Fort Albany, July 16th/62

Dear Wife,
Yours of the 13th I have
received, I was very glad to hear from you,
more especially at this time than at other
before.  I was afraid you might hear reports,
as there are plenty of them going the
rounds, of different kinds, and styles,
and that they might worry you, and give
you much uneasiness.  I perceive by the tone
of your letter, that you are in very good sp-
irits, Put no confidence in any reports you
may hear, about the movements of troops.
I have heard I suppose fifty times, that we
were to be sent in the advance, but such,
I am perfectly well satisfied, is not the
case. Dont give yourself any uneasiness about
our going away from here, for this is a very
important post that we occupy, and it
is’nt one regiment in fifty, that can
fill our place.  There is a man by the name of
Perkins, at home now enlisting men to
fill up this Regmt that dont look much live
moving. Do you think it does?  “I dont see it”

[page 2]
You ask me what I think about the war.  My answer
is, I dont think much about it.  We do’nt see or hear
much, I should not mistrust there was any any, if I
went by the looks of things here.  To me, and all
of us, it seems like playing soldiers, or like some
of the “trainings” that we used to go to when
we were young.  Sometimes we see troops moving
from Washington towards Alexandria but if
we did’nt know where they were going to, I do’nt
believe we should take a second look at them.
The last time I went to Alexandria on Provost Guard
I had an opportunity to step into the Marshall
House, for a moment, You will reccollect sic] that the
lamented Ellsworth was shot there.  I tore
off a little piece of paper from the wall near
the spot where he fell, I send you the same,
I have never been to Washington since I went
over with friend Earp soon after we came here.
If I should go over I should probably call
upon John B.  It is a great deal of trouble
for us to get over to W. now, only one man
is allowed to go each day and each man
must have a pass signed by Brig Gen
Whippple, Col Greene, Major Washburn, and

[page 3]
the Capt of the Co he belongs to, so you see it
is some trouble to get to W.  About those
shirts, I dont think it worth awhile to go to
any trouble about them, I do’nt care much for
them myself, and if I want any I dont know
but that I can buy them here as cheap
as you can get them up, and send them
here.  There is plenty of pedlars here, with shirts
and everything else, every pay day, and as long as
the “boys” have any money, I have just been
reading the Lynn Reporter.  I see by that, that
you are having quite a pretty little excitement
there, about this drafting business. I wish
we could have some excitement, just enough
to stir us up a little.  We’re getting to be kind
of lazy and indolent. By the way, Tom Full
of my mess, had another box come yesterday,
filled with “goodies” as usual we had a great
time eating them, and enjoyed ourselves
hugely.  I see that Ernie has not forgotten
how to tease you, yet, see me just as though
I could hear him now.  How I should like
to see him and sissy, not omitting yourself
however I presume you all would like to see me too, so we
will call it even and wait for that time to come.

[page 4]
I cant think of much more to scribble tonight
a I feel so hot, and kind of tired.  You must
not find any fault, if I do’nt write long, or
interesting letters, for to tell you the truth I
am (as we say here) about “played out” for
subjects and you know that my head is
rather thick, and that original ideas, dont
flourish very well there, such as I have I give unto
you freely.  I shall expect to hear from you
on Saturday next, I dont know how ma-
ny letters you owe me, but I think they
must be quite numerous, for I have
two letters a week, to you, nearly every week
I have been here, About that picnic, I would
go if I were you, and take Ernie if it is
not too much trouble, I think you can enjoy
yourself, but this advice will get to you
rather late I am thinking, if it dont, you
will please take it,  It is getting late, and
as we have to keep  good hours, I will close
do be carefull of yourself, and I know you
will of our darlings.  I feel that I shall be
permitted to see you before long, until
that time be of good cheer, May God bless
and have you in his keeping, is and ever
will be the prayer of your living husband,
                                            Robert

P.S.
any thing that you want to inquire about, please do
it and I will answer.

Robert, an unidentified soldier in the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery


MS 1242

                  Camp Green Meadows
Dear Father
               I received a letter
from you last saturday
with programme of exercises
at the academy
on saturday sabbath morning we
left camp down on Flat Top
and marched 14 miles down
towards the New River to
this place.  We are now
camped on a fine farm
having entire possession as
the proprietor have left
the camp is a very pleasant
one but the name is I
think rather an extravagant
one the fields being
overgrown with grubs
& a find of blackberry
called Dew berries, but the

[page 2]
greatest blessing is
we have good water
I should certainly be willing
to give one thousand at
last to have such a spring
as we have here transferred
to the yard at home
We remained in Camp
Monday but yesterday
morning (Tuesday) we went
down to the river at
Pucks Ferry where for some
time past 4 companies of our
Regiment have been stationed
We went down to see
them the distance is almost
6 miles. 4 companies went
down we had a fine time
& returned the same
evening
The road to the river is
a very pleasant one
winding down through

[page 3]
deep ravines to
The ferry is a well
arranged and is propelled
by the current of the river.
It is quite a novel affair
and will carry a large
load I guess it will
carry 4 companies at once
I will try and describe
how it is arranged
First. a large frame or
box filled with stones
is sunk in the middle of the river
about 300 yds above
where the ferry is intended
to be placed a string of
well braced post extends
above this frame or box
to which is attached the
cable which secures the
boat this Cable is suppor-
ted down to the boat
by some 10 floating buoys

[page 4]
in the shape of small
canoes, the cable is now
attached to the centre of
the boat (a large flat
bottomed affair) about 100 ft
from the boat two large
ropes are attached to the
cable & extend to windlasses
affixed to the ends of the
boat by tightening or
slacking these ropes the
boat is thrown around
so that the current strikes
against the side and
drives it across quite
rapidly too
The river at the ferry
is I should think about
200 yds wide
There are no indications
at present from which to judge
what we will do next
Yours Truly J D Templeton

James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio

MSS 10317

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

          Wednesday   July 16th /62
One year ago to day, I was
sworn into the Service of
the United States.  I am on
Guard.  Capt Fox Officer
of the day.  Lieut  Cary
Officer of the Guard,
Sergeant Shepard. Sergeant of
the guard.  At six O clock the
first Releif was detailed to go
down to the Depot to unload
Cars.  We got back to Camp
at eight O clock, and were
excused from further guard
duty, during the twenty
four hours.  When we were at
the  Depot a heavy shower
came up.  At half past
eight Major General Banks
came into Camp.  We were
prepared for him, and
when he entered, the Band
played hail to the Chief
amid the Cheers of the Regt
He made a short speech,
and, said he  I am happy
to say that I am again
to have the old Brigade
with me.  At this announcement
cheer after cheer the enthu-
-siasm of the Regt was
so great, that it was some
time before he could again speak,
so as to be heard,  Said he  I was
very much grieved when I left
you, or rather when you left me, or I
might say when we were separated,
for we never would have separated
our selves,  I would not leave you,
and I know you would not
separate from me, (cries of no no)
therefore some one did that
little job for us.  Since you
left me, we had a quick race
before us.  We were one to five,
if we had been one to four,
we would have held our ground
from that day till this.
If you had been with me,
we should not have run the
race at all.  I have been
invited to Boston, to speak
in Old Fanuel Hall.  It would
give me great pleasure to do so
and if I can spare the time
I will go  You fellow soldiers can
do a great deal in the cause.
Every mail that go from this
Camp there should be earnest
appeals to your Friends to come
into the field and help you
fight for the best Government on earth
After bidding us good night, and shaking
hands with the Officers he departed.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

                             Camp Green Meadows, July 22nd.
Have had a return of the Erysipelas, less
severe than the former attack, occasioned
by overheating myself too soon after getting
up from a sick bed, having walked from
Flat Top here in two-thirds of an
extremely hot day.  For five days have
been considerably indisposed, but am
again on the mend.
     Our present encampment is truly
a pleasant and healthy one.  By
means of the heavy=leafed boughs of oak
trees every where abounding in profusion,
the men have constructed green arbors,
welcome places of resort these hot
days.  One of the best springs, I have
ever seen supplies us with a plenty
of deliciously cool water, sufficiently
so without ice or a refrigerator.
We are now five miles from Pack’s
Ferry, where a detachment of the 23rd
still remains stationed.  Everything quiet
in this section, we now appear to be at peace with
                                                             the world.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925                                                                         

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

Wednesday 16th–Quite warm–No letter–two papers but no news–Mr John Rensher
is off–He came to tell the girls goodbye–Mr Vermillion has left too–Mr
Marshall has returned–I paid 4 visits yesterday-& must to again
this afternoon. Governor Levine & his daughter Ella called on all
the ladies this morning–We had quite a pleasant chat with them–
Mr Rensher says the lightning yesterday struck a tree in the Cam
-pus near the college building he occupies.

MSS 6960

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

Wednesday 16 –Hot–Hotter–Hottest. Or-
dinary routine duties–Randolph
McKim came last evening from
Charlottesville–He is now aid to
Gen Steuart–Letter from Eugene–
went in the evening to visit Mrs
Kean & then called at Sue’s

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Wednesday July 16, 1862

I was in a state of excitement this morning–
Last night Fannie talked me into the notion of
going home with her now–borrow Father’s horses
for the carriage & take Jack to drive – hire Mr. Feggins
wagon to carry the baggage to the river-I
thought I had it all planned nicely, spoke
to Mr. Downs to see Mr. F for me–When 
Father heard of it & said I had better not 
go that he would send after harvest any
day & Pa could meet me at the river.–I 
am afraid though something may happen to 
prevent it & still think I had better make the 
convenience of bro Charles as an escort & go I
will wait though till I hear from Mr F–
We all started to walk with bro Ca & sis 
B who were going to [?] when a tremendous
rain suddenly came up & gave us all
a good wetting, so we turned back,—
I wrote a long letter to you after supper-
intending to carry it over to Mr Brooks
whom I heard was going to Richmond early
f & I linger talking, every night. I will
miss her dreadful.
I did not read as much as usual in my
book to day.  I got id not read much in my 
book today,–I got so excited talking 
about home that I couldn’t read.


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


MSS 15406

Camp Stuart  July 16 82
Dear father I embrace the present
oppertunity of writing you a few lines
to let you know that I am well and
I hope that those few lines may find
you all well and enjoying the comforts
of the world farther I have now knews
to write  to you more than hard time and
I supose you know enough of them I
reckon you have herd from boyds men
and the untimely death of Brother Alex
I have never bin able to learn anything
about the boys more than what we could
here in papers and that want much we
are down on the river where we cant
here eny thing, I hope you have bin
able to learn all about the boys as
the wounded now gon home and you
must write me all the knews and let
me know what you have herd about
Alex and James farther I want to come
home some time in august if I
can get of I dont know now if
it will be but I will come up I can

[page 2]
I would like to come the best in
the world and stay 10 or 12 days
when the apples get ripe but
from all accounts we will have
to be fighting about that time as
the yankees are reported to be coming
back up the river again I dont care how
soon for I will get and get revenge
out of them for killing my brother Alex
farther we have not drawed eny money
yet and times are verry hard I wish
this cruel and unjust war was at an
end for I am getting awful tired of
it but I dont want it to wind up until
I can get a chance to kill one and I
think I will get act chance soon if
to days report is true but we cant
here the truth from here to the
spring to say you life but I am
living in hopes to see the yankees
whiped out of our land and then I
can return in quietness but not until
then do I want to come stay eny length

[page 3]
of time I saw a man since I
began to write who said Jake was
well I want to go and see him in
a short time we have had a hard
time but none of our boys got hurt
thought he yankees had us between
their gunboats and land baterys
and they coverd us up with their
shells but owing to the high bank
of the road they did not hurt eny of
us nor none of our horses though I
thought they had killed all of us
one time they trowed some bums
at us that weighed 140 pounds farth
farther you must write me all
the knews and send me some
tobacco by the first good chance
have  I have no knews to write
you giv my love to all the family
and receive a portion for yourself
be shore and write soon give
my love to all my friends
and relation

[page 4]
nothing more but remain your
devoted son until death

Fred Johnson

Could not identify Fred Johnson though a man  by that name later served in the 14th Virginia Cavalry organized in September 1862

Letter collected by the late Atcheson L. Hench, University of Virginia professor of English, who was fascinated by its phonetic spelling and what it revealed about the spoken language

MSS 8474-ab

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]

Tuesday
July 15

Went out on brigade drill.  Played
chess with Proctor.  Went out on dress
parade.  Afterwards the Adjutant had a sword
presented to him

MSS 11293

               Camp at White House, New Kent County
                              July 15th 1862
I have written you two or three notes from this place
my own darling wife.  We are still here guarding the stores
abandoned by the enemy when they retreated from this
place. I do not suppose any army ever went into the
field so well and so abundantly supplied as the army
led by Genl McClellan. Not only was the money of the
government lavishly expended to furnish an equip-
ment that would make the soldier comfortable & effective
but private charity had also poured a continuous stream
of kindness upon their sick & wounded.  Their transporta-
tion was most excellent; waggons, ambulances, & pontoon trains
of the finest description & in quantities that look to us
marvellous: besides these, the rail road was placed in good
order, and fine locomotives & cars were on them: Hay in
abundance was brought on their transports: portable forges
with large supplies of iron & steel, blacksmith and
carpenters tools of every description and circular
saws were all in their hands. Their commissariat abounded
in all that even luxury could ask: not only was there
pork & beef & beans & sugar & coffee & all the other articles
that go to make up the full ration of the soldier, but their
camps appear to have been stocked with preserved fruits
& vegetables, sardines, herrings, eggs, potatos, whiskey,
brandy, wines, also , porter, lemons, indeed all that the
palate cold desire.  Portable ovens as large as an
ordinary two horse waggon body were conveyed by
them from camp to camp.  their tents were of the
finest material & of most excellent construction.

[page 2]
In their hospitals were pleasant couches, mat-
tresses & pillows, sheets & pillow cases.  In
addition to what was furnished by the
Government & Sanitary Commission reg-
ularly organised sent on requisitions
of the Surgeons all that the sick and
wounded could need.  How much the
enemy carried off with them in their
retreat I cannot say:  but the
amount they destroyed & abandoned
was enormous: They burned a great
deal, but the amount left to us
is of great value to our govern-
ment.  The small arms they
burned were numerous.  I suppose
at this camp fifteen thousand.  It
must be some time, if ever, be-
fore Genl. MClellan can
have his army in the same

[page 3]
condition as before his late defeat.
  Pack the hams you have
purchased for me in a barrel
and send them to Richmond
directed to me to the care of
Wm. D. Gibbons.  I can make no
arrangements to receive chickens
or vegetables at present.
  I wish very much my darling
wife, I could be with you at this
time, but, of course, no furloughs
will be granted during the present
campaign.–The last letter I had
from you was dated the 5th  & 6th
In your postscript, dated the 6t, you
tell me of the bill of fare you wd
furnish if I could dine with
you.  It is very tempting,, but it
is to see you & our dear children, to
hold you to my heart, to kiss your

[page 4]
sweet lips, to hear your voice
to listen to you conversation
that I wish to visit our home.
    Give my warmest love to
Josie & ask her to kiss her little
girls for me.  I hope her visit
may be cheering to both of you.
Where is Crosby has he
recovered. The last time you
mentioned him your report
was that he was sick at
Petersburg.-
  My love to Mrs Riddle.  Kiss
our boys for me.  Remember
me to the servants.  I pray
daily, my darling, for blessings from
Our Heavenly Father on you all.
Farewell, dearest. I kiss you tenderly
& love you with intensest devotion
                       yr affec husband
                     John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, a lawyer and University of Virginia alumnus, was captain of Co. K, 3rd Virginia Cavalry


MSS 4021