[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
Monday 9
Battle reopened at Sun rise
Drove the enemy 7 miles.
captured 260 prisoners.
A portion of Jacksons
Army crossed the Mountain
at Brown’s Gap
we camped on top.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C..
Monday 9th I feel better to day. the weather is still very cold Mrs
Guthrie has had a fire made up in the parlour–Katy has
a chill again Mr Marshall has left–& Susie looks sad. Mr
Gorrell has been here nearly all day–& now 3 other gentle
men have gone in–2 Rushers & Mr Armstead–the latter
leaves for the War–I have just heard they are fighting in
Charleston–If so Joe will be there–Oh there is no end to my trou-
ble & anxiety-God grant he may not be injured-tho
he may be in the battle–no letter again to day from Mr Mason
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
[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]
Monday – June 9th 1862
After an early breakfast went over to the office
& town, started for the army – spent the
day in the Camp of the 15th Va Regt seven of which
companies I paid off – did not get back
until seven o’clock, took Dick along with me
Capt Harrison remaining in charge of the
office. Did go in town tonight on a/c of
the rain. The Enemy were shelling our
lines while we were paying the men –
Retired tonight at ten o’clock – the 15th
Va Regt has dwindled down to a shadow
One of two Companies only fourteen men
& six officers could be mustered & in one
but three men came to draw their pay.
Such shameful negligence is disgraceful
on the part of officers who have allowed
their men to desert or go off under pretense
of being sick.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of Capt. John B. Hager of the 14th Regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later date]
June 9
Returned from Picket this morning. It was quite
cool during the night & of course had but little
sleep on the bridge.
There was a grand review to day of Porter’s Corps
in honor of Gen. Prim, the Spanish minister to
Mexico. The Cavalcade as it rode down in
front of the line was exceedingly brilliant. Gen
Prim & his retinue, Gen Porter & staff, Gen Sykes
& Staff, numbering in all more than fifty persons
The Genl. as he would reach a point opposite
the colors of each regiment, would halt, face
to the color, uncover his head & salute it. this
review consumed the greater portion of the day.
At an early hour of the night I was glad to
creep into my blankets where I soon was asleep
MSS 9044
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Monday, June 9, 1862
Seek Col. Hayes
this morning and
asked his advice
in regard to my
affairs in Pa– he
with his usual
kindness gave me the
required information
I then wrote letter to
father. went up &
practiced.
went again with
Barton to the pasture
first purchased a
dollars worth of coffee
took it out and waited
until it was exchanged
for butter got four lbs
then bought 1 1/4 lbs of
[?] passed a rather
dull afternoon
Capture[?]
mostly clear. ^Memphis
Future President Rutherford B. Hayes was Colonel of the 23rd Ohio
MSS 10317
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, and bank officer of Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate army]
Monday 9 The telegrams announce
that Jackson, or rather Ewell, had
defeated Fremont & Milroy near
Harrisonburg, and that Jackson
would crush Shields to day at
or near Port Republic..The news
seems authentic–Nothing else
of any particular interest–called
with Mary & Fanny on Miss Clarke
and her father. W L. Clarke of Win-
chester, my old teacher–Recd a
dispatch from Charles Minor
from Gordonsville, enquiring where
his wife was. I answered immediately
I think it likely he will be here to
night or tomorrow.
MSS 4763
June 8th
Camp near Richmond
Dear Mother
It has been some
time since I had an opportunity
of writing to any of you. My last
letter was to Nette from the other
camp nearer to Richmond than
the present. A few days after I wrote
the regiment received marching
orders and have been stationed
ever since a few miles below
here doing picket duty. We left
all our baggage behind and have
been leading a pretty rough life
Only last night we were relieved
from picket but the regiment
is still about two miles below
here. I got permission to come
up here to-day in order to wash ght
and get some clean clothes and thou^
that I would seize the opportunity
of writing home as I can’t always
[page 2]
keep my paper and baggage
with me. I told Nette that I had
lost my knapsack I have since
recovered it. It did not go to Lync
burg as I had supposed. You have
heard ere this of the fight near
here. I would have attem let you
know ere this that we were not
engaged but had no opportunity
We were drawn up in line of
battle insight and hearing of
the action in order to protect the
flank of that position of our
troops who were attacking the
enemy. I said in sight of the battle
That was not strictly true for
the woods prevented our seeing
anything but we could distinctly
hear the roar of artillery and
musketry and the cheers of the
men. a little before dark we were
ordered down to the scene of action
and after double quicking for about
[page 3]
a mile and a half were halted
behind a fence. After a few
minutes pause somebody told Col
Humphreys to go in and charge ed
a battery which was a few hundr^
yard in front. The Col gave the
order and over the fence went into
a swamp filled with fallen timber
vines stumps and all sorts of
obstacles it was too dark to see
very well and the regiment was
soon thrown into confusion. Just
then some general ordered us back
and we resumed our former position
where we slept in line until
a little before day, when we were
marched back again to our theformer position we it had oc-
cupied the day before. The enemy
made an attempt that morning
to drive our troops of the field
and we were ordered down to
support a battery but were
[page 4]
not calle[d] into action. I think
we might be said to have
been in the fight for we went
on the field and had the
bombs and bullets flying over
our heads although we had
no chance of firing one man
in the regiment was slightly
wounded by a piece of shell
We hear all sorts of rumours of
the doings of the Yankees on the
river I hope they have not and
will not honour Woodville with
a visit Sam and Ned Burrus are
well Give much love to all
my friends and to the servants
and (I should have mentioned
them first) to Nell and Nette
Your two first letters directed
to Gordonsville and Yorktown reached
me at last.
I remain
Your affectionate son
Horatio N. Smith
Horatio Smith, Co. D, 1st Mississippi
MSS 3372
Va.
White House ^ June 8th/62
Dear Mother
Here we are removed from
our old position but still over 30 miles from
Richmond. Today I received 3 letters from
you and one from Asa all back letters
sent on by the regt. as they had a good
chance I was glad to hear you have got
over your sickness, so well. Asa tells me you
was going thinking of applying to the State
for aid I will get a certificate of my
enlistment made out so that you can
draw money the amount give by law
The 29th Mass regt arrived here last night
and left today I saw W. Henry he looks
tough and hearty though he was surprised to
see me here he said he had forgot that
Asa told him I was out here This White
House is a great place only one building
except nigger huts but it is a rushing
place for business I ma imagine a river
about twice as wide as it is at the Falls
and all full of steamers and schooners
for the distance of three miles and
hundreds waiting for a chance to get
[page 2]
up to unload It is fun to see them
unload cattles they come up as nigh to
the shore as they can and then pitch
them out and let them swim ashore
they come out sideways and everyway
I hope you will have good neighbors
in Mrs T’s house. A man has just come
in and says the whole army has all
crossed the Chickahominy and there
will probably be a big fight tomorrow
and if there is we shall go to Richmond
by railroad and save a long march
as we have got rid of 4 weeks of hard
work. Some of the boys of our company
are here sick in the hospital they tell
me what a hard time they have had
in the swamp and bushes I am tough
and hearty Give my respects to all inquiring
friends and take my love to yourself
From your aff son
Wm Wallace
envelope addressed to
Mrs. E. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass
William Wallace Smith, Private, Co. B, 22nd Massachusetts
MSS 15360
2 miles from portrepublic
AM
Sunday Thursday 8th 8 oclk^
June 8th 1862
Dear Mama
We are fighting
nearly every day, we met with heavy
loss day before yesterday. General
Ashby was killed will be burried
in Charlottesville. none in our
Co. was hurt. we took 41cavs
prisoners 1 Col. major & 3 or 4 capts.
Our Cav. did not loose a man
good many of the Yankee Cav
were killed, after we charged
the infantry on each side
were rushed in & it was a very
hot fight, our loss was 40 killed
I think & thirs is thought to be
more. I broke my horse down
& would not have been able toget have gotten him off the field
had I not bled him in the
[page 2]
in the mouth, but I dont
want you to send Cricket
atall for those who have
not got horses don’t have any
thing to do, we don’t get any
grain for them, & Cricket is too
good a horse to be lost in
that way. Co. Munford has
command of all of Gen
Ashbys forces. I send this by
Frank Minor who is going home
for a horse, if they let me
come home for a horse I will
ride Cricket not without &
I dont want him sent to me
by any one. Love to Papa
[the following lines are very faded and illegible:]
Dis & Jim Aunt Lu and friends
Grandmamma & all whom you
do see there. [ ? ]
I dont know where to tell
you to direct your letters
Your [?] son W.H.B.
William Henry Burnley, 2nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry
MSS 7871
