[from the diary of Wesley Hammond, Co. E, 42nd Virginia “Dixie Greys”
25th Travel fromMiddletown to Mr. Neff’s 4 miles
above Mt. Jackson. distance
34 miles – I and horse got very
tired buggy broke once or twice
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5526
Bakersville Maryland Oct 25th 1862
Dear Father — I received yours of the eighteenth with the sad
news of Edwards Death, which I was in hopes of hearing of his recovery as most
of the letter that I have received was that he was nicely you say that he was
sensible to the last & spoke about my doing my duty which I am glad that he
he[sic] knew that I had done it but I wish I could have been at Home to see him
before his Death but being situated as I am I could not be there but if I had only
had known that we had been going into Winter quarters I should have tried
for A Furlough but I shall as it is as soon as we get paid off there is an order out
for Volunteers to join the regular Army to go into any Branch of it they may choose
they can join for the rest of the term of their enlistment or for three years & there
has been over fifty out of this Regiment that has signed it already I had some
Idea of Joining the Cavelry for the rest of my enlistment then I thought I would
write to you before doing it & by the time I got a answer I would have time to
think it all over but I think I shall Join the Navy if I could get A chance Yester
day the Division was reviewed by General Brooks who has been assigned to take
command in place of General Slocum who has been assigned to take command
of the 12th Army Corps laitely under the Command of General Burnside the
Division feels bad about loseing General Slocum Capt Sherwood of Co F this
Regiment who returned to the Regiment yesterday came to see me as you wrote
in your letter informing me of your good health which I was glad to hear you
was looking nicely I am well & enjoying good heath as for the little Adjutant
that you spoke about I do not know where he is as I have only seen him once since
he left the regiment & that was when we first began to build winter quarters
on[sic] Camp Franklin last winter & for the old drummer I do not reccolect who
he is, those needles & thread I received, I will now close this by saying that this is
from A Son of yours who is always thinking of you & Mother and all at Home
Tell William that I would like to have him send me all of the Daily &
Weekly papers that he can Joseph Leavitt
Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George Leavitt of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom were mortally wounded, George at 2nd Bull Run in 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania in 1864.
MSS 66
[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Oct 25th
firing was hard
this morning at
Chiney Creek 5 miles
[-] the Regt Captured
21 of Sturds cavilry
to Day and to the
Provest Marched
Receved 2 letters
Frome home
to Day
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12912
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Saturday, Oct. 25, 1862
This morning
applied to the Pay Master
Major Mc[Fail?] who by
the way I think a scamp
He would not pay us
Said once he might
pay until Aug 7th
but finally said he
would not pay atall
we lay about untill
about 2 O clock then
crossed by the
suspension bridge
& over the Island then
over the wooden bridge
to the Depot where we
took the cars about
5 OClock We arrive
at Columbus 1 1/2 Oclock
We had transportation out
from Maj Hill Comd post
are now at the National
P.S. Cloudy drizzling
rain Snow to night.
MSS 10317
[from the diary of the Rev. Francis Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Sat. 25 – Fine warm – Got up our new mess house.
Capt Spear sent in a duck & lark for our mess –
Good many sick with measles – Arranged with Vt. 12 & 13 to
have Brigade service tomorrow – What shall speak upon?
Witnessed Brig drill 5 Regs. found Furbish is Chapl. 25th Maine
on ground. Began to invite line officers to dine in rotation
with us. Lt. Chas. Caulkins also dined with us, looks well.
Long pleasant talk with Furbish about our work – visited the
sick in hospitals.
Captain Edward Spear, 25th New Jersey
Same Charles H. Caulkins who was commissioned a captain in December 62?
Edward B. Furbish of Portland, Me., was chaplain of the 25th.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12935
[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. b., 97th Ohio]
Oct. 25th, ’62.
Started very early,
as usual.
About 12 M. it com-
menced a cold rain
which continued all
day. Encamped at
about 4 or 5 P.M. about
a mile from Colum-
bia, shortly after en-
camping, the rain turn-
ed to snow which
continued all night.
A comfortless night.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 10547-bm
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Saturday 25th Every thing looks so bright & cheerful to day that I can scarce
-ly realize the melancholy truth, that hundreds are down in my native
town with yellow fever & hundreds more are suffering for want of
nourishment–I have written- or at least finished a long letter
this morning to Ellen & must write another to day–My tooth for
the first time in 6 days has ceased to ache & I rejoice at it–
No letter from Eliza yet–A poor woman called to see me this afternoon
-a Mrs Forester[?] sent by Charles to get money to help her from me on
his account–she was so pretty & seemed so distressed about her hus
-band being in the Army & her not hearing from him that tho’ I
knew my board was due & I had no money to loan Charlie I
had to hand her $20-& trust to Mr Guthrie waiting on me
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]
Saturday, October 25, 1862
Emma & I walked before I had ad my
morning reading & it broke in on my usual
habits so that I did not enjoy reading as much
when I returned=
Had company to dinner -one of them Capt.
Frank from Miss gave Emma a dog & thought
he must tie him in order to keep him, but
Pa had him loosed as soon as the Capt left
& he seemed perfectly satisfied—
Indulged in [unamiable?] feelings=Oh
when will I learn to restrain my temper=
God be merciful unto me a sinner
Cousin Edward Willis came by to
see us is adjutant general on General Jacksons
staff=seems to be an exceedingly clever
person= says that cousin Franks sentiments
are precisely like Pas at which Pa was
overjoyed, as he has predicted they would
be. said he felt five years younger–
Cousin E[dward] seems to give an impartial
view & description of the war says its all
[foolish?] about the Yankees not fighting
that we have been taught to respect them
on more battle fields than one.
[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]
MSS 15406
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]
Saturday 25 Still fine weather–
Did a good deal of business, but
more after the board [rose?] then
at the session–Nothing of any
great interest The enemy seem
to have been thoroughly defeated
in their attack on the Rail Road
near Charlestown. Gen Bragg and
staff passed through on the way
to Richd.–He has not been recalled
but goes there to consult about [ul?]
[terior?] operations–I called after
supper at Mr. K’s to see the Bish
-op & his daughter, who arrived
in the [?] cars. Mrs J. was
greatly interested in hearing Lanty
talk of his visit to her friends
in Frederick. Returning from the K’s i
learned that the Bank was not
fastened up: Had to go down and
attend to it. Charles the servant
got into a scrape Friday night &
it seems was afraid to turn out.
MSS 4763
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Friday
Oct 24
On picket to-day with Mike and Savaria up back
of Trenches. It has been a very pleasant day
We bought some eggs of a man who passed this forenoon
and had some for dinner and supper. We sat round
and talked and I have enjoyed the day very well
MSS 11293
