[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
July 4th
Early this morning our out posts were attacked,
but after a gallant defense, our pickets
caused the rebs to retire. At 12 M and at six
P. M. D. battery 2nd U. S. fired a national
salute. In the afternoon. Franklin reviewed
his corps in their encampments. Were in
harness all day. Pleasant and warm.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
[ from the war journal of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts as compiled by him from letters and diary entries]
Harrison’s Point – July 4th 1862.
We arrived here yesterday, and found the mud positively
three feet deep, and the toughest and stickiest mud you
ever heard of. Ninety three of our men actually had
their boots pulled off by it in marching, and could not
dig them out again. Tell Aunt M.* that I’ll
never find fault with her Port mud and dust again.
It is positively dry compared to this, on your muddiest
day. McClellan’s head quarters are
about quarter of a mile from us. We are in Gen.
Porter’s Army Corps, Morrell’s Division, Griffin’s Brigade,
all of which you must put on letters addressed to me,
as also Washington, D. C. By this, I shall receive
letters much more speedily than by any other address.
*Mrs. Washington Allston [this name inserted in another handwriting]
The fighting which has been going on for more than a
week, ceased on the day of our arrival, so we have had
no share yet; trust to soon, but I fear not, as McClellan’s
continuous falling back, though we were every where vic-
torious (of this there is no doubt) proved that there is
something on the tape’s – probably McClellan decoying
the rebel Army here – twenty miles from Richmond –
while Gen. Pope, with his large force, marches into the
city, and quietly occupies it – At all events, some-
thing rich is at hand. I trust, that if the above
supposition proves correct, we shall be able to cut the
Rebel Army up. I hope my next will describe an
engagement of our regiment with the rebels.
We are camped in the woods, no tents now, with
thousands of troops in our vicinity, and have orders to
sleep on our arms tonight – I have been writing
on the stump of a tree, with a candle stuck in a
knot hole. I have been informed that a few miles
further along, the walking is even worse than here; at
our place, for instance, they send sounders (as they are
called) ahead to sound the mud, and see that no other
regiments are underneath – (This is a ‘joak”.)
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5130
[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later date]
July 3 I slept soundly
this morning. I got a boy to purchase a pair of
boots for me and a pair of Socks for three times
the worth of each article. Employed a soldier
to take my pants to the River & wash them
for which I gave him a dollar. In the meantime
the officers sent me some coffee, bread & butter
& cheese & I made a sumptuous breakfast
By the time I was dressed I saw the Company
Sergeant of my regiment, hailed him, ascertained
where the regiment was located & bid adieu to
my Kind friends who I learned were officers
of the 53d Pennsylvania. I shall never forget
them. may they ever be prosperous & happy.
Before I reached my regiment I was utterly dis-
gusted. The enemys shells came into this immense
Camp. The thing was so sudden, unexpected and
alarming! How could it be. They were more than
mortal men if they followed us the day before, &
yet the stubborn fact presented itself that they
were there. By the time I reached my friends the
whole Army was in line, each regiment for itself.
We were told that the bayonet only must be relied
on, for the rains of yesterday had made the guns
unfit for immediate use. We were sickened. Here
we had been fighting every day for more than a
wee, Were without food & wanted rest, sill the
devils pressured us without mercy. What would
be the end of all this! Our fears were soon set at
rest by three rousing cheers which came from
the point where this battery had been stationed
A few men sent out had captured it. It proved
to be a small party of rebels with two pieces of
Artillery, which was scouring [or scanning] the country & not
being posted as to the condition of affairs, and
not having reconnoitred sufficiently was ig-
norant of the strength of the Federals & fired
upon us–the consequence was their capture–
We marched to our camping ground, a wide
clear place, plenty of grass, where we built
our bowers & laid down & enjoyed for that day
at least one “otium cum dig[nate].” We were almost as
new born babes. We had but a few dirty rags
to cover us. The Cape of my overcoat which I had
rescued from the flames at Savage Station was
my only bedding & the bowers of brush were our only
tents. But we were gratified for we had rest. We
were free from a victorious enemy’s assaults. Their
shells came not near us. And for the first time
for weeks there was profound quiet in the air–
None but those who had suffered as we did for
the past ten days could appreciate the comfort of
lying under the shade of bowers enjoying a sleep
which was not likely to be disturbed by the whizzing
& whirring of the enemy’s missiles & the stentorian call
of our officers to “fall in”–It seemed too luxurious to last.
MSS 9044
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Thursday
July 3
Felt rather better today, The Dr.
guessed I would be all right to morrow.
Have read considerable and played euchre
and also a game of backgammon.
MSS 11293
Camp on Williamsburg being one mile From Rockets
July 3rd 1862
Dear Susan
While I write I am well and I hope you
all are the same I feel thankful to the allwise that I am
spared while of hundreds of our men have fallen in the fight
before Richmond a portion of our company tried to get in
the fite by takeing a vary large gun and goin down[?] twice
gut they could not get in the fite I heard from Capt Poors
comany this morning Some of the company was wounded
but none killed dead William wilkerson was wounded
The worst that I herd of but I hope he will survive Wm
Lane E King Fra[n]k Jones tom morris John Allgree Garret
Payne is all safe this morning Some of which was not in the
fight Dick Richardson was wounded slitely in the jaw
and some others that I cant recolect
The 57th Regiment I understand was down on this
side But I doo not know whether they was in the fite but I hope
to hear from them this evening & if I doo not I shal try and
go down there on tomorrow if Posable the last time I herd
from Nathan they was at drurys bluff and he was complaining
but it is said the regiment was down on our lines this side
of Jas Rifer The Battle here has ben a despret one I have
Since writeing the above I have herd the 57t was in the fite
but I have not bin able to hear any particulars as to what their
loss was nor doo I know whether Nathan was in the fite
but if I doo not hear before cosin gimmy leavs I will
try to find out as soon as posable and write to you
immediately as you all will bee uneasy no doubt
[page 2]
you must of herd a great tale about my going to the hospital
and I think the bairer had better said with his Brother a
fiew days when he was here for he was sick then and had
bin complaining for some time but he would not let me write
a word about it but on the contrary made me write that
he was well when I knew he was not well I mean Jas Huchins
but when he could not go any longer the doctor sent him to
the hospital and stuck to him to the last and when we got
to the capitol Square he was about exausted I had to fan
him like a child and when we got to camp winder I had to take
him out of the wagon and their I was compelled to leave him
the next day Henry Irving got him transfered to Scottsvill
and I hope he is at home by this time if not his wife will
know where to find him I thought him quite sick
when I left him
in your letter you said you woul[d] devide the last with the
soldiers but I have not net with anyone to give me a crumb since
I left home on our march from yorktown we had to parch
corn and eat our rashion was so short so I think you had
better save some for your childre[n] for you doo not know when
i can plant another crop Save your Bacon until you see
whether you will have any hogs to kill and then you can
sell all you will have to Spare I sent you $20 and you said not
send me word whether you got it or not cosin gimmy can tell
you more news than I can write I have seen lots of priso
=ners and our wound is distressing to say nothing of the
dead it is thaught the yankey are cleard out from this
region give my love to all and believe me your Affetionate husband
A J Gillespie
Andrew J. Gillespie Ancell’s CompanyVirginia Light Artillery
MSS 9564
Camp near Battlefield of Tuesday
July 3rd 1862
My own dear Bettie
I sent you a letter this morning–it may not
reach you I send my boy down to Richd in great haste on business
& send this to let you hear of me. Was under fire all [Friday?]
& could not fire without endangering our troops–No casualties in
our company except one missing. On 1st July we were very
hotly engaged under cross fire of 3 or 4 batterys and must have
been destroyed unless we had been protected by a small
depression in the ground which we took advantage of to
protect our men while we fired over the eminence. Had 3 men
wounded–two, both in my section very severely & one of them I fear
mortally, the third only slightly wounded. I ran many narrow risks
but thanks to Almighty God! I was untouched. May God so bless me
in future. My thoughts constantly wander to you, my dear Bettie.
My heart yearns to see you. I hope & pray that you may be very
well–I am myself, hearty & strong–but very black. I have heard
from you once since I saw you, your letter being dated June 4th. Write
to the care of Capt Carrington Va Battery, 8th Brigade (Gen Taylor) Gen Ewells
Division. With best love to all
Yours fondly,
James Dinwiddie
Wm G. Field (Miss Fannie Venables friend) & Wm J. Green of Charlotte
were killed in the fight on Tuesday
My stamps are all wet & I have to send
letter with my name.
James L. Dinwiddie, 1st Lt., Carrington’s Company, Virginia Light Artillery
MSS 10102
District of West Tennessee
Office of the Provost Marshal General
Memphis Tenn–July 3d 1862
Special order No 11
X X X X X X X
The provost marshal of the
city of Memphis will give notice to the
occupant of the late residence of the
Rebel General Williams on Shelby
Street that said residence is required
for Government purposes and will
be taken possession of to morrow
after twelve o’clock–The occupant
will not remove from said resi-
dence any property not belonging
to himself–
By order
Wm S. Hillyer
Provost Marshal General
MSS 10645
Surgeon Generals Office
Richmond July 3, 1862
Sir,
You are instructed to inform the
medical officers within your district who
examine Recruits that they should not be
rejected for trivial defects, but all passed
who are capable of bearing arms.
A Certificate of Disability from
any medical man, is not a sufficient
cause for the rejection of a recruit: it is
requisite that such certificates should come
from a Medical Officer designated or detailed
for their examinations.
Very Respt Yr obt. Servt.
S. P. Moore
Surgn General
Surgn A. T. Foard
Medical Director
Tupela Miss.
Samuel Preston Moore, 1813-1889
MSS 3945-a
July 3d 1862
Dear Mother
I write
to let you know
that I am well & unhurt
up to this time, I write
this on the side of the
road. I sent word to
Aunt Mary & asked
her to write to you
I have seen nothing of
either Willie or Tom
but would have heard
if they were hurt
None of our officers
are hurt
M L Randolph
to Mrs T J Randolph
Keswick
Albemarle
Meriwether Lewis Randolph, 1837-1871, great grandson of Thomas Jefferson
MSS 9828
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday, July 3, 1862
Got pass this
morning for Campbell
& myself
Guard mounting after
which we practiced
After dinner went
out to Mrs Hariss
got little butter & milk
bought small towel
Mr Brames came in
with me
Parade & drill this
evening
Sweet is back with
us again
Clear warm day
Men building a
bake oven
MSS 10317
