[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Friday 24–continued fine weather.  Some
thing like Indian summer–Much
surprized at the  entrance into the Bank
of Lt. Macon of Eugene
s company. He
left Richd in such a condition as to
afford little hope of his ever retur-
ning, but he has recovered and looks
as well as usual–though he says
one of his lungs is useless. He has
come to Virga to try to get an exchange
believing he could not stand a winter
here–as I am sure he could not–He
came by Lynchburg to satisfy him
self as to Eugene’s fate,having received
information which seemed authoritative
that he died in Richd.  He will stay
here with us until Eugene returns.
–I was not less gratified by a visit
from my old friend Sherrard,who
has been on a visit to his family in
Winchester–the Bank not having
returned thither–He represents the
condition of the people and town
as very distressing–During a months
stay he was not able to lay up a
cord of wood for his family–we
walked for an hour on the hills
and then called at the house where
we sat awhile—He would not dine
with us.  Sue spent the day with
us–tolerable well but very hoarse
At 1/2 past 3 went to church.  I was
requested to act as “Witness” for Abe
McDermot on his baptism and did
so with Dr Chalmers–There were
three adults and seven infants
baptised.  Mrs. Gen. Stuart was
sponsor for Jack Langhornes children
and the child of Dr. Walker.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Friday, October 24
Mr. Eliason spent last night here.  Dr. H and Fez gone to Winchester.  Walker’s Division passed through Millwood last night going below the ridge to keep off the Yankees.

MSS 9759

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Spent the day as usual. this difference
only that I enjoyed my bible: & Bickersteth on
the Lords supper, more than I have done
for a long time–Why is it that my
heart is so cold, I know that I do
not love God. nor Holy things as I should
do.  sometimes I fear that I do not
even try to love him–I ought to love
him without trying–& it seems to me that
if I was truely his child= I would do so-
it needs no effort for me to love my
earthly father–why can not I love my
heavenly as naturally=Oh I forget, the natural
[?] is opposed to Gods hates his ways
it is this evil nature we have to struggle
against–Oh I am so ignorant.  The way
seems so hard to find=I often wish for
some friend to show me the path ahead.
Every hour =then I should never fall=Oh
God give me the Holy Spirit to keep me to
find this friend in Jesus I want thy
grace assisting me–to put behind me
all earthly aids & seek the one great friend
Jesus Christ.  Yes I will believe that he
will help me.  I know that he does but
my faith is too weak–Oh God increase
it. Strengthen me for Christs sake.
My heart felt so much towards my dear husbands
[?] in his spiritual welfare that I wrote him a long letter on

[in left margin of page]
the subject=hope that I did not write in a spirit of dictation.  Hoped that
                                                                                         I would not

MSS 15406

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

Thursday
Oct 23
Had an excellent drill in the bayonet
exercise. About noon a mail came in.  I
got three letters two from home and one from Hen.
Russell.  Savaria and I had to draw water for the cooks
I answered my letters home this evening, and sent home
ten dollars.  It has been a pleasant day and I have enjoyed
myself very well.  My tooth aches some this evening but
I hope it is not going to ache much.

MSS 11293

                        Near Martinsburg
                        October 23rd, 1862
My dear Sister:
                        I enclose a long letter
to Sister written from Bunker’s Hill
which I have not been able to mail
or send privately.  We left that en-
campment on Saturday & Jackson’s
Corp has since been engaged in destroy-
ing the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road
in this vicinity; today they are at
work between Martinsburg and
Harper’s Ferry, and there are some
prospects of a fight with the enemy
as we draw near Harper’s Ferry;
but most of McClellan’s Army
seems to have disappeared since
the news from Kentucky save
some forces at the Ferry & maraud-
ing parties of Cavalry here & there.
The news from Bragg’s Army is
encouraging if true and the fact
of a brilliant success seems well
established & credited although we
have exaggerated details.  General
Stuart’s raid into Pennsylvania
has eclipsed any dash or daring
since the war began; he brought
away valuable property but
the distribution of so many arms
& so much ordnance & the moral
effect are the greatest objects gained.
Every one thought it a precursor
of some grand move of the whole
Army but I believe that opinion

[page 2]
has exploded and all believe that
the Army will fall back some
distance in a few days; in fact,
Longstreet’s Corps has already moved
& encamped near Winchester.
Soldiers all wish the war to close
& of consequence there ^‘are’ thousands
of rumors afloat about peace.
But I see no signs of peace while
both parties are endeavoring to put
forth all their strength & are making
renewed efforts to annihilate each
other.  If whipped, the North is no
longer the great nation it once
was – poverty will reign where wealth
was universal; if subjugated, the pros-
perity, happiness, & being of the South
forever perish; so that it is a ques-
tion of life or death with both par-
ties; of course then we must expect
a protracted struggle where such
momentous consequences are involve-
ed in the issue, where the resources
of each party are so great, & when
the Combatants are stubborn Ameri-
cans!  Something may end the war
sooner than I expect but I see
no signs of speedy termination
now.
   John has gone to Ro. Holms’s where
Sister Page is staying; it is not very
far from here and I wish
I could go to see her, but it is

[page 3]
probable she has gone to Winchester again
& besides I can not well leave now –
I hope Ed is doing well – Poor fellow!  I
[brother Edloe was wounded in lungs at Gaines Mill on 6/27/62.]
miss him sadly and wish he could
be with me but Providence has
decreed otherwise & we must submit
to Him.  I hope he bears his sufferings
& afflictions gently & submissively which
he ought to know will greatly allev-
iate them.          Granville Mason
& George Moore reached here yesterday.
John recd. a letter yesterday which I
suppose was from home; he went
off however without my seeing it.
I will write more if I do not send
this off today which is unlikely as I
will have no opportunity.

[The letter is continued in pencil.]
Thursday 25th Oct 1862:
                                       We reached Bunker Hill
last evening having completely destroyed the
B. & Ohio Road for miles which can be repaired
by them in time but at an enormous expense.
John goes to Winchester today where Sister Page has
preceded him in order to continue some way to get
the latter home from that place;  I send this scrawl
by him to be mailed & hope it will reach you
soon & safely.  I recd. last night Sister’s letter
dated October 13th and was delighted to hear
from you all again; especially that Edloe
was better than when I previously heard.
I hope that he will continue to improve
rapidly & soon be well.  He seems to be looking
forward already to the time when he can

[page 4]
go about as he wishes to me to get him an overcoat;
if I can.  I will do so but this article is hardly
to be found now and is in great demand;
if there shd. be another battle here, however, over-
coats will doubtless be again abundant.
I wrote to Uncle Jim to send me Bailey Ashby’s
coat wh. I left there for him in the summer or to
send it to Pa in hopes he cd. send it here.  Bailey
is much in need of it & wish I could get it for him
if possible.  He is a noble-hearted, generous boy and an espec-
ial friend of mine – I can not say half so much
for Willie who has turned cross-grained, ill-tempered,
[William Aylett Ashby]
highly conceited and selfish – we have little affect-
tion for each other.  I must now close with
much love to you all & hopes of hearing from you
very soon.                                  Your Aff. Brother
                                                          F. P. Jones
Miss H. M. Jones          }
          Louisa Co. Hou.  }
                        Va.         }

Francis Pendleton Jones, 13th Virginia

[transcript and annotations by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

 MSS 13407

(copy)
                    Ordnance Office of Artillery
                        Dept. No. 2–
                  Chattanooga Tenn
                             October 23d 1861
Brigdr Genl Helm
    Commdg
Chattanooga Tenn
                           General
                                                I have the
honor to state that over a month ago,
during the command of Col McKinstray[sic]
at this Post I brought charges for
disobedience of orders &c against pri-
vate John Day attached to the ordinance
Dept.  He was at the time confined in
the Guard House, and has been in it
since.  I now respectfully request his
discharge from confinement, and
withdraw the charges I made against
him.   I have the honor to be
Your Obt Servt
J[ohn]. T. Champneys
Major & Ord Officer
of Artillery, Dept. No 2

MSS 992

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

(Oct 23rd) Feel
rather better this morning than did yesterday.
Mrs P-, Miss L- & Mrs B- sat most the morning
with me.  I sent Jas to Leesburg hearing that
a gentleman had just arrived from Richmond
in hopes of getting some letters; but he returned
without any.  Sent him this afternoon to Wheatland

to bring back some letters had written to go by Mr M- but had not
gone,- to send by another opportunity.  Quite cool
ce soir.  Mrs P- sat the afternoon with me, had
a very pleasant chat.  Miss L- Jeannette &
Mrs P- sat the evening in my room, and together with
conversing, & looking at some very fine engravings
in a book which the former kindly loaned me
it passed off most agreably [sic].

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

                                  Thursday 23

   Started out at 6. A.M.
Passed through Mar. burg
and came back to with-
-in 1 ½ miles of Bunker-
-Hill & camped      

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Thurs 23.  Very busy.  In eveg by written request of Gen Casey – lectured
                                                                               for Dr Gurley
after it drove with Col D. & Jno. to Mt. Pleasant hospital.  Saw young
Carter, wounded – doing well –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935