[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh, private, Cutshaw’s Battery]
June Thursday 26 1862
Fighting commenced this
evening, between Jackson
& the enemy, near Mechanicsville
enemy driven from his
position.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Thursday 26th It is so cool this morning I have put on a shawl & let
down my windows–Katy has just brought me a letter from
Fred which I joyfully received–As I felt anxious to hear how
he was getting on in his new way of living–Or rather Camp
life–He has been in no engagement so far–But was to start
on picket shortly after writing–& said he heard the mosquitoes were
intolerable bad where they were to be sent–He had been on
drill for two hours that day –& found it very warm & tire
some–Made more so by his horse being an untrained one.
No papers from Richmond to day–But a passenger in the Hack last
night still asserts the battle is going on at Richmond–The Report
that Burnsides had sent 6000 troops from Norfolk & Suffolk to
take Welden also proved to be untrue.
One of three sons in the Confederate Army, Fred Hill was with Peter B. Starke’s Washington Cavalry
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
26th May &
I ride to Mr Quisenburys (12 miles)
and spend the night – She recites
some beautiful lines from Burns
about a soldier lover returning
to his faithful Nancy. Mother
turns a penny out of the garden
She does not know how much
longer she will have little Kitty
for salesman. Bro John
debates about a trip to Illinois
where he has important interests
We continue hopeful–tho the
tremendous power and stubborn
determination of the North is awful
“The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice
read Luther’s Psalm (46″) and
took courage.
MSS 2563-b
June 26th 1862
My Dear Father
I am now with my battery encamped
in the field not 100 yards from the point where
we parted. But how different are the circumstances!
Then all was quiet – nothing to say two large
hostile armies were by each other – two armies as much
embittered against one another as men have ever
been. Now the most incessant artillery, far around
to our left, I ever heard, tells that Jackson has
commenced that battle which is to decide so
much. No battle ever fought has decided more
than this will. The sun is setting – that artil-
lery began about two hours ago. Occasionally
when the roar of artillery ceases & its reverberation
(wh: latter is wonderful on the Chickahominy) the
rattle (it is generally called so, but is far from
being a rattling sound) of musketry indistinctly but
incessantly rolling (the true sound) tells the battle is
being hotly & hardly fought. (I have just heard
that this musketry has been going on for five
hours; ever since three P.M. & that it is between
Mechanicsville & Meadow Bridges. Tomorrow
I have no doubt will be the decisive day.
Oh! may Heaven grant us this victory & save
my country. This side of the swamp not a gun
[page 2]
can be heard. At the late battle of the Seven
Pines all the firing was this side. Tomorrow
I suppose it will be here & there too. The fight
of to day is much heavier than that of the 31st &
1st. Then we lost six thousand. That battle be-
gan about eleven then & was long in conse-
quence but the larger scale on which this bat-
tle is fought will give as many wounded, I
reckon. If the fighting is where I mentioned
above it cannot be Jackson’s army but must
be the commands of D. A. Hill. A. P. Hill & Long-
street, which have all gone to that locality.
[letter of William H. Perry, Jr., of the Richmond Howitzers will continue on the 27th
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 7786-d
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat, and a bank officer in Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]
Thursday 26 Accounts of a sharp engage
ment on the lines–which resulted
in the loss of more than 300 on our
side–we drove them back but no
[?] followed–All eyes turned to
Richd. The great fight daily expected
I look to it with great confidence
and the more that Jackson will be
there. Mary went to the Dentists &
had the tooth which has been the
disturbing cause of her suffering
extracted. She went then to Charles
where I was sent for to dinner Met
there Lewis Marshall, Son of [?]
of Oak Hill–now a widower with
10 children–a Lt. of ordnance . He is
boarding at Sues–a most excellent
man –met young Malone, now
on Braggs Staff–He says he bore dis
patches to the War Department & was on
his return–Bragg is commanding the
army at Tupelo & would advance to
attack.
MSS 4763
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday, June 26, 1862
Guard mounting
after which I got Pass
then near noon went
with Tool to Mrs Harris
got some butter also
some Virginia Pies
made of dried apples
saus
returned to camp &
practiced.Parade this evening
Charlie returned to
day Drew pair Pants
& am now about to
bathe and change
my clothes
Clear pleasant day
but the nights are
invariably cool
at this high elevation
MSS 10317
[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 26th 1862
Last night heavy movements of troops were made
from our right to the left of the Mechanicsville
road – before daylight 50,000 of our army had
passed us as far as the farm of Mrs
Christmas – Commence firing towards Evening 3 o’c
commenced & Kept up very rapid discharges
Volley after volley of musketry could be heard
distinctly from 5 o’c till 8 o’c – No
particulars can be heard of the result but
from Capts Eustis & Alston of Magruders staff
I learn that also D H Hills divisions had engage-
-ed the Enemy abt five o’c – & he had driven them
from Mechanicsville & as far back as Beaver
dam on the north East Bank of the Chickahom’
river – Jackson’s army is presumed to be near
at hand – but for particulars see tomorrow – Bro
& I walked to town today & back – I fear it will be impos-
-sible for me to leave for the scene of action as
Capt Harrison thinks of going to the Springs for his
health on Saturday & is too sick to take charge
[The following is cross-written over the above page.]
of the money & officers – Besides we have to
make up returns of last months disbursements – &
arrange for closing up the office for the
present – to add another impediment our
Ambulance horses are Either stricken or strayed
off today & I have the prospect of ride round
to find them tomorrow – John has been hamstring
them up all day unsuccessfully – I have the diarrhea
badly again today – Rode out this Evening to see
Legrande & after the horses – I am sick of the pay departm’t
today _ & wish it was in anybody else’s hands than mine
[Eustis and Alston: James Biddle Eustis, later U.S. Ambassador to France, William A. Alston]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; note by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
June 26th
Skirmishing very heavily on our left all
day. During the afternoon, our advance on
the left after a brisk and decisive fight,
succeeded in capturing redoubt No. 4 of
the defenses of Richmond. At noon the
rebs on our right advanced, and crossed
the Chickahominy at Meadow bridge,
attacked, and drove in our pickets at
Mechanicsville. Norrells. Div. and two
brigades of Mc Call’s div. were deployed
in line of battle. Meade’s brigade being
held as a reserve, At three P. M the
rebs rapidly advanced and attacked
our whole line, making a determined
attempt to drive back Reynold’s
brigade, but after a severe struggle
they were forced to retire with a heavy
loss. A rapid Artillery fire was kept
up along the entire line. at five P. M
the rebs made another desperate assault
on our right, and were again repulsed
by Gen Seymore with a heavy loss,
Night coming on, the conflict ended,
Pleasant and very warm
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
Camp near Richmond
June 25th 1862
I wrote you, my darling, last week shortly after I
received your note written me by Mrs Knight.
I sent my letter by Judge Marshall to be
mailed and I hope it has reached your hands
safely. since that time I have not heard from
you. Elijah, Mr Evans Servant, leaves camp
to visit Prince Edward tomorrow morning
and I avail myself of this opportunity
to send you this sheet. since I wrote last my
time has been spent in Camp except on a
reconnaissance commencing Monday morning
last and ending Tuesday morning just after
daybreak I was in the saddle about twenty one
hours and was very much fatigued; so yesterday
I slept a great deal and this morning am
refreshed and well. It was twelve months yester-
will be
day since I entered the army and ^ four months
tomorrow since I parted from you the last
time in our dear home. It is useless to
speculate as to the period when the war
[page 2]
will end, I hear opinions of various shades
expressed. It is still more idle to indulge in
thoughts of what is to become of you and I
in the progress of the conflict. Our lives and
fortunes are in the hands of an all wise and
merciful God and we must give our souls
repose in the faith that He will do all
things for us better than we could for
ourselves. this is the truest, best and
firmest consolation we can have
in these days of trouble. When I can visit
home it is impossible for me to say. How much
I would like to drop in on you this morning
& see you, dearest, and our children all
around you. Let us trust that such joy is laid
up in store for us, and without perplexing
our hearts look forward to the future with
confidence and courage. I doubt not, darling,
your faith is firmer than mine: but by mutual
encouragement we can strengthen the hearts
of each other to bear misfortune if it is sent
[page 3]
upon us, or to receive with joy and gratitude
whatever blessing may be vouchsafed.–
Can you buy me in Farmville a light colored
felt hat? Kit Lockett can aid you in fixing the
size to be purchased.
Did you ever reply to a question I asked
you some time since as to the price at which you
would buy half a dozen hams for me? I want
them for our mess. they now ask seventy five
cents per pound in Richmond. What can
chickens be bought at? What vegetables
would bear transportation from
Farmville to this point? and on what
terms could they be got? Marketing is
very high down here, and every thing extremely
scarce.
I haven’t seen Col. Anderson since
the day on which my last letter was
written.–
Every one in the army and the
citizens around seem to be looking for a
[page 4]
battle every day. I am without sufficient information
to form a very intelligent judgment, but if
the tidings that come to my ears be true I think
Genl Lee is preparing to attack the enemy. Dont
be alarmed, and wait with patience for tidings
from me. I f I am wounded I will try to send
you the earliest intelligence of it.
Farewell, my darling, I pray God to
sustain and bear you up and console you
in all your troubles. Kiss the children for
me. Tell Willie & James to write to me.
Say to Dick he must take good care
of the cup I sent him: that Captain Palmer
gave it to me, and he must keep my present
clean & bright.–Give my love to Mrs
Riddle: I hope she has recovered her health.
Remember me to all the servants.
Once more I say good-bye to you my
own dear wife. I kiss you tenderly, warmly,
lovingly. I embrace you with unutterable love.
Sincerely, Your affectionate husband,
John T. Thornton
[in top margin of page one]
Is Whiteman still working in Farmville? If so send
to him & know if he has good materials to manufacture
boots & let me hear
John Thruston Thornton, University of Virginia alumnus and Captain, Co. K., 3rd Virginia Cavalry
MSS 4021
