Fork  4 Sept 1861

Dear Jack
              Being here for a day or so &
learning that Mr Grigg will go on to the
regiment tomorrow I take the opport:
:unity to write you a line
   I trust that in the late battles forays
&c in which you have been engaged
you have escaped unhurt
    To us all looks bright & cheering
& we cannot but hope that our
brilliant victories will bring the
yankee government to [?] or
at the least open the eyes of the
Northern people for the fall elections
   Owing to the failure of my health
from the terrible foot service which
I underwent last winter & spring
I declined a reelection in April last

[page 2]
I am now almost as well & strong
as I ever was and am anxious
to reenter the service.  As a quarter:
:master for a regiment Commissary
or adjutant something that will
give me a horse to ride.
   First & foremost I want you
if there be any such place
in your regiment or in your
knowledge to get it for me if you
can.  With you it would delight
me of all things to find myself
placed.  and you must look out
& find me a position for I am
sick of inaction–if you can.
   Should you not think there
is any place for me.  then I wish
you to give me a recommendation
for a Quartermaster or Commissary
position–As to my qualifications

[page 3]
& standing as an officer I can get
any recommendations on that head
I want from those with whom I served
but as to business qualifications
&c I should like yours also.
   I shall rely on you if it be
practicable to get me a place
out with you.
   Now for a little matter of business
If it be convenient for you I would
like for you to deposit the interest
up to 1 Jany last on your bond
to my credit in the Farmville
Bank  I find from a letter from
Mr Vaughan that my account was
overdrawn & I had disposed of
all my means before knowing it
  You must not however put
yourself to any trouble or incon:
venience as to the matter as

[page 4]
I shall try also to make other
arrangements
  I write in haste–and
now my old dear & valued
friend may God take care
of & preserve you is my
fervent prayer & bring
you back in safety to
your family & friends
Write me as soon as you
can.
      Your friend
          F D Irving

Col. John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, Colonel of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry

MSS 4021
     

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

Thursday 4th.  Move to Aldie – 4 miles
Friday 5th. Move from Aldie to Fall’s
in Fauquier – Go to Mr. T. Green’s
stay all night.
Saturday – 6th  Spent the day very pleas-
antly at Mr. Strothers.
Sunday 7th – Remain in camp till
evening – then got to Mr. Strothers &
stay all night – see [Graham ?]

transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards

MSS 5526

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

Thursday  Sept 4th/62

     This morning I went to a
field and got some potatoes which
I fried for Breakfast.  I found
about three hundred digging in the
field.  During the forenoon I went
down to the brook washing, and
I saw one of the 35 Massachusetts
Boys  He said his Regt was down
near fort C[?] about three miles
distance.  He said that there was
twenty Needham boys in his Company.
I asked him if they was any one by
the name of Stevens or Morse.  He
thought there was, but was not
sure.  Towards night we were relieved
from picket.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery as recorded at a somewhat later date]

 Next morning (Sept. 4th) Was so weak & had
such high fever that the Dr told
me to ride in an ambulance which
I did, the army moving on at daylight.
At 12 or 1 o’c we passed through Leesburg
& when 2 miles beyond the Dr sent back
a note to me telling me I had better stop
at some house in or near Leesburg until
I recovered.  I have been suffering all
the morning with nausea in addition
to my other symptoms, headache being
very pronounced.  When I read the Dr’s.
note accompanied by Tanner I rode
back to Leesburg & tried to find a house
that would not be much inconvenienced
by my remaining there until well.  Tanner
stopped at a Mr Wildmans, where we
were attracted by the sight of the truly
benevolent countenances of some ladies.
Here he was told that although they had
two or three sick there already still they would
take another and do their best.  On invita-
-tion I alighted and the ladies (bless their
hearts) all pressed round to see if there was
not something they could do for me at once;
but feeling so weak and sick I felt as tho:
a bed to lie down on was the most nes-
-cessary thing for me.  After sitting a short
time in the parlor, Mr. Noble Braden
came in (and a most appropriate first
name he has) and asked me if I could
stand a ride of six miles in his rocka-
-way.  This I thought I could do, as
it would carry me into the country where
I could expect some quiet as well as rest.
My servant having brought my valise in,
& the ladies being ready to go,  I started
in the rockaway with Miss Lizzie Dulaney,
Mrs Peyton (Mr Bradens oldest daughter)
& two young daughters of Mr Braden, Misses
Jeanette & Florrie.  Mr Braden being on
horseback & a neighbors son riding my horse.
We reached “Eudora” – Mr Bradens house –
at dusk in the evening where I was in-
-troduced to Mr Gregg, a neighbor & Mrs
Braden.  After drinking a cup of tea
the ladies prepared for me was shown
to my room, & was soon divested of my
clothing and snugly stowed in bed, where
owing to the continual excitement I had been
subjected to, I tossed about for a great part
of the night without being able to get to
sleep.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
 Thursday, Sept. 4, 1862

Guard mounting
Do not remember if
doing anything of
any consequence to
day.  got some cans
& put barbs on them &
lost nickel yesterday
by the parolled prisoners
The enemy commenced
shelling Falls Church
from the hills west
We were called out
considerable [excite?]ment
among the Troops
Heard rumors of the repulse
of the Enemy by Wool at Harpers
Ferry. Rec’d Letter from
Father dated the 1st
Tom Jacobs of the 22d here to day
Feel well this evening
Clear fine day

MSS 10317 

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

4 Thurs – Saw the Suffield Co. (No. 3) march off down
this lovely peaceful street at high noon to this
fearful – bloody war – Strange sight – as they
filed down past our house – Address by Dr. Ives –
Mr. Miller prayer – then Mr M & I drove to Locks –
saw them off – crossed river called on Barbers –
up thro. Enfield  Thompsonville home – tea at
Eloise’s – & Eveg.  at Hathaways – wrote letters
& arranged exchange of pulpits for Sept 7 & 14 with
Mr Miller – Henry Tabin writes me to visit him –

5 – Fri. wrote on a Ser – made calls

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

4.  Our dear Dab took us by
surprise.  He looks so well!
He is on his way to join Jim
& Brad at Manassas as Surgeon

MSS 2563-b

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Thursday September 4, 1862

This morning early we spied Pa
coming & ran out to meet  him-calling
Hurrah for Jackson-hurrah for Jackson-
   Pa answered, but I thought he looked
particularly crest fallen & when there was
a calm-I asked the news from home–
“There is not a servant on the place, all
gone,  left last night- & I have been up all
night & have not had a mouth full
to eat. We all looked & felt as blank
as possible. My first thought was that
Hilsy had told Mother a story, as she had positively
declared neither she nor William had any idea of  going;
-I was astonished.  Pa found out that they
had gone at nine o’clock when the bell was
rung for Charity & she did not [come]  Pa then
went to the quarter & found everything cleaned
out.  all gone-  went over to Mr Timberlake’s to
see whether his had not gone also, but found
them all at home Mr T. went with him however &
they watched all night at Mr. Allshotts, near the Ferry
but saw nothing of them  caught 18 belonging to other
people but two men got away & told the men
at the Ferry & they sent some men up to
take Pa but he had left  Wouldn’t it have been
awful for the abolitionists to have gotten hold
of him under the circumstances?  One of the men
tried to wrench the pistol from Mr. T’s hands but he
held onto it & tried to fire it but it snapped
Pa suspected his servants might go but had no idea they might leave so early
at night

[transcript in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Thursday 4th  We are having beautiful weather now.  Cool
mornings & nights–With mild bright cheerful days–
But no ones feelings are in unison with the weather as we
have just heard of another great battle Saturday last on
the memorable & classic ground Manassas which resulted in the over
throw of the combined Armies of the Federal Government–With a
loss that is perhaps unequalled in the Annals of the present War.
General Ewell, & Trimble are badly wounded–& General Taliaferro
slightly–Perhaps  my precious child may be lying on the battle
field in death’s cold grasp–perhaps in some Hospital wounded &
suffering–While I am far away suffering the torments of sus-
pence & anxiety–But hope bears me up–& I will still be-
-lieve God has spared him until I learn other wise and . I am also
distressed about the new conscript bill which is to take all from 18 to
45–& that hereafter substitutes for persons liable to Military duty
shall not be allowed except & in cases where the person offering the substi
tue is skilled and actually employed in some mechanical pursuit–
the prosecution of which at the time the Secretary of War may declare
to be important to the public interest: Provided in all cases when sub-
-stitutes are received the person furnishing the substitute shall guar
-antee his fidelity

[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell,  civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.