Bivouac near Gordonsville   August 12th ‘62
     My Dear Sister –
                                 On Saturday evening last our brigade
then encamped near Richmond received orders to prepare
3 days rations – at midnight we were aroused, our tents
& baggage packed, and we at daylight we embarked
on the central train for Gordonsville & arrived there
about 2 O’clock in the evening. On reaching
this place we learned that Jackson had attacked
Poke on the day previous, and after a severe
Engagement of several hours driven him
several miles from his position. We have been
unable however up to this time, [hole in paper] gather many
particulars of the fight, or to learn what move-
ments are in contemplation. Pryors, Picketts
& Wilcox’s brigades are here near us, awaiting as
we are orders from Genl. Jackson who is said to
be falling back. I think it probable that a
general battle will occur in a few days.
     Our reinforcements are pouring in rapidly
and as soon as the dispositions of them have
been made I presume that Genl. Jackson
will renew the assault upon Pope, and attempt
to make the battle a decisive one.
     When we arrived at Gordonsville we found there
some 4, or 500 yankee prisoners who had been taken
in Friday’s fight, and they gene[hole in paper]ly agreed insisting
that Poke had been recently st [paper torn] by numerous
[page 2]
accessions, and that his entire force amounted
to 150,000 men – if he has half that number
however it is greater than I believe.
    Genl. Jackson’s army is about twenty miles
in advance of this place now, and Conse-
quently I have as yet had no opportunity of
seeing Abram. He is however, as I learned
from a courier of his Company quite well,
and passed through the battle unscathed.
     I do not think it probable that any move-
ment of importance will occur on this
line for four or five days at least. Both
armies are probably somewhat shocked
and desperate to appropriate a short while
for [?] recuperating & refitting.
     It is said that as evidences of our late vic-
tory we have 1000 prisoners, and an ammu-
nition train, many small arms & four can-
non.  As soon as I can learn fuller
and more accurate news from the field
will give you-all a more lengthened
account.
     The weather is exceedingly warm
but we have a pleasant encampment in
the woods, and manage to get on
very comfortably. Please send me
a few stamps, in your next. My love
to all. Will write again tomorrow.
                   Affect-ly Your brother
                        J. W. Daniel.

Lt. John Warwick Daniel, Co. C, 11th Virginia Infantry

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery as recorded at a somewhat later date]

So there we
stayed until next morning (Aug 12th) when we left
for Gordonsville.  Lt Tanner & I rode on ahead
of the train and about 2 o’c stopped for dinner at
an acquaintances of his. (Widow Bell’s) which
also sheltered us from a heavy storm which
came up at this time.  At 4 o’c we went on to Gor-
-donsville (3 miles off) and after finding there were
no letters for us at the office went to the Provost
Marshalls office where we saw Lt Duxbury & heard
that Longstreets “Corps d’armie” was in and

around there having just arrived from Richmond.
Having tried unsuccessfully to find a lodging
place for the night in Gordonsville & our wagons
not having come in, we retraced our steps to
the widow Bell’s, but getting there [ two letters lined through] late they
had all retired, so in order not to disturb them
we put our horses in the stable and slept in the
loft on the hay.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

                                                 Camp Ferry  Aug. 12th. 1862
Dear Sister Helen,      
                             Col. Wright says that we shall
probably march next Tuesday or Wednesday so
I think you had better come down Friday or Sat.
we shall receive our arms this week, and it will
be your only chance.  Tell Father to get those
things for me this week – – Every thing is lively
about Camp to day  three or four parts of Company’s
arrived this morning     –     there are to be 12 full
Companies in the Regiment   –   a big thing   –  –
                 Don’t forget – needles thread buttons etc & I forgot
to bring any torch but if Father will get those
Chamois skin I can get along till they come
                 I don’t think of any thing else
                        With love to Hatt & the boys
                                  I remain your dear brother
                                                                Jim

James H. Howard, 15th Reg., Conn. Infantry

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]      

MSS 12668                                        

[letter of “Robert” from Lynn, Massachusetts an unidentified soldier in Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, begun on August 10, continues]

Tuesday Morn Aug 12th
I received yours of Aug 6th and 7th last night,
I was’nt expecting one and so was most agreeabley
disappointed,  I am so sorry to hear that Ernie is
in such a bad way.  If I knew what to advise you
to do for him, I would do so,  Have you asked Dr N’s
advice lately.  You must try and get along the best
you can with him, I wish he was here with me now.
I have a nice little tent, that we could get along in
quite cosily.  what am I talking about,  this is no
place for women or boys,  I am very glad to hear
that you are in good health, and that your
lameness is better, continue on in the good
way,  I am glad that you did not stay at Fathers
any longer, not but that I like to have you go
there often, but that I do’nt like to leave Ernie
and Georgie together a long while at a time
I think your Father is doing quite a buisness in
the blackberry line. What is he working at this
summer!  Has he got any! I suppose he has
for everybody is telling how scarce help is in Mass.
You dont seem to say much about your Mother
now, How is she?  Is she well, or getting well, or
hold about the same, please let me know,  You

[page 2]
tell her that I have got some stories to tell
her, when I come home, about going black
berrying, and strawberrying , that will beat her
“down east” stories all to pieces, I don’nt know the
name of that yellow flower, I find and send the
flowers and you find names for them, I have’nt
seen any one that knows the name, Why here
are people who have lived around here all their life
and dont know what Thouroughwert. (I haven’t spelt that right)
is, and there is acres of it here, they dont know what
Garget is and there is acres of that, In fact they dont
know much of anything.  Now dont give yourself
any uneasiness about my thick clothes.  We all have
to wear thick clothes when on duty, because our
uniforms are thick, but when not on duty we
can wear almost anything that we can get, I still
wear every day my white shirts, and cotton flannel drawers
sometimes those dark pants that I had when I en-
listed, and sometimes my light blue ones,  Shirts of
all colors ad styles are worn,  You say that a great
many are trembling for fear of a draft, I do
most earnestly hope that there will be one,  then
perhaps, some of those who are now blowing and
knowing so much at home, will find out that

[page 4]
that they know nothing about the war
You say that I am exempt from the draft
and ask , if I am exempt from the fear.
I can answer truly that I am, I hav’nt known
a moments fear since we came here, I think
no more about the war, than as if I was at home.
Sometimes you wo’nt hear it mentioned for days.
I hear from different sources, that here are a
great many going to Europe and Canada
this summer, as if a few do go from Lynn, it
will be no more than people do in other places
especially those that are called cowards
If ever you hear of an able bodied man under the age of
forty five blowing for his country, after this, and aint
willing to enlist, and take part in puting down
this rebellion, You may set that man down as not
having much patriotism about him, he is either
makeing money at home or else he is a coward.
There are very few exceptions; Six of my boys
went again last night to Gen Hunters place
and “skived” about three bushels of potatoes, and
two bushels of apples, the potatoes are very nice, and the
apples go good after they are stewed.
I believe I hav’nt much more to write this morning.  I
shall expect to hear from you again this week.  In
the meantime I will think of you often, and I trust that
I shall also have a share of your thoughts.  It is all we
can have at present, but I think I can see a happy future
if God so orders it,  Wait patiently my darlings, my love for you
grows stronger every day.  Your in all love Robert

MSS 1242

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

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1862
this morning
about 10 o’clock a
courier came in from
Blue Stone came in with
report that the Pickets were
driven in & that the
enemy were crossing the
River.  Co.  [?] immediately
went down & preperations
were made to meet them
it all however turned out
an attack by some  bushwhackers
on the pickets.  Guard mounting
[?] Brown Henly & Charlie started
to post Hospital to get their discharge
Charlie & I went out to Mrs Litz &
the widows. got some milk
Parade & short drill
Alf went out to the house beyond
the pickets to get snake skin & rattles
one 6 lb cannon came in to night
mostly cloudy with showers.

MSS 10317

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

  Tuesday   Aug 12th/62
   The Enemy Skedaddled last night,
our Cavalry and Artilery have gone
in pursuit.  Our team came up today        

   Seth Johnson came up from
Culpepper last Sunday So as
to be with us if we had
a fight.  He was down on the
Battle field with me yesterday.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

This is the 5th Anniversary of our wedding
day–Oh! what changes——–We have
both learned many things & I hope that we have
both chosen the good part, which nothing
will take from us… What short sighted
mortals we are–It was  one of the least of
our calculations that we would spend all of
our time together–share every joy & every sorrow, with
one another. & now we are far, far apart- &
though the same spirit actuates us, we spend days
& weeks without knowing the other is even alive–
sometimes I feel that I can not bear it–I must
go where you are.–I must see you, I must hear
you talk.  But this is an impotent feeling.  I
am, as it were, chained to this spot–In the
first place, to go myself, would be impossible, as all
communication is cut off-in the second place–I
have the interest of three children to consider, &
I know that to stay where I am is best= I
most be patient–But believe me, though my
poor weak assistance is impossible–I remember
you, at that throne-to which we are commanded
to bring all of our troubles, & pray unceasingly that
God will be near you, comfort, help, & relieve
you and from all dangers–& bring you back to
me—-
Mr. & Mrs Thompson, & Lucy called this evening–
Pa fears that Jackson has been whiped.  I think
                              papers even
not–as the Yankees ^ claim no decisive victory

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

Tuesday 12th  We have a pleasant breeze this morning but the day no
doubt will be very warm–The dust is very great–& a shower would
be refreshing–I have received a letter from Tom–He is at his old Camp
ing ground near Richmond after a hot and disagreeable march of
13 or 15 miles to meet the Enemy on Malvern Hill–which they had the
day before taken from our troops stationed there.  When we were with
-in one or two miles of them we halted expecting the next morning to attack
them, but towards evening our Scouts reported that they had fallen back so we
so we[sic] faced about & came here after Camping one night.  He says peaches
sell at $1 a dozen & green apples 50 cts  Eliza received a letter also from
Mr Mason–But no letter from Fred–We have gained another victory–

MSS 6960

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

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

Tuesday 12  But few particulars of
the battle in addition to those recd
yesterday–but one general was taken
Prince–Our men fought [?]
and repulsed and pursued the enemy
killing a much larger number than
we lost–A dispatch from Charles
to Sue, assured us of his & Lanty’s safe
-ty.  I immediately sent a dispatch
to their mother.  They were both
in the hottest of the fight–Charles
was quite near Winder when he was
killed.  His horse was struck.  Lanty’s
cannon was struck & they had to go to
the rear–Charles’ letter says the fire
was dreadful–no letter from Lanty
wrote to Mary–Recd at night let
ters from her & Mr. Gwatkins, say
ing Eugene was better–but that
the doctor had told her at last
the fever under which he labored
was typhoid of mild type. This alar
-med a good deal as I have a horror
of that disease –she informs us that
Lanny Minor is with her and will
be here tomorrow evg with Mrs Roy
all.  Weather exceedingly hot–
a fine rain in the evening.

MSS 4763