[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Wednesday
Aug 13
Phineas on guard. I have
been about sick headache
and pain in my chest. Went out on company
drill but got excused on battalion.
MSS 11293
Head Quarters
Thornton’s House Aug 13th 1862
General Orders
No 1
I In pursuance of orders
from the General Commanding, the
undersigned hereby assumes command
of the Division composed of the
Brigades of Brigadier Generals Rhodes,
Garland, G. B. Anderson, and Ripley
and Col Colquitt
II Maj. Saml. W. Melton
is announced as Assistant Adjutant
General, and Maj. Barna McKinne
Chief Quarter Master, of this command,
and Lieuts James Howard and
R. F. Beckham, Aides de Camp to the
Maj. Genl. Comdg.
III The Officers of the
division staff now on duty with
this command will report to these
Head Quarters for instruction.
G. W. Smith
Maj. Genl.
For
Maj. Saml. W. Melton
A.A. Genl.
MSS 38-348
West River Aug. 13th 1862
My own dearest Father
The blow has at
last fallen, like a clap of thunder from
a cloudless sky. When I left home I was
undecided as to which course I would
pursue. Since, however, we have been
down here, we have, upon consultation
decided upon taking a step which
will for a long time, separate your
son from you all, and perhaps
forever. I have for a long time
deemed that I was pursuing a
course that concurred both with
respect & principle The “Cause
of the South” has always you
know, had my heartfelt sympathies
I have now determined to give
them my active support. I am
fully impressed with the dan
[page 2]
ger & discomfort that attends the
step, but I have resolved to take it
Whenever in life (as now) duty–
mere convenience
imperative duty & enclination
incline to two deff essentially & ra-
dically different courses , I shall never hes-
itate which to follow. Such is
now the case, duty–I feel, as well
as a feeling of self-respect, compels[?]
me to a step, which will banish
me from a home of comfort &
plenty, a home of comfort &
plenty, a home where I have
never received aught but kindness
& friendly offices. But I go, and
although I may never see you again
yet I know I carry with me
blessing &a paternal feeling as well as
the best wishes for my safety, We
have determined, very suddenly,
upon taking this step, therefore
you will have to excuse the
[page 3]
penmanship & orthography, I have
scarcely time to write you at all
much less in a manner I should
otherwise have done. And now
Father upon a subject which
has given me a great deal of
uneasiness for a long time. I
may have in an unguarded mo-
ment said & acted things of
which I have been ashamed &
for which I now ask your
forgiveness It has never been
for a want of respect for thee
No I have respected thee only
as a dutiful son can do, and
only regret I could not remain
long enough with you to repay
you. But I hope that when these
gloomy war clouds shall have
cleared away, and the rays
of an undimmed political sun
[page 4]
shall once once more bless our Country
& may then be permitted to return
to the bosom of a fond family, al-
though it may not be with honors be
stowed upon me, yet feeling that
proud consciousness which always
follows duty performed. You
know
[the next nine lines inked through]
I hope you will excuse
this writing as I am in a great
hurry. Give my love to all the
family and Kiss them every one
for me. Tell them when I have
gone and also to pray for me.
from you devoted & affectionate
Son
Samuel
I will of course write
to you and give you the
directions—-
Lt. Samuel Thomas McCullough, Co. d 2nd Battalion, Maryland Infantry
MSS 2907
[letter in pencil on poor paper; frequently illegible in spots]
Camp Magruder August 13th 1862
Dear Sister
I take my pencil in hand
to write you a few lines to let you know
that I am well and without a scratch
in the recent engagement. We are all pretty
well starved as we have been dining on
crackers for a week the fight we have just
gone through with was a very hard one
so hot and dry that the men nearly
perished we lost two killed Philip Bowers
and George Baylor James Bolen is mortaly wounded
the doctor says John [Gabhert?] Frank Carroll
Jim Brubeck & Billy Thompson are wounded
Our Company lost the third of what was
lost in the regiment there was only 3
killed & 17 wounded Our whole loss is
[page 2]
estimated at 100 killed the Yankees loss is
supposed to be 1600 killed & wounded & a
great many taken prisoners. Our Brigade took
four or five hundred prisoners we were [?]
–all among them one man would take 4 or 5
prisoners himself. There was one small boy
in our regiment who ordered a yankee to
surrender and he would not do it he
snapped his gun at the yankee and when
he found it would not go off the threw
the gun down and grasped the many by
his belt and he soon gave out and
surrendered one yankee struck Stuart Brown
with his bayonet the lick was pretty well
aimed for it struck him in the Breast
and hit a rib which glanced the
Bayonet and saved Browns life.
[page 3]
It was a hard sight to walk over the
battle field and see the dead & wounded
& hear them cry for water John Wright
got back yesterday but he did not see
anything of Sam Beard. We drew our money
to day it is about 70$ I would like to
send my money home if a good chance
would offer William Wright is here but
he expects to go by Richmond when he
goes home When you write again let me
know whether you received that which
I sent by Mr Steel But I must draw
my letter to a close as I am wore out
and feel sleepy as we have lost a great
deal of sleep lately Nothing more but
remain your brother
T M Smiley
Thomas M. Smiley, Co. D, 5th Virginia
MSS 1807
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh, of Cutshaw’s Battery]
August Wednesday 13 1862
Moved this evening one
mile, SW of Gor,,Ville on
road leading from there
to Ch Ville.
I ran the blockade this night
& went to Barboursville
found – Oscar
there wounded.
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery as recorded at a somewhat later date]
The sun did not find us asleep
the next morning (Aug 13th) and after James
had put the saddles on our horses we were ready
to be off. After some little search we found our
wagons on another road that led to Gordonsville
where they went into park, & we into Camp, about
4 ½ miles from Gordonsville. This evening our troops
having all recrossed the Rapidan Genl Thomas
joined us, our Brigade being a half mile only from
us. Wrote letter home this evening.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
[from the War Journal of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts as compiled by him from letters and diaries]
Aug. 13th 5 P.M.
Not yet off – but eight days’ rations on hand, all
our knapsacks on board transports, and tents taken
away. Last rumor, – I don’t think I shall
ever tell you another – we are going up on the bank
of the James, and Pope coming down on the North.
But all I know positively is – We – the whole
Army – have been all packed up and ready to move,
since morning of Aug. 11th, at a moment’s notice –
three days rations in haversacks, and five packed
in barrels. Deo volente, when next I write ‘twill
be from another point. Oh! those flies!
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5130
[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C., 13th Massachusetts]
Wednesday Aug 13 th/62
I went off this forenoon with
one of the Company to forage
About two miles from Camp we
found a wounded sheep We caught
him and dress him, and took
him into Camp
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12021
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1862
Guard Mounting
after which I helped to
dress Alfs snake skin
Went this afternnon to
see the cannon that
arrived last practiced
at target shooting
Some good fireing
Parade and Drill
The mail came in this
evening but nothing
for me
Thad came out and
played this evening
mostly clear pleasant
Hear this evening that
John Olin has rec’d
a commission
MSS 10317
Culpeper C.H. Va Aug 13th 1862
My dear Addie.–
I embrace the first opportunity
I have to write you to assure you of my perfect
safety. You have heard of the great battle of
the 9th and must be anxious to learn of my fate.
I escaped without a scratch, and am grateful to
God for his mercy. I knew when I wrote you
last that when an engagement should occur that
we should be sent to the front, but I could not
tell you, for I knew you would suffer so much
on my account. Now that the battle is over,
the rebels in full retreat, and only 109 men
left in the noble old 7th I can tell you. Gen.
Pope said he wanted Tyler’s Brigade (now Geary’s)
in the front “to set an example to the eastern troops”
and nobly has the example been set.
Our Regt went into the fight 290 strong, &
came out with 104. Co. H. went in with 32
and came out with 18. Malcom Eckenshoud, Calvert
Miller, Wm. McClurg and Byron Swisher were killed
[page 2]
Charley Brooks, Lieut Braden, Lieut Eaton, George Minn
Corp. Trinner, Fox, Glendenning, Inskeep, Kincaid, Lentz,
Murray, Overmire, Jno. Pollock, Shaffer (14) were wounded.
Perhaps I owe my safety to Col. Creighton and Lieut.
King[?] after I had fired about 12 rounds they came to
me and ordered me to take off the Col’s horse (our present)
which was sounded. I did not want to go, but the
Col. said he could not trust the horse with a wounded
man, and that I must go, so I came off the field unhurt.
I cannot bear to give you the details in this letter but
will in my next. George Moore was slightly hurt
in the head, but not dangerously
I received two letters from you on the 11th which
I will answer tonight or tomorrow. Until now I
could not get a piece of paper, or any other stationery, or
I would have written sooner. I also received a letter
from Laurie. I have written her, and she has received
it. But we have orders to move so I must
close for a while. Our Brigade is here in town,
and will not have to take the front again, and I
think we will not have to fight for a long time again
at least I hope not.
[page3]
Remember me to Dora. Has she answered
my letter?
May God bless you and preserve you
is the prayer of your devoted
Charley
I send you a little note I received from Moore
this morning, which will tell you how bad [w]as his hurt.
They have moved the wounded of our Co to Washington
so I have not seen them.
I send you a few particulars from the
Baltimore Clipper
Charles Tenney, 7th Ohio Infantry
MSS 11616
