[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton of the 23rd Ohio]

Tuesday, July 22, 1862

Another day
and nothing good done
Guard Mounting no
parade. With drill as
usual
Turned a snake
skin for a boy of Co
C

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

F & I- though it looked like it would
rain started off for a walk met bro
C – who turned back & we took a very nice
walk–my thoughts were with you.  I could
not help wishing it was my “Mr Ambler.”
Oh dear wishes of peace & fond
meetings come rushing through my
mind–Oh! for one moments happiness
such as I know will be mind when I see you
once again.

Sis Fannie came over & brought all the
children to spend the day–such noise &
confusion amongst the young folks. they
at least are as happy as ever: No s[ins?],
no sorrow,–Jacque is better I gave him
the last calomel this morning–
Bro C has advised Fannie not to try to
go with him, so we will both wait
till he goes home, & sends Pa down
for us–He will tell Pa that father will
send us to the River any time that he
will meet us there, or if that arrangement
does not suit him, come down himself.
 Br Charles begged father to appoint a
day & send us & let Pa know of it but no
news–nothing would do but that Pa
must send some one all the way over

[partial transcript by granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor, 1972]

MSS 6960

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

Tuesday 22
Went at qr past 5 with
Mathew to the Orange Depot.  His
Baggage was not en-place but he
went on–another letter from Eugene
-He announces he is commissioned as
Major–wants a horse at once
and a servant–both very diffi
cult to procure just now.  Startled
to hear of Capt. Hobbes death–Went
with Dr. Minor to see Tom Miller
at my instance–they requested D.M.
to take charge of the case. He thinks
the wound a very grave one & that
an operation–the resection of the joint
will be necessary.  No mail from
Richd.  News of the wonderful ex
ploits of Morgan in Kentucky: He
was within 30 miles of Louisville
which cities & Cincinnatti are in
agonies of alarm  I hope he
will take both

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

22nd  Our good & faithful servants
leave us.  After  32 years of
living together it is a painful parting
The think Divine Providence has
sent them their liberty and that it
is right for them to take it.  They take
leave with many expressions of affection
I was away at the time and
was glad to be so

MSS 2563-b

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

Tuesday 22d–We are all so much pleased to get Liz back again.  Mrs Phillips has
called to see her.  It is cloudy today–No letters or papers have come–But
we are looking anxiously for Sarah & Mrs Walters–Liz brought up my
trunk of silver- & told me all about home–So much gained by her trip to
Wilmington.  Mr Parker left to night–Eliza & Liz went up after tea to see
Mrs Person she is quite sick–Cousin Sally London left this morning for
Raleigh to stay with Alice–Christian Campbell called in a few minutes
after Church–Mr McRae & Mr Marshall came to see Sudie & Mollie

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at as later date]

Went to Winchester today with Mary Frances.  Pickets were on the road but allowed us to pass without a pass from their general.  there were very few in town.  The pickets told us a fight was expected every day.  We heard of a fight at Gordonsville at which we were victorious.  There was a great panic which caused the rumor of their possession of the place.  Morgan, the American [states?], has every city of any consequence in the state of Kentucky in a state of siege, each one afraid to assist the other and leave itself unprotected while he is quickly proceeding on his march through the state.  Cold and rainy day.


MSS 9757

[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood of Co. C., 13th Massachusetts]

     Tuesday  July 21st/62
Cloudy all day, a little rain
in morning.  I started to go to
Camp this morn, but met the
Regt.  They were on the march
for Warrenton Springs eight miles
from here situated on
the Banks of the
Rappahannock River
I drew a new pr of
pants from the Orderly
the other day.  I took
them this morning to
a woman to shorten
the legs, and put on a

strap, for which I paid
a Quarter.  She was
a Rebel  When I went
to the house I told her,
I supposed She Sympathysied
with the Rebels.  She said
she did.  She though [t] the name
of Rebel was reather harsh.
I asked her, if a person
violated the laws of the
United States if it was not
Rebeling, therefore she must be a
Rebel.  Said I during the old Revolution
we were Rebels, and gloried in that name
for the Rebellion was just, therefore
She had not ought to think that the
name of Rebel was any harsher than Southern

[The following two lines are written in the margin and perpendicular to the rest of the letter.]
sympathyser.  We laughed and joked about it for some time and
parted very good friends.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

                       Sunday–July 20 1862
Camp of the Rockbridge Artillery 1st Brigade
1 mile from Gordonsville, Orange co. Va.
Mr. Wm. M. Blackford, Lynchburg

                   My Dear Father
                                   I commenced on
Monday last in our camp near Richmond
a long letter home in continuation of the
one dispatched on Sunday.  I was interrupted
by an order to be in readiness to march.
The order actually to march did not come
until Tuesday morning but still I could
write no more letter that day.  I retain
it however unfinished to write up as
soon as I can get a chance, and now
only write a few lines to give you my
reckoning since last accounts, and to
assure you of my continued good health
and safety.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs-
day we marched, in common with the
rest of the Artillery of Jacksons command
on the third day reaching Louisa C.H.
The Infantry came up by Rail Road.

[page 2]
We remained at Louisa C.H. one day
and yesterday came to this place.
We are now under marching orders
for to morrow morning, whether we
do not know of course.  You may
rely upon my writing to you at
length as soon as I can get time
which I hoped to have to day
and have not.  I have had a
laborious time since I got back
to the company; have been acting
ostler all the time, our numbers
being so much reduced as to make
it necessary for cannoneers to be
drivers.  This will not be a perma-
nent arrangement however.  If another
offer like that of Dr. Williams’ comes for
me be sure to let me know of it.  I
have been thinking it would have been
notably unwise in me to decline that
if it had reached me– My best love to
all. In great haste
                       Your affectionate son
                                L. M. Blackford

[cross hatched on left side of page 2]

Write to me addressing in full
                        Gordonsville


MSS 5088

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]

Monday
July 21

Got paid off this forenoon.  Paid
Brown what I owed him.  got a
check for twenty dollars and wrote a letter to
send by Ben Brooks.  Phineas is sick with
a bad headache.  Capt Foss conducted dress parade

MSS 11293

Camp Vigilance    Station
July 21st   1862

Dear Father
I reached camp on yester
day safe & found all well.  My horse
stands very well so far he walks
finely.  the Yankees came to the R.R.
at Beaver dam & came very near
catching the mail train, 6 men detailed
from all the companys were sent up
to see about it, by neglect of our
1st Sergt. our camp did not draw any
pay the rest of the armys all paid
their bounty & all. Bill Dick is
well & likes very well, so is Phill,
Henry is complaining of his leg yet
Tobe Marshall has at last succeeded
in getting a permanent discharge.  He
did nothing but walk around on his
stick while here. I am well & hope this
may find you all the same–

[letter of Sidney S. Stringer of the 1st Virginia Cavalry will continue on July 23