Martinsburg Va
Aug. 3d 1862

Dear Friends
It being
Sunday and having a little
spare time I thought that
I could not improve a few
minutes better than in
writing you.  I am well
and hope these few lines
may find you all the
same.  I suppose that
you are harvesting now
a days.  I should like to
be with you to help you
put up the grain.  But
I cannot and must be
content to stay where I am
and write you.  The weather
is pleasant & all goes well
in Camp.  No exciting
news just now.

[page 2]
I believe the most
that interests us just now in
the way of news is the draft
draft in Ills.  When you
write I want you to tell
me all about the draft &
what is being done at
Genesee  Who wants to
enlist now and who
are going to stand the
draft.  I hope that every
young man who is not
married will be drafted.
They have no excuse to
be found in the lurch
at such a time as this and
when they are needed
so bad down here.  Why
do they stay and still hold
back?  Is it because
of cowardice or is it because
they dont want to leave
home?  Certainly they all
had an excuse when
I enlisted for it did

[page 3]
appear then that their Service
would be needed, but
now the whole country
calls and begs of them
to enlist and help put
down this Rebellion and
still they will not come to
our aid The Lord knows
it is high time an end
was put to these troubles
Why not come out as one
united people and Push
this war to the very gates
of Southern homes?  There
is no need of thinking
about enjoyment at home
in the north while such
a war is being carried
on in our land.  the cry
or call for more troops at
this momentous time of

[page 4]
the war is imperitive[sic]
and should recieve a wel-
come response from every
loyal citizen of the
north. The South are
turning out to a man–
and are meeting us in “en
massee” and why not meet
them boldly and avenge
the wrongs already done
God knows our cause
it is just and we have
the means to punish traitors
Now let us do it, and
Save all future posterity
from the gulf of ruin
The Signs of the times are
dark, but than there is al-
ways a dark hour before
day break; hence let us
live and fight in hopes
if we are beaten in despair.
To continue the war is entirely useless
or to permit it to continue rather

[incomplete letter of William Henry Redman, Co. C, 12th Illinois Cavalry]

MSS 7415

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

Sunday, Aug. 3, 1862

After Guard Mounting
prepared & went out
in a wagon to the Widow
Deeds to a dinner of
the Quartermasters getting
up=After playing two
pieces Dinner was announced
the Quartermaster mustered
the aforesaid clerks &c
present but did not
seat the band at this the
7 of us left & on the
way home Gillett Charlie
Leff[?] & I got some dinner
then came in
Parade & short drill
Had long letter
from Libbie Weeks
Lieut Towslee’s alleged
wife came into Camp

to day  mostly clear


MSS 10317

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

          Sunday  Aug 3rd/62
   Pleasant.
               Was excused from
Inspection this morning for policeing
the Company street (picking up
pieces paper and C)  At nine O clock went
to the creek and had a
swim.  Very warm, I layed in my tent
nearly all day, reading.
Had services at Sun down and
dress Parade.  Part of the Company went
on Picket I remained at the Camp.   

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021            

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Sunday, August 3, 1862

I am perfectly unsettled
I read, but I cant read.  I wonder if I
will ever be settled in this world again-
I try to forget about this world, & prepare
myself for another. If I could
only believe  & not have so little faith.–
God must take care of me.  I know
that not a sparrow falleth to the
ground without his knowledge & still I
am troubled about what is to become of
us all–

Pa heard to day that the oath is to
be administered to all the men , women &
children left in the lines & those who
refuse to take it will be sent on foot
from their homes & without a mouthful
to eat=can an oath taken under such
circumstances be binding!  — I feel that
nothing would induce me to take it but I
know that I can never see my children
starving for bread.

Patty & her little ones left us.  We told
them goodbye with heavy harts as there
is no knowing what may befall us before
we meet again.

[Portions of the entry were transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Sunday 3d–Communion day=We all went to Church tho’ it was
raining–I received two letters to day one from Joe enclosing a
$5 bill for Eliza–They were all well in Georgia & Joe had
gone to house=keeping–The company to which he belonged when
he got a Substitute he says has been ordered to Virginia & have
had new Officers elected–He regrets now he did not remain
as he would certainly have been elected Captain or 1st Lieu-
tenant.  But I am glad he is just where he is—He can do a
great deal for the Confederacy where he is–In making provi-
-sions for the Army–Tom is getting on better now he is out
of the ranks–& can ride–But how sincerely do I wish he was at home

MSS 6960

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

Sunday 3.  Very good sermon to a small
congregation–communion–Rested the
whole day until  6. Letter from Lewis
by the Richd mail.  He thinks Eugene
very sick & that he ought to be got-
ten out of the city where the air is
poisoned–this news determined his
mother to go in the morning–and
all hands set to work to get her ready
went to Charles & then to the Doctors

MSS 4763

Charlottesville, Aug. 2d 1862

Genl. John H. Cocke
Dear Sir:

About the 1st of May last Dr Cabell called
to see me in reference to the rent of the Delavan property
& if I am not mistaken told me that he had had an
understanding with you in regard to the rent, and it
was that rent should be paid you from the 1st
of May last–& suggested to me that he was willing
that any two disinterested free holders should decide
as to what would be a fair compensation per mo:
for the use of the property–acting upon the suggestion
I selected Mr Jas Lobban and Mr Jno: Wood Jr, who
being acquainted with the property fixed the rent
at $42 50 per mo: & adding in their award that all
damages should be repaired–The property seems

[page 2]
to be well taken care of –and the front fencing has
been removed–(the old fence) and a substantial
board fence put in its place–I send you
herewith a receipt & a duplicate to get your
signature, that I may draw the rent for the
first two months–the Quarter Master refusing to
pay being required so to do by the regulations, unless
I have your own signature to the rect or have
a power of attorney from you authorizing me
to rect in your name–  I thought, under
all the circumstances, the rent ought to have
been more, but having agreed to leave it to two
free holders–we are bound by their award.
Mr Massie turned the accounts & between Mr Sample & yourself
over to me–but I can do nothing with them  Mr S. being
hopelessly insolvent & Mr Gibbs whose bonds he took for the rent of
your property, being equally so–very respectfully
                                             your obt Svrt   Jas D. Jones

MSS 640

The Delevan, also known as the Mudwall, was built in 1828 by General Cocke for use as a Temperance Hotel for University of Virginia students.  It became part of the Charlottesville General Hospital and after the war was used as a school for the freedmen. An African American Baptist congregation purchased the building in 1868. First Baptist Church now stands on the site.

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

July 30th.  I left Richmond this morning with
Henry at 6 ½ o’c.  Caught in the rain and stop-
-ped at Mr. Lewellens 5 miles from R – for an hour.
Reached Tuckahoe at 9 ½ o’c;  Spent a very pleas-
-ant day with Florrie & the Mrs’ Blair.s.  In evening
with Henry & Florrie went down to the boat, and
met Miss Ann B – & Rose. (rather disappointed
that Jennie did not come up, altho I almost
hoped against hope.)  Next morning July 31st
after a very early breakfast, Henry accompanying
I started off feeling quite refreshed by a days &
nights rest.  Commenced raining after having
gone 10 miles so waited for two hours, until
the rain held up at the barn on Lower Warwick
afterwards continuing on dined at the house
of Mr. Warwicks overseer.  Left there at 3 o’c &
reached Goochland C.H. at 6 o’c where Mr.
Miller met us, and we spent the night
with him.  (Very pleasant family).  After break-
-fast next morning (Aug 1st) we left for Gordons-
-ville.  After riding 22 miles stopped for din-
-ner and to feed our horses at Dr.              left
there at 2 ½ oc, reaching our Camp near Gor-
-donsville at 6 o’c.  Having ridden over 40 miles of
course felt very tired & that night slept very sound-
-ly.  Next day Aug 2nd  passed off very quietly.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Saturday
Aug 2

On guard to-day. It rained
considerable.  Was on No 1 beat.

MSS 11293