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

 (Sept 12th) My head aches this
morning very much, cannot bear the light.
Commenced reading.  “Barbarossa’s Lost Princi-
-ple,” loaned me by Mrs Peyton.  The family
went this morning to spend the day with
Mr  Pussey  Mr Bradens father–in-law.  Miss
Lizzie stayed home with me, we passed the
morning conversing on Europe ( where Miss Lizzie
has been) and examining some interesting
specimens she gathered while there, & look-
-ing at some stereoscopic views she got in
Rome, all which I was very much in-

terested in.  It has rained today.  The family
returned this evening, except the two children.
Firing has continued to day towards Harpers
Ferry.  We heard that the soldiers were anxious
to surrender but officers would not agree.
Feel rather better this evening.  The family all
spent the evening in my room.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

     Friday   Sept 12th/62

     Before we got up this Citizen
that made so much fuss the
night before, made his appear-
ance at the top of the Lader
Said he you did not go far
last night.  We told him we did
not.  About half an hour after
this we had got ready to trot
along.  A Boy came out of the
house and said the sick man
wanted to see us before we went.
We went in and he wanted to know
if we troubled any thing out at the
Barn.  We told him we guessed not.
He said if we wanted any Breakfast
we could have some if we had got the
money to pay for it.  The Breakfast
table was all set for us.  We told
him that we did not want any

Breakfast.  We passed through the
Breakfast room in going out.  The
Woman asked us to sit down
to Breakfast.   We told her that
we did not want any.  She said
the Clockmaker told her that
we ordered breakfast.  We turned
to the Clock tinker and told
him that he seemed to be making
a great deal of trouble.  We gave
him a good talking to and
left.  At the next house we
had some Breakfast.  We did
not hurry at all, and the Brigade
marched again before we got up to
it.  They Camped last night about four miles
beyond where we had our Breakfast
between the Towns of Cooksville and
Lisbon.  We caught up with the
Regt before they had marched
far.  The marched  to day was only
Six miles.  We camped at night
close by the Town of Ridgeville.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

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

Friday, Sept. 12, 1862
Last night it
rained on us was
obliged to get up
and fix a shelter
Slept in wet blankets
however.  Left our Camp
early. Crossed the railroad
Passed through New Market
now on the pike marched
to Fredrick City arrived
late in the afternoon
The skirmish commenced
about a mile from the City
a considerable force Cavalry
w/ one piece Artillery
Our Cavalry made a Charge
but were obliged to fall back
Col Woods of 29th taken one of
[?] guns did bad
work by a premature discharge
A beautiful place &
Union feelings prominent
Played some as we passed through
Cloudy & clear damp then hot

MSS 10317

12  this day five years ago our
dear Brother was lost at sea
   How many troubles he has
escaped!  Mat & Sister
Ann dined with us and
we spoke of him.  I showed
them the daguerreotype view of
the Herndon Monument sent me
by Mit.

William Lewis Herndon, 1813-1857, a noted explorer went down with his ship in a hurricane off Cape Hatteras September 12, 1857.  His daughter married future President Chester Arthur.  Arthur, an officer in the Union Army, paid a courtesy call on the family when the Union Army occupied Fredericksburg as recorded in Dr. Herndon’s diary entry for June 4.

MSS 2563-b

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

Friday 12th  Another lovely day–No letter from Tom–two for Lize
from Mr Mason but she not being here I cannot learn if
he said any thing of Tom.  I sent her letters off–Mrs Ransom has
been sitting the morning with us–She is very agreeable & the forenoon
passed rapidly–Captain Johnston & his wife left for Plymouth at eleven
oclock this morning–She expects to return. But he will go into the Army.
They were amiable lively agreeable people & having been with us
3 or 4 months we shall miss them very much.  I received a letter from
Mr Jewett this mail asking if he shall draw my dividend & sell
Eliza’s Piano & pay my Taxes–All of which I am willing
for him to do–Katy has just returned from Dr Malletts and
says his daughter Caroline was thrown from a horse this morn
-ing and was brought home apparently dead–That she remain
-ed so for a long time–& since coming too–Is out of her sen
-ses–Mrs Walters has gone around to offer her services—I am
not intimate enough or I would go too.

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]

Thursday
Sept 11
Played euchre this evening with
Mike Thompson, Phineas Phelps and
Moses Smith.  After going to bed we got to talking
about religion, and I felt sadly rebuked by what
was said on the subject.  Resolved with sorrow
to strive to do better, and for one thing not to play
cards so much.  I now resolve not to play while in
the army by Gods help and may He in His great
mercy help me to keep my resolution and O
God help me to glorify thy name in every possible
way. Still dull and rainy and I am on guard.

MSS  11293

                                                                Cavalry Camp near
                                   New Market, Frederick County, Md.
                                              September 11th 1862

I have another opportunity, my darling, to send you a note
by a servant who leaves the Regiment this morning for
Richmond. Since I wrote last Saturday nothing of much
moment had occurred.  Tuesday & Wednesday we
were on a scout in the direction of Barnes-
-ville & HyattsTown.  the enemy advanced
at these points.  We drove him back and
about dark last night were ordered to
return to our camp, which we reached
about 11 o’clock at night.  The inhabitants
of New market & its vicinity, especially
the families of M. Willis & Dr Mobberley, have
been very kind to me. This is a good coun-
-try, not very fertile but divided into small
farms & well cultivated.  There are but
few slaves, & the farm houses are
constructed very much as the plans
represent that you & I used to look
over in Downing before we built our
house.  The living room & the kitchen are
seen every where.  One thing you notice

[page 2]
at every table, good loaf bread.  I
have not seen a piece of bad bread
since we reached Maryland.
    I can give you no information,
my dearest, as to the movements of
our Army.  The cavalry is kept between
our forces & the Yankees so as to
mark their movements.  But even
if I knew I would not like to
trust any important intelligence
to this mode of transmission.
     I am most anxious my dear,
to hear from you.  When a letter from
you will reach me I cant conjecture.
It is hard to bear this separation &
inability to hear any thing from
you.  But I must bear all these
trials with patience.
    The Servant is waiting to start & I must
close.  Goodbye darling.  I kiss you & pray God
to watch over & protect you & F & our children
& bring us together again.  Kiss the children for me. Love
to Mrs. Riddle. Remember me to the servants.
                                Yr affec husband
                                     John T. Thornton

[in left hand margin of page one in a different hand]

My last letter. found directed & sealed in a little trunk
that was brought
back to me from
Maryland.

John Thruston Thornton, 1829-1862, University of Virginia alumnus, lawyer and Colonel of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry, was killed September 14 in the Antietam campaign.  His oldest son William Mynn Thornton, 1851-1935, followed his father to the University of Virginia. He later returned to his alma mater to revive its engineering program, staying for 50 years and serving as Dean of Engineering from 1905-1925.  Thornton Hall is named in his honor.

MSS 2782

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond, of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virginia]

Thursday 11th – Walk 7 miles this morning –ar-
rive at Mr. Green’s for breakfast – go to Mr.
Strothers with H. R. Smith & Bill – for
supper – saw several ladies – Miss Sue
looking as pretty as ever.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

(Sept 11th)  Do not feel as well this morning, took
some more bluemass, and commenced taking the essen-
-ce of wild cherry bark before each meal, Miss Lizzies
remedy, as tonic.  Finished Napoleon today
like it very much.  Genl Robt. Wright came
up to see me this evening.  He is a gentleman
of very pleasing address, and converses well.
Have heard firing all day long from Harpers Ferry
Miss Lizzie brought me in some very pretty
flowers this evening from the garden the
last of the season.  Have felt very badly all
day long.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150