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

Tuesday 23  Fine weather.  called
on Mrs. Thos. Deane, (Soph Cald-
-well) but did not find her in
She has made an indifferent match
I fear. Strange, after having had so
many advantageous offers.  On my way
to the boat to meet the girls whom
I somewhat expected, recd a dispatch
from Ben that the cars would bring
Mrs. Pierce & her daughters whom
we expected Saturday last.  I waited
for them and renewed the invita
tion, but it was declined, as they
intended going up in the Boat
in the morning to the [?]?]
The Examiner had an article con
fidently affirming that Lee had
pursued McClellan and whipped
him Friday routing his army.  A
dispatch came about dark with
[?] intelligence which was
incompatible with this story.  A
column of 60.000 of the enemy crossed
the River near Shepherdstown–Jack
son fell upon the, destroyed
one of their regiments took 1500
prisoners with very little loss on his
side,–our whole force is certainly on
this side of the Potomac–I dont
think we have much to trust of
in this state of affairs–Willy
Blackford arrived on the Char-
lottesville train, having been appoin
ted Lt and ordered to the court of
instruction Richd to drill [conscripts?]
He left Maryland Thursday Evg  was
in  Seven days  battle, He was in five
days.  He has been in many battles
and bore himself gallantly–The Home
Guard is nearly destroyed–He could
tell nothing of Lanty or Wm

MSS 4763

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

Tuesday 23d  A bright cool day; fire is very comfortable–Liz did not
return last night-I thought when she left-her friends would not let
her return.  Sarah went to bed with a bad head ache–Mrs Walters & I
waited until 10 ‘OClock for them-I did not rest well.  Kate frighten-
-ed me in the night by calling out “whose that” twice & when I enquired
what she meant? she replied someone was trying to get into the window.
No doubt she was dreaming–But she & I were the only two persons in this
part of the house, & on the first floor–I felt quite alarmed & could
not get to sleep again–Eleven O’Clock Lize & Liz have just dri
-ven up & appear in fine spirits they both profess to have had a
delightful visit & are charmed with all their relatives–Eliza found
a letter from Mr M___n awaiting her- & from it I learned that Tom was in
general McClaws division . Mrs. Campbell called & passed a half
hour with me–she appeared quite depressed–Everything she said was going
wrong with her–Mrs Walters spent the morning with Miss Sallie Mallet[?]
to get her to cut out Williams night drawers–Liz got me some paper
in Pittsboro–common brown & yellow papers & had to give $1.50 cts
for it–I shall have to make my letters “like angel’s visits few & far between

MSS 6960

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

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

Monday
Sept 22

Have had the diarrhea very bad today
so I did not go out to drill this afternoon
Feel very weak. Weigh only a hundred and twenty
eight pounds. Lay round and read some. O if
it were not for the sustaining power of the blessed
Savior, I know not what I should do, but blessed
be His holy name, I find consolation and support
in Him through all things.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s battery]

                                  Monday 22  Sunday 1862
Left camp with orders to re-
-port at Winchester.  Camped
to night one mile N.W. of
Madison C. H.   stopped
about 7 Oclock P.M.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

                                  Headqrs Army N. Va
                                     near Martinsburg Va
                                             22 Septem 1862

Colonel
      I am directed by Genl. Lee Comdg &c
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 9th inst. and to say that while
he regrets that you find yourself
out of service, he knows of no way
to secure a command for you.  He is
of the opinion that the commission
which you originally held in the Va
service is no longer valid–the recent\
acts of Congress making the offices
in regiments &c elective, and also
providing for regular promotion,
forbids any assignment to com-
-mand even if he had the power
to make it, which he has not.
In the battn. to which you allude,
if the  commd’g officer was killed,
the next in rank would be by law
promoted to the command–He cannot
see therefore how he can meet your
wishes though he has every disposition to
do so.                         Very Res &c
                                        W.H. Taylor
                                                Maj. & Adt
Col. Ware

Josiah W. Ware, 34th Regiment, Virginia Militia

MSS 6136

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

(Sept 22nd)  Feel so much better this
morning, sat up for an hour or two; but it tired
me so much and started my head to aching that
was forced to lie down.  Heard a conformation
of the news about Jackson.  Miss Lizzie showed
me some beautiful Cameo’s & Mosaics she got
in Rome.  This evening Miss Lizzie was assist-
-ing Mrs Braden, preserving.  Had a pleasant talk
with Mrs Peyton, who looks like and reminds me
more of Sis than any body I ever saw.  Mr. Braden
learned this evening that our Army was certainly
on this side and the Yankees on the opposite.
Miss Lizzie & Mrs. Peyton spent the evening with me.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

                                                      M.D.
                Hospatable Near Sharpsburg
                           September 22nd 1862
Dear Wife
                           I take this Opurtunity
to drop you a few lines to let you know
that I am Alive and doing well
was wounded twise in the head but not very
serverley eather of them I loaded and
fired 20 times after I was hit the first
time we had a hard fight the hardest
One during the wore I guiss I am in the
Hospatable neer the battle ground and expect
to be removed from here I do not know
where we shal be sent too. I will write
and let you know were I am as soon as I
get there John Pinkham & T. H. Nutter
is all safe John D[?]ley was wounded
in the foot but badley I am week
and cannot write much more I recived
that box all safe of but the tobaco
I was very much disapointed not

 [page 2]
to recived it I am intilery  out
I depended on geting that and
did not suply myself before I started
on this march I cannot buy eney
here give my love to grandmother and
tell her that I am very thankfull
for her  gift give my love to
all enquiring friends
                    yours truly
                 George L. Hersum

George L. Hersum, Co. A, 5th New Hampshire

MSS 10801

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis Butler, future chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]

Mon 22.  Spent morng & diner at Mr. Hs. Conducted
[-] prayer meetg at my ch in P.M. & delivered an
address – hastily prepared at same place in Eveg
before Aux. Orphan Soc –     Weather fine   grapes &
peaches plenty – fruit abundant & [-] good.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

Monday, Sept. 22, 1862

Have been lying
about doing nothing all
day got an Old [?]
to read
   this evening atemp
ted to go out by the 100
but did not feel very
well. Have a indication
of rheumatism
Heard the 28th Band playing
this evening
Have been thinking of
home for the past two
days more than usual
   Clear warm

MSS 10317