[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Oct 18th /62
the Regt was payd of[f] to day
Oct the 18/62
up to the first
of Sept
Reced a letter from
home
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
B to M, 9 miles
October Saturday 1862
Jackson s whole army
started about 6 ½ taking
the turnpike to Martinsburg
9 miles
went through M. about
2 P.M. took road leading
N. West traveled 23 miles
and camped
[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]
Oct. 18th) Pleasant morning
but cool frost last night. Feel better, sat up.
Mr Braden sat a while with me after breakfast.
Spent the morning reading. Miss L- has sat the
afternoon with me sewing – & on my coat – she
is also having me a shirt made, of material
she had, which she assures me she has no use
for, she is acting the part of a dear sister
to me, hope I may have the chance of acting a
brothers part towards her. Jas has gone over
to the Millers, to have the pattern of my
shirt cut. – Je vis mon cheval ce soir, il [-]
condition admirable. Had a pleasant confab with
Miss L- who passed the evening with me. Head aches
rather more this evening. Quite cool out.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 6150
[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana, as compiled by him at a later date from his letters and diaries]
Camp near Sharpsburg.
Oct. 18th 1862.
Your No. 2. under date Oct. 10th was received by me
day before yesterday morning, just as we were
starting on a reconnaissance to the opposite side of
the river, whence we returned last night after
foraging some cornstalks for our cavalry and
killing a few rebels. Our force consisted
of about 5000 infantry and 1000 cavalry, and a
battery of six pieces. We advanced through
Shepherdstown – where the inhabitants, with very
few exceptions, looked any thing but friendly –
to about four miles from the river, and there
found an inferior force of the enemy inclined to
* opposite Shepherdstown –
25.
make a stand, but our shells soon made them change
their minds, and they skedaddled, taking their wounded
but leaving five of their dead on the field. On
our side, one killed and three wounded in the 9th
Mass. by the bursting of a rebel shell. We followed
up a little distance, taking a few prisoners, but night
coming on, we came to a halt in a corn field.
We had a cold chilling rain all night, soaking us
through and through, and nothing but hard bread
to eat – I suppose, taking the rain into consideration,
we may say we lived on bread and water – but
were fortunately allowed to build good camp fires,
by which we sat all night. Toward morning,
however, it cleared up, which cheered us a little, though
one could not help feeling a little stiff at first.
But as we gradually dried up, we felt better, and
started on our march, trusting to send a shower on
the rebs, in return for our inhospitable reception.
But they were nowhere to be found, and about 1
o’clock we started on our return, the 32nd being the
rear guard, and we were kept on the “qui vive”, as
we rather thought the rebels would attack our rear,
but fortunately they did not try it. The
march was a tough one, the roads being muddy
and slippery, but we reached the Potomac about
9 o’clock last night, foot sore and miserable with
the knowledge that we had the river to ford before
reaching camp. The water was icy cold, and
the river, more than a quarter of a mile wide
at our crossing place, had been swollen by the rains
so as to be about waist deep, all the way over.
Bah! wasn’t it cold. Just imagine sleeping
in an ice cart on a cold December night, or a
cat sliding down a slated roof and trying to dig
her claws into the slates, or rather the sound caused
thereby, and you may acquire some slight idea of
the chills which shook the frame of
Your affect. Son.
P.S. Perfectly well today, however and in good
spirits.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5130
[from the diary of CaptainWilliam F. Hunter, Co. B, 97th Ohio]
Oct. 18th, ’62.
Weather clear this
morning. At 8 A.M.
ordered to move, ex-
cept the sick; by the
advice of Dr. Gordon –
Surgeon – I remained
here. The brigade
marched over the
hill to the east.
Lay here all day, feel
better this evening.
About 50 or 60 rebel
prisoners, under guard,
passed here to day, go-
ing westward.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 10547-bm
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Saturday, Oct. 18, 1862
Have done nothing
this day are trying
to procure our
discharge all of us
feel very anxious
about it
Had my shirt washed
by Tom
E P Scammon has
rec’d the appointment
of Brig. Gen
Clear pleasant
very cool nights-so
cold indeed that we
can scarcely sleep any
Had Letter from Eliza
MSS 10317
[from the diary of the Rev. Francis Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Sat 18. Visited sick, one Surgeon came – seems a pleasant
man – visited 27th & made arrangements for a Brigade
service tomorrow – Today one Brigade 4 Regt – & one
battery – & 2 others left. N.Y. & Conn – with a Battery
were reviewed by Maj. Gen. Banks & Casey
lovely day rather warm. marched nearly to long
bridge & back – as passed rebel prison – I heard one
of them say to others (lookg out window) that is the
Chaplain – Visited sick & wrote letters – also
held prayer meetgs in five tents – all respectful
some earnest – cold at night.
[transcribed by Mary Roy Edwards Dawson]
MSS 12935
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Saturday 18th This has been a very busy day finishing off travel
ing dress for Eliza & packing her trunk for her trip to Enfield
on Monday with Liz–The weather is lovely–But we hear of so
many deaths in Wilmington so much sorrow, & sickness everywhere
that we all feel sad very sad indeed- & particularly so since
hearing of Dr. Dranes death–Oh how dreadful it is – to think so
kind a pastor-So fine a man-So sincere a friend has gone from
our sight on Earth–Still we ought not to mourn but rather rejoice
that he is out of trouble, & now in the mansions of his Heavenly
father-& the presence of his redeemer Jesus Christ who has died
to save fallen man–& thru’ whose intercessions he will ob
-tain a seat amongst the faithful in heaven–Every day we hear
of some friend, relative-or acquaintance called away–& still
we are spared as monuments of mercy–Oh that God would make
us as monuments of Grace.
MSS
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]
Saturday 18 I asked J.C. S. Ferguson
yesterday to go on my board–and told
him to take time to consider it. He
spoke in a very friendly way & I have
no doubt will become [one of our?]
securities. Most gloomie weather.
News more decisive as to the victories
in Kentucky. I have no doubt we
have whipped Banks severely.
Sue still very sick Her woman
[Nanci?] has behaved so badly that it
is indisputably necessary to sell her
She has shown such ingratitude that
I feel no compunction whatever
MSS 4763
[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]
Was about well this morning. took a run
with Jack & the children in the yard
which did me good–Have been sitting down
entirely too much lately. Must walk more-
It seems impossible to read, walk, &
get my sewing done–I just enjoy one
then the other can never combine the
three & regulate each days work so many
unexpected things turn up. I never so fully
realized how little we know “what a day
may bring forth”, The news is that the
Yankees have fallen back from C-Town &
our troops are advancing–about 20000
cavalry passed by our gate—The forage
masters men here again to day–Pa sold
a barrel of whiskey for 10$ a gallon:=
Beale went to Dr. B’s on horseback for
Emma but she did not come wrote a
note for Pa to send the carriage-
some girlish pride at the bottom of it. The
day will come when she will see of
how little importance our looks are
in other peoples eyes-
My mending day–After reading
my Bible & some religious books–spent
the day mending-
Margaret told me that Pa did not hire her–I
told Pa of it & as he know that the understanding
was that he did–is much troubled & says he sees
plainly we will have no pleasure in white servants as long as we live Mrs. Wilson
to is displeased because Ma told her she must cook for herself as
she could not have her eating at our table
[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]
MSS 15406
