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

Saturday, Oct. 18, 1862.

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

Friday
Oct 17

Did not go up to the surgeons this morning
as I felt pretty well.  He marked me for light
duty and the orderly told me to draw water, which
I did not like very well. this afternoon I went down
with Mike to the brook to wash. I went out on dress
parade.  a mail came to day but no letter for
met.  Dr. Whitney thinks I have grown fat lately and I
hope it is so.  O may I be properly thankful to the
Lord, who has brought me along so mercifully, and may
I not forget to give him all the glory, and may my will
be wholly resigned to His.

MSS 11293

Camp E. F. Keyes
October 18, 1862
Dear Mother
I arrived here safe and
sound about twelve last night
Am glad that I came as I did
It was very warm and plesant
riding.
There is a rumor afloat that we
leave next Thursday
Think it doubtful however
They have the measles in the
21st & 28th Regt.  None sick with
them in our Regt. yet.
Probably will be & then no knowing
when we shall leave.
                   Your affectionate
                            C. P. Morrill

Charles Plummer Morrilll, 24th Maine.

MSS 11031

[letter of an unidentifiable Confederate soldier written in ink faded almost to illegibility]

            Camp near  [?] Bluff
             Oct 17[?] 1862

My dear  sister

            I would thank you very
kindly to send me some money
to buy some extra provisions
as our rations are rather scant
Mr Mason who has charge of the
Albemarle hands thinks it should
be better to send money than
provisions as their would be some
difficulty in getting the provisions
I am very well and hope all at
home are well also.  Remember me
very kindly to all the household
white and coloured, direct your
letters to the care of John B Mason
Box 1595 Richmond Va
                 Your obedient servant
                           Winston [Allen?]

MSS 2483

                      Camp near Winchester
                               Otober the 17, 1862
Dear Cousin
                 I write you a few lines this
morning to let you know that we are
boath well and much hopeing that this
may find you all enjoying the same good
blesing,  I have no news of intrust to write
we have had a long rest sence we have
bin here,  tho I expect we weill have to leave
here to day, we have orders to be ready to
march at amoments warning. I do know
not know which way we will go,
 I received a letter from sister yesterday
dated the 8 of October & one from Sister the other
day dated the 5 of Oct,  I was sorry to
hear of sicknes being in the neighbour
hood,  we have some sickness in camp
tho not as much at present as has bin
we have too sick men in our Company
Bage Pritchett & John Hundley  thay are not sick
much tho thay are not able for sentry
I have injoyed very good health sence we
left Richmond.  I think I can stand the
service now if thay will gave me
enough to eat,  we have goten a plenty
sence we have bin here accept Salt, same
we have not goten more than half enough salt

[page 2]
  I am glad that we are going to leave this
place for the people through here are all
mostly quaker,s and i had almost as live
be with the yankees as to be with the
quakers.  the Yankees will sell us eny
thing cheap for the specie tho thay
will not take our notes,
the yankees will sell eny thing thay
have got when the spirit moves
them,  th we cant catch them rite half
our time,  I will hush about the
yankees and quakers and tel you
what a interesting meeting has bin
going on in Camp, it has bin
going on for near a month, nearly every
night thay has bin a good meney
converts sence the meeting commenced
I think it is time for them to turn
after being blesed so plainley as thay have
bin, in the past battles,  I thnik Mr
Penie had changed very much, be fore he
was taken sick.  he said that he was deter
min to do better than he had bin do ing. 
I dont think I ever saw a plainer change
in eny person than thare was in him,
 I must close as my paper is about out
gave my love to all the girls and share
a large portion for you self & write soon
direct your letters to Winchester.                                             James Booker

James Booker of Pittsylvania County, Co. D., 38th Virgnia “Whitemell Guards” writes on behalf of himself and his twin brother John  to his cousin Chloe Unity Blair

MSS 11237

Norwood Oct 17 1862
Dear Genl
       Your letter by Phill came to hand this morn-
ing, Phill & Pink are now here, they came up to
see Bettie.  From your not mentioning your own health
in your letter I hope you are quite well but I re-
gret very much to hear of Dr. Brents continued
indisposition as well as Judge Baker’s; I hope
though the next news we get from you will be favor-
able & that they will soon be restored to their usual
health.
    I am glad to inform you that Bettie is much better
today the measles having fully made their appear-
ance upon the surface; I only ope that she may
continue to improve and to this end shall have
our constant attentions.  Dr. Callaway in whom
we have much confidence is our family Physi-
cian.  Sally & Fanny & little Nina have had the
measles–Little Annie will be the next.  Sally is
now in Lynchburg at school.  Her Father went up
with her & brought us letters from her today–
She seems to be comfortably and happily fixed from
her own account and I have no doubt will do well.
The family at Union Hill are well with the except
tion of my little sister Katy who is extremely low
with scarlet fever.  As to the distress of the fam-

[page 2]
ily at Montezuma you can no doubt form some
idea.  Bruce & Nannie have both gone, the first after
an illness of about six weeks, the latter on the 10
of this month about six weeks from her husbands
death–both of the same desease[sic] Typhoid fever.
They leave four little boys now under the charge of
their aged Grand Mother and  under my Guardian
ship.  This is her only comfort and they will re-
main with her during her life.  Mrs. Brown and
five or six of her children (she has 8 children) will
live with her. The debt upon the Est. is very large
but having realized quite a hansome[sic] profit from
the sale of some Tobacco in which he was interested
in Richmond I hope with judicious management
to relieve the Est.  to a considerable extent.
Enclosed you find my rect for $90 (by check on
Bank of Va) in payment for the wheat.  As the
quantity fell short I will pay the cost of transpor-
tation myself but I will be glad for you to re-
quest Mr. Hughes to return the * bags by the first
opportunity.
 We should be very happy to see you up here again
Bettie & the children unite with me in much love
to you & the families at Recess & Bremo

*nineteen bags
                                  Yrs affectionately
                                        Wm. D. Cabell

[page 3]
Recd from Gen. John H. Cocke ninety dollars by check
on Bank of Va in full payment of Thirty bushels
of Bowers wheat shipped him Sep 4, 1862.  Witness
my hand this 17th day of Oct. 1862
                                                   Willm D. Cabell

MSS 640

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

                                  Friday 17
started out 6 A.M. went
about ½ mile and came
back to old camp about
1 Oclock P.M.

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co. E., 42nd Virginia (Dixie Greys)

Friday 17th. – Fix to leave
camp to go to Hospital – leave with
the expectation of going home
report to Hospital in Winchester.
Get permission to board at private
house – go to Mrs. Masseys for dinner
then to Mr. Green’s. – become ac-
quainted with Mr. Braince & Lady.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

(Oct 17th)  This morning the sun shines out
clear & bright, but I do not feel in exact con-
-sonance with the weather as my side & head
have troubled me a good deal.  Miss L- made
her appearance about 10 ½ o’c from Mr M-s and
brought me some very fine grapes & a beautiful
little nosegay Miss Sue Miller sent me.  Miss L-
sat the morning with me.  Mr Bradens man
got back this afternoon from Maryland where
he was detained by the Yankees, charged with
the offence of having done work for Southern
men.  They took his horse.  A squad of our
Cavalry passed by here & Mr Braden got them
to stop, take supper with him & feed their
horses.  Heard that the firing yesterday
was caused by the Yankees making an attack
on our right, but were driven back.  Another
account is that Jackson made a feigned attack
then fell back, they followed, & Longstreet fell
on their rear & cut them off.  We hear cheering
accounts from the West.  Hope they are true

Miss L- & Mrs P- passed evening in my room, enjoyed
pleasant talk.  Finished 3rd Vol. Hist. England &
commenced 4th.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

Arlington Hights
Camp Chase, Oct 17 [1862]
Dear Sister Helen
I just received
your letter saying that you were going
to send a box Tuesday – I wrote yesterday
and named a number of things that I
wanted but did not think of your send-
-ing them so soon besides those please send
me a good stout pair of suspenders as
mine have given out – and you may send
me a knife & fork, I don’t care how small
they are – Wm Allen is sick to day so you
see we have an invalid in the tent about
all the time.. There is to be a great-
Review of all the troops in and about
Washington tomorrow on Capitol hill
and we will have to march over
there I suppose it will be a tough
job I guess.. 2 Regts right next
to us left this morning the 13 N. H.
& 143 N.Y S. V. and I guess this Review
will decide whether we go to W –
or not. I am a great hurry as it
is time of Dress Parade and I thought
I would just let you know that I had
recd. your letter – I will answer
Georgie’s very soon
With love to all
I remain Your broth
Jim

James H. Howard, 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668