Hopewell Sept 2nd/62

My Dear master

I Again take my seat to let
you hear from me.  We have
not received any letter from you
for some time but I was glad to
learn through Mr. Joe Bunden that
you were well.
We have had sickness here every
day for two months. we have had
some very sick people.  we have
five sick at this time.  Carter
Chaptman, Howell, Martha
and Betsey.  they are now recovering.  they have a
sickly time at New Hope also.
Mr. Dowell was down here
here last week and wrote
to you from this place.
he was very well sattisfied
with things here.

[page 2]
I am geting along but slow
with my weaveing. I have had
so many sick people to attend to
that I have had but little time
to weave, and unless the people
are soon restored to health I do
not know when I will be able
to provide winter clothing
for them.  We have been haveing
Showers of rain for three or four
days. and it s quite cloudy to
day.  I think that we are going to
have quite a rainy spell.
I have not seen Mrs Averys
Family lately, but I learn that
they are well–Mr Bordens
Family well also–Mrs Withers
has moved to Greens home to
live.  Give my love [to] Binthier
and to My Brother William. also to
master Charles if he is at home.
I am as ever your Servant.  L.S.

Lucy Skipwith, trusted slave of General John Hartwell Cocke, reported to him monthly on events at his Hopewell plantation.  She had been offered emancipation on the untenable condition that she emigrate to Liberia. She chose to remain with her family in this country and did what she could to alleviate conditions for her fellow slaves.

MSS 640

                Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office,
                        Richmond, Sept 2, 1862

SPECIAL ORDERS
No. 205

                        Private Charles E Taylor
of Company F 21st Reg. Mississippi
Virginia Volunteers, being unfit for foot service
on account of a wound, is transferred to Company
F 10th Virginia Cavalry, provided no expense
to the Confederate States be thereby incurred.

           By Command of Secy. of War.
                         Jno. Withers,
                      Ast. Adjt-Genl.

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, after the war a Baptist minister, college professor and President of Wake Forest University

MSS 3091

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

Tuesday 2nd – Left camp near Amesville
cross north branch of the Rappahanock
River – move 6 miles – Very difficult matter
getting along –We heard Sam [his brother] was wounded

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

  (Sept 2nd)
I feel very sick today have no appetite
& continuance of former symptoms.
To day wagons came up and men
were ordered into Camp to cook 4
days rations.  Men in excellent
spirits.  I have laid down all
day, this evening do not feel any
better.  Ate a little this morning
but could not retain it.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

                                Sept 2/62
Camp Upton Farm near Falls
Church & Munson Hill  Va
Dear Father & Mother  Yours of
Aug 20th was recd by yesterdays
mail.  You have perhaps
learned ere this that we
are near Washington
through the papers.  I also
wrote you from that city
We left there the afternoon
of Aug 26th crossed the long
bridge and marched about
2 miles toward Alexandria
bivouaced for the night
by the road-side & the next
morning marched on to
that place where we remained
two days then marched out
about 9 miles to this place
We are now about 7 miles
from Washington in a westerly

[page 2]
direction. We are among
the defences of Washington all
around us on efery rise
of ground is a fortification
Within 1/4 of a mile of our
camp in sight are 4 forts all
mounted with heavy guns
For three days past we have
heard the almost continuous
roar of heavy cannon
only a few miles in
advance of us a terrible
battle is being fought
but with what result
it is very difficult to
tell we have all sorts of
rumors but you will
get more reliable information
through the papers than I give
you  One thing is certain
the Enemy have an
immense force it seems
however that they are practically

[page 3]
surrounded
We have plenty of men
and reinforcements are constan-
-tly comeing up  McClellan
with his whole army is
here Burnside is not far
off.  We have orders to
sleep on our Arms every
night.  this is a pretty
country rather level but
much devastated by the
armies that have occupied
it so long
I saw Milt Pollock whilst
in Alexandria he has been
down on the peninsula he
has been sick but is better
now is Sargeant Major of
the 59th N.Y.  he says no army
could exist on the peninsula
for any length of time
oweing to the bad climate &
water

[page 4]
We had a very
fatigueing journey here
from Western Fa
first we had a long march
of about 100 miles which
we made under a broiling
sun in 3 1/2 days then whilst
on the river we were crowded
on the upper deck in the open
air exposed to a continual shower
of cinder from the boats smoke
stacks.  then when we took the
cars we were crowded into filthy
cattle cars where we remained
2 nights & 2 days be assured
when we arrived at Washington
there were some tired  boys
& what was worse we had no
money neither officers or men
I would like to tell you what
I saw on the road but have not the
time to do so so now
Write soon
Yours truly J D Templeton
P.S. Nothing I suppose can be done now about the matter I spoke
to you in my letter of Aug 5th so let it rest for the
present

James Dinsmore Templeton,  musician and private in the 23rd Ohio

MSS 10317

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
 Tuesday, Sept. 2, 1862

Guard mounting
Wrote Letters to father &
Esy Caldwell got of Jo
a peck of potatoes
went with Phil & Alf
on a walk
Foot came in this
evening. Gen McDowels
corps now passing  Sur
geons[?] of several of his Genls
pass the men look rather
raged & dirty
All sorts of rumors are
about affairs of the late
battle
mostly Clear Cool

MSS 10317 

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

   Tuesday   Sept 2nd/62

     About noon we marched through
Fairfax and toward Alexandria.
I had an attack of Reumatism
in my left shins and right shoulder
so that I could hardly walk.
I told my Captain that I was
unable to go farther with out
resting.  He told me that I must
get a pass from the Surgeon
to fall to the rear.  I went to
the Surgeon, and he told me
to keep with the Regt, that
marching would do the Rhumatism
good.  I told him that I should
have to take of my things and
rest, and I steped one side, took
them off and rested.  We had
a hundred rounds of Catridges
given to us the day before
and I destroyed half of them.
It was killing me to carry
them.  If the Doctor had give me
a pass I could have rode on
an Ambulance.  After resting
half an hour I started on again.
The Regt went towards Hall Church
At night I stoped over night in
a barn with two privates of the
Ninth New York.


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

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

Tues 2. Cleared off cold.  & wind – made calls – our troops badly
beaten – but it will all come out right I trust
     Look over old town records & made extracts –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Mr. L[ackland] heard this morning that Jackson
had been cut all to pieces—severely
whipped–that an officer had
come from our army & said so & that
he was the only man left of his
regiment.  Patty & Emma said they
would not believe it from that
 authority, but Mr. L. & I were apprehensive
it might be so, as the battle was
said to have been thought last Wed-
 Thursday & Friday & it seems so
strange that we should be a
week hearing it if we had gained
a great victory–But we did not
have long to feel gloomy  a gentleman
came, whose son had been in the fight &
had come home to get a horse, & he
said we had gained a complete
victory– gotten numerous stores, &
the field was in our possession-
 though we had lost severely  the enemies’
loss had been ten to our one,  told us of
many friends that we wounded.  Mr. Botts,
Mr. Moore, General Ewell, Barnch Brown.
–we felt sad to think of them==
 but rejoiced over the victory.

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

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

Tuesday 2d  Liz has gone to pass the day with Mrs Lucas–I have been busily
at work–Lize & Mr Mason together in the parlour–No letters to day
from Richmond but one from Mrs Branch–saying Noah was
all ready to start to Virginia when Toms letter arrived saying
dont send him until he wrote for him to come.  I am truly sorry
it happened so–as Toms next letter begged me to start him.  Mrs
Branch had put up a nice ham & other eatables for him too–Mr.
Mason leaves tonight for Richmond–We area all sorry to part
with him such dreadful times as these are–His furlough
only extended 6 or 7 days–We have just hear of another battle.

MSS 6960