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

Friday   Aug 8th/62

Very warm.  At three Oclock in the
afternoon, we had orders to prepare
to march immediately.  We were soon
on our way, we marched through
the town, and went into Camp
about two miles from the Town,
distance of four miles from the
old Camp.  We heard that the Rebels
were only seven miles from us, and
this side of the Rappadan river.
We went to sleep at night, with
the prospects of Battle tomorrow.  Co. N. was
left in the Town to do Provost guard,
When we marched through the Town,
most of the Ladies were crying,
probably most of them knew
the Rebels were near, and had Fathers
Sons or Brothers with them and
seeing such a strong force of
Yankees going to meet them, must
have made them feel bad.  Nearby the
house we came to I saw a young Lady
with a handkerchief to her face
crying as though her heart would
brake.  A little ways furthur on there
was a woman sitting by the Window
and as we passed her, she cast her
eyes heaven ward, and her lips
moved as if in prayer.  She was
probably praying for the Lord to bring down curses upon
our heads.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

Dear Genl [John Hartwell Cocke]

I write few lines to thank
you & Doct [Charles Cary] Cocke for your letters recd
a few days since–I thank God
you are again in the enjoyment
for your usual health.  The last
overseer on Genl. P.St. Geo. Cocke’s Est
in Loundes Co: leaves Monday
next & I am perfectly overrun
with business–The Government pulls
down & I try to build up.
I shall leave for the plantations
in the morning to get things in a
proper train before leaving for
Greene & hope to be able to get
off the Hopewell & the salt works
nest Tuesday–all on the plantation
enjoying their usual health to day
I learn–When I go to Hopewell
& the Salt Works, will write you
fully–I fear we have been doing
a poor business, but are able to do
better from this week making Salt
All hands pulling fodder, a plenty
rain now.  Our Respects to Doct.

[page 2]
Cocke & family.  Cotton good
at present  Corn better than I
ever thought it would be on the
Est.  This must answer for you,
& the Doct. both–at Prest
Our love to you.  all well
               In haste yr friend &c
                   R.D. Powell
Genl John H Cocke

MSS 640

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

Friday, Aug. 8, 1862

After Guard Mounting
the Battalion proceeded
to shift the position
of the Camp So as to give
more room for Drill at[?]
Camp. After dinner we
moved our tents back
a short distance back
and  erected a booth in
front.  At supper Jo had
a difficulty with
Campbell about Campbells
laziness Jo struck him but
nothing further was done
Parade an[d] drill
I hope the time is not
far distant that by
some hook or crook I can
get away from here by
discharge or otherwise
mostly clear very warm

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Another burning day.  Still wanting rain.
I feel like writing a long letter to you
have an idea that before I finish it
some way will turn up for me to send
it.  Mrs Baylor has been with her husband
who is wounded, & (is now near Staunton)–
She brings the news that Jackson will be here
before ten days have passed–I hope it may
be true. I feel that God will hear our
cries for relief;  from  the presence of
our enemies–.
Jacque has been sick for a week, but is a
great deal better to day.  I was very uneasy for
fear he would have the dysentery, but hope
it has all been entirely checked. Pa is so fond of
feeding children on fruit that he insisted a
good ripe pear would’nt hurt Jack & so
I tried it but I will be careful not to
do the like again–
Tom has improved very much.  It is
not half as difficult to make him mind
me as it was a few months ago. I have given
him some good lessons in whipping, & think
the secret his [?];  Pa took him behind
him on his horse to the depot & said he
behaved very well–John asked what he
was.  said “secesh rebel.”

[partially transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Willis Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Spent the day at Saratoga. This evening the Yankees made a raid into Millwood and its precincts, plundered Linden and the Hall, carried away cattle from the latter place in the morning.

MSS 9759

Camp Fifth Maine Near Harrisons Landing Va. August 8/62
Dear Father—I now take this Present opportunity as it is the cool
Part of the day to Answer your letter that Ive received when on Picket it was
dated the first there was one thing pleasant in Camp this morning when we arrived in
from the Pickett it was the meeting of one of the members of the company who we thought
had died from wounds that he received in the back of the neck but instead of being
dead he is alive & in good health he was taken Prisoner & came down from Richmond
day before  yesterday when wee was on Picket & tonight there is A sadder sight that was
the buring two more Members of the Regiment this makes six we have lost by sickness
since we came to James River being more than we have lost at any one time since we have
been in Virginia these two men belong to Co I the Bethel Company & Co F of Portland last
night they cleared out all of the sick that was in the Hospital & have sent them to
Fortress Monroe & other places I was down to the landing yesterday to get the box & it
had not come Genl Slocum has been promoted from a Brigadier General to A Major
& will have command of this corps as Genl Franklins health is poor. I have heard
said that he had been appointed Military Governor of this stat & if it is so I think
it is the right man in the right place Col Jackson has not arrived yet but the
officers expect him to day tell William that I received his last letter & will answer Just
as soon as I can get A chance I have read A great deal about the Soldiers getting rested since they
have been to this River as far as I am concerned I am rested A great deal but I could get more if it
were not for working on breastworks & forts but if Genl McClellan thinks he can make them stronger
by entrenchments i[sic] am wiling because I have every confidence in him & shall whether
he meats with defeat or Victory & I believe that if they will give him the men
that he wants he will enter the so called capital of the Rebels. I was
surprised to read in your letter that there was A box on the way & I
do not want Mother to spend the money that is given to her for me
                           From your Son
                                        Joseph Leavitt

[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]

Friday 8.  Weather extremely hot. Telegram
that Gen Stevenson had captured
the Yankee Column at Cumberland Gap
This is Carter Stevenson of Fredg.  I
shall rejoice if the news be true
not only on public grounds but on
his account.  He is an excellent officer
and wants only the opportunity to
distinguish himself –Would that
his mother could have lived to enjoy
his success–closely engaged–Letter
from Mary dat4ed yesterday–She thinks
Eugene better–but her specifications
of his condition dont sustain her [?]
ion I hope they may reach home early
next week.

MSS 4763

[from a diary fragment, July 17-July 29, kept by Thomas M. Smiley, Co. D, 5th Virginia]

Camp at Larksville

Friday July 17th
             Nothing of interest
has occurred to day except a
heavy rain which is not very
agreeable to us being without tents

Saturday 18th In camp all day with
nothing to eat a great deal of dissatis
faction is being shown by the men on
account of not getting enough to eat

Sunday 19th  Remained in camp all
day preaching in the regiment by
a Chaplain of another Regiment
got orders this evening to cook several
days ratios, and move by five Oclock

Monday 20th  Started at five and marched
below Martinsburg on the railroad where
we camped.  the third brigade having
been sent out to tear up the railroad

Tuesday 21st  the whole division was
taken out to day to work.  tore up
and burnt a good portion of the
road got orders this evening to quit
work and march back to Larkesville

Wednesday 22nd  got to Larksville last
night after dark ordered to cook two
days rations and march at daylight
marched through Bunker Hill and
camped near Winchester.  after camping
we found a large field of blackberries
where the whole division was
bountifully supplied with fresh fruit
Received orders to cook another days
rations and march at daylight

Thursday 23rd  Went through Winchester
this morning turned off on the
Front Royal road which place was
reached at dark we crossed the
Shenandoah on pontoon bridges

Friday 24th  Left at daylight and
marched twelve miles on the road
leading to Luray through a mountain
ous country camped at sundown
and cooked two days rations
Orders for revelie at three
O Clock.  The first brigade is beginning
to look very small owing to hard
marching and not much to eat

Saturday 25th  started at daylingt and
marched to within three miles
of Luray where we turned off
the main road towards the mountain
and camped making in all
about seventy five miles traveled
this week. The men are now[?]
all out washing their clothes it being the
first opertunity for six weeks

Sunday 26th  remained in camp
all day in the morning Lieut[?]
Wright and S. F. McCutcheon went
and gathered blackberries out
of which we baked a large
family pie for dinner in
the evening there was
inspection. The day was spent
generaly by the men in washing their clothes and
mending them as they expected
to march tomorrow they considered
it a work of necessity preaching
in camp to day at three
different times several united
with the church and were
baptized. There seems to be a
great interest felt in the
army now on the subject of religion.

Monday 27th  Left camp at five
Oclock marched very slow until noon
as the wagons had some difficulty
in going up the mountain after
getting up to the top we marched past
and camped at Sperryville in a
large orchard had another Blackberry
pie for supper a great many of the
boys made apple dumplings.

Tuesday 28th Left camp at Sperryville
and took the Culpeper road but
soon turned off on the Madison
Court House road and marched some
ten or twelve miles and camped.
a right heavy shower of rain this
evening.

Wednesday 29th Left camp this morning
and marched about eight miles and
camped the road traveled being the
worst I ever saw in my life.

Thursday 30th  We have no move to day
remained in camp a great deal of grumbling
among the men as they drew bran in
place of lour; for bread.  Had a smart
shower of rain this evening. roads
very mudy.

MSS 1807

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

Friday
Aug 8
On guard myself to-day. No 3
third relief.  Read the Christians
Instructor.  The tents for the guard were
fixed up this morning, the first time
since I enlisted that the guard have
been decently accommodated.

MSS 11293