Octr 20th 1862
Dear Bill
                I recd your letter yester-
day, probably you got a letter from
me a day or two after writing yours of
the 13th in which I entered fully into
the clothing question.  I dont want
an uniform–but good, substantial
grey-or any other colour-clothes dont
want flannel shirts, would like
drawers will take cotton ones &
also socks. Dont buy these things
if  you have not the money to spare
for probably I will be able to
send you some in a week or two
when we get nearer you, as
probably will be the case.
     I did not have an opportunity
of hunting the Johnsons up, as
we moved to this place, about

[page 2]
nine miles from Strasburg, on
Cedar Run–some days aggo[sic]–
I feel sorry for Jenny–she was
so smart-lively & animated
& enjoyed life so much
   Write me soon–no news
here–we are going to have a
“protracted meeting” an old lady
tells me, in the neighbourhood
  Wont you attend–I have not
heard a sermon- for- I think-
fourteen months, not since the
first battle of Manassas.  I
would go to “preaching” had I a
chance.  I should like to hear
even the Revd Elias–Love to all
                        Your affectionate
                                 brother
                                      W.B.G.

William B. Gregory surgeon in the 2nd Georgia

MSS 4777

                Post Hospital Oct 20th / 62
Dear Mother
                           Last Thursday I
received 2 letters from home telling
that Maria was failing fast and
Saturday I received one informing
me of her death  The letter that
Jonathan wrote I never received
  Last Friday the Dr came
here to see me and I was gone
to Alexandria but got back
just in time to see him
before he left he gave me a
slight examination but did
not tell me what he thought of
me Saturday Ned came out
again to see me and I asked
him what his Father thought
of me and he said I was not
fit for duty but had no
permanent disease  Ned brought

 [page 2]
me out $5 which came handy
I tell you. When the doctor gets
home let me know what he
thinks of me.  I may possibly
spend the winter in the Old
Bay State as the story is that our
regt is coming home to recruit
I hope it is as I had rather winter
at home than in Va.  the 15th & 21st
are coming home and i hope that
they will send our regt home
but am afraid they wont I
heard the story from a New Yorker
so I place more dependence on it
I still continue the same as ever
There is nothing of any importance
here for news everything jogs
along in the same old quiet way
new arrivals every day and some
sent off that are able to go
I gave Ned an insight into
the way we were treated in
Hospitals and he was surprised

[page 3]
after all he had read about
how well we were treated at
the various places But I must
close as there is something going
on to day in the way of examining
the men
    From your aff Son
                   Wm Wallace

[Envelope]
Mrs E. Smith
     Newton Lower Falls
           Mass

William Wallace Smith,  22nd Massachusetts
MSS 15360

[on patriotic stationary featuring a cannon and flag and the years 1776 and 1862 beneath the motto BABY WAKER]

                            Camp Millington
                                     Oct 20th/62
Dear Cousin
                       I have not received
Eenny letters from you since I have
been hire I have writen two so I
thought I would try it agane to see
if you thought enouf of me to answer
my letters I am well and injoying my
Self in the highest Degree of Soldring
The 10 of this month we left camp and
started fro Chamberburgh to repell
the Rebbles witch had maid a Raid in

[page 2]
you have no Doubt herd all abaout the
Rebble Raid in Pensylvania through the
Newspapers when we ware order to March
to Chambersburg I thought we ware going
to meet the Enimy and I actualy wished
we might for I am getting tired of Camp
life and am Desirous of Changeing it
for a life of actual Sirvice but I was
Disapointed for the Enimy had began to
Retreat before we arived there and we ware
Ordered to Retrun to our Old Camp but on
our Return the Rail road bridge was
broke and we had to Wait untll it was
Repaired and we arived on our old camp
ground the 16th.  Their hant enny news
here this Morning thir is five Regts laying
around here it seemed like old times
I will now close for I want to get this
in the Moring Mail give My Respects
to inquiring friends and keep a god
Share for you Self
                          From you Cousin
                                    William

[page 3]
P S Derrrect
       Wm Townsend
Compeny. H. 128th Regiment
                             N.Y. S. V
                      Baltimore Md

MSS 10694

[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]

Oct 20th  Sent $40
     Dollars home to day
by Admas Expres With
     Henry Lightle
Post Master for the Regt
Sent a letter  [word lined out]
Home to Day by
Mail
Whe leade [laid] in this
Camp until the
morning of the 21st Oct

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

   Army.  Washington Camp Casey   Oct  1862
Mon 20.   (have made no notes for this till Sat. 25.)
     Several days high wind & frightful dust – two days unwell –
wrote letters – held prayer meetgs.   visited sick – very busy –
made best shot in company   hit bulls eye 80 paces off – only one that did –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Monday Oct. 20, 1862

Did nothing all
day. Slept &c
Ca,pt Mc in tent-
Request to Gen Crook
to be apppted mustering
officer  boys all
impatient-
Had to play for
reveille this morning
Clear pleasant
notice Capt Sims of
the battery has returned.

check 23rd roster for Captains

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]

  Oct 20th, ’62.
Clear this morn-
ing. All manner
of rumors in re-
gard to the move-
ments of our ar-
my near “Wild Cat”,          
but none of them
reliable. A sol-
dier died in camp
to-day of typhoid fe-
ver – he was of the
100th Ill. reg’t. He
was buried on
the west side of
the hill in the woods,

 a beach tree, upon
which was carved
his name, alone
marks his last rest-
ingplace. No moth-
er’s or sister’s tears
moistened the clods
that cover his mort-
al remains; he di-
ed far from home
& friends. The sol-
dier’s fate. Remain-
ed all night.

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

Monday 20  Very fine weather–busy
all day.  [Robert?] A called upon
me at Bank.  Nothing of any note
Letter from Delia Wallis who [wishes?]
me to rent a farm for her mother
who is determined to leave Culpeper
At night Dr & Mrs & Mary Green
called and staid till 10–a very
pleasant sociable party.

MSS 4763

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

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

Monday 20th  Mr Mason arrived very unexpectedly last night &
after eating breakfast Lize & Liz persuaded him to turn back
and go to Enfield with them–they were all packed & ready to start
before they heard of his arrival–He has been ordered to Columbus Georgia
& is on his way there–So they had two escorts instead of one–Mr Mason
& Mr Julius Guthrie–I have been suffering night & day with tooth
ache which has given me fevers–& makes me feel chilly & badly–

MSS 6960