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

Sunday
Sept 7
Last night about eight o’clock, we were ordered
to fall in, and march out about five miles
from here, where we lay in ambush for the rebels
who were expected down to attack our two companies
who are on picket duty but we saw nothing and so came back
to camp this morning.  I then went to church and
heard chaplain James preach a firstrate sermon
His text was in Judges 18th chapter and twenty first verse
and he went on to show that a mans influence was
according to his character: I finished my letter and
gave it to Ed Brown to take home to the folks as he
is going home to-morrow morning. I bid him good bye
to night with a sorrowful heart.  Companies E & D
went out on picket with the other two companies.

MSS 11293

                                               New Market-Frederick County
                                                               Maryland
                                         September 7th 1862  5 1/2 o’clock

I wrote you, my darling wife, from Dinwiddie in the County of
Loudoun last Friday the 5th. On this day we marched to
Leesburg, & crossinged the Potomac at Harrison’s Island
(where we passed the scene of the Ball’s Bluff fight)
marched to Poolville in Montgomery county Maryland.
At that place we fell in with some Yankee Cavalry:
These we ran off capturing Thirty two prisoners
& killing & wounding some.  We went that night
to a point near Monocacy Church & camped.
Yesterday morning we started out & came
to Urbanna & from that point to day we
have reached the place from which this
note is dated.  We have as yet been in
but two counties of this State. Montgomery
& Frederick.  In these counties a very large
majority seem to give their sympathies to the
Southern Cause, and some of the young
men are enlisting in our army.  I trust and
pray that our arms may be attended with
success in this State, that the God of Battles

[page 2]
will give us a glorious victory over our
enemies & thus force them to give us an
early and honorable peace.  I see in this
movement the best augury of peace.
   Gen Fitz Lee has has[sic] just
sent for me, darling, & I must close
my note.  Farewell, dearest. How I love
you.   How tenderly I would fold you to my heart
how warmly I would kiss you.  Love to
the children & kisses.  I am most anxious
to be with you, or even to hear from
you
    I wd write more after I return
from Genl. Lee but the man who is to
[take] this is to leave camp immediately.
                    Farewell again my darling-
I  pray God to protect & succor you.
               I am yr affec. husband
                     John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, Col. 3rd Virginia Cavalry, lawyer, University of Virginia alumnus

MSS 4021

         
               Frederick  Md   Sunday Sept 7 1862
My Darling Wife –
                                Your two last letters came to hand yesterday and I was indeed
very happy to hear from you. The date of my letter will surprise you. You would
have thought it hardly possible the fortunes of war should have so turned
in our favour that this quiet Sabbath would have found us here in
quietly encampment beyond the limits of our own confederacy. It has costs
much of our best blood and much hardship, but it is a magnificent result
which I trust will secure our recognition in Europe and be a step at least
towards peace with our enemies. We left the Rappahannock two weeks ago
to-morrow and such a week as the first was has no parallels in the war.
Two days severe march brought us about fifty miles, to Manassas. That night              
we had an engagement with the enemy in which the place was captured and some                  
prisoners. The next day there was another battle in which Mr Newman
was wounded. That night Wednesday we evacuated the place and took
up our position adjoining the old battle ground and that evening we had
another severe engagement in which Major Gen Ewell was severely wounded
and our loss very heavy. The next day Friday we were attacked by the
enemy in much larger force but we repulsed the enemy and at night both
armies occupied about the same ground. We expected the battle to be renewed
the next morning. The enemy had time to have collected his whole force Pope
& McClelland combined, and we had brought up all we had on this side of
the Rappahannock. For a while the lines were unusually quiet but after a while
the picket firing began to increase and soon the whole line was engaged. The assault
upon our lines was very severe and for a while the tide of battle seemed to turn
against us, but our men stubbornly resisted the assault, and soon the enemys line
gave way flying in confusion our artillery playing upon them as they retreated
Our lines were then pushed forward and by night the enemy were driven
from every position. It was a splendid victory, partly fought on the same ground
with the battle of Manassas last year. We sustained a very heavy loss, but how much
I have no idea. The next day we moved towards Fairfax CH. The next day Monday
we had another severe engagement. Tuesday we spent at rest, and in cooking
Wednesday we started in this direction and reached here early on yesterday without
meeting any further obstruction. What next – where do we go & what is to be done?

[page 2]
We will probably know by the end of next week what our Generals mean to do with us.
I think it likely we will not stay here and that this time next week will find us either
in Pennsylvania or Baltimore.
I heartily wish with you, Love, that the War was over and we were all at home again.
But our success depends upon the pertinacity with which we stick to the fight.
I trust it may not last through another winter.
I will write once a week to you but in the present uncertain means of commu-
nication you need not expect to receive my letters with regularity. I wish
you would write often and let me know how you are all getting along. Let me know
how your farm work is prospering and as soon as you get the wheat threshed
and put in the mill urge forward the seeding as much as possible. I sold the
hay to Capt Tutwiler the quartermaster at $1 per hundred and he was to have it
baled and hauled away. Send word to Wm White to see him and have it done
as soon as possible. What did Mc Namara do about the land which he spoke
of renting?
I spend but little time now thinking about business on the farm. I trust it all
to you. My duties here are onerous and responsible occupying my time and
mind so completely that I have but little opportunity to think of much else. Not
enough however to keep me from thinking of dear wife and little ones left at home,
and fondly hoping the day may soon come when I will be with them. It may never
come: my fate may be that of many others. Whatever the future may have in store
for me I trust that I am prepared to meet it with becoming resignation.
And now Darling I will take leave of you. Think of me often and believe me with
much love                              Ever Yours
                                                    E F Paxton

[Transcript by Mary Rpy Dawson Edwards]

[The above letter is a photostatic copy of the original. It is included  in Civil War Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton.]

MSS 2165

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

                                 Sunday 7
                                                 
Went to Gordonsville
to preaching to night

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawsoon Edwards]

MSS 4448

[On patriotic stationery with a printed illustration of an American eagle.]

                             Sunday sep 7  [1862?]
                        Fort Tillinghast
Dear Parents
              It is sabbath they say
yet we do not realize it this morn
I have not heard the Bell calling
to worship – but in its place
I have heard all day (it is now
about 3 Oclock) the tramp of armed
men.  the rattle of Artillery and
Baggage by this fort – I was
on guard yesterday and last
night and a Main Regt. near
the fort were buisy most all
the night in getting ready and
starting off for the Potomac – but
[letter lined out] my last beat just after light
it seemed so still and pleasant a
soft mild wind blowing from
the South it realy for a while

[page 2]
did seem like a sabbath moin morn
– But soon a cloud of dust begun
to rise away on the road and
a Brigad came in sight marching
for where and what we only guess
– I suppose you now are about
eating your Sabbath meal   I tell you
I should like to be there about
this time.  I would like to have
a good cup of tea and a piece
of pie [-]  We Boys often speak
of home and the folks – but it is
the oftnest we speak of home
when we are eating our rations
– We live now in very good shape
we have soft Bread most of the time
now but when on our march it was
that hard pilot stuff and most of
the regt in the field active service
it is about all they get – The regt.
that are at forts as garrison have
good living to what those in
the field get – for it is

[page 3]
impossible to carry much of this
soft Bread – – I should like
to look in on you – come in
and throw myself on the loung and
then go and play a time on the
serephim – but these are in the
future when we get this rebelion
put under the sod – It looks
rather dark now with our army
all back where they were a year
ago   all back here under the guns
of these forts but still I think
we are not any worse off than
a year ago and we have a much
better navy –While the rebels are
worse off in the loss of men that
they cannot replace – We have loss many
men but we can and shall replace them
our side seems ready to find more men
after they have been spilled there blood
like water that officers might have
a chance to win a name – but
which they have not done – I do

[page 4]
4   hope
we shall yet find a man that
is able to lead us through this
red-sea-  I see men every day
that have been out in these late fights
under McDougall and Pope and they are
discouraged and say they could not
fire another gun under such leaders
but of course they will have to fight
where they are sent = We meet very
often some of the Boys that went
from Dudley and around there
we saw a day or two ago W. Taylor
and Geo Allen   they look quite hearty
and strong – but say they have seen
some hard times and all that
have come out here say they the
same – But all wish to stay and
see it through – though they would
like to see it through soon –
     Johnson has just got a letter
from home   he says they write you have
not heard from me – I don’t know
how it is for Ellen wrote she had
got a letter and I understood her
that you had got my letters   any
way I have wrote 3 or 4 and have
got one from John and one from Mother
but I guess you have before this got
them – I suppose you things in
old Dudley look rather dull but they
must expect things to be dull till
this war is over – But things here
are lucky enough – But does it
pay – I think it will pay if
our government only will get in
ernest and I think it will be

[The rest of this letter from an unidentified Union soldier  is missing.]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 828        

[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

   Sept 7th

This week has also been very busily employed,
On the 1st we lay in camp all day, every thing
is being sent to the rear.  the army is to fall
back to its old line of defense on the
Potomac,  During the afternoon our lines
at Chantilly were attacked, and a brisk
engagement followed: the rebs were finaly
repulsed but with a severe loss to our
side..  Gen’s Kearney and Stephens were
killed.  Our corps is as usual left as
the rear guard.  At five P. M. we harnessed
up, at six a severe thunder shower set in
and it continued stormy all night.  At.

one half past eight every thing being well on the
road, the head of our corps started on its way
toward Alexandria.  Tuesday morning we halted
at Fairfax, here we remained until eleven A.
M, when we again started on.  halted again
at two P. M.,  we soon after started on again
reaching Alexandria at seven P. M.  Next day
we returned to our old encampment on the
Leesburg turnpike.  The army is to be reconstr-
-ucted.  Gen Mc Clellan is reinstated in
command of the army.  The 4th and 5th were
very quiet,  At five P. M of the sixth, we very
suddenly received marching orders, and by six
P. M. we were on our way for Md.  The
Johnnies have crossed the Potomac at Willia-
-msport and have marched as far north as
the Pennsylvania state line.  Passed through
Washington and Georgetown and at 11. P. M.
we encamped for the night.  Lay still all
the next day, a steady column of troops
and trains has been passing by our camps.
Several of the new regts have joined this
army.  Pleasant and mild


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

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

  (Sept. 7th)  This is Sunday and
the only quiet Sunday I have passed
since leaving home. Wrote The family went
to church to day.  In evening Mr. Miller
a neighbor came up to see me.  Have felt
rather easier to day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana, as compiled by him at a later date from diaries and letters]

                              
                                        Washington House
                                      Washington  Sept. 7th 1862
I have had no opportunity to write you for
some time, neither have I received a single home
letter since Aug. 10th when we started on our
forced march from Harrison’s Landing, since
when, we have been on the eternal tramp.
It has used up many of our stoutest men.
We marched all the way down the Peninsula to
Newport News, took transports to Aquia Creek,
thence moved to Fredericksburg, then to Barnett’s
Ford on the Rappahannock, then up through
 Warrenton and Manassas to the scene of the last
battles, arriving two hours too late to take part in the
last day’s fight.        We were shelled once only on
the route, at Bristol Hill near Manassas, where
three or four men of a battery were killed and
wounded within a few rods of us.        Capt.  –
was taken down with a severe fever at Fredericksburg
(has since received his discharge, I’m told), leaving
me in command, and thank God, I was able to
hobble along at the head of my company, as long as
there was any chance of a fight.        But just
before our skedaddle at Centreville, I had been soaked
with a drenching rain, slept in a wet blanket
two nights with no shelter but the dripping clouds,
nothing to eat, and was my self taken with a
very high fever, and pains in every bone in my
body, (the result of exposure, exhaustion, and star-
vation), and was taken to a hospital in Centreville,
checked into an ambulance among the groaning
wounded, and brought down here – hospitals full,
so was told to find lodgings, and medical attend-
ance would be furnished me – so I am here.     I
have been visited once by a physician, day before
yesterday, but have not seen him since – trust
however that he will come today.

My fever is all gone, but I have still pains in
my bones, and a bad head ache, and am determined
to remain here till well.        I don’t know where
my regiment is, but presume it is posted near
Washington with the rest.

     (By reason of the severe attack of Malarial
fever mentioned above, Lieut. Dana was allowed
a furlough, His “Journal” will continue on the 28th
 on his return to Washington)

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 15130

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

     Sunday    sept 7th/62

     I awoke a little after Sun rise
There was two Ladies siting on the
Pzza and they asked me if I
Slept well.  There was plenty of Soldiers
about. trying to buy a Breakfast
The Ladies said that there had
been so many Soldiers about that
they had eat them all out of every thing
and they thought it was doubtful
if they could get anything for
their own breakfast, but we
were welcome to go into the
Kitchen, use the fire to cook
our Coffee, and anything that we
could use to help get out breakfast.
I made my self at home, and soon
had my Coffee cooked.
After eating my hard bread and
drinking my Coffee I strapped
on my Knapsack and started.
I had gone but a little ways

when I found Shuttle, Dyer
and Parker of my own Mess
cooking their breakfast by the
roadside.  I stoped and when they
got through, we four started on to-
gether.  We reached the Regt (which
was in Camp about twelve miles
from Washington) a little before
dark.  When the Regt reached there
they only had eight men, the 12th
they say had only the Major come in.
We four got in long before our Captain
did.  I heard many Officers say that
they thought Gen Ricketts must be
crazy to march the men the way
he did.  It is not always the distance
that tires the men the most.  It
is the manner in which we are
made to march it.  If we don’t march
but six miles, if the Gen marches
us that distance without a hault
he will have very few men come
in with him.  We marched through
the upper part of Washington
and did not have a chance
to see the Capitol close to
even by night.  I was in hopes
we would pass through there in the
day time.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

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

7th Sun   Preached in A.M on faith –  Baptised four children  He
   Helen Loomis (Norton)’s   John Hemingway &c.  assisted with Mr B. at
   Communion – Addressed Men. Con [gregation] in Eveg.  talked with
                                                                               Mrs Loomis
   Good day – Spoke with unusual freedom & effect in Eng I thot
Mon 8.  Fine & warm – read & made calls

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935