[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
June 1862
5th Luc rode with me to Mr
Gayles (10 miles) –the pony performing
famously. Our dear Jim could not
in any other way have conferred so much
rational employment. Mother G regaled
us on green peas & strawberries
MSS 2563-b
Camp near Richmond. Friday.
June 5th 1862 5 1/2 o’c. P.M.
At the same place I was yesterday, darling. I turn to
the most grateful occupation I can employ my-
self on, that of writing to you. I have no news
of interest to communicate. There has been some
firing of artillery on our left and we have
some rumors of a smart fight in that direction,
but with what truth I have not up to this
time been able to learn. We are lying
in camp resting except a small party sent
out to act as videttes. In default of
interesting information I must write dearest
of my love for you, of my desire to see you,
of my constant tender thoughts of you, of the
admiration, affection, warm, true and gratifying
that swells mt heart & elevates my soul
as I think of you. How often have I told
you this yet I dont tire of writing it, and
I know you will not tire of reading
it, as I never weary of reading again
and again the precious letters you
write me. Is there any reason why we should
[page 2]
hesitate to tell our love thus often to each
other? We need not the assurance for our
own satisfaction. Tis sweet to me, however
to hear or read if from you in every,
varied form of expression you can use.
I delight to go back over the whole
time I have known you: from the morning
I saw you first (standing in the parlor of the
house situated on the very lot where we have
found our home) with your hair in ring
-lets flowing over your neck & shoulders:
then when you returned from school & I came
to the village to live and we met first at one
place & then at another: and afterwards the day
before you were to leave for Petersburg and
I offered to take care of some flowers for
you—and your return the next summer to
Farmville and the long walks in the calm
summer evenings we took together, our con-
versation becoming fonder & fonder until one
memorable night as we stood side by side
by the open windows of your sitting room I told
my love & you confessed yours and our lips
[page 3]
first met in holy, blissful kisses–And there
rises in lovely vision before me those blessed
evenings in Farmville when we were forgetfull of
the lapse of time: and those hours in Petersburg
over which the passage of years can throw no
obscurity, so vivid are they. Then comes our
marriage day, and I see you as you stand
with me before the altar and we vowed to love
each other so long as we both should live.
The ride to Richmond and the journey to
Cumberland, our life in the Hotel and at
the mill, the birth of our children and the
ever increasing tenderness, love, desire, and
passion for you that has grown in my heart
for you, my own darling wife: all these
are themes that I dwell on with increasing
fondness every hour I live. And will
there be no tender memories for us
in this long, weary seperation if God
in His mercy shall spare us and reunites
us. Yes, darling, our hearts will be
full of them: and in coming years,
if we live, we will whisper to
[page 4]
each other many sweet tender thoughts
by each other that have nestled in our souls
& consoled them & lifted them above the
sad, distressing times that keep us apart
and joined our hearts over the distance
that lies between us.
I have written this my darling wife, in the
midst of interruptions; it is now after dark
and I am using a lantern to write by.
I wrote to you yesterday but the
person to whom I gave the letter forgot
to put it in the post office and I have
just now taken it back and shall
place this in the same envelope with
it.–The mail came in a few
moments ago & brought me your
dear letter of yesterday morning.
Thank you, dearest wife, ten thousand
times for it. It gives me joy to read all
you say, and no less joy to think of what
you do not say for the reasons why? And
bless you darling for the kind permission
you give me. I will try not to abuse
the kind privilege. Farewell, dearest.
May our Heavenly Father in His loving Kind
ness & Tender Mercy guard & protect us and
our children. Yr affec husband John T. Thornton
[in top margin of page 4]
Can you buy me a half dozen
hams in Pr Edwd & at what price?
John Thruston Thornton of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry
MSS 4021
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
ThursdayWednes ^ 5th all have gone to hear the Validictory. I have been busy
all day finishing off Elizas new[?] muslin
dress & Liz has been to bid her friends goodbye–I went with her to
return Mrs Mickles visit. & was quite pleased with her= This
afternoon the house or at least parlour has been full of students
some of them remaining to play cards until after 12 oclock–
Mr Parker went with Eliza to speaking—The Diplomas were de
-livered Mr Gorrells speech a failure
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Frank Fitzhugh, a private in Cutshaw’s Battery]
Thursday 5
Passed through
Harrisonburg about
4 Oclock this evening.
Camped 4 miles
towards Port Republic
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
June 5th
Yesterday was also very quiet. Smith’s Div. of
the 6th Corps, (Franklin’s) crossed the Chickahom-
iny at New bridge, in face of a galling fire from
five points, but the rebs were obliged to fall
back. We were paid off in the evening. Mild
and pleasant.
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
Camp Flat Top Mt–June 5/62
Dear Father
We were paid off
this morning I rec’d $40.00
and will send $35.00
thirty five Dollars to you
Mr Alf Long a member
of Co G will carry all of
our money. he starts
for Ashland tomorrow
morning. he formerly lived
there. He will leave
all the money at the
bank in Ashland where
you can get it
Go down and see him
you will find him at
the McNulty House he
will stop there some time
days.
Tell mother to send me
[page 2]
a couple pairs of
stockings send them
with Long or any other
one comeing here. the ones
I now have are worn out
and the ones we draw
are worthless
How are money matters?
what is the prospect for
wool? How many sheep
are you shearing?
How do the boys do?
Alex says should we
get home by the first of
Sept. we can put up
the house. get the stones
for the wall hauled
also logs to the mill
this is however rather
premature as I suppose it
uncertain whether we
will get home before
winter or even then
[page 3]
We get quite late
telegraphic news here
but very few papers
we have heard of
McClellans fight near
Richmond on Saturday
& Sunday last
also of the evacuation
of Corinth
Write soon
Yours Truly
J. D. Templeton
James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio
MSS 10317
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday, June 5, 1862We were paid
off this morning for
two months or until
the first of May
I recd 40 dollars sent
home with [?] some
$35.00 Dollars also
sent letters with
him to Father
Another day has
passed and nothing
done
Mr Caldwell a Citizen
who has been with
us for some time past
has gone on a Scout
and borrowed my
revolver this morning
Cleaned my carbine
this morning
showery all day
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Jonathan Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars, as copied and annotated at a later date]
June 5 the morning came black & rainy. It had
rained long & heavy all last night, rendering
the roads impassable for artillery. This is
probably the reason of the non-reception of
the order to advance. I was ordered to day with
my company, on fatigue duty, building corduroy
road on the Chickahominy between our
pontoon bridge over that creek and the high
ground on the opposite side. I had the pleasure
here of seeing for the first time a brisk Artillery
duel between our batteries and those of the rebels,
which lasted for an hour or more without any
casualties, at least, on our side. the rebel
shells fell far short and we could see them strike
the ground and the water in the bottoms throwing
it forty or fifty feet high, not far from where
we were, at first it seemed quite alarming
but we soon became accustomed to it.
MSS 9044
[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 5th 1862
Rode out to Head quarters this morning in search
of quarters for us near Genl Magruder but
could find no house or room where we could
be accommodated near the Genl – Visited Mullie
& assisted him in making out the Discriptive
lists which his wounded now begged me to get
for them – Mullie is not yet quite well & looks very
badly – Gave him two bottles champagne which
Cap Mr Harvey sent him – Came back to Mrs Taylors
to dinner & rode into town on one of the Ambu-
-lance horses – Fanny being tired by the
morning ride. Distributed some of the pay
lists among the wounded boys whom I find
doing well, Except Ivey & Strohecker – Went to see
Eben – where I learned from Mr Coffin that Bro
George came on with leave from Charleston – After
supper with Mr H went to all the Hotels & at last found Brother G at the Spottswood with Bridges, Jno Wood, & N Wood. Genl Duncan & William
other N.O. men – Took him to Mr Harveys for the night – 12 ½ P.M. Logan, Jr
Put up my Poney at Mr Harveys
[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
also met Mr R. M. Davis
president of the Bank of La. at
the Spottswood – Maj. Lee’s & a No Ca
Battery had a lively shooting match with the
Enemy today from across the Chickahominy
our men Exploded one of their caissons & drove
their guns from position
[Mullie: his brother Thomas Muldrop Logan]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; family note by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]
MSS 6154
