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

Friday 22.  Mrs. Spencer set sent me
a note from Mr. Kinckle, before I was
up, announcing death of Mrs. K.
Could not sleep last night for
thoughts of William–I greatly
fear he is a prisoner–and this is the
fate–rather than death or wounds–
I have anticipated for him.  Busily
engaged all day, Went to the Depot
and staid an hour & three quarters
waiting for the cars–Mr. Kinckle &
family on board–also, the remains
of Mrs. K.  Returning home found
a young gentleman named Singleton
who was at Mr Gwatkins last
evening and saw Mary.  He brought
a letter from Mrs. Gwatkins which says
Eugene is improving.  Mr. Singleton
is a member of Lantys Company and
was taken prisoner at Port Republic
& carried to Fort Warren.  He says
they were well treated–& that Col
Dimick was very kind & considerate
He says there is a great reaction
in Boston and that the Peace
Party is growing in strength daily
He is on his way to join the
company.  His Mother married a
Dr. King, and old army surgeon
who has been long stationed at
the Soldiers Asylum near Washington
She came to Fort Warren to see him &
supplied him with every thing.  He
was at University with Lanty & Eugene

MSS  4763

[from the diary of Lancelot Minor Blackford]

Thursday.  Aug. 21/62–This day’s close finds us bivouacked
on the banks of the Rappahannock River, i.e. if a post a mile
from the stream or thereabouts can be so called. Our
Division had the advance to day,so that though the
last to rest last night it was the first to be in mo
tion this morning.  We did not make over 8 or 10 miles
to day, but that was right quickly travelled.  We passed
Brandy Station at a very early  portion of the forenoon
came on speedily enough to a field a mile or two back
of the river where we halted for orders.  After a time
our two Parrott guns were ordered, as we expected to the
front to skirmish with the Enemy at the Ford below.
Some hours later the Napoleon was sent for.  This pro-
fitless skirmishing was kept up all day pretty much
with small loss on our side–none in our battery
–and nothing accomplished on either, as usual.
Our six-pounder was not ordered up to the front
at all so I spent the day quietly lying in the am-
bulance reading a novel. to night our detachment
spends apart from the battery in the field where we
first halted.  The day has been a tedious and anxious
one. The country passed through this morning shews
many indications of the spoilation of that thieving brute Gen. Pope.

MSS 5088

Aug 21  1862
Orange CH Va
My dear wife
I reentered our home
on yesterday and found every thing
right & that the enemy had left
the day before.  Our Army crossed the
Rapidan on Thursday at the Raccoon ford
& was following after the enemy who were
in retreat towards Fauquier.  Longstreet
had a skirmish with their rear in [front?]
Mrs Willis I could see the clouds of
dust in the direction of the Army
I have a hundred pounds of bacon at
Mr Halls behind Palmyra send me
my horse team & wagon by Carter & put
in three middlings of bacon & direct him
to call at Mr Halls for lot of bacon above
named. Send over with him some of the
soap.  I sent by the ox cart& also my brown
coat & an umbrella. a shirt & my thing gray pants

[page 2]
tell carter to grease the wagon & to wet
the wheels if dry before he starts.  the
ox team should also be sent by John &
[Bose?] with him Jim can go with Carter
& ride up  brothers horse & report to him  in
Gordonsville if brother dare not waste his
horse he can carry him over.  I wish to
thresh out my wheat as soon as possible
& to avail myself of the present opportunity
I am not well enough to follow the army
I may send my teams all back but
cannot tell yet–If G[?]s  Father can spare
a bag or two of meal it would be a
convenience as it is hard to get here
The teams should take enough feed & provender
enough to last all the way through.  Carter can put
the two carriage horses & Mike the wagon.
The ox cart cannot travel over fifteen miles
a day but the horse team can come through
in a day & a half

[page 3]
Tell Carter that they can come the old Maine
road from   [hole in paper] Orange & need
not come    [hole in paper] I do not want
the team     [hole in paper] Sunday
              My best love to all yours
              most affectionately  A.G. Grinnan
Charles can continue making shingles & if you
can get leather he can assist in making my winter
shoes if old Jim[?] is not busy–Charles
may wish a boy to help him to saw blocks
Tell Charles to have all shingles hauled out
of the woods–

Mrs. A.G. Grinnan
      Palmyra
          Fluvanna

Dr. Andrew Glassell Grinnan, 1827-1902

MSS 2118-a

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

21.  Leave our camp at sun-
down.  Travel very slowly
and most of the night, was intense-
ley dark and rainy – had great
difficulty in getting along – Had
a skirmish with the enemy – Took
75 prisoners which came to our
camp, and was said that Steuart
took 800 at another point.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

(Aug 21st)  Up this morning at daylight
breakfasted on roasted corn.  Moved
farther up the river to a fork, crossed
one stream and pushed on for the other,
halted until 6 o’c in a piece of woods 1 ½
miles from the Rappahannock proper.
While there a heavy rain came up and
drenched us through.  Moved  on at 6 o’c
to within ¾ of a mile of the river & bivou-
-aced in a piece of woods near a house,
the latter the Genl & staff occupied.
At the Genls request went out & posted
Pickets.  Heavy rain during night & house
leaked.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

 [from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery recorded at a somewhat later date]

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

Thursday  Aug 21
     Every thing quiet at this place today
heavy firing has been going on at
the right of us, probably at Warrenton
Springs,  We could can see the Rebel
pickets quite plainly from hear
We have commenced to throw up
entrenchments a short distance from
hear.  We all have to work about
ten hours a day.  Sixty rounds
of cartridges were given out to us
making in all one hundred
rounds,  We have to keep our
Canteens fill, and are ready at
any moment to fall into line
of Battle.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12521

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

Thursday, Aug. 21, 1862
This morning early
packed up the men went
on shore we remained
on board expecting to cross
the River[?] but did not succeed
disembarked remained for some
time finally put our baggage on
a flat boat and marched to the
beach a short distance & went
on board the Silver [Lake?]
Passed along side Blennerhassetts
Island, arrived at Parkersburg
about noon formed on
shore & played through town
to our camping ground in
a very fine grove. found
there the 36 regt the 28 came
in the 30th & 26the left this
evening.  Bathed this
afternoon
Borrowed of Loren[?] $1.00
clear very warm

MSS 10317 

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

Thursday–It has clouded up & has every appearance of rain–I have
been busy darning stockings all day–& making my needle book
Eliza received a letter this morning from Mr M–Liz is busy making
a Shaker bonnet to wear when walking out–Lize is making gai
ters–a very troublesome business–

MSS 6960