[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Monday, September 15, 1862

This morning at 8 o clock, Harpers
Ferry surrendered scarcely without firing a gun–
It was completely surrounded as we had
troops in Md–as well as before it
on this side–.  We captured some stores
thousands of arms–1300 Yankees &
between two & three thousand
negroes or contrabands–many persons
went down & got their servants but Pa
would not go–intended to try to get
them to morrow. poor things how
sorry I feel for them–

[as transcribed by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Monday cloudy–But cool & pleasant–I have just received a letter
from Tom-dated the 5th of September–He was then in Leesburg
had met his old friends the Hempstones–& they had been ordered
to march–He hoped into Maryland–as some of the army
had already passed over–My heart is overflowing with
Gratitude to my heavenly father for all the underserved [sic]
mercies I am daily receiving–& for his loving kindness in spa
-ring my dear Son thro’ the late Manassas battle where so many
have fell–In him I trust & him alone–Knowing everything, he does
is for the best–No letter from Fred–But to God’s care I commit him-
I have sent Tom’s few lines to his sister in Pittsboro’ to relieve her mind.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

15th  Jim assists me in the removal
of a cancerous breast.  He is a good
Surgeon–.  After breakfast takes his
departure in the sulky: girls lending
pony.  All hands see him off &
wish him abundance of good luck.
Little Mary says nobody but Jim
should have  her pet.

MSS 2563-b

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

Monday September 15

Today ten thousand Yankees surrendered to Jackson at Harper’s Ferry.  Gen. Miles was shot and it is thought would die of his wounds.  He was shot after the white flag was raised.  Our forces on the heights did not see it owning to the battle cloud which hung over the town.  They were permitted to retain their side arms and personal effects and took advantage of the permission to break into their government stores and carry off a great deal of clothing. Jackson paroled them all, merely asking Gen. White for a list of the prisoners.  We were obliged to dispatch them quickly for McClellan was pushing through the Maryland Heights to their aid with a large force.   We captured four hundred pieces of artillery and many fine horses.

MSS 9759

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

I met Englebrecht

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

Monday 15.  Quite a laborious day in Bank
Recd. a letter from Mary Caroline say
-ing  I must meet Lizzy & Lucy Davis
at the cars this morng.  I had rcd
telegram from Lewis to meet young
Tilghman, of the army, who is in
bad health & to take care of him
I went down, but too late–I repaired
then to Orange Depot, where
I found Ro. Saunders who had
come in on his way to take his seat
in the Legislature.  It was a quar
ter past seven before the cars arr
ived.  We took the girls to the house
where we found Mr. Tilghman &
Robert Berkeley–also Will Davis
who had come on with Robert
I was a little dismayed how we
should lodge all these, but
Lanny went home with Fanny Mi
nor and all was easy.

MSS 4763

             Camp of the Forth
   Maine Regt Sept 15th 62
Dear Cousin
                         once more
I find my self trying to
pen a few lines to you to let
you know that I am well
and hope that they will
find you all well and
[prospering  I expect that
they are drafting right smart
there now well I hope that
they will and send them
right along the more thy
get out here the better
for I think it is time
for the North to wake up
now if they are ever a goin
to.  well we have had some

[page 2]
Fighting here lately and
the rebs has got the best
of it untill the other day
the tide turned and we
cut them up like the
D____l and took Twenty five
Hundred prisoners and still
they are at it yet how
they are making to day I dont
know hut I shall know
to morrow I will send a
paper son and then you
can see for your self
two weeks ago to day we
went in to the field
with twenty two men and
came out with six that
is fighting there was not
only two kiled the rest
was wounded the Lieut is
in Rockland now he was
shot in the arm

[page 3]
      our General was shot
dead and I am a goin to
send his miniture to you
for you to keep for me
and dont you loose it
an take good care of it
as soon as I can get my
taken I will send it
to you we are rather bisy
at presant so that I cannot
get away to go enny whare
Alfred is well and send his
love to you  I had a letter
from Amarriah he is well they
hav had a little battle down
there our force drove them
well.  I will close for this
time this is from your
      Cousin
                      C W Hopkins
this is Gen Karney
my love to your self and all

Charles W. Hopkins, Co. B., 4th Maine

MSS 38-156

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

Sunday
Sept 14
Inspection this morning.  My gun was a
little rusty inside.  After inspection we went
down to the river to wash and then to church.  Mr James
preached a real good sermon from the text, “Pure
religion before God and the Father is this: to visit
the widows and the fatherless, and to keep himself
unspotted from the world,” James 1st-27th.  He preached
a most excellent sermon as usual.  This afternoon
we were reviewed by Gen Foster and one of Gov.
Andrews aids.  This evening we occupied in getting
ready for a march.  no one knows where.
Read some in the Bible this evening.

MSS 11293

              Martinsburg, Va.–[hole in paper]  office
                 Sunday Evening, Septr. 14th 1862

Mr. Wm. M. Blackford, Lynchburg
                 My Dear father
                                                I sent you a telegram
after the Battle of Groveton–i.e. on Sunday 31st ult.–
through the medium of a letter to Dr. Fairfax in Richmond
from his son Randolph, announcing my own and bro
Wm.’s safety.  I hope it reached you.  I have
really had no opportunity to communicate with
you except this since my letter from 8 miles below Orange
C.H.  I have more to communicate than I could
get into a quire of paper of this size, about the

stirring and brilliant events of the last 3 or 4
weeks, in which I have been in three battles.
The detail for clerical duty with Dr. Cabell
has reached my captain and after much
deliberating and no little hesitation, I have
determined to accept it.  Some delay must
necessarily occur in my getting off owing to
the difficulty in getting the passes etc. from
Hd. Qrs., all of which I will explain when I see
you.  I expect to see you in the next week or
ten days.  I cannot go into particulars now as
I write in haste.  I had a very pleasant time
in Frederick City where I met many of your old
friends, and was hospitably treated by them par-
ticularly the Ross’es.  Longstreet is at Hagerstown
and Jackson at Harper’s Ferry.  I am here now on
detached service with one gun of our battery
    In great haste–Your affectionate son
                                   L. M. Blackford
I have written to Dr. Cabell.  I saw bro. Wm. last a week ago [in Fred?]

[note on address leaf]
I have just seen a friend of the  the[sic] 2d Va.
Cav. Regt. who saw br. Wm. in good health
with Gen. Stuart near Frederick City last
Friday morning—

Lancelot Minor Blackford, Rockbridge Artillery

MSS 5088

Died at Low[er] Bremo Sept. 14th 1862, My old faithful House
servt Ned in the sixty 3 year of his age. a man of as exempl[ar]y
character as I ever met with in my long life–in early manhood
he became the chief confidential servant of my Household–and con
-tinued to occupy that station until his late illness which com-
menced a few weeks before his death–nor do I recollect in
the whole course of his life, that he was ever absent from his
duties by a single spell of sickness for more than a day–
Such was his established character for honesty & trustfulness, as
justly to rank him with any man of the highest standing in my
community for these christian virtues–nay! to rank him with
the highest stile of man–for he was a christian in deed–
His religion was of the purest character of primitive simplicity
he was a Baptist because he thought the balance of Scripture testi-
mony was in favor of Christs baptism by immersion–but he held
equal fellowship with all, whether Methodist, Presbyterian or Episcopalian
who proffered repentance towards God & faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ–and whose walk & conversation sustained their profession–
in short, he was a simple & humble christian after the Model of Christ–
he prayed more manifestly in the Spirit at all times, than any
one I ever listened to–in time when all professing Christians shall be
like Ned–Christ Kingdom on Earth- will have come- a full answer to

[page 2]
the prayer taught us by the Lord Himself–J[ohn] H[artwell] Cocke

[retained draft of an obituary for his slave]

MSS 640