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

Saturday 23  I was so much fatigued
when I went to bed that I could
not sleep and I heard the clock
strike 11 & 12, I was at one time
alarmed & thought I should faint
Richd Davis who came in last
night from Flat Creek left us
at 5: this morning–this is the 4th
breakfast at an early hour we
have had to furnish this week to
departing guests.–Hurried through
our Bank business and went to the
church or rather the Rectory at
10 and escorted to the church the
remains of Mrs. K.–The vestry acting
as Pall bearers–The Revd Mr. Pendleton
performed the service–rather awkward
ly I think.  His address was very
good.  He incorporated in it some
particulars furnished by Mr. K.
She was an admirable woman
in every respect.  the attendance was
large.  I went out to the cemetery
=my anxiety about William was
put at rest by a letter recd this mor-
ning by Sue from Charles which
said that he was safe & had not
seen the enemy.  News from our
army is that they are pursuing
the enemy, who have crossed the
Rappahannock.  Stuarts cavalry
yesterday overtook & captured
after an action in which they killed
15 of the enemy eighty of the 6th Penna
cavalry.  The day before, the ene-
mys guard of 90 men left at
Rappahannock Station to burn the
bridge, was captured together with
their locomotive & their cars.  Young
Singleton dined with us and
staid until night–Miss Delia
Willis & Dr. Ford spent the even-
ing with us. She  & [?] Taliaferro
go home Monday.

MSS  4763

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

Friday
Aug 22
Nothing special to-day. Had the
usual drills.  Read in Adam Bede”

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Lancelot Minor Blackford of the Rockbridge Artillery]

Friday Aug. 22/62– to night we find ourselves within
5 miles of where we staid last night.  Early in the day
our guns got together again and after halting to [?]
moved slowly up the river with the rest of the corps
abandoning the Ford we were at yesterday.  Longstreet is
some distance below at another ford and has been skirmish
ing very heavily with the Enemy to day with artillery
We halted with the artillery train of our Division for
5 or 6 hours to day at Dr. Wellford’s house and enjoyed the
rest on the grass in his great shady yard very much
also the drinking cool clear water from his yard-pump
We subsequently moved on and bivouacked within a
mile of the house.  The Infantry moved on ahead and had
some skirmishing along the river, I believe.  Hard rain this
afternoon and but poor prospect for sleeping to night.

MSS 5088

[from the diary of John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]

Friday 22 – This morning finds only about
2 miles from old camp.  Again resume our
march.  Team of wagons some 12 miles long
Travel about 15 miles – Cross the Rapidan &
passed as pretty country as I ever saw.  Yet
it seemed to be almost desolated – Had but
two little crackers to eat today – Travelled til
late at night and through torrent of rain.  Road desperate.

MSS 6150

[from the diary of Weley Hammond, Co. E, 42nd Virginia (Dixie Greys)

Thursday 22.
    Rained all day – done noth
ing but stay in our tents.
read 23 chap. in bible 29 pages in Milton

MSS 5526

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Friday, Aug. 22, 1862

Will Stoner slept
with us during the night
rained a little had no
tents up
was down town &
had my knapsack
mended.  Had some
melons to eat. got some
cakes &c to carry along
a great many men
drunk the 12th & 11th Regts
left we have packed
everything and expect
to leave this evening
Jo came in last night
he is quite drunk to
day & now [?]
rained a very little very hot

MSS 10317 

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

                             Parkersburg, Va., Aug. 22.
     At 10 A.M. we left Portland, our
boat having but just worked over the
shallow water at Buffington’s Island.
The citizens of Portland and vicinity showed
us great generosity, and proved their friendship
for a needy soldier, as most of us, by the 
remissness of the Paymaster were minus funds,
and our rations had run short, consequently
we were dependent, in a measure, on charity.
And this quality the Portlanders understood,
as we had ample evidence.  They have our
good wishes would that their kindness
could be better repaid.
     At 2 P.M. we reached the foot of
Blennerhassett’s Island, six miles from here.
Here we were obliged to land, and obliged
march to Parkersburg.  The road was dusty,
and weather hot, but we were in Ohio, and
that helped the matter, as the change from
Western Virginia hills, hovels, and interminable forests,
to which we have so long been used, to Ohio’s fine
farms and residences, would certainly be a remedy.

On page 17. of this book, under date of Feb.
5th. I have referred to, and spoken of Blen=
=nerhassett’s Island at length, I need not
repeat here.  In our passage walk up the river,
we stopped at a fine country mansion,
and were by the proprietor invited into his orchard and
house, where we received a cold lunch, which
was gratefully received, and plenty of rich, ripe
peaches we got for the picking.  As we 
were about leaving, it was announced that
we had been treated so generously just
then by Wm. Pitt. Putnam, a grandson of
Old Israel Putnam, of revolutionary memory.
It was proposed that we give three cheers
for this patriotic descendent of @ patriot,
which was heartily responded to, when
three more were given for the ladies of
the house.  The only brother of Mr. Putnam
is @ colonel in the Confederate army, but this
gentleman is a staunch Unionist.  What 
a dark phase is this, in this unhappy war.
But friendship and the ties of consanguinity are nothing
to country; our country before our friends.
     At six P.M. we crossed the Ohio River to
Parkersburgh, and marched through it over
a mile to a grove out of town where we
encamped for the night.  This morning,
on taking a walk through town and
looking around a little, I came to the
conclusion that my opinion of Parkersburg,
as expressed on Page 17 was wrong; that
it is quite a considerable of a town, and
has not obtained a notoriety solely from
it being the terminus of the N.W. branch of
the Balto. & O. R. R.  The town is well
built, and considerable business is transacted.
But many of the people are Secession
sympathizers, as can easily be seen, but,
fortunately they control nothing.
     Preparations are going forward for our 
departure.  We will embark on the cars
towards evening.  Troops are leaving as fast
as cars can be procured. – Many of the
Soldiers proved superior to martial law today, by
getting whisky, despite orders to the contry [contrary], and are
exceedingly patriotic & jubilant in consequence.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C. 13th Massachusetts]

Friday Aug 22nd 1862
Cannonading has been going on
at the right and left of us
a little firing occurred here.
Col of the [-] Pa had a horse
shot and one of the artillery were
killed.  Our Company were in picket
to night

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

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

Friday 22d  it has rained all day–at night we all sat around the
table in the parlour very socially–some sewing. Some knitting
while others were chatting & I remain idle these warm nights–
my eyes not allowing me to do anything—Liz received a letter
from Emily Ryan–Mrs Phillips sent her too nice cantelopes
We get a plenty of fruit now–but not very nice

MSS  6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Friday, August 22, 1862
Today F & I started again & accomplished
twice as much as we did yesterday–
First went to Mrs. Gordon Pendleton’s –&
then to see poor Julia Allen–I felt so sorry
for her.  She looked lovely, & I could but think
the day may come when she will marry again.
I would be perfectly satisfied for you to
marry her, if I should die before you.  I know
she would make you a good wife, & be an excellent
step mother– & you in return would be a father
to her boy.  He is a fine looking fellow &
she seems devoted to him.
We dined at Dr. Blackburns–Mrs. B. thinks
all hopes of saving the union is centered in
the Democrats, that thy will yet unite at the
North & put down the Abolitionists, when I
told Pa, he laughed at it–has always said they
the democrats -ruined the country.
After dinner we rode to Mr. Pages–found
them in good spirits, as they usually are–hopes
the war would soon be ended–
When we got home I was exhausted — my ride was
too much for me.  I rode Willies trotting horse there
though F. made me ride Pa’s horse back–
Ma & Pa took Tommie & went to see Patty
& to the mill on business.

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

MSS 15406