Camps Near Vicksburg Missispi
          July 21st 1862

Dear Aunt

As I now have the spare
time to write a letter, not being
ale to be on duty, I concluded
to drop you a few lines at the req
-uest of my Father from whom I recei
=ved a letter a few days ago.  my Brother
Wm.R. received a letter from you
sometime in April last containing
information that you wished to be
conveyed to our Father, we sent your
letter to him by the first chance we
could get, and a day or two ago we
received one from him requesting
us to write to you, stating that he would
come to Va so soon as he could do so
with safety and carry out his Brother
Wm’s request, he also stated in his let
-ter that he had received letters from
uncle Hiram informing him of the
deaths of  his Brother Albert and Mr
Logan, the husband of his sister–

[page 2]
Catharine, they died sometime in
February last.  he said that you must
keep things as straight as you could
until he could get there, but he did
not know when that would be, but
he would come just as soon as he could
get there, he stated tat his health was
a little better than usual.  Ma’s health
was not any better than common, but
no worse, all the rest were well,
he said that he had never as yet
been troubled by the Federals in any
way, it is but seldom that we ever
hear from Tenn. and when we do
get a letter from there, they seem to
be afraid to write but little about
anything, since we have been down
south we have seen and felt some
of the hardships of genuine soldiering.
we have traveled many hundred miles
and the most of them on foot.  we
are now lying down here at Vicks-
burg close to the great Mississippi—

[page 3]
under the Enemy’s Gun Boats,
we have been at this place about
4 weeks, but have not had a fight
yet, we do not give the Yankees time to
land their forces, but they keep up
a continual firing all the time.
before I came here the name of
tun Boat had a particular dread
to it. but I have found out that
there is not so much danger in them
as is generally supposed, I have been
in tolerable good health the most
of the time since I have been in
the service, I have been somewhat
under the weather of late but hope
to be better soon.  My Brother Wm R
is at present a few miles out in
the Country. he has had a slight
attack of the Bilious Fever, but
is in a good condition soon to get
well, you must excuse our delay
in answering your letter, but we
have travelled about so much and

[page 4]
staid at a place such a short time
that we have hardly had time to write,
but we will try and do better in
the future.  you must write to us
often, and tell Cousin’s Alex and
Walter both to write to us, you
have no idea how much good
it does do a soldier to receive a
letter in Camps, more so in the
case of we Tennesseans who are
far from home, and have but little
opportunity of hearing from those
whom we hold dearer to us than
anything on Earth, I live in hopes
and trust in God, that this may
not be long the case, We were very
sorry to hear of the deaths of Uncle
Wm and Aunt Sallie, you have my
best wishes in your trials and
difficulties, hoping that you may
have good health, and true friends
to help you along lifes journey is
my earnest wish, give my love to
all of my relations in Va, and tell
all to write to me, hoping to hear
from some of you soon.  I am yours
in truth        Robt. T. Tompkins
1st Lieut in Company C. 45th Regt Tenn Volunteers
—4th Brigade, Breckinridges Division

MSS 705

Baltimore, July 21st 62
Captain P L DeClouet
Dear Sir
Your favor
of July 7th came safely to hand
If I can do anything for you, let
me know, and to the extent of
my ability, it shall be done.
I sincerely hope that there
will soon be a general
exchange of prisoners of War
on both sides, as from what
I see in the newspapers, nego-
tiations appear to be going on in
regard to it.
J. Hanson Thomas is with the
army in or about Richmond,
he was well about two weeks
ago when his friends here last
heard from him
Randolh McKim is aid

[page 2]
to Gen G H Steuart CSA
Jim is Lieutenant of artillery
he is at present in the
fortifications before Richmond,
and was well two weeks ago.
Tom Hackall is like your-
self a prisoner.  he was taken
at Island No 10, together
with his relative the Gen
on whose staff he was serving
he is now at Fort Warren
Boston harbor Massachusetts
Harman Dinwiddie a brother
of your old school teacher died
last summer in Western Va
A schoolmate of yours named
Field was also killed in
the valley last spring: he was
with Jackson’s army: the story as
we have it here (from one of
Dinwiddie’s scholars who has
hurried home to his place)

[page 3]
says that after he surrendered
a soldier rushed up and blew
his brains out with a pistol.
I hope that it may not have been so
Jno Haskell was severely wound
ed in the fight before
Richmond; he had his arm
amputated and was in a
dangerous condition.
I hope that nothing I have
written you about old comrades
& school mates will come
under the head of Contraband
of War, so that you will be
prevented from getting this
                    Respectfully
                    yours &c
               W R Howard
My sister has received
your letter acknowledging receipt
of bundle
               WRH

[page 4]
I sent you the Maryland
News Sheet.  do you get
it?

Paul L. DeClouet was a son of Louisiana Congressman Alexandre Etienne deClouet and served in the 1st Field Battery Louisiana Artillery at New Orleans until the city fell

MSS 9564-a

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

Monday, July 21, 1862

Guard Mounting lay around useless
most of the forenoon
Did little this
afternoon sold my
watch to Crawford of
Co A for 15 dollars who
as the watch was in
poor condition was I
think a good bargain
The Bakery commenced
operation this day
Parade & long drill
Rained some last
night–mostly cloudy
to day

MSS 10317

Camp Fifth Maine Regiment near Harrisons Landing Va July 21st 1862
Dear Father–I received yours of the 12th & 14th  day before yesterday and
yours of the 12th had A Peice about this Regiment & the one of the 14th had four
stamps enclosed which I was glad to receive as I had got all out of them here
& I cannot get them here & I cannot tell the reason why there has been A change
in the Company by having the first Lieutenant Promoted to the Captaincy of
the Company & the second Promoted to the Place of First in Company H & Lieut
& Lieutent Clarke A Brother of my Comrade Clarke has been promoted from
second Lieut to First in this Company & now this Company has the two best drill
ed Officers in the Regiment for the last week or two this Brigade has been
doing Picket & fatigue duty such as Building Breast Works which work we
have most done I should have answered your letters yesterday but we rece
ied orders in the Morning to be ready to go at night one O Clock & stand out
this noon when we was relieved by the 18 New York of this Division Which bel
ongs to Genl Nortons Brigade some how or other this Company is always out
as skirmishers when we are on Picket I do not know how it is but we are the only
company in the Regiment which is drilled thorough, And I do not know but
that is it, it is Just one year ago to day that I had my first experience in being
in battle that was A bad one for us since then I have seen but one battle
that I thought was worse & that was on the Friday at Gains Mill & that was
an awful one for anyone to be in but I was in it & I cannot say that I want to
be in another one such as that but if I am called of course I shall go that is
if I am able to do so, I will now close this by saying that I am well as ever
& [I hope]  that is the Case with you & Mother & of the rest of the Folks, this moving[sic]
Morning  I received the new Paper that you sent called the Press, tell
Frank Crawford that I shall write to him sometime this week as I can
not, I will now close by saying this is from you Son Joseph Leavitt

Letters of Joseph Leavitt, of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John after the war as a remembrance of them. Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania.  


MSS 66

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

Monday 21–Letter from Lanty –rather
doleful–one also from Eugene
wanting me to get him boots & spurs
Rumors of some good news having
passed through the telegraph office–
which the operators could not [?]
[?]–Report of the enemy having
made a dash at the central Rail
Road and destroyed depot at Beaver
Dam was marched on last night
which I discredited–But Mathew
Maury came up this evg and con
firmed the news.  He was in the
cars yesterday morg and was stop
ped by obstructions on the road with-
in 300 yds of the Depot.  He saw
the burning–He thinks it was
a mere handful of cavalry who
were frightened off by the train
which had soldiers on board.
Mathew was very communicative
very bitter against the Yankees &
not sanguine as to the safety of
Richd  He thinks the attack will
be made on both sides of the Ri
-ver and by [?] [?] from
also.  He is on his way to join
his wife in Albemarle–Sue
Crutchfield, his son Dick’s affian
ce mad her escape from Fred
and got to Charlottesville where
she and Dick were married
Thursday last–what a time for
marrying!  called at Mrs [?]
to see Capt. Hobbes He was too
ill to let any one see him–I shd
think he was in a very critical
condition: He was in bad health
before he was wounded & the Ball
is yet in the knee–He had a
chill to day–Dr. John Minor came
in at night & staid until 10.

MSS 4763

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

Monday 21st July
I have been reading a very interesting book all morning–& have been invi-
ted out to tea at Mrs Wm Davis’–But declined going–Mrs Phillips paid
me a long visit–& Cousin Sally London & Anna Wright called too–
Mr & Mrs Johnston & Eliza took tea with Mrs Davis & returned home n
a heavy rain–About 7 OClock P M Liz, Mr Parker, An[?] & Daniel
Bond drove up–& we were all rejoiced to see them as they were seve-
ral days behind the time they had promised to be here–Liz had been to
Oxford to put Henry her brother to school from there to Kitrel[l]s Springs for
one day & night–& then to Hillsboro’ to get Dan into a military school. But
he was thought too young – & now will go to Dr. Wilsons Mr Parker returned to night

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Monday July 21, 1862

Anniversary of the battle of Manassas,
Fannie & I with Mark & Tom took a long walk–
–  gathered some very fine blackberries–
Uncle Cary asked sis b wt. bro. C Y mother
down there to spend the day right before
our faces & never even looked at us–
Isnt it strange, you remember how polite
they were visiting us before you left-
the only thing that has ever been said
about it since was when aunt Susan spent
the day here–she turned to me & said in an
offhand way she would be glad, if I
would bring my sister & the children &
stay some with her.  I thanked her, & then
it ended…..
Mother sat all day in my room.  I
had read a little before we walked–&
after that didn’t have a moment to
myself

  Jack is better – though I am still
giving him the calomel.
We see the Maryland News Sheet & it gives us great
news  Our prospects seem as bright as possible
I can’t help hoping we will have peace
soon & settle down at Clifton again
next fall.  McClellan it is said, must
surrender.  Mere matter of time  Can not
be provisioned much longer

[as partially transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Monday, July 21st

Powel came today.  A cloudy day, rain may fall any moment.  Yesterday at church we heard the sad news of dear Cousin Ben Harrison’s death.  What a blow.  God give his father strength to bear it and his poor wife.  He was well prepared, few more so. He was killed at the battle of Turkey Bend.  Willie Carter under Magruder was wounded at the battle of White Pines, non from this neighborhood even wounded.  We have much to be thankful for.  From General Pope’s abominable manifestos, we have much to fear from his administration.  Oh, for the dove of peace to light on our unhappy country!


MSS 9759

[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]

   
                        Sunday – July 20th 1862
Bro & I went down to the So Ca Depot this morning
at five o’c to meet Father, the cars did not come up
until Eight o’c – after some I search I met Father
on the platform – he did not Know me at all he is
not looking as badly as I had been led to Expect by the girls
but tho’ with a wretched cold he is looking better than
when I saw him last – he spent the day with us but
returned by the Evening train for Charleston at 5 o’c p.m.
Walked out with Lilly & Georgie this Evening to our
plantation – saw  the Misses Dicksons on our way –

[The diary ends here.  The following several pages contain addresses, a roster of officers, and notes. Your bloggers do not know if Logan ever returned to the Army.  He died December 1, 1862, probably from pneumonia, and is buried in Charleston S.C. His brother “Mullie” Thomas Muldrop Logan, 1840-1914, became one of the youngest Confederate generals.  After the war he helped found the Southern Railroad]

MSS 6154