Camp 8th Regt Pa. R. V.
Near Harrison’s Landing, Aug. 6th
Dear Aunt:
               I have not had a letter
from any of my friends for a long
time so I came to the conclusion
that I must write again as that
is the surest way to get letters.
Every morning for nearly two weeks
I have been looking for the mail
with great anxiety.  But still
none comes.  I get exceedingly
anxious to hear from about home
I have been out of stamps or I
would have written sooner.  We are
still in camp near the landing
although the rebels did try to shell
us out one night last week.
About 1 o’clock Thursday night we
were wakened up by the roaring
of cannon.  We got out and the
shot and shell were screaming over
our heads.  The rebels had planted three

[page 2]
river and thought to do us a good
deal of damage.  But our men soon
got their guns to bear on them
and of of the gunboats let fly
at them and in a short time the
rebels began to think it rather
an unhealthy location and concluded
to move to a safer locality.
the next morning a force was
sent over to take possession of
the point from which they shelled
us.  Our regiment was sent over
on Sunday to do picket duty.
Through the night the Musquitos
fought us with great vigor and
we presented a sorry sight in
the morning.  A short time after
daylight we saw some of the
rebel Cavalry but they took good
care to keep out of the reach
of our rifles.  In the forenoon
a party was sent out to look
after them.  They got within a

[page 3]
short distance of about fifty
of them. As soon as they saw
our men they broke for the
woods and did not show them
selves again that day.  On Moonday
about two hundred contrabands
were brought over and set to
work to throw up entrenchments.
If the rebels even try the same
game again they will get it.
They killed three or four men for
us on this side of river and
wounded several also some
horses.  They struck some
of the vessels at the landing
but did no serious damage
I saw some of the boats that
had holes shot in them.
Yesterday three divisions went
out to Malvern Hill and
scattered them and took a
good many prisoners.  There
were a good many wounded.  Gens
Hooker and Kearney and Couch are

[page 4]
fighting Gens and I wish we
had more of them.  We are
expecting an attack from some
of the rebel gunboats but as
we have 30 or 40 of them and
they have only about three.
They have been seen up the James
river towards Richmond but
have not showed much fight.
There is some talk that we
are going over the river before
long.  But we cannot tell.
We have a good many sick
but not many very dangerous.
We have had only one death in
our regiment since we came
here. that was a man by the
name of Leary of Co. G
I must come to a close.  Write
soon and direct as before.
Give my love to all the rest
and all inquiring friends.
                      Your affectionate Nephew
                       A.S. Eagleson

Andrew S. Eagleson

8th Regiment,  Pennsylvania Reserves


MSS 11027

                                    Jackson Miss
                                  Aug 6th 1862

Hon. & Dear Sir,  [Edmund Ruffin]

                       Yr kind reply to my last
letter was duly recd., &, in conformity with
yr. generous desire that I should wait
still longer before transmitting the
loan due you–I have delayed this
long, when, altho’ still unsettled as to
my future destination, I am so far
relieved as to pecuniary matters as to
make it no longer necessary to infringe
upon yr. kindness
   I will therefore send the check, as
directed, by the next mail, & will be
obliged to you, to inform me when recd.
  I learned with grief & indignation
in the papers, that yr. loss by the depre=
dations of  yr. invaders, has been con=
siderable, but trust that it has been

[page 2]
magnified.  I shall be pleased to hear
particularly from you of the real state
of affairs, both with you & my old
friends, the Braxtons-
  I am waiting with great anxiety
to hear from my sister–whose silence
for the last 7 weeks, & during so mo=
mentous a period, causes me much
uneasiness, especially as I have never
been able to hear of the safety f her
husband & son since the fearful
battles of Richmond–Until I hear
from her, I can not decide whether
I shall join her or Mrs Twomey.
One of the other I suppose I shall do
in the course of a few weeks–Any
arrangements, however, during these
unsettled times, must of course be
only temporary—
Do you see the blue sky thro
the heavy clouds that darken our
countrys horizon?  or any prospect
of a peace at hand?  Particularly
for Maryland? do you think

[page 3]
it possible that a peace could be
settled that would leave her
under northern rule?
  That you yourself may be
sustained & strengthened, body &
spirit, thro’ this fearful crisis is
the sincere desire
       of yr. obliged & grateful
                    friend & servt
                         Rebecca Hewitt

P.S.  Since writing the above I learn that
my check can be drawn between here
& Richmond–but Bp. Green is kind
eno’ to undertake to have it forwarded
safely- – When rcd I shall be glad
to hear at once, not only on that acct
but to have tidings of yourself & affairs
in dear Old Virginia—-
                 Yrs & &
                         R. H.
             
MSS 3026

                    Fort Runyon,  Aug 6th 1862

My Dear Wife,
                  I have just received yours of
Aug 4th  I did not expect to write to-day, but since
receiving your welcome letter, I have changed
my mind, We are having some awfull hot wea-
ther, Day before yesterday (Monday) the ther. stood
98 in the shade, and yesterday at 99, today it is
not quite so hot, thee is a little breeze blowing.
Yesterday, for all it was so hot, “Old Abe,” Sec Seward,
Gen Sturgis, Gen Whipple, and other officers,
visited all the (or most of the) forts around here
and there was a nosy time generally. In
the afternoon there was a review of all the
Regmts stationed around here,  They were received
up by Fiarfax Seminary, which is about four
miles and a half from here.  It was too bad
to take the men out, in that awfull hot
sun, with the ther at 99 in the shade. There
were nearly four hundred of the men that
had to lave the ranks on their march
there.  One man died after arriving at the
ground, All this was to please “Old Abe” and the
other old fogies that accompanied him.

[page 2]
We who are at Runyon get clear of all there
drills, whereas if we were at Fort Albany, we should
have to go. You ask me how far it is from here to
Fort Albany. By the road, it is less than half a
mile, in a direct line it looks about a far as it
does from your house to Swampscott. It is true
I believe that the 14th is to be recruited to 1800
men, at any rate I have heard so at least a hundred
times since last march.  I dont know who is
to be taken from our Co for a Lieutenant, but
I think it will be Earp, he told me a few
days ago that his name had gone home.
Capt Chandler is now acting Major at Ft
Albany, our former Major (Washburn) is
being court marshalled, for defrauding the
government, and the soldiers, of, they say
some 80,000 dollars. Capt C. being the senior
commissioned officer takes Washburn’s place
untill he is proved innocent or guilty. If you
can sell Wm or anybody else the shop, do s
by all means, that is, if your father dont
want it. You many sell it for any price that
you can get,  I am very glad that you have
sent, or will send, another bottle of Dr True’s
medicine.   I meant to have written to you
for one in my last, but forgot it I think

[page 3]
it is splendid medicine.  I have had occasion
to use it once or twice, and have given it to
others a number of times, and in every case
it has worked like a charm.  You can tell Mrs
Perkins that her son is still in my Mess, that
I shall go back to my Mess when I leave here
I have two of my mess with me, here at Runyon
Richardson and Pedrick.  by the way, did you
ever know this boy, Pedrick, he is a first
rate fellow, smart as a trap, and very
willing to oblige, he has sent home forty
dollars of his wages since he has been here
I should like to have been at home, and went
to meeting with you and Ernie.  I am
glad he was a good boy and did’nt make
any noise.  I dont feel much like
writing any more tonight.  I know
you will excuse, and I will try and
write you something more interesting
if I can.  Accept my truest fondest
love, dear wife, and little ones, and ever
believe me the same now and evermore
                           Yours
                                        Robert

Unidentified soldier form Lynn, Mass., in 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Co. M.

MSS 1242

Camp Near Harrisons Landing Va August  6th 1862
My Dear Father–Yours of the 25th & 31st of July have been received
The letters come so fast that it is hard work to find time to answer them
as fast as they come to hand, sometimes I have six or eight letters to Answer
& have to make the most of the time I have at my disposal & I no doubt leave
many things out which you at Home wish to know about, I will do the best
I can to answer all letters, now I dont mean to write less often because I mention
this for letters from Home are always acceptable no matter how often they \
are received your letters are A wonder to the men in Co F whenever I open one
to read, the size is what takes them.  I wish I could get such A letter how
long does it take you to read it &c  I hear these remarks every time I have
A letter of yours in my hand, in yours of the 25th you say should think I might
find A great many things about Camp to write about well if I was on A visit
to the  Army of the Potomac  no doubt see many things that would fill up A
number of sheets, but  being accustomed every day to their mode of life & seeding the
same performance every day, everything becomes stale & what A stranger would
see worth noticing I wold take no notice of last Thursday night we were awa
kened out of our sleep by the rapid discharge of Artilery which lasted about one
hour we were all excitement prospect of light marching orders, three days rations
&c were quite flattering but we were not called on in the morning we learned that
the Rebels across the river had opened upon the shipping at the Landing but were
soon driven away without doing much damage since then every thing has
been quiet Yesterday heavy cannonading was heard at some distance up the
River but what the occasion of it was I am unable to say some Prisoners were taken
wherever the Fighting was as I saw them pass through our Camp there are plenty
of rumors but as it is hard work to Judge what are true & what are false reports
I will say I dont know anything about it, if there has been A Fight you will get the
news in the papers before we do, Joseph was over to see me Yesterday he looks well he
thinks there is no one like his Col Jackson,  Genl. Slocum is now acting Major Genl. he
has worked himselfe up verry fast this war has brot to light some verry smart
Men & one of the smart Men whoes name I always look for in the paper is Genl
Buttler he is the man for me, I wish we had A few more like him to conduct this
war, if we had you would see A different state of things wherever he has had
control he has shown that he is A very smart Man, in Baltimore he soon put
things in order, at Fortress Munroe he had not controll but at New Orleans he has
had controll of everything & he has shown that he is the Man for that depart
ment, our own Townsman Genl Geo F Shepley comes in for no small share of
Praise little did I think that Ge F Shepley who I used to see walking the streets
of Portland verry often with A Law gook under his arm would be A General
in the Army of the United States & Military Govoner of Louisania well so it is

we dont know what A day will bring forth our own State will bare an
important part in the History of this rebelion wherever the Maine Regiments
have been engaged in battle they have always proved equal to the best although
I belong to A New York Regiment I think more of the Fame attached to our own
State Volunteers & often wish I was at Home & could get A commission in one
of our Main Regiments, if I was at home this present time I would try for one
but as I am not, I will content myselfe where I am there has been A large number
of Promotions in this Regiment since the recent battles my time will come per
haps one of these days I should like A commission in one of the new Regiments
now forming in Maine, the health of the Regiment is not of the best in fact all of
Regiments around here have been more or less sick Funerels are verry common
the second year tells on the Troops from the twenty fifth of April 1861 to twenty
fifth of May 1862 there was not A single death in this Regiment since that time
we have A different story to tell, you have heard about the rest which the Army
is supposed to be enjoying that rest untill verry lately has been on paper only
but that is nothing it is like all the rest of the statements about having good Gruel  &
whose fault it is I am not prepared to say Yesterday we had A pretty good
dinner to day we have nothing but fat bacon so it goes A feast of A famine such
is A Soldiers life, Mr Frost may be right in saying that  businessmen have A much
harder time than we do but I dont see it, it is true we have nothing to do gut to attend
to our duties as Soldiers, but still we are away from those we love & for the priviledge
of seeing them we would change places, we expect nothing from the People when
the war is over we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have done our duty
nothing more, if this war was ended tomorrow & I should return home & wish to get
A situation by saying that I was A Volunteer in the war of 61 & 62 would not
get it any sooner than if I had remained at Home doing nothing the People
are ungrateful as soon as the war is ended & the Country safe the People will
be as selfish as ever,  you might consider that A Young Man that had enlisted
when the Country was in danger, had suffered every privation in battle in
Camp on the March entitled to A position before he that had staid at Home
but you would proberly  would be the only one in A whole block of stores such is
the Idea I have of the matter, but this will have no effect, I only  bring this up
to ofsett your argument about A man being more likely to obtain A situation
after severing  his Country faithfully, for myselfe I have no fear about my prosp
ering in life at times things have looked verry dark but I have always endea
                          I find by being cheerful
voured to be Cheerful ^ whatever may happen to darken my path, is having its
effects I have the good will of every man in the Company if there is anything I want
that anyone of them has, I can get it, you dont know how I long to return Home, once
more to see all those familiar faces gut it cannot be as long as the war lasts I will be
content to stay hopeing the day is not far distant when I shall be permitted to see you
all one more from you Son George W. Leavitt

Letters written by George W. 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 remebrance of them.  Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania


MSS 66

Aug 5th  Henry today
went to Charlottesville.  Col Walker getting pro-
-voked with Capt Davidson ordered him un-
-der arrest, and being in that humor re-
-quested me to consider myself in the same
fix, which I did immediately.  Much to
the amusement of all the other officers.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 6150

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

Wednesday   Aug 6th /62

Reville this morning at three
Oclock, Marched promptly at
five.  Our Regt had the right
of the Brigade, and Col
Leonard marched us three
miles before haulting.  After
haulting us half an hour
we marched two miles
farther, the next march was
a mile and a half.  The next
a mile and a half.  We then
haulted till the Gen picked
out a Camp for us, it was
then about nine Oclock.
After the Camp ground was
found we marched to it
the distance of a little over a
mile.  We have got a pretty
place to Camp, but we have
to go a mile and a half
to get a chance to bath.  We are
within a mile and a half of Culpepper

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

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

                    
                             Camp Green Meadows, August 6.
This morning everything presented an
unusual appearance.  Horses were in
harness, as though a move was to be
made, although no orders were received
so to do.  This did not long remain an
unexplained mystery.  The booming of
artillery in the direction of Pack’s Ferry,
indicated that something had broken loose
in that hitherto quiet region.  Under
the circumstances, it seemed prudent
to be on the alert here, and thus may
be explained the unusual appearance of
things in general.
     The cause of the cannonading, at
Pack’s Ferry, has since been learned.
A detachment of rebels advanced last
night to Pack’s Ferry, on the opposite
bank from where our men were
encamped, and this morning opened
fire with musketry and artillery on our
men, before they were aware of the
presence of the rebels.  The exposed
situation of the encampment, made it
necessary for our men to fall back a short
distance under cover, a cannonading being
kept up on both sides during the fore=
=noon.  The only damage done our men,
was a few perforations in some of the
tents, (which had been left standing,)
materially aiding in ventilation.  The
rebels withdrew, and proceeded back
up the river in the afternoon.  What
their object was, in not known.  Our
men occupy their old encampment to-
-night.
     An accident occurred today which
well nigh proved of fatal termination.
An apple-tree was struck with lightning,
the electric fluid [?] following the roots
which ran under the tent, being attracted
thither by the metallic substances inside,
took effect on half @ dozen or more persons
inside, stunning them so completely, that two
of them were dragged out for dead.
Fortunately, all will get over it, although
it appears miraculous, that any should
have escaped.  Some two or three, had
cartridge-boxes torn to pieces,
and the contents (40 rounds cartridges,)
burned up, with no other damage to
the individual than a bruise or burn.
     A slight rain this evening, cooled
the air, and made it much more pleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

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

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1862

were called up
this morning with
the report that the
Enemy were about to
attack us about the Ferry
about [6?] we were
called out & with 3
Companies marched down
to the river  met on
the way straglers as
usual with all sorts
of huge stories.
The Companies were
ordered over the hill
We marched down
to the river playing
Yankee Doodle.   The Enemy
mostly gone.  was about the
first to cross the river. Remained
until evening. walked back
to the camp in about 1 1/4 hours
met Scammon complimented us
for service rendered very warm
Rained this afternoon

MSS 10317

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

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

Wednesday 6.  Another day of the heated tem
returning to Bank about 10 found two young
ladies in the Directors room awaiting
my arrival.  They proved to be Miss Delia
Willis’s daugher of Col Geo W. and Miss
Taliaferro daughter of Laurence, of Culp
-eper–both refugees–Miss W. brought
money & papers to deposit with me–and
seven or eight hundred dollars to put in
Bank–promised to look out for board
for them–Letter from Mary by mail
–She thinks Eugene better–but I dont
like her specification.  The telegram
I sent on Monday to request Mr. Gwat
kins to meet her was not recd and
she found herself in an aswkward
fix at the Depot, but got at length
to Mr. Gs–Letter  also from Lanty
written in better spirits–He thinks
Jackson has 30,000 men and 100 guns
Find I have a very bad cold.

MSS 4763