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

Saturday 6th  A bright beautiful day–Eliza left me directly after breakfast
for Pittsboro to pay Ann Trice the long promised visit–Henry Landon Junior
escorted her. since she left & Sarah has thro’ a letter learned the death of
Mrs Fred Davis Miss Farmer that was -& as she is Anne’s uncles wife
I expect the family will be any thing but lively–If Lize had heard
it before she left I am certain she would have given up the visit,
So I am glad she did not & I am missing her already–Tho’ she can
-not have reached them yet–No letter from Tom yet–or any news
about him–Still I hope, & hope on, that he is safe–God grant
I may not be disappointed.  The papers are filled with our vic
-tories–We have lost immensely-altho’ we have undoubtedly routed
the enemy.  The loss of Ewell alone is a very heavy one, for he was not
only one of the bravest and best fighting Generals in our Army, but
he was one of the most modest.  We could hear of what he did, & he was always
at work, but we never heard of anything of this from himself.  He was Jackson’s right
-hand man & probable his equal in many respects & in some his superior.–
He is now wounded, which will deprive his country of his services during the War,
Among the Yankee Generals reported killed or mortally wounded are Pope
Sickles or Sigel.  The two latter names being mixed up–Also Banks-Pope
and Sickles-Do not deserve to die a soldier’s death on the battlefield.  They
only deserve a felons’ doom.  From Manassas Junction to Gordon’s Ville
61 miles, all that distance is without Telegraph or Railroad communica
-tion, the wires having been torn down & the bridges ruined by the retreat
-ing enemy.  All rumours go to show that our Victory on Saturday was
full & complete.  The news from the West is good. Kirby Smith whipped
Nelson pretty badly–Bragg is on the move & he will keep moving–
General Clingman calls for one 5th of the able bodied Male Slaves in
the district to complete the work necessary for the defence of Cape Fear.  Mr
Fulton says at almost any sacrifice this call should be promptly complied with
as he feels certain the enemy will make a series of determined & formidable at-
-tacks upon our Coast just as soon as the active campaign in the field closes,
The Cape Fear River being the Key to this whole section of North Carolina
General Beauregard has recovered, and is now assigned to the department of
Georgia & South Carolina–the Wilmington Journal wishes he would come
over that way sometimes, or make General Whiting Major General as he
deserves to be & put him in charge of the department of North Carolina—
General Bragg crossed the Tennessee river with his Army on the 25th of August,
the fight on Saturday on the Warrenton turnpike & gradually became
general.  Our troops fought with obstinacy Y animation.  The division
under General Kemper captured 3 batteries some thirty pieces–Numerous
stands of colours, arms, & thousands of prisoners.  The Yankees are
flying toward Washington pursued by our Army.

MSS 6960

Saturday, September 6, 1862

As I was the first to wake up I slipped into
Fannie’s room & called the girls–poor things they
all got up & went to work very heartily- cleaning &
cooking. My heart aches still but I feel refreshed-
dressed the children & went down to help but they
dont let me do any thing say I must nurse
so I went in to see four Confederates who
called for their breakfast–after breakfast
cleaned up my room emptied water & &–
Oh, it is horrid: nursed all day. helped
work a little–F. B. & Emma all went into
the kitchen but with all their efforts we
didn’t have dinner till almost four o clock
Fannie says she is completely at sea & I want
her to nurse while I cook & she has
agreed to try it–Bertie is head man
know more than all the rest of us
put together–seems very tired however–
told me to day that her hands hurt
so much at night she could scarcely sleep-
I hope some end will be put to this, tis
too trying–The Englishwoman & daughters [son?]
were expected to day but have not come.
Mr Thompson called, & reports that
an army of a hundred & fifty thousand
men have crossed into Md.  having
crossed at Williamsport–hope Yankees, darkies &
all will be captured at the Ferry.

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

MSS 15406

[the following unsigned draft memorandum is in the hand of Fitz John Porter was written some time after Pope blamed him for the defeat at 2nd Bull Run. Reference to his court-marital in the last paragraph may give it a tentative date of November or December 1862]

                                                 explanation of
                            a few words in relation to these
dispatches, which seem to have highly incensed
                                                                      They
Genl Pope, may suffice for the present These dispatches
were confidential (though partly official,) com-
                                                            tenure
munications to Genl Burnside whose safety near
Aquia Creek was dependant depended on correct
information of ours and of the enemys movements.
                                                      they
They were  Mmade at his request and became official
by the earnest call of the President for information
from the army–communication with which had
been cut off, except by the channel I had, at great
trouble and in anticipation of disaster, established
                                                                           earnestly
and maintained till broken by Genl. Popes orders of Aug 29, ^calling me
to Centreville, and taking me rapidly towards Alexandria
They were not designed for General McClellan as
                                                                    of
asserted by Genl Pope, for Gen McClellan ^  whose position
and relations to the army I knew nothing.  In the
haste of dispatch they were carelessly expressed.
               Each dispatch covered a copy of one of Genl
                                                                            impression
Popes orders, and was designed to convey a correct picture
                        the effect of false reports   
of affairs, and undo destr[o]y erroneous impressions those by
       whatever source created
orders and rumors would create   Should I be blamed

if they show–as is now apparent, and was that I was
                  than Genl Pope was, or is willing to admit
better acquainted  ^ with the position and movements
of the contending forces, and the wants of the

[page 2]
army and foresaw the inevitable results of that
ill conceived & unfortunately executed campaign
and tried to provide against its disaster.
Would I not have been justly held culpable
                                             failed
had I failed, knowing the truth ^ to have
expressed it, even without the call of the
President through Genl Burnside and
              as I did
pointed out ^ the mode of  guarding against
the ultimate result of that campaign.
                      pointed out the inevitable result
     Because I did this, Genl Pope, claims
I desired the and worked for it.
    I have but to add that the President
in person thanked me in person for the information–

[in left hand margin of page 1]
         manifested
If the expressed confidence in our then
    and a distrust of General Popes ability to conduct the campaign (as asserted by the prosecution)
best General ^ they but expressed in this as
on other points the opinion pervading opinion pervading
of our Eastern Armies.

MSS 42

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

Sept 5
Friday
On guard to-day.  Had some sport with a
little darkey, while I was on my beat.  Had a
very Good day. Got a letter from home last night.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

                         Upton’s Farm, Sep. 4.
     1100 paroled prisoners, taken at Manassas
on Saturday, arrived in camp today direct from
Secessia.  A motley crew they were indeed.
Most had undoubtedly been taken honorably,
but a large number, without question, had, from
motives of safety, preferred being taken to standing
up in ranks and fighting.  Several poor
fellows who had been wounded , had not
had their wounds dressed.
     Our pickets were fired upon today, and
an attack was apprehended, but none was
made.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

[on patriotic stationery with a vignette of a helmeted cavalry man brandishing a sword and a verse:
To arms!  to arms! quick be ready,
think of what the South has been:
Onward, onward! strong and steady–
Drove the vandals to their den.
On, and let the watch-word be:
Country, home, and liberty!]

Balls Bluff
September Friday the 5th 1862
Dear Susan this leaves me
well  and hope it may find you all well I wr
ote from Culpeper C.H. which I hope you
got ere this as I know u must have a thousand
uneasy thoughts we arrived at the above named
place yesterday Sent here on picket I suppose
while our army crosses the Potomac into
Maryland our Battery is all that is at
this point this is the point where the great
slughter of yankeys was by Col Evans
Their is 4 trenches not a hundred yds from
where I st 30 feet long filled up withe
the slain on the march we came through
part of the Bttleground near bullrun
on the 30th of Agst 62 and it was a sight to
to behold the slain they ware lying strewn
on the ground thick Some places you could
stand in one place and count 30 Yankeys

[page 2]
I dont know how to write for it is said some
of our men and the broken down Horses will
be sent to winchester to recruit and the
balance will follow the army over to Maryl
and but I know I will not get the choice to go
to winchester as I cant say exactly who will
go as it is a fixed fact that our army is crossing
rifer into maryland and I hope they will bring
the war to a close by so doing but god only
knows what will bee done but I put my trust
in him and I have the utmost confidence
in our Genrals I am siting on the Bluff overlook
in the potomac the last rays of a seting sun
shine on to my view on the soil of Mary=
=land and I must close for to night, no mail
from this place and shall send this to win=
=chester in hopes to get it forwarded from
that place D.J. E. H. & Thomas King are well
and wishes to be remembered to Each of
their mothers Father and Sisters and friends

[letter of Andrew Gillespie of Ancell’s Co., Virginia Light Artillery to his wife Susan will continue on the 6th]

MSS 9564

                Chattanooga Tenn
                                    Sept 5 1862

My dearest Cousin
             Nannie
                            When I wrote you
a few days since I had not recd your
most welcome letter written on your
return ofrom Richmond.  My Brother brot
it to me from Memphis, and I assure
you that though I was exceedingly glad
to see him I was more rejoiced in hear-
ing from you. And then you have
improved so much in the length of your
letters,–and by your cheering assur-
ance that tho “absent I am not forgot”
-and that I am daily remembered by
you in your devotions at the throne
of the great God–And by tender words
of cheer, that you must pardon me
if I think of you most tenderly, and
long–and wish for the day when I
can see you again–When with “Nannie
by my side” I can, at your own Forrest home
sit down and rest me for a while, and
be with you. & talk with you,–and may
I say it–hope with you & love with you.
        Cousin Dear, I will not disguise
from you a thought & hope very near
to my heart–and one too, which I have
it may be foolishly indulged ever since
I first met you,–It is this,–(My heart
falters as I speak this truth to you, for
it may be all in vain.)–that with you
and in you, I could be supremely happy,

[page 2]
and with “This fair one for my messenger
I might all forget the human race,–
And hateing no one, –love but only thee.”
       this is indeed to you an unexpected re-
velation–The unfolding f the leaves of my
heart, which may & does justly surprise you,
–but Oh!  Cousin Nannie! Can I keep it? &
is it not reasonable that I should thus love
you, and think of you?  Nor am I selfish
in my desires, for I trust equally, and hope
as earnestly, that I could make your life
agreeable & happy–Otherwise, I should
never have indulged a thought, on this
most serious and important of subjects,
   I feel that I am dealing with you
in the utmost confidence, and spoken prob-
-ably much more than may be acceptable to
you. If so, forgive me, and let not the open
honest expression of a deeper passion, oblit-
-erate in your heart, the genial friendship
and kindly impressions of the past.–
   I leave it with you to decide whether
or not I may indulge my heart in such
reflections.–Sweet –calm & peaceful indeed,
are they to me.  I blend them in coming[?]
life with all my efforts for fortune or
happiness–or fame.  In all these banquets
of my soul,–these hopes purposes and
ambitions, there you are with your gentle
presence cheering & helping me.
                 Why is it so? Can you
tell?  Is it the mysterious promptings
of a fate whose language is to be read
day-by-day in future life.  Are you to
be mine?–In you and I are the shattered
and scattered members of our name
& race to be again re-united?  Oh cousin

[page 3]
if it is this–then heaven would surely
bless us and bestow upon us a life of
success & happiness–
      Now I have told you all and
f “Confession is good for the soul” surely
I need never fear again and I prom-
-ise you that when I do come and see you
I will tell you all the ballance of what-
-ever you may wish to know.  Now isn’t
that a fair promise?  and now wont
you sit down & write to me just as can-
-didly & freely as I have to -night written
to you.  Never mind that!  I am much
of a Philosopher, and if you dont know
me well enough just now, you shall my
sweet cousin–Or if you are “under
vows” to some other more fortunate one
dont be afraid to tell me.
                           Oh the news.–the cheer-
-ing – Glorious news that has just reached us
this evening. Whilst I now write you I hear
the cheers and jubilees of soldiers encamped
round me.  We have met our foes and on the
renowned field of Manassas again routed &
conquered them.  Heaven be praised.  Yesterday
cheering news from Ky. Kirby Smith with his
army (mostly of Tennesseans) has whiped them
near Lexington,whilst our own army of
Gen Bragg is pursuing them through Tennes-
-see, Is God not with us? and are we to have
peace so soon?  Cousin I feel a great deal of anx-
-iety about the fate of your Brothers in the
last Battles.  Do write me as soon as you hear
from them.–or any of our other relations
and let me know if they are safe.
It would be a miracle if they should all
escape danger & death through so many desperate conflicts

[page 4]
I send you the picture you requested.–and
such an ugly botch of a thing that I am
ashamed of it.–The fact dear Cousin is
that it does me great injustice.–I am really
better looking than the artist has made me.
 Vanity, Vanity! you say.  Oh no!  every one
that has seen it says so & of course they must be
judges of what’s good looking.–
                 Now in return, you promised me that
you would grant any request I might make.
     I make this.- Send me your “picture” and
as I love “beauty unadorned” have it taken
in the plainest & most simple style of dress.–No
ornaments.–no ribbons–but perfectly neat
& sweet.-just like your little Self.  Send it by
express to me here–that is, if you send it at
once.–I send you a box by express-It con-
-tains a present for you, & one for my other
Cousin. (do write me her name)- The work box is for
you to keep all my letters in & keep it locked
Cousin-The other articles are for her.
      My Brother has just left me.  O Such a
noble-good man! His equal I have never known
or seen So pure & lofty I wish you could have all
seen him.  He was near going on to visit you, but
he had obligations that carried him back to Miss-
issippi–He was compelled to leave his home & family
at Memphis.–My sister is still there.  Judge Wright
has been with me most of the time, but is now sick
as is his youngest son, in Mobile.  Dear Cousin again
pardon me for what I have said. I have only spoken as
I felt.–It is now very late.  I waft a blessing to you
on the brest of a sigh, and by the bright moonlight
of this sacred hour, select a star that now shines
above you  head and call it Nannie.
Love to all. Good night & good bye
                                     Yr aff & devoted
                          Cousin Wesley E.

Wesley Eldridge, Co. A, 4th Texas Infantry, to his future wife Nannie Steptoe.

MSS 6515

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

 (Sept 5th)  Did not feel any better
this morning; for the excitement of the few
days past, gradually wearing off allowed me
to find out how sick I was.  I very soon be-
-came aware that I had two of the kindest,
and sweetest, nurses that it is the lot of sick
men away from home generally to have.  And
my situation did not feel as oppressive as
it might have done.  The kindness of all makes
me feel [ ‘perfec’ lined through] as though I were at home.  Have
no appetite, although everything that could
tempt me while in health is offered me.  Mr
Gregg came up to see me this evening, he is a very
kindhearted man, wished to know if there was not
something he could do for me, and requested me to
let him have my washing done at his house, which
latter [sic] I kindly accepted, not wishing to trouble the
kind hospitable ladies more than I could help.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

                                                               Near Washington
                                                                             Sept. 5 1862

My dear Mother
                          Your letter with the bond enclosed reached me
a few days ago & I take the first opportunity to thank you for
your trouble & kindness.  I will try to return the one & to
deserve the other.  Everything has been so confused & so disastrous
that we have had neither mail or in many cases food.  The
people do not know it but we have had a series of unparalleled
defeats without the least ray of the sunshine of victory.  The whole
army of the North has been driven back behind the forts near
Washington & into Maryland & as I write the enemy are in
very strong force here in M. & not 4 miles in our front
advancing  upon W Some 14 miles distant & probably
upon Balto.  What a Commentary upon the Govt. &
the weakness of the President! All through the criminal
ignorance  & incompetency of Pope the synonym now of
bombast & folly.  But thank goodness he is down & w
only hope he had the merit of having died a noble death.
The So. is victorious & may take Washington very soon.  They
are fighting for their homes & their hearths-every house
destroyed & every farm despoiled by us nerves every man
in their army to press still stronger forward & to recover
what little is left of their own & to avenge the rest.  We are
fighting for an abstraction–the flag–what do you at home
realise of the actual contest.  You are surrounded by
your usual comforts & ties.  Should you own property be

[page 2]
invaded your own house destroyed & property stolen do
you not think this would give strength & nerve to the
now slaggard arm?  Mothers wives & relatives insulted
during your absence by a victorious foe is a stronger argument
than to read the high sounding proclamations of some
ignorant political General.  We have tried it & we know it
They fight are led & stand killing better than we.  Our
loss in this last retreat was enormous.  The war is ended
they will be recognized abroad.  They are going to whip us
badly in the So. West.  The only question is where is the  line
to be.  We shall never invade Va. again.  I think they
will get Maryland & I am afraid Washington.  Three
times I have been driven out of Va I think our Govt
a failure we cannot whip them or any people fighting
as they do with one idea & all together.  I am sick &
disgusted & were it not for leaving at the 11th hour would
go home tomorrow.  This is plain talk but true.  I
do not feel like writing any more.  We have been through
all but death this last 20 days.  I think the next 10 days
very eventful ones.  Write me soon & give much love to
all.
                                                Morton

Direct as before.  What is the matter with Uncle M. he
does not write & seem to do anything when I ask
tho’ I have written him several letters.  I will write
Mr W. immediately.

Lt. Marcus Morton Hawes, 1836-   2nd Massachusetts Infantry
Asst. Quartermaster to Gen. George Henry Gordon
A grandson of Massachusetts Governor Marcus Morton, Hawes served through the war; later in business in New Orleans.

MSS 11372

                       Camp in Maryland, 5 miles above
                        Georgetown Sept. 5th 1862

My own darling Addie:
                       At last, I have a chance to write
you a few lines, with a hope that it will soon
reach you.  I wrote you a good long letter from
Culpepper C.H. on the 18th of August, but as we
left there that day, I suppose it has never been sent.
On the 20th an order was received from Gen. Halleck
forbidding the further transmission of mails, and until
now I have had no opportunity to send a line to
apprise you of my safety.  I know how you must
suffer, and how thoughtless you must think me, but
all I can plead is the inexorable character of military
orders.  I have much to write you as soon as we
can remain 24 hours in a place.  Since the 18th
we have been constantly under arms and for more
than 3/4 of the time under fire from the enemy, but
we have not lost a man.  I have kept a full
journal of ll our proceedings, which I shall send
to the Chronicle for publication, as soon as I can.

[page 2]
Out of 18 days we have marched 17, and but two
nights have we slept under a blanket, and
those the last two nights.  But scarce a
murmur of dissatisfaction have I heard, except at
the almost cruel manner in which we have been
deprived of news from home.  But is not the
record of the last three weeks a dark one? While
on the 11th of Aug. we had a Point d’appui on
the Rapidan river, we have the Potomac for a
base of operations–not to say of defense.
We have lost in killed, wounded and prisoners
not less than twenty thousand men.  Very poorly
has John Pope met the expectations of the nation.
    No event has caused such general and genuine
rejoicing in the army, as has the reappointment of
Gen McClellan to the command of the entire
army of Virginia,  I confess that my confidence
in him is unstinted and unbounded, and I believe
all feel the same.  Gen. Pope was too strong
in written pronunciaments (whew what a long word!)
upon the start, to hold out food in action.  While
he conducted a small army in the west most
admirably, against really inferior generals, he has

[page 3]
proven himself incompetent to handle a large
force, against a wily and subtle Jackson or
an accomplished Lee.
    But I guess this will not be very interesting to
you, so I will change the subject.  While we
have been performing arduous marches and coun
termarches, through rain, mud, sunshine and dark
I have  and with less than 1/3 rations of Brad and
coffee, I have not forgotten that it was for my
country and those for whom I was fighting, and
though we passed unscathed through the storm
of balls and shells, I have remembered that it
was in answer to your prayers that the bullet whis
tled past me harmlessly, and the horrid shell
burst in vain.  I have enjoyed perfect health
during the entire time, not even contracting a cold, not
withstanding the exposure we have endured.  Had
I been allowed to write to you, and to recieve letters
from you, I should have been happy, but instead
my mind has been filled with vague fears for
your health and happiness, and I am as anxious
as ever.  God grant my fears may be confounded.
  As if to add to my anxiety I have not heard

 [page 4]
one word from Hal since we left Alexandria
Where is he and what is he doing?
We (Banks’ corps) were nearly surrounded at Bristoe Station
a few days since, by a large rebel force, but they
were not “cute” enough for our loved general, for
we slipped down the Brentsville road, as though
we were going down to Fredericksburg,  then turned
and crossed the flank of the enemy just above
Manassas Junction, crossed Bull Run, and secured
a safe position near Centrevile.  This was on Sunday
last.  We marched eleven miles, making but two
halts of a few minutes each.  When we crossed
the R.R. about a mile from Bull run, we saw
about fifteen rebel cavalry.–these were the videttes
of the enemy, so you see how narrowly we escaped.
      Not long were we to remain secure at Cent=
erville, for the very next day, they made a detour
round to Fairfax C.H. thus placing us again in
jeopardy.  Accordingly we evacuated C.–Banks’
corps taking the direct road to Alexandria, while
McClellans men went toward Fairfax.  A heavy
thunder storm arose shortly after we started.
The rebels attacked Stevens’ and Kearney’s divisions

[page 5]
on the Fairfax road, but were repulsed with
a heavy loss.  Gens. Stevens and Kearney were
both killed.  We could hear the fighting but could
render no assistance.  That night we lay in the
rain and mud without fire or even a blanket.
The next day we were delayed by the heavy rains
and did not reach our camp–4 miles from
Aexa.–until nearly two oclock at night. The
next P.M. we moved up to Arlington Heights
to the rear of Fort Albany, and as we supposed
to o into camp for a few days.  But about mid-
night orders came to get ready to start for Pooles=
ville Md. with 2 days rations, at 8 1/2 A.M.  We
started about noon yesterday, crossed the river
at Georgetown, and halted here.
    Col. Asper joined us, and took command at
the Rappahannock on the 23d, and is with
us at present.  he gives very good satisfaction.
   Geo. Moore is still at Alexandria in the
Hospital, and so is my friend Bob Murray
     Will Boaden is in Washington.  He is slowly recovering

[page 6]
I trust soon to  record the victorious achievements
of Little Mac, and to hear of the utter defeat
or capture of Lee and Jackson.
  I have not received a letter from you since
we left Culpepper.  How soon may I expect one?
  How lonesome I have been, and am now!
Yet, I feel that “all’s for the best.”
  I wish I had more time to write, I would
write you 3 or 4 sheets full, but the mail closes
in just 5 minutes so I must close.
   Don’t fail to write soon–Give my love to
Addie mine, and remember me to Dora.
   Rest assured that although we cannot
converse as frequently as we could wish, yet
my heart is with thee forever, and you are
continually in my thoughts.
   Please write very often to your own
     Affectionate and loving  Charley.
         Co. H. 7th R.O.V.I.
             1st Brigade, 2d Div. Banks’ Corps
                  Via Washington, D. C.

(care of Capt. McClellan.)

Col. Asper: Joel F. Asper, 1822-1872, of the 7th Ohio. After the war a Congressman from Missouri

Charles N. Tenney, 7th Ohio  to  his fiancee Adelaide Case

MSS 11616