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

Wednesday, August 6th
Prayer meeting at Cousin Burwell Whiting’s.  Intensely warm.

MSS 9759

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

I made a beginning with white labor
this morning.  Mrs. Price brought my washing
home & a miserable washing it was.  I didn’t
tell her so however as she did not seem willing
to do it again-said she would come for it
if she felt like it & would’nt if she didnt,
Very well I said–if you are not willing
to help to work here I think Pa ought to
put some one in his house that will–that
put her back a little.  But she recovered quickly
& said a great deal about not seeing any
thing for her work= hinting at Pa’s not doing
more for her–She has had his house for more
than a year has’nt paid a cts rent & wants
him to pay her money for whatever she does-
though he gave her meal, a hog yarn to knit
socks to sell & Ma has done a great deal for
her. There is an instance of the insolence of
that class–But I will not trouble myself
about that now–“Sufficient unto the day is
the evil thereof-”  If I only had you at
home & Peace was declared I feel that I could
put up with a great deal.

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

MSS 15406

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

 
                             Upton’s Farm, Sep. 5.
     Rumors have it that the rebels threaten
a raid into Maryland, and intend crossing
at Conrad’s Ferry, Point of Rock’s or
Berlin, or all three, and march through
into Pennsylvania.  The rumor appears
to be well founded, as the enemy appears
to have withdrawn from our front,
and it may be intends to operate in that
quarter.  If so, he has work ahead.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]

Tuesday
Aug. 5
Answered the letters I got yesterday
Played chess some. Read papers
Company drill this forenoon. Flagg was
discharged today.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Lieut John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]

Aug 6th  Henry returned from Charlottesville
Col W. thinking two from our battery was
one too many to have under arrest at the
same time, of course, prefering the Capts
rank, released him; at same time order-
-ing him to prefer charges against me, which
the Capt prefered, yet preferring not.  This
evening orders came to pack up and move
in an hours time, which was done accord-
-ingly.  Being deprived of authority in
the Battery remained at Camp to take
charge of baggage tents etc.  The Battery moved
off at 4 o’c & camped that night 3 miles from
Gordonsville. (beyond).  A Tooth which has
prevented my sleeping for three nights past
by incessant aching, has at last quieted
down by the sight of a Dentist who threat-
-ened to extract it.  Have an invitation to
breakfast with Dr Quarles tomorrow.


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 6150

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio, Co. H]

                                       Camp Green Meadows, Aug. 5th,
     From the length of time intervening
between each entry of this diary for the
past month, and the uninteresting
contents therein, the inference is easily
drawn that but little noteworthy, has
transpired h with us of late.  A general
calm has prevailed in our pleasant little
community lately, and nought has
occurred to disturb the monotony, and
dispel that spirit of ennui which is an
unfailing companion when the mind is
unoccupied.
     This evening a man was brought to
the Hospital, having received a contusion in
the face, from having a horse, which he
was riding, fall upon him, it being shot
by a concealed foe, supposed to be some
bushwhackers.  This man belongs to a
company of the 2nd. Va. Cavalry, stationed
a couple of miles from here on the
Blue Stone road, as an outpost.
This has occasioned some little

excitement and bustle amongst the
soldiers, and there is some speculation
as to what “coming events” might be,
as they are said to “cast their shadows
before,” the shadows, in this case, being
@ little more than usual preparation
and precaution.  Rumors may not
always be lies, and it may be, that
some venturesome and enterprising represent=
=tatives of Secession are somewhere in our
vicinity.  There are undoubtedly guerillas
about, and there may be a force of
the enemy not far from us.  It is
known that Gen. Heath’s Brigade is
in Monroe county, within a days
march of us, but not in sufficient
force to attack us in open fight, though
abundantly able to retard our advance
South, with the force now on Flat Top.
     This little bit of excitement has
a rather salutary effect, in arousing
many from an apathy, into which we
could not help fall, when quiet reigned supreme.
A sad event took place a while before
sunset this evening, the death of a young
man, Frank Burrell, from Diarrhoea,
it being, of short duration.  He had
been in Hospital but a few days.
     I am told he leaves a young wife
and child in Ohio to mourn his loss.
How many like her have mourned
the death of beloved ones far away,
who have pined away in camp, or have
been stricken down on the battle-field,
when in the prime of life.  These
are some of the mournful results of
this accursed and unnatural war.
     The Diarrhoea is not so bad in
camp as some days ago, gradually on
the wane.
     Weather warm, or rather, quite hot.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

Confidential

                   August 5th/62
           Camp Green Meadows
Dear Father
               I am about to write
you in regard to our future
prospects as a band & and
as I shall probably make some
propositions I would have
you read it quietly
For some time past perhaps
two weeks there has been
considerable talk here in
regard to the mustering out
of service of Bands. both
officers & men of our
Reg’t have been troubled
about it.  All that we
know about the realities
is that papers of about
the 10th & 15th of July stated that
an act had been passed
to discharge all bands.  Officers

[page 2]
and men all say
should we be mustered
out they will make up
our pay by voluntary
subscription. the privates
say they will give one Dollar
per month from their wages
rather than have us
leave.  One officer said to
me “he would give $25 per
month rather than have us
leave” The Colonel says he
will indeavor to retain
us.  We (Band) however
intend to leave and go
home at least for a time
should the opportunity offer
For my part I  hope that we
will be discharged not
that I wish to leave the
service for should we
get away I shall certainly
enlist again and again

[page 3]
         I am inclined to
think if we were at home
now some of us might
do better among the
new Regiments now
raising.  It makes little
difference how long we
remain here in our
present position.  Their is
no chance for promotion
and my opinion is that
the Regiments now being
brought into the service
at this the eleventh hour
should be officered by
men who have been
in the service, men
who have suffered more
hardships than they will
ever have to meet again
no matter how long
the war may last &
this seems to be the opinion

[page 4]
of the authorities generally
now should the states
be obliged to resort to
drafting this will be
the way Regiments so raised
will be officered, and I
think some of us fellows
who have been wandering
about here over a year
now should have a
Chance, what think you
and now to be plain
should bands not be
discharged I want for the
reasons I have  given & others
to get away from here if I
can honorably and should I
get away I think I might have
a position in some of the
new Regiments and deserve
such a position as much as many
who are getting and as I
understand it all it requires to

[page 5]
secure such a position is a little
diplomacy.  Officers here
understand it so and one of
them with whom I am intimate
has offered me recommendation
without my asking for it at
the same time telling me that
I might as well as not apply
for some position in new
Reg–as hundreds of others are
       doing, besides I have good

[page 6]
reasons for wishing to get out
of the band business if I can conven-
iently What think you of
this? Can any thinkg anything
be done to bring about
such a result as I have spoke
of?        in haste
            Yours Truly
               J.D. Templeton
P.S. If you can do anything conveniently in this
matter & do so  Yours Truly J. D. Templeton

on envelope
Kindness of Lieut Cooper
of Co. E 23 Reg’t O Vol. Inf.

James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio


MSS 10317

R

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

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1862

Guard mounting
& practice.
Wrote letters to Father
which I expect to send
with Lieut Cooper who
has been afflicted with
sore eyes and goes home
tomorrow.  Avery Hastings
& others go on Recruiting
service start tomorrow
Parad[e] no drill
Frank  Burrell of Co A
died this evening in
the hospital
Thad better
Mostly clear very warm

MSS 10317

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

     Tuesday   Aug. 5th/62

  Reville beat this morning at three
Oclock.  The pickets came in about
the same time.  At five oclock
we had everything packed and
we marched.  We went about a
half of a mile and then haul-
ted, till nearly Seven O clock.
We then started, and marched
to the North fork of the
Rappahannock river, distance
eight miles.  The sun was very
warm, and we were all day in
marching it.  It was so warm
that I did not mind whether
I kept with the Regt or not.
I would march about a mile,
and then lay down for an hour
or more.  The Thermometer stood
at one hundred and twenty
in the Shade, and over
one hundred and thirty in
the Sun.  In the evening I
had a bath in the River.
The force consisted of Gen Ricketts
Brigade Division, composed of
Hartsuffs, Duryea and Towers
Brigades,

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021 

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

 Tuesday Night, August 5th

Am sitting up tonight with my darling little baby, listening anxiously for every wail. Oh merciful God, spare my precious little one.  I never knew until now how deep she was in my heart.  I am so distressed I should have left her all day, but I thought her only a little unwell and thought it my duty to go see Cousin Margaret, but if my baby dies, I shall never cease to regret it.  But oh, gracious God, spare me.  Never to hear those sweet lips saying “mam” and never to hear the patter of those little feet.  As I neared Paris today I was met by various men, all seemingly dreadfully frightened.  they told me Paris was full of Yankees.  I did not half believe the tale and went on.  I went through Paris and on the outskirts saw twenty cavalry horses tied, the riders asleep in a grove.  Nearer to Upperville I met about sixty more cavalry.  I asked to see the Captain and asked him if I would have any difficulty going or returning home.  He replied, “Of course not”‘ so I proceeded on my way.  this evening on my way home I met them all returning through Upperville.  I had to ford the river by moonlight, which was not very agreeable as I was my own driver and not well acquainted with the ford.  Thanks to a kind providence we got safely across.  I fear I will never see Cousin Margaret again.  Friend after friend departs.  When I returned I met Mr. and Mrs. Jones and brother Henry. They told me of a grand stampede of negroes from the neighborhood, ten from the Hall, seven from the Meadow, two from the Briars, one of ours.  My darling babe is sleeping more quietly, thank God.

MSS 9759