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

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

28th Bro John
goes North. the girls dine & have
raspberries at Charles’.  Rob. Beale
comes often to see llittle Mary
My Luc is very busy getting up
subscription to buy delicacies for
our sick in Richmond and to
plan the conveyance


MSS 2563-b

Friday, June 27, 1862
                 Guard Mounting
at 7 1/2 Oclock this morning
after which we were
formed as Battallion
and with Col Hayes
marched about two
miles to a small stream
over the mountain on
the Raleigh road
most of the men
bathed
Col Hayes read to some
of us a paper of the 24th
Went down on a recon
naisance toward the
Glades[?]  returned to Camp
on the summit stopped &
had a little dance
Practiced wrote Letter to
Uncle Weeks about Clothes
            this
Parade ^ afternoon Clear
                             warm

MSS 10317

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

Friday 27th–No letters–No great battle yet has taken place but heavy
skirmishing.  Went to afternoon service–the young ladies had a serenade
last night–Mr Wm Rensher called in a little while
Thursday a very bright clear day–I have sewed a little & read a little alterna
tely all day–Finding such close application with my needle is injuring my
eyes–I can scarcely thread a needle with spectacles on–attended service
again–Not many there. At night Mr John Rensher came to see the girls–
We retired earlier than usual I Hear they are fighting in the lines
near Richmond

MSS 6960

      Camp Jones  Flat Top Mt
                    June 27th / 62
Dear Father
                 We have just
returned from Parade and
I have a few moments
to write until dark. This
has been rather an unusually
busy day with us after
Guard Mounting this morning
the Batallion was formed
and the Col Marched us
to a stream of water across
the mountain a distance of
two miles to bathe.
On the way back we stopped
on the summit of the mountain
and the boys had a little
dance.  the Col stopped with
us. he (Co Hayes) is I think
one of the best men in the
service an efficient officer

[page 2]
and a kind and humane
man always attending to the
wants and wishes of his men
and at all times has a kind
word for everyone that speaks
to him.  every man in the
Regiment loves him which
is one of the best recomendations
an officer can have.

Dinsmore’s letter will resume on the 28th.

MSS 10317

Home  June 26th/62

My Dear Cousin

Your kind letter in answer to
my inquiries respecting Charlie was received yesterday.
it is indeed a relief as well as cause for thankfulness
to the Great disposer of events that his life is spared
thus far that time has been given him for reflection and
it may be preparation for the solemn event that so cer-
tainly awaits us all sooner or later, instead of being transferred
from the scene of strife to the presence of the Judge
of all the Earth.–I wrote to Charlie about the time of
the engagement, which letter I presume did not reach him
as he must have been an inmate of the Hospital before
it arrived in Richmond, it was not until I learned
that he was wounded that I applied to the Col of his Reg.
(knowing that his Capt was wounded at Williamsburg)
and as more than a fortnight had elapsed, I believed
him dead, until yesterday.
I am pained t hear of the death of our estimable
Cousin Willie Richardson, how the hearts of his doting
Mother and Sister will be wrung and pained at the
sad intelligence, feel thankful that he was int he care
of so kind and pious a gentleman as my esteemed friend
Rev Thos M. Ambler, who was our minister here two years
ago, it is indeed a comfort to believe that he had a
Christian burial & a spiritual guide through the dark valley.

[page 2]
Willie Chrisman was a near cousin and many hearts
are bleeding at his untimely end, he was the eldest
son of my only maternal uncle and I have heard that he is
in a low state of health, brought on by his imprisonment
though he had been released several weeks, when I heard
from him, but was not much improved.–From my Fa-
ther and family I have not had letters since the evac-
uation of Winchester by the Confederates, but a gentleman
went down while Jackson was occupying the Valley
a month ago, called at brother John’s and reported all
well.  I am as entirely cut off from my friends as any
one can be and you can not imagine what pleasure it
gave me when I found at the close of your letter the
name of the son of one of my earliest and dearest
cousins.  As you know I have known you very little
since you were a little child, but having known and
loved both your parents as fondly as I have, I cannot
fail to feel the tenderest solicitude for yourself, so if
you can possibly get a leave of absence, I entreat you to
come up and spend some time with us, and we will in
sure you a cordial reception, hope you the same Al-
mighty power that has preserved you thus far will shield
you from every danger, and in his own good time restore
you to your excellent parents.  When you write as I hope you
will shortly let me know where your brother Walter is–
love to him. You will further oblige me by seeing Charlie
or writing to him and letting him know that I feel
the most anxious solicitude on his account and wish
him to come to my house as soon as it is prudent for him

[page 3]
to travel so far. could you not come with him, it will
be so pleasant to have you both, if you are sick you might
get a transfer to the hospital at Buchanan and come
out to my house and I will make you as comfortable as
I possibly can. A young lady who is visiting me requested
me to ask you where Scott Roy is now, think he was in
your company at first–since so many have been driven
from their homes I have had the pleasure of seeing Mr
Tipping’s family under my roof one of the young la
dies is still with me, the others are in Staunton, their Fathers
business is there, Through a letter from one of them we learn
that Jackson’s Army was at or near Charlottesville en route
for Richmond, my brother Marcus is with them if still
alive and you may possibly see him. present me very affection
ately to him if you should.  With best wishes for your
health, happiness and prosperity–I am
                                                     Your fond Cousin
                                                          E.R. C. Finney
It is several weeks since I had a letter from Mack,
he was then in Powell’s Valley Tenn, since then they
were ordered to Chattanooga but had returned to the Valley
I learned through letters received from other members of
the Battery, I wish to write to him very soon
                                              Again my Dear Cousin
                                                          Good bye
                                                           E.F.

MSS 3064

[from the diary of Sgt. Z. Lee Gilmer, 19th Virginia, Co. B (Albemarle Rifles)

26th  I left camp this morning
about light for the great battle
field with canteens & haversacks filled
and some of us with Oil cloths We
were haulted about two miles from
Richmond on the Macanicksville
pike about 8 O’Clock in the morning
here we remained through the
day & a very warm day it was
we amused ourselves looking at
the Balloons both ours & the
Enemy’s While waiting here I
received a letter from my [hole in paper]
which did me good, about dark I
made me a little fire & made me
a cup of coffee At this time the
battle of Macanacksville was
warmly contested on the north
Chickahomany & continued
until near  10 ocloc at night
while we were waiting here we
tryed to get a little sleep, but
not a one slept, for the cannon
& shell were aluminating the
Heavens & the bustle of carts &c
had ceased made the roar of
battle distinct, about 10 at night
we received orders to march we
had been waiting here for Hills
Division to cross the Chick[hole in paper]
any while we were waiting [hole in paper]
about sun set an officer [hole in paper]
came riding down the line
& announced to the troops that
we had formed a junction
with old Stonewall  This
was received with shouts and
waving of hats. We joged
along slowly, for slow we had
to go our way lighted up by
the explosion of shells & and
about one we crossed on the
Macanacsville bridge & slept
that night on the battlefield on
the north bank–just after reach-
ing the other side one large
cannon sent a ball over us &
all was in silence until light
in the morn when the artillery
& muskets renewed the slaughter
yet a made a little coffee ere I
started & before I left the fire I
consined the letter I received from
my duck the day before to
the little blaze, for I made it a
rule never to carry a letter in
battle  Yet I read it over again
naturally in meditation & sadness.

MSS 4459

       Treasury Dept.
      June 26 1862

Edmd Ruffin Esqr
   Mattoax P.O.
      Amelia Co., Va
Dear Sir
    In reply to your Let
ter of the 2 June I
would respectfully state
that you generous dona
tion of $400 made to the
Government in your
Letter of 22 Jany
was immediately on
its receipt deposited in
the Treasury, and the
Deposit acknowledged
as you requested in the
Sentinel.  Herewith I
send you copies of the
Treasurers certificate

[page 2]
acknowledging that
Donation.

Respectfully
your obt Servt

C G Memminger
Secty Treas.

Christopher Memminger, 1803-1888, German born Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, February 21, 1861- July 18, 1864.


Edmund Ruffin, 1794-1865, Virginia farmer and ardent secessionist.


MSS 

White House Hospital  June 26th/62
Dear Parents

                    It is just one year ago to
day our Regt. left Portland for the
seat of war I never shall forget how the
place looked at the time I saw father
standing by the side of the cars with
some others I new but I did not see
you after you left the camp it has
seemed but a short time to me but
I do not doubt it has seemed long
to you we did not think then the
war would continue so long but we
cannot any of us tell what the future
will bring forth but I feel confident
the was must close soon.  It is a
splendid place here the farm containing
about 7000 acres of very nice land with
a great deal of good timber a great many acres
sowed to grain and a large lot of corn

[page 2]
planted but it has all been destroyed
by the army the landing here is about
one mile long there is vessels here unload-
-ing provision nearly all the time day
and night then the cars and army teams
take it to the army and I tell you
it makes business lively here the
hospital is about 1/2 half a mile from the
landing in the open field and about
200 rds. from the White House there is
now 200 wards each can accomadate 25
men.  It is a very hea[l]thy place here there
is a cool breeze here the most of the time
the weather here has been quite
warm for some time and it is getting
dry and dusty.  A few night ago we
had a terrible thunder storm it was the
heavist thunder and sharpest lightning
I ever heard or saw I have been to see
a large  chard pine tree the lightning
struck it is about half a mile from
here it tore the bark and splintered
the tree and tore the ground up all
around the tree it is worth going
to see.

Hiram M. Cash,  5th Maine


MSS 12916

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

June 26  Next morning early we left our
             bivouac to retrace our steps to our Camp
             which we reached about 9 a.m. after a very
             pleasant march, it not being so hot early in
             the morning. This is the day memorable for the
             battle of Mechanicsville, the first of the “Seven
             days fights”.  On our arrival in Camp we got
             orders to cross the Chickahominy at 3. P.M. This
             order was countermanded during the day in
             consequence of the threatning aspect of affairs
             on our right flalnk.
             Towards the hour of 5 P.M. the trouble began.
             Heavy firing was heard in the direction of “New
             Bridge on our right.  Cannon & Musketry–At 6 P.M.
             we were ordered to move to the field of battle.
             We arrived there about sunset, while the battle
             was raging & took our position in line as a
             reserve. We laid here on our Arms the entire
             night, the battle closed about 9 P.M.  Our
             bivouac was on the hard ground, with the
             heavens for a covering, limitless but not dewless.

MSS 9044