[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
June 13th
All very quiet to day, we were in harness all
day expecting to move at every moment.
The balloon is up to day. Quite warm and
pleasant.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
Adjt. Jno. W. Daniel
11th Va. Regmt.
Judge Wm. Daniel Jr.
Lynchburg,
Va.
Camp June 12th ‘62
My Dear Father –
I have just
written Grandmama a long
letter [.] I will not write any
of you at Rivermont but a
few lines till tomorrow.
All quiet – no particular
indications of a fight. We
remain in our old Camp,
& are doing nothing –
Will let you hear from
me tomorrow. I enquired
concerning the saddle at
Mr. Hix’s [?] stable. It was
there: My Best love to
Ma, & Mrs. Cabell
Your affect. Son
John W. Daniel
I saw Stuart yesterday – He was
doing admirably – JWD.
[This next letter is written upside down on stationery pre-printed, “Muster Roll of the Field, Staff and
Band,]
Camp near Richmond
June 13th 1862.
My Dear Sarah –
It has been many days since I
had the pleasure of hearing from you by letter,
and as I am anxious to have our correspond-
dence resumed, I will attempt to invoke it by
by reminding you that one of the dearest
and greatest pleasures of an absent soldier
is to receive frequent intelligence from the
loved ones left at home – relatives from
whom a moment may separate from not
for a day or a year but forever!
But enough of this – write me as often as
you can consistently with your other duties
and be assured I will always give your
letters prompt attention –
I learn that you have recently been en-
gaged in your final examination, & I have
been glad to know that you were devoting
yourself to your studies with praiseworthy diligence
and that you daily enjoyed the [-]
of advancement, & self improvement –
I hope it needs no encouragement from me
to stimulate you in your laudable course –
but I assure you that I am highly satisfied, and
will always be by such evidences of
of your wisdom – May you continue with
the favor of heaven to grow wiser & better every
day –
Papa I suppose has duly delivered
the momentoes of the Seven Pines which I sent
you by him, and has given you all accounts
of his experience on the battle-fields.
The spectacles which he witnessed were
horrible beyond description – and presented
a terrible picture of the suffering, and disasters
of war. I will not attempt to rehearse the
events [of] the day again as I am
satisfied that he has given you much
better description of the scenes of the memorable
[page 2]
31st. than I would be able.
We are just now lying quietly [rest of line torn off]
without excitement of any post to inter-
rupt its tediousness – The enemy it is re-
ported have fallen back many sev-
eral miles beyond his former positions
and is digging dirt lustily – I think there
will be no fight for several weeks.
McClellan I have no doubt is convin-
ced of the impractiibility of over coming
even with his tremendous army the
gallant soldiers we have assembled for
the defense of the Capitol and has
retired to await the arrival of reinforce-
ments.
I have heard nothing from Abram
for a long time but I suppose he is doing
well. remember me to him when you
write. Tell me what has become of
Olwiny [?] & Pat, & Willie Norvall, & remember me
to them all & also Uncle Sam & family.
Love to Aunt Ann, Annie, Uncle Davie, Aunt
Margaret & family – Mrs. Adams – &c –
Write me at once – Tell Carrie
& Adele also to write –
Your affect. Brother
Jno. W. Daniel
By the first opportunity send me my
mahogany writing desk, & some station-
ery. Young Green I expect will be down
in a day or so –
J. W. D.
John Warwick Daniel, 1842-1910, disabled in the Battle of the Wilderness, later a University of Virginia law graduate, U. S. Senator and famous orator, known as the “Lame Lion of Lynchburg.”
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 158
[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]
Friday – June 13th 1862
We breakfasted before six this morning –
Mullie walked out to Mrs Taylors, & I took
him down to near his camp in our carry
all – Capt Harrison & I spent the morning
at Gen Magruders paying off the staff.
Returning we remained in the house for
the afternoon – but did no business – I wrote
a letter today to Julie – Maj Wray came
in to see us today – I have felt quite shaky
today but took so much quinine this
morning that is has Kept the fever off –
I can hardly realize that poor Ben’s
fate – A sad End of life but yester-
-day flowing so fresh & buoyant! –
Return tonight at ten o’clock – begin to
feel the Effects of sitting up the nights
till twelve & one o’clock –
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, and bank officer of Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate army]
Friday 13 Warm weather–Troops in
great numbers arrive from Richd
& Petersburg en route to join Jack
son. Johnston’s division are is here
taken from the swamps of the chick
ahominy–At least 14,000 men with
[?] from Jackson. It is believed the
enemy are withdrawing some of their
troops from the mountains of Rock
to send them, as is believed, to Wash-
ington & the Valley–Young Rutledge
who was here sick in the early spring
arrived this evening from the Rock
bridge Artillery–He is sick again
He brought letters from Lanty–Keep
ing up the thread of his interesting nar
-rative. His account of the fight at
Winchester & the subsequent scenes, is
very spirited–a fre wound has been
discovered in Rob. Berkeley which
was not known before and which
will render his [?] tedious.
-He is much more seriously hurt than
was supposed. That the hurt was
not discovered before is rather discred
itating to the Physician. This is a buck
shot wound. The shot entered the
perineum and made its exit through
the scrotum, wounding the scrotum
uretha.
MSS 4763
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Friday, June 13, 1862
Went up on the
mountain to
practice this
morning. Had a bottle
of brandy which was
drunk after which
Gillet went and got
some more and the
result was that
several of the boys
got quite mellow
[to] was very drunk
this evening. Some of
the boys went out &
picketed our Tent
Thad Alex & I made
a mess chart
Several of Co A boys
Drunk. Bathed &
changed my shirt
this evening after which
went over into the 30th Regt &
heard some singing. Wrote Letter
to Jennie L[?] mostly clear
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]
Thursday Washed my shirt and three pairs
June 12 of socks. Very warm to day. Read
and played backgammon.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. regulars]
June 12 Another hot day. Just heard of the removal of
McClellan’s head quarters to the other side of the
Chickahominy. Our orders are to be in readiness
to move at a moment’s notice. Beginning to feel
homesick. Would give a good deal for a short
leave, but the ever of a more active campaign
is approaching, & every man is expected to be at
his post.
MSS 9044
Augusta Co. Va.
June 12th 1862
My dear Ma:
Eight days have elapsed since I
wrote this first letter and I have had no oppor-
tunity of sending it if I had desired to do so
in its unfinished and incompleted state. With
very dirty hands and weary limbs natural conse-
quences of continued marches without much sleep.
Jackson is the greatest General of the Age & his brilliant
achievements with a hand full of men badly
equipped and poorly fed and clothed carry us
back to the chivalric days of yore when men
fought for Liberty and Home and remind us
forcibly of the warrior Napoleon. But I must
resume my sketch of our manouvres & transactions
which must be meager & imperfect.
On Monday 26th, we followed up the enemy hotly &
our cavalry chased them from Martinsburg;
this was their General Receiving depot for this
Dept. of their Army and the stores captured
were of innumerable variety and of exceed-
in great value to the needy Rebels – Such as salt,
leather, coffee, ordnance, clothing &c.&c. Next
day our Brigade moved to this side of Win-
chester and the weary worn soldiers con-
gratulated themselves upon the apparent
prospects of rest and quiet; we remained
here however only one night and next
evening we were pitching tents while the
rain poured down as marching orders were
received. “Twas with no reluctance, however,
that the men prepared to follow the gal-
lant “Stonewall” and marched through
the hardest rain & deep mud fifteen miles
[page 2]
after dark, in the direction of Charlestown.
Wednesday 28th we reached Charlestown
early in the day and met with unbounded
& enthusiastic welcome from the citizens.
The Federals fled before us and stores fell into
out hands and many prisoners. We had
camped in a lovely spot and somewhat
rested when there was an alarm and
our regiment went off at “doublequick”
in direction of Harper’s Ferry, eight miles
distant. Our regiment was delighted at the
idea of once more visiting the spot where
they spent their military childhood; we got in
sight of the surrounding hills and a few cannon
shots were exchanged between the belliger-
ents and nothing more; no damage to
either party I suppose. We occupied our
same encampment and early next
morning were again called out &
our cavalry pursued the enemy into
poor Maryland. But all at once orders
were received to march back; the rain
poured down in torrents, the roads were already
heavy with mud; our Brigade marched
twenty six miles through all this & camped
near Winchester – it rained hard all night
long and the men were poorly fed if in-
deed they had anything that night. I can remem-
ber nothing of special interest to you from
that day until Sunday ^ ‘(1st June)’ – the great battle day of
ancient & modern days; yet the hardships, heavy
rains and fast days made a lasting impression
upon me and if we mounted individuals
[page 3]
suffered you can imagine how men on
foot fared. The cause of this retreat as you
are doubtless aware was the design of the
Federals to entrap and overwhelm Jackson
with numbers; Shields with a large column
advanced towards Swift Run Gap from Manassaa
and Fremont came down on the left from
Romney while Banks reinforcements were to meet
him in front. But Jackson can never be caught &
with his usual skill he has extricated himself from
this trap while the enemy has been completely baffled.
Sunday 1st. inst. he engaged Fremont near Strasburg
and routed him with a small force; he continued his
retreat while the men were worn out completely & his army
showed great degree of demoralization. For one week more
we moved back slowly while the cavalry kept up daily
engagements with the cautiously pursueing enemy.
Saturday 7th inst. in the afternoon we had a considera-
ble Cavalry engagement near Harrisonburg killing
and capturing many of the enemy & putting them to flight;
yet in this victory where he was about to commence
a career of fame unequalled by anything heretofore
recorded on historic page fell the brave, chivalric,
daring, generous Ashby – a man who has beside
all others been able to inspspire most confi-
dence in his own troops & greatest terror
among the enemy he so much hated; his splendid
horse had just been shot from under him &
he was gallantly leading on foot a brave
band of infantry when a bullet pierced his
heart, and horse and rider lay breathless
upon the same bloody battle fields. Sunday
(8th) early Jackson engaged Shields who had
possession of Port Republic & the bridge and
[page 4]
dislodged him and about midday Ewell’s
Division met and successfully routed
Fremont’s column; this was across the river
from Port Republic which you [-] – would make
Shields in Ewell’s rear while Jackson was upon
road D. of my rough map. The thirteenth was in
the thickest of the fight and suffered some; it
behaved most gallantly – the Blues were not
with the Regiment but detailed to support Capt.
Courtney’s Battery which guarded another
position of the field and was not in action.
On Monday next day (9th) we crossed the
river early and burnt the bridge (F) – then
attacked Shields on road E and routed
him; captured many prisoners, killed many,
and took a battery; the casualties on our
side were heavy but I do not know to which
extent. In the evening as we pursued Shields
on E towards Gap A and were capturing
many prisoners, Fremont having again
rallied approaches from Harrisonburg &
appeared with large force in front of Port
Republic; he could not cross and busied
himself with shelling our Hospitals & Ambu-
lance trains of which I was an eyewitness.
We retreat to the mountain hollow by
road G[?] and remained there from
Monday night until Wednesday when
we started back by road H. We were
surprised & delighted to see pa yesterday – he
had just fixed to retire when we recd. marching
orders – I put him in a wagon which any of us
would consider a splendid place for sleeping even
when ‘twas in motion; but he could not sleep;
we traveled nearly all night and started
again early this morning; we reached the
camp near Mt. Sidney a small village
on the river, about two o’clock. Of the details
of this march, the condition of our men &c
[The rest of this unsigned letter in the handwriting of Pendleton Jones is missing.]
The three Jones brothers, John William, Francis Pendleton, and Philip Edloe served in the Louisa Blues, 13th Virginia Infantry. John W. was later famous as the author of Christ in the Camp.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13407
[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
& Mrs. Loring’s
12th Luc & I ride to Mr Dornmans [?] ^ Luc
repeats Cowper’s lines on his mother’s picture, and
sings “Brother won’t you meet me” greatly to
my pleasure & delight. We do have such
sweet rides into the Country! At dinner
we have soup & green pease–our first dish
After dinner I read a Chapter in Allison’s
History to Mother & girls, and just then a
ring at the bell and a lot of Yankees
come. Mother & girls startled like
partridges They came for chairs &
mirrors left by Capt Lewis belonging to
the C S Steamer S. Nicholas. The Captn
& I have a brief talk about the War
in which I tell him his People are
mistaken in supposing that it will all
be over when Richmond falls: that
we are contending for the same rights
our fathers fought for in the Revolution
and that our Policy will be like that
of Gen Washington–retiring into
the hill country and striking when
we can. The idea of a protracted war
was any thing but pleasant to him.
MSS 2563-b
