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

Thursday 12–I was busy sewing on my dress all morning–& went
in the afternoon to see Mrs D Mallett & baby–
at night the two Mr Renshers & Mr VanDyke came around &
played cards & chatted with the girls until Eleven Oclock at
night when they left for Raleigh–Katy still sick–

MSS 6960

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

Thursday 12  Fine day–Had negative assu-
rances that Lanty & Berkeley were
not hurt in the actions of Sunday

and Monday. Heard with deep re-
gret that John Didlake–Lt in the
6 Louisiana was killed  Monday.  The
news is brought by Col. Hays of that
Regt. who was wounded and is now
here.  He had many fine traits of char
acter. No mail yesterday or today.
Everything gives way to the transpor
tation of troops. great numbers passed
last night & to day on their way to
join Jackson.  Ten thousand in all
are on the rail bound to him. These
troops are principally from Georgia
–are not raw, but were drilled and
armed.  Jackson stands in great
need of troops .  Has situation I think
critical at Browns Gap.  He showed
great generalship Sunday & Monday
and the defeat of Shields on the last
day was complete–very bad head
ache.  Went after dinner to the
[?] bridge with Mr. Kinckle &
Capt Page of the 21 Regt to see the
prisoners.  The captain being of the
guard we entered the lines.  They
were bivouacking on the hill to the
right of the road, between the fair
grounds & the river–1700 of them–

They are on the whole good looking
-but very rough–I did not see a
face which indicated the owner to
be in the better walk of life–were
of course not any gentlemen. One of
the number told us he was sure
two thirds were foreigners.  They
were roughly clad–a blue  [?]
or rather [?]–  The guard consisted
of about 400 men under Lt. Col
Cunningham–After tea Jno Maury
Forbes & his wife called to see us.
They are on their way to visit
Dr. Harris in Bedford.  He is now
staying in Charlottesville–I learn
that Gen Stewart, of the Maryland
Brigade, wounded Monday is with
his father at Staige’s house–He
is nephew of Dr. Stewart-

MSS 4763 

[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 12th 1862
Spent today in the office paying off
officers – Capt Harrison & I walked out
in the morning in search of another house
for board & lodging – Rode two miles
down the Mechanicsville road in the
Evening for the same purpose but unsuccessfully –
I went into town tonight in the Ambulance
to get horsefeed from the mill – Spent the
Even night at Mr Harveys with Mullie &
Brother Geo.  Rec’d a letter tonight from Sallie
in Charleston informing me of the death of Ben
Flucker at Cornith on the 17th  ult of measles.        
This is indeed a sad loss.  Bud too has been        
sick two months with typhoid fever – To die in Camp 
of disease! Great God – this is a hard blow to the family
God grant them fortitude & resignation – I must get Smith – Glover            
Also rec’d a letter from My sweet little Trude – she  
shows her weeping heart in it, with some too of
the native mischief – How I would like to be with them tonight!

The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
Spent the night with Mullie & Bro
at Mr Harveys – Didn’t retire
until twelve o’clock – I met Robt
Fishburn today who recognized me for my likeness
to “the family”- I did not Know him.

Sallie: Sister Sarah Septima Logan.
Ben Flucker: Cap. Benjamin K. Fluker, Co. D, 25th La. Infantry, died may 13, 1862, possibly the brother in law of Joseph Logan, Daniel’s brother.
Mullie & Bro: Thomas Muldrup Logan and George William Logan, Jr.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; family notes by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]

MSS 6154

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

June 12th

Were turned out at four A. M. harnessed
and packed up, and by seven were on the
road for M. at which place we arrived
at  9. A. M, and went immediately into
position.  At six P. M. the rebs opened on us with
a thirty two pdr. and an old fashion eighteen
pdr. to get the range, and exact distance
between the lines.  they having just completed
mounting these guns in some heavy fortifica
-tions, just in front of us.  They kept up a
pretty brisk fire for about ½ hour, when
we opened on them, and in one half hour
more had silenced them, dismounting one
of their guns.. Warm and pleasant.


[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

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

Thursday, June 12, ’62

Remained up last
night until after mid-
night to see the total eclipse of
the moon.  went with
Frank Grimes into the
country for baths went
to Mrs Harris but could
not get any baths to
day returned to Camp
Played several pieces
after which at Gardner’s
invitation we went
over and played for
Gen Cox a serenade
composed of the Ellend
waltzes Garibaldi &
Marselles Hymn
Recd letters from
John Cook & one from
Jennie L[?] a good
and welcome letter
Clear beautiful day
                               Milroy
Jackson defeated by General ^

MSS  10317

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

Wednesday
June 11
Have been too lazy to write any
in this diary since the first
of the month.  Meantime I have been
on guard once but by the blessing of
God, had a chance to go to sleep in my
quarters and sleep from 8 till 4.  John
Richard has been here,and I sent home
all my old letters and also my money
which we were paid last week, by him.
I have received two or three letters from
home and answered them. Also sent a
package by Ed Brown (and also a letter)
as he has got a furlough and gone home
They have battalion drills here now but
I have not been out on account of getting
my foot poisoned last week.  Reviewed last
week by Gen. Foster and Gov. Stanley.
Yesterday we received news of the complete
demolition of Beauregards army.  George Lowe
came up from the hospital to-day. I lay
round in the tent the biggest part of the
time-reading and playing backgammon-
and occasionally euchre.  But I feel that
if the Lord is with me I shall be prospered
and I pray that He will be with us all
and grant that peace may be once more
restored to our land so that we may return
to our homes once more.

MSS 11293

Camp near Culpeper Court House  June 9th
Dear Sister
I now seat myself to write
you a few lines to let you know that I
am well but very tired as we have been
marching for several days.  We left Fredericsburg last
friday and got to Culpeper to day.  We are now
camped on the road that leads to Sperryville.
Some think that we are going to the Valley
and from there to Maryland & Pennsylvania
but I have no idea myself where we are
going all that I know is that I think
it very probable there will be another battle
near the Old Manassa fighting ground as the
Yankees have all fallen back that way
You should have been along to hear the
cheering done by the men as they came in
sight of the blue ridge many of them
had not seen it since last fall when
we crossed over from the valley.  I must
now close as I have not time to write
we are cooking three days rations and I
suppose the march will be resumed in the
morning nothing more but remain as
ever your brother

Thomas M. Smiley

Thomas M. Smiley,  Co. D, 5th Virginia Infantry


MSS 1807

                         Camp near Richmond, Wednesday Morning
                                        June 11th, 1862
I have been waiting with anxious expectations my dear wife,
for the letter you said you would write me last Thursday mor
-ning, but it has not come to hand.  Looking with fond desire
for its arrival by every mail I have not written to you
before this week.  But I have thought of you con-
tinually, dearest, and with tenderest Love.–
             Let me know, my dear, how much money you
have on hand.  I have drawn none of my pay since
the last of February.  In the meantime I have been
forced to purchase a horse and I want to make
such arrangements after paying for him, as to let
you have as much as you need.
                     Simon was so unfortunate on the
retreat as to lose his saddlebags that contained
his clothes.  I wish you to have made for him
and sent to Richmond, to the care of W D Gibson,
the following articles, viz: a jacket, pants, waistcoat,
two shirts, one pr. drawers & one pr. socks, in the trunk I sent home there
was a jacket which you can send Simon instead of
making one for him.  Send an order to Shed to make
a pair of shoes, No. 9, at once for Simon, & put them

[page 2]
in the bundle or box with the clothes———————–
Every thing has been so quiet here, my darling, that
I wish now I had asked you to come to Richmond
The effort to tell you how ardently I wish to see
you would be countless.  No language could give
you even a faint idea of the intense longing, that
fills my soul, for a sight of your dear face.—
       I haven’t been to Richmond since we were encap
ed here.  But should you come then ‘twould be
the city of my heart, and you would be the magnet
that would attract me.
                 Everything has been quiet along
the lines for the last few days. Indeed the
weather has been so bad, and the roads are
in such an awful condition that it wd
have been extremely difficult: if not
impossible, to carry on military operations
on any extended scale.
                      I fear, darling, as I have not
heard from you for a week, that you are
sick. Write and let me know. I send this
hurriedly written note, to greet you warmly, to kiss
you over and over again and to say to my darling
how dear she is to my heart , and to assure her that I
pray constantly for her.
                   Farewell my own true wife———
                        your husband,  John T. Thornton

John T. Thornton, lawyer, delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention, and Lieut. Colonel in the 3rd Virginia Cavalry.


MSS 4021

Camp at Brown’s Gap
June 11th 1862
Dear Aunt,
I have been kept so busily marching & fighting lately that I have not had time to write We gained a glorious victory at Winchester, though the enemy had the advantage of us in position, & our loss was, as far I’ve been able to ascertain, somewhat greater than theirs.  We ad between 40 & 50 killed & near two hundred wounded.  We captured large amounts of army stores, ammunition, medicines &c in  Front Royal, Strasburg & Winchester & Martinsburg. In W. they burnt most of their commissary stores & several buildings.  Between, Strasburg & W. we took about 350 wagons & they burnt about 100.  For several miles below W the road was lined with knapsacks, haversack, canteens guns, gum cloths overcoats &c the enemy had left in their haste.  I got a gum cloth to roll my blanket in & had I exerted myself a little more I might have got one to wear, but I was very tired, having marched all the previous day & night seldom left my piece to pick up anything.  As it was I got an oil cloth nearly new.  It does not turn water well though & is fast wearing our, so I will still need that gum coat Pa was to have made, after a while, unless we drive the enemy down the Valley again soon at a double quick.  Two days after the fight we went to Charlestown & had another little scrimmage running the enemy to his [?]  Two of our guns captured 15 cavalry men charging at full speed after 10 or 12 of our men a few hundred yes. from Ch. As soon as they saw us unlimber they halted & hoisted the white flag.  We staid two days at C., skirmishing nearly all the time & driving the enemy to Harpers Ferry.  Whilst there Shields commenced advancing on Jackson’s left & Freemont on his right, both aiming for Strasburg with the intention of getting in his rear, but by hard marching & skillful maneuvering & a little fight he avoided the trap. The fight took place on Sunday between part of our forces & Freemonts Division. The 1st Brigade was  in the rear on the retreat & we were lying in Middletown waiting for our baggage train to pass whilst the fight was going on, 5 or 6 miles to our right.  Jackson continued falling back until he came to Harrissonburg, then turned to the left & came across to Port Republic.  The enemy pursued all the way & on Monday the pursuit was very close; we were skirmishing all the time. Once the 2nd reg. of cavalry were put to flight & came very near running our battery & the reg. behind us.  They had been placed as a support to the cannons which were firing, & ran without sufficient cause. On Sunday again we had another pretty severe fight.  Old Jack came very near being captured himself. His headquarters were a short distance out of town & Shield’s force, through the carelessness of our pickets, came up the P. Republic road very rapidly & took possession of the town & commenced firing on us before we knew anything about it, but in a very short time Old Jack had our battery & two others in full play upon them.  They left one of their guns & fled with the rest.  For about half an hour we had a fine opportunity of raking them with our fire.  In the mean time Fremont attacked us on the rear & there occurred the severest part of the fight.  It lasted five hours. F was finally compelled to fall back 3 or 4 miles.  On Monday Jackson crossed the river, burnt the bridge behind him & whipped shields badly. Carpenter’s & our batteries did the principal part of the artillery firing.  The 1st Brigade was the first in the infantry fight, which was very severe.  The Enemy were driven from their position & in turn drove us back 3 or 400 yds, but reinforcements coming up we routed & pursued them several miles, & capture eight of their guns.

[transcribed from a copy which was donated to the Library decades ago.  The location of the original is unknown.  The recipient may possibly be Elizabeth Ann Willson of Rockbridge County, Va.,  The writer is unknown]


MSS 38-490

                   Cincinnatti, June 11th
My dear Mother,
                                 I avail myself
of a few hours detention here, to
let you hear from us, as I well
know how great your anxiety will
be. Last night, I slept soundly
all night, for the first time for many
nights, indeed I was so exhausted
by the loss of sleep, that I hardly
knew what I was about–But this
good sleep, has entirely refreshed me,
Mary also is well, and we will
go on this afternoon to Cairo, where I
hope to find letters from my husband
telling us what to do.

Now that I am able to take a calmer
view, I can see that I have been un=

[page 2]
necessarily agitated and alarmed,
and that I have acted with more
precipitance than was necessary–
I might have taken more time to make
my arrangements,so as to hear from
Mr Ellet at different points, but I did
the best I could–I had a dreadful fear,
that I was not informed of the extent
of the injury–I received the first in-
telligence through the War Department,
but Mr Ellet’s own special despatch
to me, was in some unaccountable
way delayed, until I received through
another telegraphic line, a second
dispatch from him, giving me the
names of different gentlemen on the
route West,to whom I could apply,
if I met with any difficulty on my
journey to join him–This alarmed
me, beyond all self-control, as it con-
firmed me in the supposition, that
he had been more seriously injured,
than had been represented in the mes-

[page 3]
sages which came through the War Depart-
ment, and that he wished me to join
him without delay–I felt that I must
start at once,and though I received af-
terwards his first despatch assuring me
that he was not dangerously hurt–that
he wished me to join him, but impressed
on me the necessity, of taking time to
do everything properly at home, and
to travel slowly. I could not make
up my mind to encounter any delay–
My chief anxiety now, is the effect
this accident may have on his health.
It would be terrible for one of his
temperament to be lame–but
I will not anticipate trouble now–
I feel now as I imagine one might,
who had been condemned to be
executed, and had a respite–for
I did not beleive my husband would
get through this adventure wif with
life–
I hope my children are well and

[page 4]
safely placed–I cannot see that I
could have made any better arrange
ment for them–The house is closed–
one of the men will sleep on the place–
We will write to you as soon as
we get to Cairo, where I hope to
find tidings, and perhaps to meet
Mr. Ellet—
Remember me most kindly
to Mrs. Davenport, and to Mr.
Wainwright=I have just read over
the letters from both of them so as
to understand them–They reached
us as we were starting.  Mary wrote
to Mrs. Davenport from Baltimore,
and I wrote to you from home–I
hope you received the letters, I could not
attend to having them mailed–Mrs.
Davenport’s expressions of affectionate
pride in the success of the enterprize
were very gratifying to me–but we
must expect to see  him as much
blamed as praised–I hear there is a
very severe article in one of the

 [page 5]
Western papers, already–
Please save the peices you see
for me–We have missed all
the newspapers.
Mary sends you her best love
she is just about writing to Nina
and Willie–We are
very fortunate in meeting here with
a freind who will see us safely
started in the cars this evening–
at 5 o’clock, and then we will
go straight through to Cairo without
stopping–This little rest, after
travelling two nights on the cars,
is very refreshing–
I hope you are quite recovered,
dear Mother, from the effects
of this great excitement, and hope
I may find a letter from you at Cairo–
                    Most affectionately yours
                                         E S Ellet
In looking over Mr. Wainwright’s
letter, I observe that he asked me to
answer it promptly–When I received it
I merely ran over it, sufficiently to ap-
preciate its kind & congratulatory tone,
and cordial offer to assist me in any
way, but I felt as if he would hear
of all my arrangements, as promptly
through our letters to you & Mrs. Davenport,
as from a direct letter–I will take
it to Mr. Ellet

Elvira Ellet, wife of Union commander Edward Ellet,Jr.

MSS 276
very severe