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

Monday 14th  Cloudy–But pleasant–No mail last night–Another day to pass
without hearing any news of Tom–I have been reading all day & let the hour for visit
ing slip by–Mr Willie Rensher called to bid the young ladies goodbye–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Monday July 14, 1862

After I had read, & was just going to ask
Fannie to walk,- Mary came rushing into
my room & said I can’t imagine what is
the matter with Mother, she is talking –
& looks strangely.- Mother had been sick during
the night & was not at breakfast-  I went
into her room & found her talking wildly I 
advised Mary to send for the Dr. just as sis 
B. came in & was equally shocked to 
see her–But when I told Fannie & said 
that I had made her another julep.  Oh- that is 
the matter with her says F. she has had too 
much– & so  it proved when the Dr came 
after she had had a long nap, she revived her 
stomach as too weak, & she had taken two 
large juleps–It was a funny scene & all 
of us standing around in perfect amazement at 
her incoherent expressions–
Mary & I walked out & when we returned 
we found brother Charles C. had arrived–
He brought us no news from home but said they were 
all well when he saw them last — we were 
disappointed not to get a letter but when 
we reflected — we excused him–It was 
delightful to hear of all our 
county people and home–  Poor Mr R. Craighill 
was killed in the battle of Keyes Cross–


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


MSS 15406

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

Monday 14  Not yet recovered & feel
very weak.  Charles Minor star-
ted at 6 for Richd.  I sent by him
a packet to Maury & Co containing
$35000 to pay for Bonds bought
Saturday–Disagreeable rumor of
the advance of the enemy through
Culpeper–& that a party of cavalry
had reached Gordonsville–Jackson
is en route for that region with
a large force it is said–Mr Jellie
resumed his post today–Letter from
Lewis,   He is charged with making
a topographic map of the country
between James & Appomattox
–He was employed however during
the latter part of McClellans [retreat?]
in his rear, mapping the battle
fields–Dr Minor brought to
spend the evening Young Dr. [Frost?]of Georgia.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster dept.\

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

14  Luc spends every third night
with dear Nannie Gordon and nurses
her most acceptably.  Poor child.
I fear she will never rise from her
bed again.  She is a smart Christian
woman and very dear to us all
   I receive a letter from my old friend
Miss Ann Maury

Ann Maury, 1803-1876, daughter of James Maury, U. S. consul in Liverpool, 
England for over 40 years, was most noted for her extensive genealogical work on the Maury family.

MSS 2563-b

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, of Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Sunday
July 13

went up and got some ether to take
staid round in the tent and read &c

MSS 11293

                                  Hd Quarters 1st Brig
                                       Va Vols July 13th
                                         Sabbath Evening
My dearest friend,

                On a dirty sheet of paper captured
of the yankees I am about to write a few lines
I have seen enough of battles, wounded men and
all the circumstances of the battlefield to do me
for years to come.  Have lived 5 days on a
little number of crackers and no meat,
have had men killed on either side of me
and in fact had a good time in general.
  Haven’t had time to think of anybody
in the world–already it seems as if
it were years since I left Nelson and
yet I have not the slightest wish to re-
turn–Have seen many friends–many
that I shall never see again–everybody
seems to have been killed except myself.
I was in Richmond on yesterday–called
on Miss Ella Palmer for a few minutes
she said Waid was “destestable, greatest
fopp she ever saw”. I saw said youth
some days ago–delivered note–he
said he was going next day to start
for Balto.  I only saw him for a few
minutes as I was in great haste.
I dined at Dr. Bolton’s on yesterday.  Was
surprized to meet John Stockton late yesterday
evening on his way to the theatre.
Saw Summerfield Smith and George in town
yesterday–met Carter Singleton the other
day-Haven’t seen Charles.  I am now
aching courier at Hd qs of 1st Brgade
for Genl. Winder.  Flies light on my
hand so that I cannot possibly write

[page 2]
Consequently shall expect you to ex-
cuse.  Remember me to all friends
Tell Miss Mary that I would write to her
but that she can see from the letters
that I  have nothing to say.  I have never been
able to hear one word from the letters
you and Miss Mary wrote to me–although
I have diligently inquired for them.
I hardly know where to tell you
to direct, your answer if this is
worth answering–But suppose you
had better Direct
                    to care of Genl. C.S. Winder
                    Comd 1st Brig Va Vols
                         Near Richmond
                   Genl. Jacksons Division
                      or Army of the Valley
When time is more to command
and I have more settled ideas I shall
again write.  If you would do anything
to alleviate the ennui of monotonous
cam life–now doubly tiresome when
quiet follows so closely upon the heels
of the battle’s roar write to me
               Your best friend
                   P. G. Harrison
[?] being published was a gross piece of slan-
der and shall be corrected.

Peachy Gessner Harrison, 1839-1926, 2nd Regiment Virginia Cavalry

MSS 38-111
 

[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 13th 1862
After breakfast with Mrs H at 8
this morning, went round to see Mullie
& got his papers & accts of Capt Goodwin – Mr
H lent me his horse & I rode out to
Camp Randolph & settled Mullies business
there with the qr’master – Returned at 12 ½
o’c but learned from Brother George that
there is no afternoon train on Sunday to
Petersburg – dined with Mr & Mrs H – after
which we went round to Mr Dunlops &
spent the Evening there with Mullie – Mr
& Mrs D were very Kind in their Expressions
of regret at our departure – Returned to Mr
Harveys at 9 o’c & spent the Evening with
them – Jacksons army are moving by
rail in the directions of the valley today
Pope is reported at Gordonsville – Wrote a
letter to Sallie & one to Miss Sallie Didlake –
Did not get up to bed till 12 ½ o’c
tonight – up packing –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

[letter of Andrew J. Gillespie of Ancell’s Company, Virginia Light Artillery, continues]

Sunday Evening July 13
no change in my helth since yesterday Washington Black has just
returned from drury’s Bluff whoom I expect to send this letter by and
he saw nathan Nathan and says he Nathan was doing duty But looked
rather thin from the fact that the company had a vary hard time bellow
here hard marching and they say nearly starved which is the case on
all marches and int time of Battle they Have moved Back to drurys Bluff
where they ware before the fite, the conscript law exempting men over 35 years
of age who have not reinlisted has on the 16 day of the present month has bin
in doubt in our camp whether o not it would go into effect on account of
some little piece that came out in the papers a short time ago but
Mr Black say it was read out to the men at Drurys Bluff last night
that they would bee let off the 16 and if it dos go into effect Nathan
will bee at home in a short time and posaby before you receive this litter
I have not knews concerning the too armys it is said however that some of our
Troops are falling Back and I suppose to get and more healthy region out of the
swamps
            Davy King is complaining a little But does duty and eats his meals o
I hope nothing serious Harvy has bin right Poly since his pa was hear and took
some medison but has got well again infact he was not so but what he could
go about but I could see he felt vary badly their has bin a goodmany of this camp
sent off sick and I am glad to see that heir is no difaculty in geting them
off to Hospitals in their own county if they are abloe to go and the men think
that is the greatest thing  thing [sic] Fluvanna has done during the war to establish
                                                                                                 Hospitals in the county

[page 3]
when Davy wrote to his wife we expected to move down the road but the
officers did not like the camp and they moved to this place and if we move
from this place I will let you Know as soon as I can
    question does Leewellen and Edga grow mutch Do they go off from the
house and stay like they used to doo when I was their if they doo I know you
must suffer with uneasyness I hope you have lernt them better doo you stay
by yourself mutch who stays with you have you baught any corn and what doo you
have to pay I admire your refusing to accept any contribution from the [word omitted]
and I want to try to Keep you in something to eat eaven if you have to sell
something that you can spair best and live on it. as long as you can make out
I dont want it to bee throwed at you that the county had to support you
in my absence and if I live I hope you can make out until the war
is over which I hope will not bee many months at most and peace cant come
too soon for me and if I live to see it it will bee the happyest day that
ever have seen in my life and not me only, but all the privates=

[page 4]
=we are expecting when cosin Jame comes down that you and Davy wife will
send us somethin from Home to eat for that is all the talk  if I was gust at
home to get something cook at home & milk ane Buter and vegitables to eat it is in
the mouth of evry one that I hear say any about eating I want to hear from
Jas Houchins let me hear in your letters how he is geting all is quiet here and not talk
of Fighting we have had some vary hat days here and it is said that a great ma[n]y of
the wounded died it is said that nearly too Hundred have bin buryed at
Oakwood Cematry in one day and for several days together of course the sick
and wound are included in the number I have see upwards of 40 buryed
in a day of the sick only Lewis goes home Monday sick he started yesterday
but was too late to take the Boat, John Keid  has bin goon home several days
the old man stayed until he got him off I will close by subscribing myself
                                                           your devoted Husband A.J. Gillespie
dont let metus forget his pa sis &
mary I recon will forget me in the clear
Len & Edga dont want to see their pa do you
what did Ed say to his whip I sent him

MSS 9564

July 13  1862

Dear Father

It has been
about two weeks since I have
received any letter from you
You have not answered my
last letter but I will write
once more.  I thought that
before this I should have
been to my Regt but have
not got my pay the Dr
has been saying that the
Pay master would be here
until I begin to think
that he is not coming
at all & think of going
this to washington this
week after it but may
not for my paymaster may
not have come back from
down the river & I may not

[page 2]
go for a week or two. should
I go & any letters come here
for me they will be sent to
me.  It has been very cool
thus far for July.  I am very
much better than I was
when I came here.  our food
better then it was at
first. we can buy milk
for 8 cts a qt & blackberies are
very plenty also whortleberies
I eat a great many as they
are very healthy & all we
have to do is to pick them
What kind of a time
did you have the 4th
did they have a knockdown
at Platt[?]  I have got my
tooth in it fils good &
I can eat with it. the boys
cannot tell it from my
other teeth.  the Gov is soon
to let us carry on the war

[page 3]
as we like & that will not
be to guard Reble propety
but to help our selves to
what we like.  Are eny of the
Spencer boys enlisting
or had they rather be drafted
& get 8 or 11 Dol a months &
no bounty & be laughed
at by the Volenteers. They
boys will stand a chance
to be drafted.  A Gen
Casey of Ohio was here
& addressed us the other
day he spoke right to
the point.  Has Hud[?] gone
to his Reg or is he in
N.Y. I have two good
shirts Amsa Westbrook
is here.  Cap Carl of the
26 Reg I hear has resigned
& gone home to get up a
Reg. Diven has gone
home to raise troops

[page 4]
it is about time that the
north were stired up
again.  I think that there
will be need of a good
many more troops & I  hope
that N.Y. will not be the first
to draft but she has used her
men about as poorly as an
state in the union

[letter of Charles Ellery Bradley of the 32nd New York will continue on the 15th]

MSS 9728