[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts Infantry]
Tuesday
July 1
Have not written anything in here
for a number of days. There has been
nothing in particular of importance
It is very hot today. There were a lot of
new recruits came today. One of them
came and staid in our tent. We were
ordered to be rady to marhc last night
but the order was countemanded today.
Had had a violent headache all day.
MSS 11293
Richmond Va. July 1st 62.
Dear Ma,
I wrote to you the 28th inst,
but the letter may have failed to
get off. We were in a battle on
the 27th. None of my company were
hurt. Four of our Reg. were killed &
12 wounded. The loss of life on
both sides was awful. Sunday
morning I accidentally learned
that the 6th Ga Reg. was in the
same fight on the 27th. I learned
that Lew was severely wounded
and was then at a church 3 miles
off. Although our Reg. was under
marching orders at the time the
information came, I got permission
& hastened to see him. On arri-
ving at the church I found him
[page 2]
in reality severely wounded.
He was struck by a musket
ball on the left side of the head
two inches above the left ear.
The skull is slightly fractured,
though I hope not beyond recovery.
I returned to my Reg in the P.M.
(at it happened the Reg. had not moved)
and obtained leave of absence
for two or three days to bring
him to Richmond. I also
prevailed upon the Col. of the 6th
Ga. to allow George Slappy to
come with him. When he fell, which
was early in the engagement before
he had fired a gun, George took
him off the field & carried him
to a church near by where hun-
dreds of others were carried.
[page 3]
George was with him when I found
him. Yesterday we procured an
ambulance wagon & brought
him to Richmond. The distance
the way we came was 10 miles.
I had him carried to the Seabrooks
Hospital. All the Ga Hospitals
were crowded. He will doubtless
be well cared for. He will require
very little medical attention. The
ladies are very attentive and do
everything they can to make him com-
fortable. As soon as he is able
to travel I will procure him a
furlough, & let him come home.
He is cheerfull [sic], & does not
complain. I will be compelled to
return to my company tomorrow.
George will stay & take care of
him. I will give him money enough
[Inserted in the top margin on page three is the following:]
Capt Colding returned day before yester-
day. Our Reg. organized anew yesterday
[page 4]
buy whatever he may need that
the Gov. does not furnish, though
the Gov. has a full supply of
nearly every article necessary.
Lew had been in two or three
battles before, & escaped unhurt.
I left Bob in the Hospital in
Staunton so that he was
not in the fight. He had diar-
rhea & slight fever & was
not able to march. I am
looking for him to return
to the Company before long.
In coming to Richmond yesterday
I had occasion to pass through the
principal battle field. I think I saw
150 dead men not buried & probably
will not be. It is a horrible sight &
the stench intolerable. but the War
is nearly at an end. The Yankees
will have to give up. – John
[Written in the top margin:] I will send a Richmond Paper
John Y. Bedingfield, 4th Georgia Battalion
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13119
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Tuesday, July 1, 1862
Arthur Fox Campbell
& Ritter[?] on a little
spree last night as
was Capt Skiles Drake
& others they had a
lively time and succeeded
in keeping us awake
until after midnight
they br[?] Fulkerson
& Jos horns some
Guard mounting but
did not practice any
either before or after
noon
Had some dessicated
potatoes for dinner &
supper Gillett Charlie
& I a very good substitute
have been reading most
of the day
day
drizzling rain near all ^
MSS 10317
[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]
Tuesday – July 1st 1862
Rose this morning by Early day – fed our horses
& started to meet the general – found him upon the
battle field of last night, resting under some trees
& amid the bodies dead soldiers – I here took this
chance of paying the general off for June – Our troops were
soon moving after the Enemy who were not far
ahead – We made a move towards their right wing it
but it was countermanded by noon when we moved into
Frazier’s farm
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6154
Tuesday morning July 1/62
My dear Maggie
I send you two of this morning’s
papers which will give you all the news of the day.–Has
not a great and glorious victory been achieved? The latest
reports confirm those of the continued panic & flight of the Enemy–
Do you remember McClellan’s grand boast in his address to his
army at Fairfax C.H. last March: how they were invincible &
would victoriously march to glory & conquest? How greatly fallen
he must be & must fall.–A large part of his army may escape
down the James River; but thousands will be killed & captured, & all
his stores, arms & outfit lost.–The fighting on a large scale is over
in Va. for many months to come–Our regiment has been in no
engagement since that of Friday evening; and will not be, I
think–They are following up the enemy, capturing straggling
Yankees &c. They were yesterday about 9 or 10 miles down on
the Charles City road–I reported by telegraph last Saturday
night that my company had none killed, but I am grieved
to say that later accounts show that two were killed, James
Durrett, son of Ricd. Durrett of North Garden, and old Mr. Leake
a substitute–My wounded are well located & doing admirably
Col. McIntosh of Ge: died of his wounds at his boarding house
last night–His family were with him–I am afraid Capt.
Evans, who is here, will also die–Mr. Holcombe & myself
are going to ride to the Army this morning; but will return
as the heat is too intense for me to remain & do active duty
especially as they are not engaged on important duty–Henry
K is well & busy–I hear nothing of the Va. Battery, or of the
Lewis boys.–I close as the mail will leave soon
Love to one & all
Yr Affc. J.L.C.
Miss M.M. Cochran
Charlottesville
Va.
John L. Cochran, 19th Virginia Infantry
MSS 9380
Wheeling Virginia
July 1st 1862
Dear Parents
With very
much pleasure I write
you a few lines to let
you know where I am and
that I am well. I arrived
here last evening at
five oclock; and we
have camped for to stay
until our horses are
refreshed again, then we
exect to take up march
for some place farther
south I do no know
where. We left Camp
Butler on Friday morn
ing last, and would have
reached here sooner had
[page 2]
we not stoped {
apolis and {
from Saturd { [corner of page
until Sund { chewed away]
We came throug {
and Ohio had a very {
ant trip indeed The weather
has been good and every
thing favored us on our
journey The Union Flag
was displayed not only
at every little town but
from every dwelling in
the road, May the Lord
bless the ladies of Indiana
and Western Ohio, for
their kindness toward us
Such processions of people
as turned out at the large
Citties I never saw before
At Dayton Ohio on Sunday
evening not less than eight
or ten thousand surrounded
[page 3]
}while the Engines
} charged At
[corner of page }s the ladies
chewed away] } us baskets full of
}nd many received
}ets from the young
Ladies Who wouldent fight
for this country when chear
ed on in such awy[sic] “God bless
those we have left behind
us is all we have to say
but Dear friend I am
now in the enemies coun
try and shall not see you
again until this war is
over May prosperity attend
you all, and God grant
that if we never will [?]
this clime that wee may
all be so fortunate as to
meet in a brighter
Do pray for your unwor-
thy Son–Father you need
not [?] any the letters post
[page 4]
of your life {
doings but {
in peace I { [corner of page
some money { chewed away]
pay your {
with But you {
case we do I am {
hurry Give my love to
all in quiring friends
and write soon I will send
the money to Lanark as be
fore but you need not go
there after it until I write
you again. good Bye
I will write to the girls
as soon as I canredman
Do write soon and often
Yours Very Truly
W[illiam] H. Redman
E. Redman
C. Redman
Direct to Wheeling Virginia
12th Ill Cavalry Co C.
Col. V.G. Commanding
Hank will fight hard
Bremo July 1 1862
My dear Christian Friend
I was not greatly surprised by the receipt of yours
of the 25th June nearly a month after its date and was truly rejoiced to hear from
once more after so long & painful an interruption of our correspondence by the most cruel
and wonderful War what has disgraced the history of christian nations for centuries
past–You & my Northern friends have been daily the subjects of my thoughts so often
of my conversation with my [?] latest adherence to the Union (as almost to expose
me to suspicion of loyalty to the South) –while in my prayers you were never forgotten.
and as you say “war or no war” never shall be forgotten–For I am sure scores of such
men as I associated with at the North are as you & true men I have ever known–I
only have full & frank intercourse with men of the like character of the South to agree with-
out difficulty upon the principles of an amiable adjustment of our disgraceful quarrel–
I am sorry to hear your private griefs like mine have been thickly mixd with our national
calamity–since this was I have lost two of my children–both parents of large families of children–
For the loss of your fine Boy Willie I deeply sympathise with you–but in the whole history
of our distracted country there never has a time been known when you could with more probity
say “he has been taken away from the evil to come” In my case I am consoled with the
remembrance of Him who has said for the comfort of departing parents–leave thy fatherless
children I will preserve them alive & let they widows trust in me and truly I have not
gone unblessed for several of my parentless good children have give hopeful signs of a saving
interest in religion–Remeber me most cordially to Dr. & Mrs Nott Mr & Mrs Ransom & the other
friends you mention by name–I am afraid to mention others lest I might mistake feelings – since
I have seen the unmeasured denunciations of the South by such men as your Ex.Gov: King & your Revd
Rev. Kirk
Doctors Spring & Tyng ^–this may be bringing me too near to the Contraband of War to find a passport
thro the hands of Gen. Dix to whose kind feelings we are indebted for our intercourse–Nevertheless
I hardly blame from what I know of the character of Gen Dix that he can be afraid of much mis-
chief being plotted between an Octogenarian & one of three score years & ten–I shall therefore be pretty free
as what I
in my remarks on public affairs–Nothing doubting-that ^ shall say is truth & be of use
& others
to Gen D ^ himself if as I hope he is a christian but not whether he might prefer to suppress it
[page 2]
or no war is essentially at variance with all that is christian it may exist where the fault
Fire eaters with higher law Faulty on both sides pro[o]f Af s trade
may be only on one side-not so in this our war–we have our faults to answer for on both
sides–none can deny that in the commencement the initiative that was later in the inauguration
of the higher law–assuming to set aside the rights of the constitional compact which bound us
together–this first aggressive movement of Northern fanaticism stirred up the fireeaters of the South
adoption of the doctrines of the fanatical [illegible] compromise agains slave trade
to flare up in retaliation by the open advocacy of the piratical atrocities of the slave trade
spectacle
both sides exhibiting the disgraceful wrong that where party spirit is fully excited all truth & reason
are over[?] & totally disregarded–But of all the wars which have disgraxced the History of
modern Cristendom ths war of ours is the most disgraceful–passing over the disgusting details of
crimination & recrimination which under petty exitement have been crowded into the last years history
of our country with all the appalling details of bloood shed & pestilence & destruction–and ruinous in-
debtedness which eclypses all former examples known in History–let us ask ourselves what results
have been attained ? and what are we now fighting for? The South contended for their rights as guaranteed
to them under the Constitution. While The North contends they are fighting to protect the Constitution! against
the aggression of the south yet –the present posture of affairs exhibits the whole power of the North
arrayed under a consolodated[sic] Military despotism-carrying on a War of invasion, claiming unconditional
submission to their dominion while they openly proclaim their design of establishing Universal Emancipation
among our slaves — and universal confiscation of our property of all who oppose them this leaves no alterna-
liberty Again
tive to us but unconditional submission or to fight it out to victory or death –passing over all
details which have occurred since the extremes of fanaticism & fire eaters stood out arrayed
against each other while [?] Christian men of the Soouth acknowledge they have incurred
than does our
sins to be answered for they re[li]giously believe they have less to answer for ^ the Enemy-
let me recur to the single act[?] of preventing & denouncing the Slave trade recordered in our Constitution
while we have yet to learn the first abatement of Northern pretensions except when extorted by
circumstances-Now then what are we fighting for? We claim for ourselves the right of self govern-
which you can never give
ment under some new guarantees –since your side have proven to us they were not sufficient under
a right Va. reserved to herself
the old Constitution– We you deny us the right of peaceable secession--a right you have claimed &
the [?] states
acted upon yourselves–Massachusetts by her State Legislature stands seceded from the national since the recepion of Tenn into the Union –we care not whether you allow us risgt by secession we claim it as a
reserved quotes Va art. of ratif
revolutionary gift and your the question arises whether Rebellion of freemen can be restrained from
asserting with armies their right to chase their own form of government against the de[?] of 18 millions who
a partial draft of a letter from General John Hartwell Cocke to a northern friend on the subject of the South’s right to secede. Cocke, the only surviving member of the first University of Virginia Board of Visitors, was involved in numerous ante-bellum reform movements including temperance. He manumitted many of his own slaves, but only on the condition that they emigrate to Liberia.
MSS 640
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Artillery
July 1st
Early this morning we arrived at Malvern
Hill, where we halted to rest; the army
is here to be deployed in line of battle
on a range of very commanding hills; our left
is protected by the Gun boats. About 8. A. M.
the advance of the rebs. (which had followed
close upon our rear) began to engage our
picket line. Our div. being out of ammunition
and the troops completely exhausted, we were
ordered to the rear, at noon we halted on a
large plantation about seven miles from the
James River. At five P. M. the 1st N. J. and our
battery were placed in position for the night.
A severe engagement has been in progress all
day at Malvern hill, in which the rebs
have been repulsed with great loss at
every point, and several stands of colors have
been taken. Pleasant and warm.
[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]
Tuesday July 1 ool morg–news of ano
ther very sanguinary battle yesterday af-
ternoon. Hugers & Magruders [?]
taking the most action. [?] enemy dri
-ven back two miles–22 generals and 600
prisoners taken by our troops–report that
McClellans is mortally wounded. I do
not think I am too sanguine when I pre
dict the capture of the greater portion
of the enemy–when they reach the James
no transports are there, and our men
are in close pursuit–They are terribly
demoralized & have lost, or destroyed, all
their stores–They must be pinched for
food–God grant I may not be too
sanguine–I think such a catastrophe
would finish the war–Charles & sue
and Mr Cazenove dined with us–Lanty
and Charley both intend going to join
the army again Thursday. I think
neither is well enough.
MSS 4763
[from the diary of Private Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C., 13th Massachusetts]
