[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Wednesday, July 2, 1862
Heavy rain all
night and this forenoon
Lay around doing
nothing. read some
read the Sentimental
Traveler or travels in
France & Germany also
a book on Fort Life[?]
Took letter down to
John Benton this evening
read some of his letters
one from Mary [?]
did not rain this
afternoon.
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]
Wednesday July 2 1862
We found it raining this morning & gave up going to
P[rospect] H[ill]. I feel so oppressed & out of spirits I
can’t compose myself. Fannie is reading the Dutch
Republic aloud to me & I must confess my
mind wanders very often though it is beautifully
written and deeply interesting. I was making a
dress and she read aloud all the morning–
This evening I laid down in Sis Bs room & took
a short nap after noon and read Washington’s life till dark–
At the supper table I ventured to remark
that if I could , I would send home to
know what was going on; & when they hooted
me down in the most overpowering manner,
I said that I knew if “Mr Ambler was here,
he would send anyhow.” That raised quite a
din of voices & sis B said it was the most
foolish talk she had ever heard. She knew Jack
wouldn’t do any such thing, But since
supper, she came to my room and said she was
sorry she had spoken so. To tell the truth, I
am afraid that I became excited & spoke
in an angry tone but certainly when I
commenced speaking I had no idea of
raising such an opposition. I try to learn
not to speak when I see others are violent=
but my tongue will betray me & I
go on & do & say just what I would rather
not- We will go tomorrow if it is a pleasant
day-
Jack/ Mr Ambler: her husband Richard Jaquelin Ambler, currently in the army
[1972 transcript by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]
MSS 15406
[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
2d I read in Lucy Howards Journal
by Mrs Sigourny–a pleasant book.
For morning devotions I am nearly at
the close of Bishop Wilsons Sacra
Privata–a choice work. I am
kept moderately busy with practice.
Mother mightily put to it to get
domestic & lot work done–Every
thing out of joint and Servants
all demoralized. Little Kitty a
great pest.
MSS 2563-b
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s battery]
July Wednesday 2
Rained hard, in camp
3 miles west of the last
Battle field
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Wednesday 2 We found it raining when we awake & it has con
tinued to do so all day–Turning very chilly & “fall” like towards
night–I have not been able to call on cousin Sally–But sent her a
message—Eliza received a letter from Mr Mason this morning
saying he would be here soon–He said nothing of Toms being
in the engagement–only mentioned him slightly–So that I am
still kept in suspense as to his whereabouts-& what doing–Mrs
Campbell has just sent to know if I knew one of Mr Martins
sons was killed in the battle–that she heard he was thro’ a letter
received from her mother today–I hope sincerely it may not be true.
I heard from Mr Jewett to day. all were well–He sent Richd dividend
from the R R–$50–& mentioned that Jimmie Wright’s body
had arrived in Wilmington & he was to be buried at the cemetery–
Poor fellow how soon he has followed his father & cousin Joe—-
So young. So promising–All, all in vain–But he died in
a righteous cause–fighting for his liberty, his home–& his
just rights–& to keep the invaders of our soil from his
fireside & dear ones–
MSS 6960
Your faithful blogger, hereinafter known as the other half of Dawson’s Raiders (mild mannered librarian by day, fearless blogger by night) has been temporarily stymied by a “wind event” that left her home without power three nights ago. When electricity is restored the Raiders shall resume their ride bringing you all the latest from the home front and camps of both armies.
Wednesday July 2d 1862
Camp “I dont know where”
My dear wife
Since my last letter we have
in three successive days engaged
the enimy [sic] & routed them each
time. Thus we have had in
six days six fights and
driven McClelland & his hosts
a distance of between 20 & 30
miles. The fight yesterday was
the hardest & most doubtful
of all & lasted from early in
the morning until two hours
after dark, during which time
musketry & artillery kept up a
continual & terable [sic] roar
our Brigade was assigned the
duty of supporting our batteries
on the extreme left and
[page 2]
were subjected to a continued
fire from 30 of the enimies [sic]
guns, and yet our loss was small
my regiment occupied a position
over which the shells exploded &
the pieces fell in front & in
rear on the right & left &
now & then in our midst. if
we had been 15 feet out of
this position in any direction
many would have been hurt
but it was only three were
touched Lewis Knicely of Woodstock
& Wm Bamber of Harrisonburg
were slightly wounded and
Genl Lewis’ son William had
a bruise in his arm oh my
darling, how good & merciful
God has been to me & my reg-
iment. How wonderfully he has
[page 3]
preserved us from harm. Yester
day I could not help but feel
as the missils [sic] of death were
flying all around us that
the Great Ruler of the Universe
was in mercy turning them
from our destruction. The
fight was terable [sic] & the
enimy [sic] held their own until
the close or very near it.
we had gained only a slight
advantage, except in position
I understand that just about
dark a Division of ours
had gained their right flank
which would have enabled us
to gain an easy victory to
day, but during the night
the enimy [sic] retreated leaving their
killed & wounded in our possession
[page 4]
and I have just been told
that two prisoners have been
brought in who state that
all but two Brigades had
crossed the James River under
protection of their Gun boats
at a point above the mouth
of the James Chickahominy River on
Sunday the entire force of
the enimy [sic] crossed the Chicka
hominy at New bridge to the
Richmond side Monda Sunday
Monday & tuesdays [sic] fights all
occured [sic] on that side. the
last fight occured [sic] about 3 or
four miles from the James
River & about 15 from Rich-
mond. I dont know how
many prisoners we have
some say 12000 before
[page 5]
yesterdays fight the loss
in killed & wounded is in-
deed terable [sic] on both sides, but
much greater on the enimy [sic]
we have captured a great
many supplies & wagons
& over 1000 horses & mules
& a great many Guns &
small arms. Notwithstanding
our continued success the
enimy [sic] have retreated with
order & each time when
closely pressed have made
a fierce obstinate & gallant
stand. in fact each time
seemed to require all our
effort to drive them, &
yesterday we could not do
it & we were the first
to cease firing. I tell
[page 6]
you the truth is they fight
so well that I am sometimes
surprised that they retreat
at all & wonder why they
do, and am all the time
feaf fearful of something
going wrong. but now
that they are beyond the
James I hope all is right.
Capt Coffman sends a note
for Mrs Coffman please have
it delivered at once. I heard
that you were boarding at
the Exchange. I am glad of
it, & hope you like it.
Most affectionately
E.T.HWarren
We have had very little to eat
but crackers since the fight began
& I have just slept on the ground
with the men, stand it pretty well
“Camp “I dont know where””, heading – The bivouac of the 10th VA Infantry was located a short distance from Malvern Hill.
“McClelland”, line 6 – George B. McClellan, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.
“The fight yesterday”, line 8 – The Battle of Malvern Hill occurred on 1 July 1862.
“our Brigade”, line 15 – The brigade consisted of the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments, along with Wooding’s Danville (VA) Artillery Battery.
“Lewis Knicely”, page 2, line 13 – Lewis C. Kneisley, 2nd Sergeant, Company F, 10th VA Infantry. He was wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell at the Battle of Malvern Hill.
“Wm Bamber”, page 2, line 14 – William Bamber, Private, Company C2, 10th VA Infantry. He joined as a substitute on 10 April 1862. His wound in the head received at the Battle of Malvern Hill was more serious than noted by Warren; it resulted in his absence from his company. Bamber did not rejoin the unit until 19 September 1862.
“Genl Lewis’ son William”, page 2, line 16 – William M. Lewis, Private, Company B, 10th VA Infantry.
“Capt Coffman”, page 6, line 10 – Isaac G. Coffman, Captain, Company B, 10th VA Infantry.
“Mrs Coffman”, page 6, line 11 – Magdalene McD. Smith married Isaac G. Coffman in 1852.
“the Exchange”, page 6, line 14 – Exchange Hotel, Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, VA.
“E.T.HWarren”, page 6, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.
[transcript by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g
[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later date]
July 2 At the first peep of day we were up & under arms.
In our ignorance, happy ignorance, we supposed the
whole army was yet with us. Our little brigade of
regulars was drawn up in battle array where
the enemy cold have a full view of us. Here
we stood some time. It was a dull, dark,
cloudy, murky, close morning. We were without
breakfast & I had not even so much as a
drink of water. During all the night previous
I had about a gill of warm water in my
canteen with which i wet my tongue at intervals
long between. Now if we were to be attacked a-
gain I should suffer terribly for want of it.
About 6 o’clock the 14th was conducted into a
long line of rifle pits where by spreading out
we made considerable show. At this time I
came across a straggler who had a canteen
of water, fresh. I negotiated with him for it &
finally I purchased the water for a gold dollar,
he pouring it from his canteen into mine—
About 7 o clock it began to rain. I was without
any protection. The rain increased & I wrapped
myself up in straw with which the rifle pits
were tolerably full, but the rain soon found its
say through this & it was not long ere I was
wet to the skin. We spent perhaps an hour or
more here when we got orders to leave the pits
a few at a time & to struggle, indifferently
as if were towards a wood not far in the rear.
In a short time we were all congregated in this
wood where we struck a line for our old
position, the plateau of Malvern Hill. We reached
it in a short time in the midst of torrents of
rain. Our consternation may be more easily im-
agined than described, This immense plain which
the evening before was filled to overflowing with
the stupendous army and with all the parapha-
nalia of its equipment, its horses, its wagons, its
artillery, was totally deserted. The army had
left during the night & our poor little brigade
was all that was left to interpose between the
Grand Army of the Potomac & the rebel army.
As soon as the men could sling their knapsacks
which had been left here the day before under
a guard we left to join the main army.
The windows of heaven seemed opened. The
roads & the surrounding Country were all under
water. It washed down the hills almost fearful to
behold. We who had been under fire for so many
days were in danger of our lives from getting under
water. Of course the mud & mire was bottomless.
As we straggled along endeavoring to keep
from being carried away by the torrents rushing
impetuously on both sides of the road, our
attention could not but be attracted to men
standing by the roadside here & there each one
with an axe in his hand, standing by a tree
nearly cut through and only waiting for one
last man or horse to pass to fell it across
the road. Besides these groups of men were
stationed at each little bridge ready to blow it up
when we had passed—We were the rear–guard
of the “Grand Army of the Potomac,” As we
trudged on we came to a line of boxes of hard
bread. There was no time to issue it and each
man as he passed by took a handful and as
it was tolerably wet there was considerable di-
ving towards the bottom of the box to find a few
dry ones. I got about half a dozen & put them in
a haversack which I foraged from a dead soldier
in the morning, but in a little while they were
wet through & unfit to eat. On we trudged for
three or four miles farther when a halt was called
A line of battle of the brigade was formed and
preparations made to keep the enemy in check
in case they pursued us. Here I found among
the débris of an old camp, a white (or what had
once been white) rose blanket, evidently rebel–I
put it on my shoulders & it was very comfor-
table indeed–for I was wet to the skin & the
rain had made me very cold. No enemy came,
They had been badly cut up the night before &
were most too sore to follow & beside the terrible
storm of water was too much for their fire—–
We then moved on towards James River at Harrisons
Landing. We got in sight of the army about 1 P.M.
The mud &water were too much for my shoes, the
soles were at variance with the uppers and my
feet being filled with sand found there at every step.
Being in sight of Camp I halted to see if I could’nt
remedy my troubles. Ere I could ascertain that at
present they were remediless the regiment got out of
my sight–I moved on in the direction I last saw
them taking expecting to overtake them, but could
not find them. Nor did I find them that day.
I walked over that immense plain, through mud
& mire & then walked back again, then I took
another line & pursued that both ways. Mud
over ankle deep was not in my way, for I was
lost & had no home until I could find my
regiment–I could not hear of it–Nobody knew
where anybody else was. I ascertained next day
that I had been within a hundred yards of it
two or three times, but there were so many regiments
and so many men and they were all so covered
with mud, that one could not be told from another.
As I walked on the banks of the James River I got a
soldier to fill my canteen. The water was thick
with mud, but it tasted good–By this time it was
nearly dark & I must have some place to sleep,
but where should I find it? I passed some wall
tents near the old Berkly Mansion. I went to
them, knocked at one & entered–I was a sweet
looking object wrapped up in a dirty white blanket
with my drawn sword in my arms, mud from head
to foot & no doubt they thought so. I spoke:
“Gentlemen, I am an officer of the regular Army, through
a mishap I have lost my regiment & have sought it
in vain for the last three or four hours. I was in the
fight yesterday evening, slept on the battle field
which we left this morning, am hungry, thirsty,
tired, sleepy & wet. Have lost everything but honor
& my money & desire a place to sleep.” An
officer said I should have it & gave me a shelter
tent with a bundle of straw under it. I divested
myself of the remnant of my shoes, got off my
pants, wrapped myself in my rose blanket & was
soon oblivious to all earthly cares. I slept soundly
till morning.
MSS 9044
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Artillery]
July 2nd
Left our position at two A. M and again
fell back reaching Harrison Landing on
the James River at seven A. M. here we are
to form a new line of battle covered by the
gun boats. by five P. M our entire army
had arrived and encamped here. The
army in the recent battles has lost. 1,582
killed. 7,709 wounded and 5,958 are missing
total. 15, 229. Rained hard all day and
night.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
