[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
Thursday 3
Moved; this evening, one
mile nearer Richmond
where we took up camp
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Thursday 3d pouring down rain–2 letters one from Joe—The other
from Mrs Jewett–She mentions the death of Clarence Martin-A
very fine young man killed in the battle before Richmond–Her
son Shepherd had also gone off as substitute for some gentleman–He
is only 16 years of age–War news still favourable to the Confederates..
Our forces have driven the Federals to their gunboats–or at best
McLennan’s endeavouring to get there–But Stone Wall Jackson
if nothing unforseen occurs will take them all–Mondays fight
has been a terrible one–Thousand[s] of our brave men have fallen–
McGruder’s &Huger’s divisions were engaged–
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
3d Lucy & I take a 10 mile ride
I met Dr Washington and got late
Richmd Papers. Terrible terrible
fighting near Richmond! We have
beaten the Enemy badly, but with a
terrible cost of life
MSS 2563-b
[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler ]
Thursday July 3 1862
The sun shone brightly & we started early to
Orleans. Mary, Cary, Tom Jacque & myself–
Called at Mrs. Duncan’s, found Orleans more
empty than we expected as Mr. Johnson had
gone to Washington to buy more goods. We got a
few things and then went on to Prospect Hill–
Found Beck alone as Cousin Eliza & Milly
were at Dr. S[tribling]s. I should have said Mrs. Little was
spending the day with her. She was very glad to
see us– Cousin Jacquelin didn’t come home
till late. Had some trouble about a horse
— Beck was very uneasy about him. she reminded
me so much of myself. When cousin Jacquelin
came he tried to satisfy her as to what he had
done but she as convinced he might have acted
differently. He wants to go to Richmond–But
Beck said indeed it is a hard case for you to
bring me here to stay & then go off and leave me
all the time. Well I won’t go if you
object to it said Cousin J[acque]—so they went on–
I thought that if I only had you at home I
would not complain anymore when you wanted
to make a visit or when you staid out late or spent
the day away from home when you had intended returning–
Those days seem “long ago”–
Cousin Jacquelin brought rumors of the fight–
& we claim a victory so far but we are still fighting–
Oh it is awful.
As transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor
MSS 15406
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Artillery]
July 3rd
About ten A. M, Gen Mc Clellan commenced
to form his new line. Shortly after, the rebs
who had followed close on our rear, opened
on us with a rifled battery, making some
excellent shots, but they could not dance long
to the music of the 100 pdrs from our Gun boats,
so they retired, and all became quiet again.
By 9. P. M. our line was formed. Our battery is
now on piquet. Cloudy, unpleasant and very
muddy.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat, with five sons in the Confederate Army.]
Thursday 3 clear. There were buried
to day Kirk Seabury, of the Home
Guard & young Mitchell of the Rifle
greys. both killed Monday Evg–also
Col Seymour of the 7 La Regt. killed
Friday last–We hear of many distres
sing casualties–young Fields with
whom I travelled 18 mos ago was killed
–being the 2d son the Judge has lost
within six weeks–The news today
is that the enemy have abandoned
the James River [?] and are retreat
ing on the Charles city Road, hoping
to reach Wsburg & York. I do
not see how half of them can es
cape I have it from the Secy of
War, through his nephew Lt. ran-
dolph, that we have taken 90[?] cannon
15000 stand of arms, immense stores
notwithstanding they destroyed such
quan[ti]ties–six generals one [since?] [dead?]
and 6 or 8000 prisoners. Gen Lee has
not made the first mistake–His admi
rable plan has been admirably carried out.
From Yankee papers it is gratifying
to learn that the reinforcements
which we so much dreaded, had
actually been recd by McClellan
before the battle, as evinced by
the capture of McCall who had
a division of [10,000] There never
was a more brilliant campaign of
which [?] [?] [?]
Launcelot left us this morning.
He was well he thought, and a
sense of duty would not allow
him to remain longer away from
the company.
MSS 4763
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts Infantry]
Wednesday
July 2
Went up to surgeon this morning
Have felt pretty sick today, it rained some
MSS 11293
[writing faded and illegible in places]
James River Road 17 miles Rich
mond Wednesday July 2 ’62
My dear Father [David Meade Bernard]
I have a small scrap of paper & drop you a line to relieve
all uneasiness about myself. A kind providence has spared me through
the perils of another engagement. Yesterday afternoon we [encountered?]
the enemy at this place where one of the most terrific battles of the war
took place. Our loss was tremendous. The field was strewn with
our dead & wounded. The fight commenced about 2 in the afternoon
with artillery. About four our brigade was ordered to charge the
enemys [battery?] which we did with tremendous [cheering?] The battery
fell back and as we [drove?] upon the summit of the hill from which
it had been firing. Both parties opened with musketry which
continued until after dark. Hardly had the enemy’s artillery
left its first position that its artillery it opened again
on us & played incessantly upon unreplied to by
our own We slept on the battle field surrounded by
[page 2]
the dead & wounded. Our regiment behaved most
gallantly. Every brigade & regiment wavered but
the 12th–I wish I had time to write more. I have
heard nothing from Dick–Brother still at camp
Our regiment suffered seventy-two of our [?]
Co J killed outright, several missing. Love to
all I trust we may not meet the enemy again
Yr Aff Son
G S Bernard
George Smith Bernard, 1837-1912, 12th Virginia Infantry, after the war a Petersburg,Va., lawyer and member of the House of Delegates
MSS 7745
