precluded from any share in the pursuit
of the enemy we were not without some trophies to show
we had not been inactive, at least in a quiet way.   I
confess myself, however no antipathy, to bloodless victories,
and I have certainly seen something of other kinds of late.

[page 4]
Thursday morning I breakfasted in Charlestown at the
home of Mr. N.S. White, whom you will probably recognize
as the father of my quondam pupil Miss Rebecca, of whom
you have heard me speak frequently.  I was treated with the
most gratifying hospitality by Mr. and Mrs. W., and by the
whole family, all of whom seem to regard me with
kindness.  Miss Rebecca was not, I regret to say, at home,
having been for some time at Mr. Powell’s school in Richmond.
No courtesy or kindness was omitted during the few days I
remained about Charlestown by these good friends.  The
day was spent quietly in camp. during Thursday the
greater part, if not all, of our forces came from Winchester
and other points to Charlestown, and points above it, and
that day and the next there was some skirmishing with
the enemy at Bolivar Heights where he was strongly posted
This however was chiefly with artillery and at long
range, and as is always the case with such, there
was little or no harm done. Indeed the cannonading
was almost all by the enemy, and it is really wonder-
ful how many times they can fire under such circumstances
without doing any harm.  I believe all day Friday
they only succeeded in wounding one man, killing none.
That day we were ordered down to within 2 miles of
Bolivar Heights, to a point called Halltown, but after
remaining there a good while returned without doing
anything.  Friday afternoon and night it rained dis
tressingly and made us pretty miserable, as usual.
Our shelters are very imperfect, and most of them hard to
put up at that, so that we often suffer greatly in rains.
Saturday morning the whole army started betimes for Winchester
I preceded the company an hour and went to town to break-
fast with and take leave of my friends the Whites.  Their
hospitality and that of our people in Charlestown generally
toward the soldiers exceeds anything I have seen.  Friday
night Mr. W. had 12 soldiers guests under his roof–strangers
who in distress, some sick, &tc who applied for shelter, and
Saturday morning 40 or 50, by squads, breakfasted at his
table.  They never seemed to tire of attention to the Confederates.

[page 5]
The direct road to Winchester from Charlestown is an
excellent one, consisting of turnpike to Bunker Hill on the
Martinsburg and Winchester road and thence by the latter,
also, a fine turnpike, the rest of the way.  We marched over
the pike to Smithfield, but there went to the left so as
to strike the Winchester road lower down than Bunker
Hill, in which vicinity it was removed a small force
of the enemy was hovering. We did not want to lose
the time necessary to dispose of these fellows, so we took
the other less direct and rougher road.  In deed considerable
apprehension at one time was felt for our baggage
train which had been sent ahead of the army and had
gone by Bunker Hill, but it met with no interruption.
The road we took made it about 25 miles to Winchester, where
it is not properly more than 22.  The weather was lowering &
showery, and this added to leaving the fair and hospitable
county of Jefferson so suddenly, and the prospect already dawning
on us-of still further evacuation of this part of the galley—com-
bined to make us all–me at least–somewhat down-hearted.
We expected to stop at our former camp 5 miles below Winchester,
but passing it without stopping we soon learned we had 10
miles further to go, and would not halt until 5 miles this side.
It was quite dark when we got into town and cold and drizzly.
I went to Mr. Williams’ and supped; a most comfortable and
refreshing meal, dispensed with the accustomed hospitality
of that hospitable house, and one which really did me good.
There was quite an excitement there; Mr. and Mrs W. taking leave
of their son and getting him ready with whatever comforts he
could carry for the toilsome marches before him; the various
sick and wounded soldiers who had been their guests getting
ready to go off, or just gone; and in addition to all the
sad consciousness of all hearts that the pleasures of having
our own again as regarded Winchester, was now, under the
imperative pressure of military necessity, about be succeeded
by an abandonment of it again to the relentless invader.  It
was a sad time.  After taking leave of them at Mr. Willliams’
I went round to Mr. Barton’s where I found in the parlour and

[page 6]
dining room the whole family was assembled. Mr. & Mrs. B., Mrs Baldwin
(née Barton) David, Strother, Robert, and Bolling, and Miss Fanny Barton;
                             (7th Va. Cav.)
Capt. Thom. Marshall ^ Major T. B. Jones (of 2d Va. Inf.) Marshall Jones (of same)
respectively the son-in-law, brother-in-law, and nephew in law of Mr.
Barton. Besides these were a few visitors.  Every male present a
soldier except Mr. B. and his youngest son Bolling, a boy of 15 years.
The eldest son now fills a new made soldier’s grave, and the next to
the youngest, Randolph, is in prison (Kernstown) at Fort Delaware.
Here as at Mr. William’s, the calmness, even cheerfulness, was re-
markable; but it was unnatural, because the latter at least
was forced.  They were all very kind and cordial and gave
me a hearty farewell. Messrs. W. & B. both sent you their
kind regards—I shall not ever forget this last night
in Winchester; it was as gloomy as the first morning, a
week before had been joyous. But I will not dwell on the
cheerless side of the picture, particularly as we have since had
such evidences of the favour of Haven in the victories that
have crowned our arms, but will look forward to another occu-
pation of Winchester.  Saturday night late, after a march of 30
miles the first brigade bivouacked. It was cold and rainy and
we put up no tents or shelters of any kind, so the night was
about as miserable as it will could be.  Bed spread on the
ground with mud 3 or 4 inches deep below and rain above are
not the most comfortable.  Early Sunday morning we resumed our march.
In Winchester I bought a ream of letter paper, at $3.00, and
two reams of commercial note, at $2.00, together with  about
a dozen packs of buff envelopes, at 12 1/2 cts., amounting in all to $8.50,
all for you, or such members of the family as you see fit to transfer
it to.  I thought myself authorized to make the purchase for
you as paper in Dixie is now so enormously high.  You can send
me the money when you please. In the journey from Winchester we
had so much rain that my most careful endeavours did not avail to keep it
uninjured and I brought it with me at any rate with great trouble.  I hope its value
however is not very seriously impaired; though I did everything possible to keep it dry.  I beg you
will not let the Bank have any of it.  I would not have taken the trouble of bringing it
with me for any but my own people. I sent the paper day before yesterday to Dr. Davis
at the University with the request he would forward it.  It is in an old carpet bag with my
bed tick which I have no occasion for in summer.  Let me know if you get it and
whether the paper is much injured. I regret exceedingly it should be so at all.  I close
in great haste to get a chance to mail.  Will write again tomorrow if we dont
remove.  No time for more now from you affectionate son.
                               L.M. Blackford

[cross hatched across the bottom of page 6]

Berkeley sends the enclosed cheque upon money
of his father’s in your hands upon which he is
authorized to draw.  He begs you will send it
him by the first safe opportunity as he is
much in need of money.

MSS 5088

                       June the 13th  1862
               Union Monroe Co
Dear Mother
                         It is with great
pleasure that I seat myself to
drop you a few lines to let
you know that I am well and
hope when these lines comes to
hand they may find you enjoying
the same blessing.  Since I left home
we have graveled about 250 [?] miles
for we were over part of the same road
three times. horse feed is very scarce
on the night of the 8 we had a pint
of corn for a horse and the same
next morning. & no corn none the
next morning and rode about
50 miles get gal oats that night
next morning no feed rode about
50 miles so you may know that
we will fatten our horses. We
went between Lewisburg and

[page 2]
Meadow bluff and got a
bout 500 Cattle. Lieut Lyle
has got back and we have got
our money I drew forty two dol
Lieut. Lyle told me that he
left C Pats[?] money with
Gilkerson in Brownsburg and
his wife can get it any time
I think I will send about twenty
dollars home.  We are at Union
now but I dont know how long
we will stay here not more than
a day or two I dont expect. I
spoke of sending some money
but I forgot I have bought
a wach so I will not send any
unless I can get a 20 dol
note changed if so I will send ten
I got my boots they fit
first rate there was a man said
that he hoped they were too
small for me so that he

[page 3]
he could get them he said that
he would give 20 dollars for
them.  I heard some of the boys say
that Lowring said he would
ve in Kanawa valley be
fore two weeks but there is
no telling what to beleive
well I have nothing of imp
ortance to write give my res
pects to all enquiring friends
and save a portion for yourself
Jacob Anderson is in a right
bad way he has the Rheauma
tism is not able to help him
self I think he ought to go
home if he can get there they ought
to send for him and take him
home there Cy Walker has got
his substitute in I suppose he
will start home to day. so I
expect to send this by him or Jim
I wish you would get me a

[page 4]
hat made  Jim Walker can
tell you what kind of one it
is it is some what blue 7 1/8
wool I think the price is 5 dol
you cant get any kind of a hat
for less than that out Hear
here and very few at any
price you can get it made in
Lexington and send it out the
first chance you have. you need
not write until you hear from
me again for I cant tell how
long we will stay I will again
soon and let you know where
we are I believe I have nothing
more to write give my respects
to all enquiring friends and
save a portion for yourself
So fare well your ever affectionate
son. S. A.Walker

Samuel A. Walker,  14th Virginia Cavalry

MSS 1532

Confederate States of America
                               HEAD QUARTERS, DEPT. NO. 1
Jackson, Miss
New Orleans, La., June 13th 1862

Brig. Genl D. Ruggles, C.S.A.
    Comdg. Dept of Depots & [Guards?]
           Grenada Miss
                 Sir

                     Major Genl Lovell requests
that you be kind enough to furnish to Major
Lanier who will hand you this every facility
enabling him to transport subsistence stores now
at Grenada & belonging to this Dept. to this point.
Genl. Lovell has sent to Gen Van Dorn
& to Genl. Beauregard all of the supplies belonging
to them that were found at this point. & now
requests that you order the transportation
& place it at the disposal of Maj Lanier to bring
the stores through
                         I am sir Very Respy
                            Yr Obdt Svt
                                 Ed. A Palfrey
                                       Maj & a.a.g

MSS 2010

                       Address Co. H. 7th Ohio Regt.,
                                                3rd Brigade
                                                    Shields’ Division
                                         Washington, D.C.
                                 Near Luray June 13th 1862

My darling–
                       Here I have before me, your
letter of the 18th of May, together with the
one of the 6th both just received, and
here I am, on a board pile, in front of the
guard quarters, just at sunset, writing
in return to my own loved Addie.
     You should have been here and wit-
nessed the glorious sunset with me,—
the golden old “orb of day” disappeared behind
a point of the beautiful Massanutten Mt.
as beautifully as I ever saw any thing,
leaving a mellow light by which I
now write.   I might not have com-
menced this evening, had I not been
associating with my thoughts on the beau-
tious scene before me, the image of my peerless
Addie, together with the thought expressed
in your letter of the 6th–that some day, I
can call you mine–and just as the

[page 2]
glorious sun disappeared, a band struck
up “Ever of thee I’m fondly dreaming,” so
I couldn’t resist the impulse, and “sat me
down and– ” commenced writing.
Did I make so egregious a blunder
as to write “your letter has caused my
headache,” when I intended to, and thought
I did write, “cured my headache”?  Pardon
me if I did, love, for who ever heard of
such dear, kind letters as you write producing
such an effect?  You will have
seen by my last letter that I was not
at the late battle of Port Republic, having
remained at Luray Court House–a.c.– no
I will not write that.  Nous avon killed
or taken prisoners of Co. H., and but five
wounded–none dangerously.  The Regt.
lost in killed, wounded, missing, but
eighty=five.  Among the wounded is
Capt. Wood, formerly Lieut, in Co. H.  He
is now on his way home.  I sent by
him a copy of Mrs. Heman’s poems to
you, which I “captured.”  I will tell you
                         how, when I come home.

Letter of Charles Tenney will continue on the 14th

MSS 11616

                 Fair Oaks Station Va
                       June 13th / 62

Dear Uncle

               I recd a letter
from you while in camp
before Yorktown, and have
many a time since then
determined to answer it
but have not as yet had
the time.  About a week
since I got another from
you and as it is a good
chance to write now I im-
prove it.  We are now en

[page 2]
camped near the railroad
where the fight took place
on Sunday.  Our regiment
(I suppose you are aware) was
not in the fight although
ready and waiting.  Our
division, and part of
our brigade (the 7th Mich
and 20th Mass) did good
service completely routing
the rebels.  We were marched
to the battlefield, and
then sent back as we
had had no orders from
our Gen. Sedgwick.  The
day we got here (Sunday
night) the ground was
completely covered with
dead men, horses, broken
guns, equipments, knap
sacks, canteens, overcoats,
and many other articles
of war.  It was sickening

[page 3]
to see the fields of dead
in every direction, ghastly
and pale, and some
of them having lain
in the sun and rain
the stench was horrible.
Ditches were dug and
they were thrown in
to it and that was
the last of those poor
fellows.   The rebels are
shelling us quite lively
this morning, trying to
feel our batteries but we
have kept still until
a few minutes ago but
are now giving them fits.
We do not mind this
sport at all now as it
has grown old and we
used to the sound.  Where
We have very little peace
now as we have to fall

[page 4]
in every time the pickets fire
or any alarm.  We do not
dare hardly to wash ourselves.
Working parties are out
all the time digging
entrenchments and works
and I expect we shall have
to go pretty soon so I
must hurry up. Give me
love to Aunt Susan
Louise Miss Puckins[?] and
all inquiring friends, re
serving a very large share
yourself. Excuse this and believe
me.             Your Affec. Nephew
                    George O. Brown

P.S. You must excuse
        this uninteresting
        letter and I will
        endeavor to answer
        your next more prompt
        ly.   George

MSS 38-348

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

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

Friday 13th  A very warm day  I have finished my dress–& have
written a long letter to Liz–Mrs Wingfield comes to night for
Wilson to say with her mother–We are all grieving about
it & I shall hate to see her go–For tho’ she is a very young woman
only 21 Still she stays a great deal with me–& we walk toge
-ther every afternoon–I have a long letter from Tom received
this morning–His Regiment was in advance of the Army & the
pickets only a half mile from the enemy–His Major Campbell
was sick & he was then staying with his Lieutenant Colonel
at head quarters–He likes his Captain Sessions very much–said
he was his particular friend–The armies were only 2 miles
apart–& they were expecting a fight every moment–Toms
Regiment was sent on picket two days after he arrived
there & he said they had been knocking about ever since–Arms
in hand–& guns loaded–A little skirmishing was constant
ly going on–& the Yankees were sending up balloons–
He said they were all very much cheered up at StoneWall
Jackson Victories–first over Banks–then Shields–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts]

 June 13th.
     The weather here for some days past has been
pleasant, though hot, but the nights are actually cold.
There is much less sickness in camp than at first, as we
have now got the tents trenched about; while at the start
we slept in the mud: all the officers have also laid board
floorings in their tents.     All I have to wish for, now
is, that we may be on the move; for I cannot find any
pleasure in our present dead-and-alive sort of vegetating.
– – – – The company I am in (Co. D.), is the toughest on
the field, and a set that will take the upper hand if
they can get it; but I have shewn [sic] them that I will
have respect and obedience, and they are beginning to
understand it –

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130