Sept the 8th  1862
   Camp Near Fredrick City
Fredrick County Maryland
     Dear Father & Mother
              I take the present
Oppertunity of dropping you
a few lines to let you
know that I am well
at present hopping when
theas few come to hand
they may find you in
injoying the same Blessing
I have no news of importance
to write to you

we had a big fight on the
old Battle field of Manassas
Junction we was successfull
and whiped the yankeys badly
we took a greate many prisoners
thear dead was to laying thick over
the field  we air now in the
State of Maryland It is a fine
Country we Crossed the Potomac
River last thursday morning
the Maryland Boys is joining us
verry Fast we have seen
verry hard times but I trust
this war will not last long

[page 2]
We have got the Baltimore
and Ohio Rail road in our
Passession & we have Plenty to eat
we have had verry hard Marching
Some times march day and
night  James H Hamilton
is well William Hamilton
is dead  He died in petersburg
there was 4 men killed in
our Company in the late
Battle John Boaz Nat [?]
James Cunliffe & Wm  Rus
Russell  Theas air the men
that was killed ther was
severl wounded I was not
in the last Battle
Father I have got me
a new suit of close whitch
Cost me 18 00 [remainder of line obliterated by fold line]
not expect the Regt[?] [remainder of line obliterated by fold line]
me verry often      I would be
verry glad to here from
you all  [?][?] tell R brother
George [?][?] never
for not writing to me

[page 3]
Now I must bring theas
few lines to a Close
Give my love to all the
children when you write
Direct your letter to
Gordonsville Co K 28th
Regiment of Va Vols
the mail is sent too us
from there I sent $11.00 to
you by  [?] Hamilton
Give my love to Respects to
Mr Hamilton folks
I have had my
health splendid
you must not be on
easy about me I cant
write to you often
You must excused this
Badly composed letter
So nothing more but
remain your son
untill death

Fare well Dear Friends
     James B Painter

[page 4]
Fare Well to Old
Virginia

James B. Painter, Co. K 28th Virginia

MSS 10661

                  Frederick Co. Maryland
                             Sept 7th 1862
Brother Sam:
                         I have not been able
to write home since I reached camp
for the simple reason, I have not been
so situated as to have it in my
power to write.  I have been quite well
since I left home, except for the last day
or two.  I have the Diarrhrea which makes
me quite weak. the day I left Staunton I
got to Gordonsville about noon took a freight
train about 5 P.M. came to Orange C.H.
then walked on,–night came on , we
stopped for the night & built a fire under
but it was not such a bed as we had at the Cols.
a large tree,  ^ got to camp about 6 A.M.
next morn,–found all well, busy getting
breakfast; we then left camp about
light Wednesday morn & have been on the
go ever since; but I think we will rest
to day , i.e. if the Yanks let us alone

[page 2]
we are encamped about two miles south-
east of Fredrick city.  I reckon the Yanks
think this is a very bold move in old
Jack, to invade what they term their
“sacred soil” we cant get any reliable
information as to where the Yankees are
in this state; the few that we4re guard-
ing the B. & O. Railroad scampered be-
fore we got to it; the large part of
the Yankee army is in & about
Washington.
  I have seen some beautiful
country since I crossed the Potomac;
a majority of the people are good
“secesh” I don’t know where, or which
way we will go from here; but we
will strike for some point soon.
David Willson got here this morn
& brought me a  letter from father
which I was glad to get; suppose
you & sisters had a nice time over the
mountains, would like to have been along.

[page 3]
I did not tell you anything about
the fights at Manassas & on the roads
Was in the fight near Bristow station
the 27th of Aug. were under fire the 28 were
actively engaged the 29, & our brigade
made a brilliant charge & drove the
Yanks from a railroad cut; was under
fire the 30:–no fighting on the 31st except
cavalry, & on the 1st Sept we were ac-
tively engaged with muskets; in which
I was struck 3 times but not hurt; 1st on the
breast, then on the leg, had a hole put through
my coat, & had my gun shattered in my
hand, but I am happy to say it was no worse
& I trust I am not unmindful of the “kind
hand” that so mercifully protected me, &
you all at  home must not forget me in these
times of peril & danger.  We have been in no
fight since the 1st inst.  I saw Clay not
long since he is well; our boys are all
well now; our regt  has to go on picket &
I must close, with love to all the family

[page 4]
also to all my lady-friends tell
the darkies howdy.  I got a yan-
kee knapsack on the 1at inst with
a good blanket, oil cloth, needles
pins, thread & likenesses, portfolio
&c &c  Write soon direct
     Truly your brother Jno.

PS On the 1st instant the Yanks came
within 20 steps of us before they
saw us, we then fired into them
& I tell you they made tracks
I think I sent one to his long
home. I did my best any way.
                         Yours &c Jno

Direct John Pilson
          Co D 25th Va Vol.
          Gen Early Brigade
          Gen Ewell’s Division

PS No 2  Excuse mistakes time is
precious now (You must go & see
Jno Lambert & Geo Hawke, remember me to
both; tell Geo I will write to him when
we get to Philadelphia. tell him to write
to me, & tell me about “criter” & other galls.

MSS 10801

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

8  We entertain Confederate sick
Capts Dugan & Upsher.

MSS 2563-b

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

Monday 8th Leave Paris – go to Win-
chester – Yankees came very near
getting our baggage wagons in town eat sup

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

Monday, Sept. 8, 1862

Lay about our
camp all day.  Water
was scarce.  I went
some distance to a
small stream and
bathed.  The 12th Band
mustered out to day
this evening about
sundown we left
our camp.  Were forced
to leave our Regts
mess chest &c.  Marched
carrying our knapsacks
about 10 miles to – or
near a small place
called Brookville  Where
we are now.  Bivouacked
in a large field now
about midnight  hard
march  Clear Warm

MSS 10317

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

(Sept 8th)  Spent this
morning in writing letters to Jennie & Ma.
Feel very tired this evening.  Heard our army
had crossed the Potomac and were march-
-ing towards Pennsylvania.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

     Monday   Sept 8th/62

     Stragglers have been coming
in all day many bare footed
If we could only remain in one
place a day or two we could
have our necessities supplied
The Sutler was prompt with his
load, and I made a Good dinner
out of Corn Starch.  In the afternoon
went to a brook and had a good
bath.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

I was two weeks behind hand in my
journal spent all the morning
writing up to Sunday & helped Ma to
peel apples to dry the rest of the day–

After supper before nine oclock
Emma & I being tired & sleepy went
up stairs & undressed just then we heard
the dogs bark & rushed to the window as
we were expecting both Nat & yourself.
Sure enough Pa was coming down the
walk with two persons, but as it was
dark, we could not distinguish them–I
came to the stair steps & heard Ma calling
me-then I knew it must be you. Fled
back to dress & you sprang upstairs before
I had scarcely begun.  Oh, I was so
glad to see you–At first you looked just
like yourself but afterwards I was shocked
to find how much your sickness had
altered you–so thin, & many wrinkles
around your eyes–The other gentleman
was Mr Duncan–
–I am truly thankful to see you
once more–
I am writing this the 24th.  You have
gone & I have neglected my journal whilst
you were here & must make up for lost time–

[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Monday 8th  a lovely day.  I have risen earlier than usual to write
Eliza–as I never have a moment to do so after breakfast, thro’
out the day –another day of uneasiness & great anxiety–No mail
has come–& therefore no news of Tom–Eliza will be disappointed
in not getting a letter from Mr M–& Liz has gone to spend the day
with Mrs Person–Sarah is invited up to Miss Sallie Mallett’s with little
William.  Her niece is to have a party, being her birthday, & William to
be one of the beaux–I have been writing Mary all the afternoon. Dr
Mallett is worse.

MSS 6960