[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]
Wednesday, September 10, 1862
You & I with the children took a walk
but you were silent & thoughtful &
I did not enjoy my walk—
The Yankees still hold the Ferry,
though our forces are in Md & we
are expecting an attack on the Ferry
any day—
MSS 15406
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts
Tuesday
Sept 9
It was one of the rainiest nights last
night I ever saw. It rained and blowed
all night and has been rainy all day. I have
been reading and playing cards some and ly-
ing round in the tent. This evening I played on
Mike’s flute and it made me feel better
and I went out on the parade ground and
prayed with a better feeling than I have for
some time.
MSS 11293
Camp near Paris
Clark Co Va Sept 10th/62
Dear Charley
Enclosed you
will find your “Descriptral Roll”
to 1st Sept. Bounty & Clothing
included–Hoping you will
find your new position
more pleasant than the
“Foot Cavalry”
I am as ever yr friend
Granville
Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, was originally with the 21st Mississippi Infantry. Wounded in action, he was unable to march and obtained a position in the 10th Virginia Cavalry. After the war he became a Baptist minister, professor and eventually president of Wake Forest University.
MSS 3091
Camp Comfort
Sept 9th 1862
Dear Wife
Yours of the 5th came duly to hand
and more than glad was I to receive
it But was un easy to findreading it to find your Health wasvery poorly My Health was never
better than it is at present besides
I am gaining flesh Our journey
from Harrisons Landing was acclom
ded [accomplished?] in safety to all on our route
we had free access to the Secesh
Cornfields C[?] & Landers
indulging ourselves with many a
little delicacies we had not tasted
for many a day Our present
encampment is at Hampton once
called a Beautiful place but on
the breaking out of the Rebellion was
[page 2]
destroyed by fire the work of the enemy
hardly a building was left standing
In front of our camp are about 20
Buildings erected by Government
and used as Hospital they cover
about 20 acres of ground and are
nearly filled with sick and wounded
Fortress Monroe is about 1 1/2 miles and
within sight from camp and every
hour in the day we can hear the
booming of Cannons either from the
Fort or from the Guns of our Frigates
laying in the stream Occasionally
I make a reconnaissance int the country
returning with my Haversack filled
with the fruits of the season
In regards to my Box I am still
in the dark. The capt. has made
every effort to gain some tidings of
it and others as there are a number
somewhere but when I gain some
tidings of its whereabouts I will inform
[page 3]
you Rumors of War prevail in
camp Each Day brings to us either
Victory or Defeat But the End is
not yet Excuse me for writing so
little as my time is not all my own
Tell Father and Mother not to worry
on my account That Brighter Days
may yet be in store for us all and
that we may all live to meet again
on earth and seeing the Stars and
Stripes wave in undisputed security
in every house top in America
God bless and Protect you all is
my prayer I remain your loving husband
Edward Sheppard
7th New York Independent Battery
care Capt P C Regan
Fortress Monroe, Va.
MSS 12631
University Va Sept 9th / 62
Genl. [John Hartwell] Cocke,
Dear Sir,
I should have writ-
ten to you at an earlier date, but could find
no suitable place for your Grandson to
board–such has been the throng of Ref-
ugees. Mrs. J. Mason, Daughter & family
who have been Boarding with us during
the summer, will leave the last of
this month, when my sister Mrs
Smith will be able to accommo-
date a few Boarders. She has gen=
eraly had as many students as
she could accommodate.
Her price this Session will e $30.
per month for young gentlemen
attending the U.Vg. they furnish=
ing their fuel & lights. She will
take your g. Son at $25 per month.
It may seem high, but when all
kinds of provisions are from 100 to 300 pr ct
higher than [previously, it is not dis=
proportionate. All the Boarding houses
in and around the U.V. will, I learn
charge $30 per month. Should your
two g-sons board with my sister
they would occupy the same room
& thus divide the expense of fuel &
light. My fee for tuition is $50.
Should you send one or both to be
[?] of our family, I will take
great pleasure in promoting their
welfare & advancement.
Very Respy.
Wm. J. Duke
[page 2]
P.S. Our residence is adjoining the U.V with
a pleasant walk of 3/4 mile from my
school room. Please let me hear
from you before the 25th inst.–if you in=
tend sending.
Dr. McGuffey things the arrangement I have
suggested of your two g. sons rooming togeth-
er would be a good one
MSS 640
Charlottesville Sep 9 1862
My Dear Sister
It is with a real feeling
of sadness that I sit down to write to
you–and yet I must send you a few
lines to say how deeply & earnestly I feel for
you & your little household in painful
affliction that has fallen upon you–But
what can I say–except bid you look up-
ward to Him who hath said “I will never
leave thee nor forsake thee” He doth not
willingly afflict the children of men, and
dark and inscrutable as the present dis-
pensation may & does seem, to me as well
as to you, I know as surely as I know
my own existence, that it is meant in
mercy–that there is light behind the clouds
Oh trust God for His goodness, and desolate
as all things now seem to the mortal
eye it will be assuredly vouchsafed to you
[page 2]
hereafter to realize the truth that all things
work together for good to them that love God.
My own heart has been sorely tried of late too
and I humbly pray that we may all
draw that spiritual growth from these sad
lessons which they are designed to teach.
We still have the scarlet fever, but I hop
in a milder form–our little Lucy was taken
on Saturday Evening & another one of the
little color’d children, but they are both
slightly sick only–this makes six
cases in all, 3 of our children & three
of the servants–there is one now of each
yet to have it–I hope your little ones
may escape it and be spared to grow
up a comfort & support to you, well
trained up both for this life & the life which
is to come–
I was greatly attached to William, not only
as a brother in law, but as an old
friend of my childhood & early school
days–There were few I had a higher
[page 3]
respect or regard for personally & none I shall
miss more–no more highminded honorable
gentleman, and no braver truer spirit
fought and fell on the sacred soil
of Manassas–May our Country be
blessed in part through his efforts, and
our country’s God deal gently with
the desolate and stricken ones who
remain–Eliza sends her most
affectionate love to you & yr little
ones–Believe me Ever
affy yr Brother
N H Massie
MSS 11485
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of the 42nd Virginia]
September Tuesday 9 1862
I road over to Bar[bours]’ville
Returned at 4 ½ Oclock P.M.
Mama was at Catlett’s
found Sister sick
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler, of Letcher’s Artillery]
(Sept. 9th) Sent
letters that I wrote yesterday to the Episcopal
minister Leesburg to be sent on by first oppor-
-tunity to R – , this was done through kindness
of Miss Lizzie Dulaney whose friend Mr. Williams is.
Miss Lizzie road over to Mr Millers this evening to stay
all night. Have had a talk with Mrs. Peyton a-
-bout mutual friends.
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the “Dixie Greys,” Co. E of the 42nd Virginia]
Tuesday 9th – Spend most of day in
Winchester – in evening go out to Kernstown
Wednesday 10th Visit old battle field
of Kernstown – pick up several tro-
phies on field. Return to Winchester
leave town in evening to go back to
Paris. Stay all night near Rillwood.
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5526
