[from the diary of  Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

I forgot to mention how intensely hot it has
been every day since I have been here–There
has not been a shower to cool the air, &
it seems to me that to day it is warmer than
any day which has preceded it this summer-
=In spite of the heat however we all
got into a visiting humour & as we
could get the carriage Ma, Bertie, Emma
& I went over to Blakely & Claymont–
found a house full of pretty young folks-
at Blakely & one poor wounded Confederate-
on parole=A Mr. Stewart from Chantilly, Fairfax
He looked dreadfully had been wounded through
the jaw, the bullet passing out at the mouth
knocking out all of his front teeth both
upper & lower;–Heard that Mr Cooke
had lost all of his servants; & Mrs Kearsley all
of hers…Many gentlemen are leaving the
neighbourhood for fear of having to take
the oath-….Poor Mrs Alexander I felt
sorry for her all alone at Claymont with her
three children Mrs W[ashington]’s two & the oldest son
of Mr. Lyle who is deaf & dumb & she is
expecting Mrs Lyles daughter & Mr L’s sons from
Washington–poor little delicate woman.
What will she do with all of those
children. Surely, we all have our troubles
these days.

[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]

Thursday, August 7th

Went this evening to Mrs. Grigsby’s to see Cousins William and Mary.  Had a very pleasant ride.

MSS 9759

[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.]

Thursday–Being Cloudy it is much cooler–No letters this morn
-ing.  My eye still painful & running water–Liz, Sarah & I
walked up after tea to see Mrs Tyler & Person–The latter too sick to
be seen–We have just heard the Federals have taken Kingston–
are moving on to Goldsboro’–I hope it may be untrue–It has been
uncommonly warm all day.  Mrs. Wm Davis called to see us all.

MSS 6960

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

 Thursday 7.  Hot beyond endurance–No
news by telegraph or mail to-day
from Eugene–Got pleasant lodgings
for Taliaferro’s family and the Willises
at Mrs. Nowlins–called there in the
eveng at 6 and took the girls to our
home where they staid until 10. Young
Capt Knox & Wm H. Blackford their
beaux–Mrs Watkins of Petersburg
-Maria Hall that was- returning from
the springs, called on the way.  It is
many years since I saw here–She
is now a sweet [?] looking woman –but
[?] married.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of William Cox Holmes of the 1st Mississippi Battalion of Sharpshooters]

Sent to Baton
Rouge
Aug 6 1862

very unexpectedly to us,while in
our delightful encampment, orders
came to go to Baton Rouge to help
the balance of the division take the
place.  On the 6th of August, we
started for Vicksburg & now came
some pretty hard soldiering.  We did
not take tents or any thing else
much so we had a most incon-
vient time of it.  The result of
the whole trip was that we occupi
-ed the enemy’s for some time
& during the time we fortified
Port Hudson above it is to be hope
will prevent the further naviga
-tionof the Miss.  But suddenly
here was all my happy expec-
tations cut short & I could
neither do or think of my in
-tentions, while at Camp Price
but so it is with the soldier
through the whole of his life.

MSS  38-472

Camp Fifth Maine Vols Near Harrisons Landing Va August 9th 1862
Dear Brother as I have Just finished writing to Henry I thought I would
answer yours as I am not on any detail it is awful warm out here & I have seen
so many cases of Death As I have seen since we have been to the River this
Regiment has lost six Death since the first of July being more than we have
lost being more than than we have lost[sic] at any one time since we have been
in the Army & I never see them die so fast they are no more than put in the
hosptital before you will hear of their death this Company has been luckey
since it has been on the Penisnsula only loseing two men by death in battle
Genl Slocum has been promoted from A division General to A Major Genl
& now has command of this Corps that this division belongs in which was
Franklins as Genl Franklin’s health is Poor we lost A good General when
he left this Corps but the one that has command is just as good & is liked
by all under his command he is A man that if he sees An officer using A
Private hard he will talk to them & give them particular fits Father
wanted to know what kind of Many Capt Harris is I think he is A verry
good Officer gut some of the Boys are down on him on account of his tak
ing the dangerous places on Picket which in fact he does & I will say
this much for him & second Lieut Deering that is we could not have
braver Officers to lead us & I would not ask for any braver the reason
he was made Captain was for the coolness that he showed at Gains Hill
I will close this y saying I wish you would send me A few stamps in your
next say A doz From your Brother Joseph Leavitt  1st Write soon Write soon
2d Write soon Write soon

[letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons both of whom were mortally wounded in the war, Joseph at Spotsylvania and George at 2nd Bull Run]

MSS 66

Camp Near Harrisons landing Va  August 9th 1862

Dear Brother–yours of August 7 came to hand this morning and
I hasten to answer, I dont know of any news that I can write but will try
to make this letter interesting, we are beginning to have A little rest now but will try
how long it will last it is impossible to say something is to be done soon if I
am not very much mistaken, if I can read the signs, I would say this army
Army [sic[ at least a large portion of it will not remain here long, Cavelry & Artilery are move
ing off in small squads every day but where they are going I cant say, since the
Rebels shelled the shipping the other night our troops have  occupied the opposite
side of the River & every day large numbers go on to fell Trees Y build Forts what
this means unless it means an attact on Petersburgh & Fort darling I dont know
Burnsides has again made one of his misterious moves, we shall proberly hear
from him soon. Pope is preparing for something, I shall not be surprised to find
that all three armies are moveing on Richmond in different directions as soo as
the new Troops enter the Field the move will be made I hope now things will move
little more lively, I hope we have seen the last of humbug & mismanagement
it is now quite time that this Rebelion was Crushed there has been to much
Fooling we have played war long enough & now must fight in earnest the
Government begins now to see this you say that the Regiments in Maine are
filling up fast, I am glad to hear it, the tenth New York which belongs
to our brigade & have just been paid off is one of the best in the service but
like all the rest when paid off will gamble you would be astonished to see
the money change hands Just after pay day nothing but gambling from
morning untill night–Thank God I am not inclined that way.  I
notice what you say about Cxxx  I am surprised to learn that he has
conducted as you say Glad Edward was in time to stop him I hope that
Edward will get well and have A little peace he has been woried long
enough Joseph was over here three days ago in good health Joseph
thinks that Col Jackson & Genl McClellan wonderful men about
Col Jackson I know nothing, only his men speak well of him you know
what my opinion of Genl McClellan is I hope he will do something
to get his name up I shall have to close as it is getting time for dress
parade will write you again soon from your Brother
                                                           George

[letters of George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph of the 5th Maine were copied in a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom died in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania]

MSS 66

                     Richmond August 7th 1862

Dear Mary
                  I shall send by Jim Six (6)
plough points and a rectd bill—
I thought to day I wold be obliged to move
into the City, but I have just heard that Dr
Deane will not require his house, & I am
glad to hear it, for board is from $50 to 75
and it is hard to get, at any price—–
I am very anxious to hear from Wm. Packard
—I sent you Tompkin’s Acct & Sam Prices.
Ned Taylor got Thos. R. Prices acct—–
     Lucy sold for less than she should
have sold for, by several hundred dollars.
    I have had nothing to do since I returned–
    Col will go up Sat and perhaps I may
go with him, or send George who is very
anxious to visit home–I promised John
to let him come down, & perhaps I may
do so, but not at this time.
     Love & Kisses to all
                     Your Cal

Callender St. George Noland, 1813-1879

MSS 6463

Wednesday
Aug 6

Company drill this forenoon
Very hot to day.  Lay round
Read some.  Talked with Barrett this evening.
Have been fixing some new stakes for the tent.

MSS 11293