Washington D.C.  Aug 20, 1862

My Beloved Harriette
                            I have just arrived
at this place–God be praised I am
again free – I thought last week I
should not get away within a year or so
if ever, but fortune smiled and I am
here with 160 other officers released wit
me, yesterday I visited my Regt. at
Fortress Monroe.  The enthusiastic reception
they gave me paid me for all I have
suffered–I am well–we all left
the cursed, dirty, filthy place at Richmond
called the Libby Prison on Sunday morning
arrived at Fortress Monroe Tuesday Monday night
where we reported to Genl Dix. The
next morning my officers sent Horses for
me & eight of my party to go out to
the Regiment three miles distant.  I passed
to day with them–Tuesday Evening we
all left on the Boar for Baltimore
where we arrived this day 8 A.M thence by
cars to Washington D.C. arrived here 1 P.M
We have reported to the Secretary of War

[page 2]
and are to receive orders from him
to morrow at 2 P M==
Since writing the above I have been placed in
possession of you kind letter informing me
of the Trunk of Clothing–I sent for it im
=mediately and am now for the first
time in four months decently clad–
I have just see Mother & Ellen & Williams
wife &Sister Ann & Brother Dorn [?] & his wife
Sarah & Sister Ann’s Daughters they are all
well–I am stoping at Willard’s
tomorrow I call upon the President
I hope to get a furlough but dont
know as I shall succeed, shall know
tomorrow–they want me to go im
=mediately to my Regt. I have pleaded
my wife & children & hope through them
or rather on account of them I shall suc
=ceed–If I do I shall push immediately
for Cambridge–I have been told that
the Cambridge folks or some of them
have said they would shoot me if I ever come
back there.  I am exceedingly anxious to give
them the priviledge–There are some people
there as rotten at least as the rotten meat
we have eaten for the last four months and
yet there are some as good people & true in
Cambridge as can be found anywhere earth–

[page 3]
I love my country & her institutions, I am
ready to serve her to the last–If any
man calls me a traitor now I am
free he dies if I live= Now my Dear
Harriette I will banish all such thoughts
& feelings as I am addressing the Dear one
I love so well–Dont get sick, dont feel
bad-God is good & will do all things well
for us as he always has–I dont depend
on Cambridge alone for a reputation–I am
now by force of circumstances acting upon
a broader field–I embrace you all in
love–Keep up good courage I think I
shall see you in a day or two–
love & thousands blessings to you all
I am surrounded by so many & tallking
so constantly that I can write but incoher
=ently–I will do better next time–
Good Bye my Dear till I see you
Tell Johny & Ifving & Wills & Phoebe I have
not forgotten them–
                         Yours Ever
                                    John S. Crocker

John S. Crocker, 1825-1890, Colonel of the 93rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers (Morgan rifles)

MSS 11312

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

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

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1862

This morning at
daybreak were
ordered up and took
to the land & marched
across the country
about 6 miles to
Portland where after wait-
ing some time we learned
that our boat had grounded
and was broken  I went
to a house & got my
breakfast, after a time we
played some.  were  invited &
went to a lady
and played some several of
the boys got dinner, found that
they had fed probably more
than 100 soldiers. during the
afternoon the left wing came
up.  We with Co A went on
board the P[rinceton?]
mostly clear warm

MSS 10317 

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

Wednesday  Aug 20th 1862

The number of troops on the march
yesterday was probably nearly a
hundred thousand.  The Wagon train
that went ahead of us was nearly
twenty miles long.  The troops are all
about us.  The Brigade is camped in
a space about half as large as
our Camp at Williams port used to
be  This morning I went to the Rappa
hannock river and had a swim.
About noon we fell into line (This
Regt) and marched across the Bridge
and took up our quarters behind
a little hill  two pieces of Artillery
came across.  The Rebels had made
their appearance at the edge of the
woods about a mile distant,
We have got a beautiful position
and one Brigade could keep a
whole army back (nearly) as there
a level plain of a [-] long
between us and the woods.  If any
attempt to cross. we could mow
them down by the hundreds,
We have Artilery still placed along the
north back of the river.   a little
skirmish took place a little before
dark by the Artileryists.  The rest of
the Brigade came across before
dark.  At night four Companies from
each Regt went on picket.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

 Wednesday  August 20

Cool and bright.  Cousin Frank walked over after breakfast and I returned with him to the Woods where I met Cousin M and the girls.  After a chat of an hour and a half we returned to our  homes.

MSS 9759

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Wednesday, August 20, 1862

Pa went to the depot and came back much troubled-
said that the capt told him that seven guerillas
had been on his place for a week and that Mr. Timberlake
had fed them & the night before they were all at Mr. T’s
to supper- Pa denied knowing anything of it &
the capt said he believed him: but it was strange as he
did not if they were on his place: & he was afraid
some of them in authority might not believe it – &
by giving such aid he laid himself open to
being taken up & sent to Fort McHenry.– Pa
came home & asked Mr. T. of it who acknowledged
that a week ago a confederate came to his house
& asked for food & that he had given it to him &
carried some to Pa’s woods to six others- but they
were going to the army & he knew nothing of them
since, but the night before, seven persons had
taken supper there– two neighbors & four boys on
their way through the lines. Pa went back & told
Capt. S. the truth, but he did not seem to be entirely
satisfied.  Said he had the best authority for
believing that seven had been there for a week–
– Pa is much troubled about it.

[transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Ann Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quarter Master Dept.]

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

Wednesday 20th  It is becoming warmer–All the ladies have
gone out to have shoes made–They cost $6 a pr to make
them–I have just written two long letters–& am going to church
in a few moments–

MSS 6960

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

Wednesday 20  Feel better–though still
indisposed–Nothing of interest in
the way of news–As I was leaving
the bank [?] near sundown Lewis step
-ped up.  He has come home on a
short leave not being well.  He
says Eugene last night rested well
-that the pain in his leg had dis-
appeared–and was on the whole
decidedly better.  The Doctor was
at a loss to know what was the
matter with his leg–som th Some
think it inflammatory Rheumatism
[others?] Neuralgia.

MSS  4763

     Hd [Qtr?]  Aug 19th  6 A.M.

General
       One of my couriers has
just come in saying that he
could not find Gen McLaws
& bringing back a dispatch
which I sent last night
So I write to forward direct
the information it conveyed
The whole force of the enemy
crossed at Forge Bridge Barrets
Ferry & Toms Ferry.  He was
in large force with wagons
&c Prisoners say they hold
the White House & that their
destination is Fredksbg.  I think
Hanover C.H. is threatened.
Their old position on James
is totally evacuated.  I will
see you this morning
           Yrs. very Respy
                      Wade Hampton
Gen Smith
———————————-
Hd Qtr  Aug 19th 1862

Genl.

  I sent dispatches to you
yesterday from every point
giving full information &
last night the accompanying
letter was written, or rather the
P.S. The courier has just
returned saying that he
could not find you, but
as your messenger returns
I send my notes by him.
A few prisoners were brought
in last night
              Yrs very Respy
             Wade Hampton
                Maj. Genl.

Maj. Genl McLaws

MSS 38-348