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

Friday July 18th
Last night about twelve o’clock my precious brother Fez rode up.  It was such an unspeakable boon to know both he and Archie were well after having been in the most dreadful battle at Port Republic  and Cross Keys.  He and another man were sent down by General Robertson on a general scout.  the body of the cavalry were at Harrisonburg.  They will not advance until Jackson appears.  Some say he is at Gordonsville, others that the Federals have possession of that place.

MSS 9759

[from the diary of Anne Madison William Ambler]

Friday July 18, 1862

It rained hard last night so Fannie
will not be able to go tomorrow & the longer
she is obliged to stay the more chance I have
of going with her as Mr. F is busy just now & so is
Father.

I had read a little in my bible when Mother
came in & sat down–Soon after Mary cane &
they kept me company all day, so I have
done no reading at all.   F kept to herself &
had a quiet day reading–I had some pressing
sewing to do however & was glad of company–
I find Washington so interesting, that unless
I am obliged to put it down, I would read
from night -till morning (vis a verso)=
It rained so hard yesterday evening & has
kept up all day that Mother C & sis B
have not been able to come home–
Mary & I had a real old fashioned girlish
talk this evening about our husbands., just
as if they had been beaux, only we were
more open in our expressions of love –
than the most barefaced girl could
have been  Finally, we concluded by
remarking “That the first five years of our
married life we had gone on increasing in
love for you”.  Now, is that not enough
to satisfy you?  I couldn’t say more.

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

MSS 15406

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

Friday 18.  It rained much during the
night–Randolph McKim was
to have gone, but deferred his de-
parture in consequence of the rain.
In the ev rain continued at inter
vals during the day–weather
disagreeable also–more like a
an exquinoxical storm than
a July rain  The enemy seem
to be concentrating a force under the
Ridge in the countyeis of Rappahan
nock & Culpeper–Jackson is mar-
ching on them in two columns–what
his plans are no one knows but
himself–the Valley is free from
troops of either party–a blessed
rest to the inhabitants doubtless
We hear of a [?] success at
Murfreesborough, Tenn and that
great alarm was felt in Nash
ville–upon which a strong col
-umn of our forces was marched.
The news comes through N.York
ad may be relied upon. I believe
the tide of war has changed in the
west.  Tennessee will be recovered
ad Kentucky  invaded–The
defense of Vicksburg is most gal
lant.  She is the  [?] of
the war–

MSS 4763

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

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

Friday 18th  The morning opened with rain–& it has continued to rain all day slow
ly–I dont regret the gloomy day as the ladies call it, as I do not feel well, & therefore
have no desire to go out–One or two students arrived last night–But they look
like mere boys–The papers to day contain pleasant intelligence from Vicksburg
the brave little City still holds out–& the Ram Arkansas is doing gallant
service–She sunk two boats coming out of the Yazoo river–the Federal fleet opened
on her both sides, pouring in a terrific fire as she passed–on opening a Porthole
for air, a shell entered killing nine, and wounding several others. The Ram Benton
(Federal) attempted to butt the Arkansas, but missed, & was struck by the Arkansas
She put for shore in a sinking condition–another Gunboat was fired.  I received a
long letter from Joe this morning, which has relieved my mind greatly–He wrote
from Sleepy Hollow where he is once more with his family–He has gotten a
substitute & left the company–He has been quite sick with dysentery- &
had become disgusted with ignorance and incompetency occupying high
places while he was but a private.  Besides the service was too arduous
& harassing for him–& the Island said to be very sickly–He found no difficulty
in procuring a good strong substitute for $600-& he is now to my great
joy free–He might had he been necessitated to do so have held out a month
or two longer–But his constitution would have given way under it–&
I thank God the way was opened for him to leave  He says [“]the officers Lt Ball
Major Anthony, & Adjt Harris with others were sorry I would leave–& the
men seemed very sorry that I would leave them – & tried to persuade me
to remain promising me the 1st vacancy in the company if I would”–
Joe seems determined never to go again as
a private.  He says if he ever goes again it will be as an “amateur”
fight on his own hook, without being attached to any company.
I hope Peace will be proclaimed before he is obliged to go in any
way–Enclosed with Joe’s letter was one from Ellen long & pleasant.

MSS 6960

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

Thursday
July 17

Had company drill this forenoon
Very warm. Did not do much but
lie around and play euchre some, also
read some

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]

July                          Thursday 17         1862                        
     Went around Richmond
leaving it to our left.
Crossed the Mechanicsville
T. Pike & camped on the
Central R. R.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

[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 – July 17th 1862
Spent a very good night in the baggage
magg Cars – & arrived at Columbia abt
five o’clock this morning – after some
trouble we got our baggage unto a cart
& ourselves into the Congaree omnibus –
reaching the corner of Richland & Sumpter
streets – I got out to Enquire for “Mrs Logan”
put my head in a gate & saw Lizzie in the yard –
she screamed & ran back calling Brothers

a few seconds I was Embraced by two of my
ladies & Lizzie & was Kissed so furiously that
I could not see who they were – Julie now
came running down & calling my name –
gave the girls their first intimation that it
was I & not Bro George whom they
were Embracing – Little Georgie now came up in her morning wrapper
& hf dressed – when Bro came in the
gate confirming [–]  informa
-tion – Abt an hf hour was taken up in
Kissing – when I could review the two young ladies
whom I left seven years ago little girls – Lilly      

 [The rest of this page is written in Logan’s code with the
exception of one sentence:

“Little Georgie is not so large as I Expected to find her”.]

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
[—–] other [-] have not changed
much since I saw them last – Our arrival
today took them all by surprise – Went
walking this Evening with Mullie [-]
& George – Bro complaining – Father is
not at home – Lizzie wrote to tell him
of our arrival –

Lizzie:  Elizabeth Yonge Logan, 1834- 1918
Julie: Julia Rowena Logan, 1836-1909
Georgie: Selina Georgiana Logan, 1849-1921
Lilly Josephine Maria (Lillie) Logan    


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; family notes by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]
  
MSS 6154

[Sgt. Z. Lee Gilmer’s account of his wounding in the battle at Gaines Mill concludes]

here I remained [at his aunt and uncle’s in Richmond, Va.] for
a little over  two weeks & my
friend Shepherd who administered
to all my wants dressed my wound
nearly all the time &c like a brother
he was as kind & as attentive as he
could be I shall never forget all this
kindness of my friend & Relation
After My Uncle telegraphed
at once for my devoted father who
was by my bed as soon as the
cars could get him to me.  I could
see that he felt the deepest
suffering for me, no one could
have suffered more, his suffering
was such that it hurt me as
much as my wound, poor man
I felt so much for him with
his kind attention & that of
my friend. I was able to leave
Richmond on the boat July
the 14th with my fathers Kind-
est attention I was enabled to
get to Scottsvill the next day
remained that night at Uncle
John Lewises & the next day
July 16th I reached home.  My Father
suffering & undivided attention
for me I can never forget &
none but a most devoted parent
could feel as he did.  I failed to
mention an occurange [sic] as I was
brought of the field–when I
was being borne of the field
I concluded I was mortalty wounded
which one naturally could have
supposed & I had not been assured
I had killed a Yankee although I
I had fired very often & had fired
many rounds from Yankee
cartridges when I saw a Yankee
prisener pass me.  I pulled out
my pistol to kill him butit
was wet & cloted with my blood
I was at the time assisted on by
one of my men & as I was going
over the field many many came
to my assistance & while I was being
borne of the field one of my men
in order to console me said you neck
bone is broke. he saw a part of my
jawbone sticking out.  As I was borne
of the field I ment Brigade after
Brigade which I cheered or & implored
them to remember Butler the beast
Thus I was unfortunately shot
in the second day’s fight of those
brilliane seres fights of the North Chica
hominy which entie plan of attack
was most brilliant formed by Gen
Robt E Lee. we turned their right
Flank & caused to foe to skedaddle

Gilmer’s account concludes at this point.   He later married Nannie Patterson and had four children.  He died circa 1900 and is buried in the Scottsville Cemetery, Albemarle County, Va.


MSS 4459

Thursday, July 17, 1862

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Have been unwell
all day  lay in the
tent have done nothing
did not play for
Guard mounting that
is I did not
was obliged to play
for parade as Jo
was out of camp on
pass also played after
parade
Cloudy with Showers
Rain last night
& [?]

MSS 10317