1862
Norfolk va  October the 17
Dear wife i
receved youre kind and welcom

letter which was dated the 12
and was very glad to here
from you agane to here
that you was well I
am well at presant and
injoying good helth as I
i ever did in all my life
I wish that you wold rite
and let me no if that
box has arived or not
I hope that if I half to
stay in the army this
winger that they will
leave us here for we
have got a nice place
and evry thing looks
very plesant we are in
site of the sitty of norfolk

[page 2]
But his place donte
look like home after
all Will knapp is a
bout 8 miles from here
on craney island I am a
going to visit him to
morrow if nothing happens
more than i no of now
and when i rite a gane
i will let you no how
he is a getting a long
we have very good
barracks to sleep in
and it makes it write
plesant to what it has
bin we hante hate hante
had eney frost here
yet but it was quite
cold last knite but
we have good fire
places in our barrac
and that makes it
more plesant

[page 3]
we hant got our pay
yet nor we dont no
when we will get it
the last of this month
they will ow me for
six monts and when
i git it i will send
it home tell fathar
not to be un easey a
bout me tell him and
mother to keep up good
chere till i come home
i think that the war
cant last more than till
spring and i do sincerly
hope that i will have
good helth and be spared
so that i can come home
once more to grete my
frinds tell magga that
i will rite one of thes
days tell Jim that
he had better stay

[page 4]
at hame and let
us do the fighting
well i must close
buy sending mi
love to you all so
good buy rite soon
                    Yr Edward
                        Shepherd
Drect youre letter
to Mr Edward
               Shepherd
7 New york Battery
in care of P. Cregan
Norfolk…va…

Union soldier from Dutchess County, New York in 7th New York Light Artillery

MSS 12631

[letter of Charles F. Tenney of the 7th Ohio to his fiancee Adelaide Case begun on the 15th continues]

                                                   [Jackson should be placed at the head of the Confederate
Army]  he was assigned to only a single corps d’armee, while Gen. Lee, although lacking
in that peculiar quality–dash–was made first in command because he could plan
a campaign on a large scale, and handle the entire force with ease, leaving for
generals of smaller commands the rapid moves to make.  Now Gen. Pope
was altogether too fast in making his advance into Virginia, for while he was mak
ing the bold advance directly upon the rebel Capital, he did not sufficiently guard
the flanks.  Thus the Valley of Va. was comparatively free from our army, while
there should have been a strong force acting in concert with the grand army.
And in like manner the line of the Rappahannock from the edge of Culpepper County
was left without even a picket-line, to within eight miles of Fredericksburg!
  You will see that as Gen. Pope had his entire army massed in the vicinity of
Culpepper, nothing was easier for the enemy than to turn either flank.  When this
at last became evident to the worthy General, instead of having Burnside and
McClellan come to his relief via Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock, he ordered
them to come to his rear by way of Alexandria, and the same course taken
by himself, so that if McClellan had been two days earlier he would have
been on the Rappahannock; and Washington unprotected, for the “dash” of
Jackson by Lee’s order, had completely outflanked Pope’s entire army, placing it
in the greatest danger of annihilation, had it not been for the timely presence of Gen
McClellan which retarded Jackson materially.  But you will say that it
was Pope’s men who fought the disastrous 2d Bull run.  In part, it was and
in part by McClellan’s men, but had it not been for the presence of the army of the
Peninsula, the “grant advance” of the rebel army would have been neither more nor less

[page 4]
than an assault upon our own capital.                           While we were upon the Rap
pahannock we could see plainly the rebel troops across the river, moving around to our
right, and Gen Sigel requested permission to intercept the movement, (as might have
been done by guarding the passes of the Blue Ridge and Thoroughfare Mts.)  but Gen.
Pope told him it was but a ruse, and that he should be needed on the river.

Sigel was right.  Pope was wrong.  The rebels went around, and Gen. Banks
corps which was the rear=guard–just where the advance should have been–was on
cut off and surrounded, but by the superior skill of Gen. Banks we were extrica-
ted.  Have I made the matter any clearer for you.  Bu the way, Gen. Halleck said
at the time Pope was appointed that he had but little confidence in him.
       Since I commenced writing this we have moved our camp down the hill
nearer to water but our splendid view is impaired somewhat.  I was interrupted
while writing for that purpose, thus we have the labor of clearing another encampment to
perform.                   You ask me who is my partner.  Seth Coon, who has
been about all summer, in the Pioneer Corps, is acting in that capacity now, while my
regular partner, Bob Murray is still in the Hospital, being wounded at
Cedar Mountain.
         But I must close this as the boys are waiting for me to help
fix the tent.      Please give my love to all, not forgetting Addie
    and write soon, to
                        Your own loving Charley
It is said we remain here this Winter.

MSS 11616

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

Friday, Oct. 17, 1862

Lay about Camp
& did nothing
Some efforts have
been made by
Capt McIlrath about
our discharge
mostly cloudy & cool

MSS 10317

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

     Oct. 17th, ’62.
Clear weather this
morning. Feel a lit-
tle better. the country
around Danville is          
most magnificent, good
water, however, being
very scarce. The country
here is quite broken,
with very good water.
The part of Kentucky
through which we
have passed is not

well watered.
Saw Gen’l. Buell yester-
day. The boys punched
holes in the bottoms of
their plates & made corn
graters of them, by
that means we are
enabled to make some
corn bread. This eve-
ing I had the pleasure
of eating some mush
made by the boys, which,
although not as good
as mother makes at
home, yet it was quite
palatable, – it needed
some good fresh milk,
however. We have
remained here all
day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Fri 17.  rain in night – cleared off, pleasant   our French
Cook came to day – Visited sick   wrote up journal of
where does my time go – not a minute to myself hardly.
Cook went off, not returned, held py. meetg in five tents at
night – quite an excitement in me – The Meth. brethren hope
one was converted.

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Friday, October 17, 1862
Yesterday evening there came the news that 2
fights had occurred in Town & our men
had to retreat leaving the enemy in possession.
They occupied the Inn & advanced on every
road driving in our pickets early this morning-
Nat left us to search for his Co. but returned &
passed the night, also John B. R. P.-Charly H–Charly
Alexander-Dr. Hunter–& as they wanted to get
off early this morning Fannie got up & hurried
breakfast for them, & when the bell rang-none of
them were ready–After they left many others
came into breakfast–all seem to fear that
our army will retreat, & not fight yet-
Beale Brown got back from camp today, not being
well enough to join, had gone up to get permission
for a longer absence.  poor fellow–looks wretchedly-
Awoke with a severe pain in neck & shoulders–
but went down & it increased, so that I had
to come back & lie down, which relieved it
sufficiently to sit up all the evening–Jacque
paid me for my nap by being very bad
this evening & I did not get to sleep till
after ten & he was very wakeful during
the night.  All of the children have
slight colds owing to a change in
the weather.  It is damp & cold–
Eustace Williams dined with us to day.

[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Friday 17th  Eliza & I have been busy altering her dresses to take with
her to Enfield–Mrs Walters & Sarah have walked up to Miss S Malletts
Liz is passing the day with Mrs Person.  We have heard of several
more deaths from yellow fever in Wilmington–Sarah has just
brought in a handsome blue Cashmere sent by a lady to sell.  Eliza
has bought it at $40 an enormous price–But she cannot
get one for less, & is obliged to have dresses–

MSS 6960

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

Friday 17  Very fine day–closely enga-
-ged–indeed my duties in Bank
have never [been] more arduous–[?] per
diem has increased to what it was
two years ago–We hear nothing de
cisive of the battles in Kentucky, but
all the intimations are that we have
gained victories & drove the enemy
over the Kentucky River–It is very
strange that we should so long be
kept in ignorance–The  Raid of
Stuart into Penna. & Maryland is
not, or has not been until now appre
ciated–Because it is only now
understood that the made a circuit

in the rear of the grand army.  I
thought he had only made a dash
into Penna and returned the same
way he went.  Instead of this he
went to Chambersburg, then turned
to Maryland to his right: passed through
Woodsboro, Liberty, New Market, Ur
banna &c and recrossed the Potomac
at or above the mouth of the Mo
-nocacy–sixty miles below Hancock
when he crossed at where he set out
He passed within 5 miles of Frederick
a great Depot of the army–He did
not have lose a man.  He brought off
a great many horses, equipped his
command with clothing, shoes &
arms & brought off a vast amt
of clothing–besides destroying the
minor commissary  & ordnance stores
at Chambersurg.  History presents
nothing more daring and brilliant
The risk he ran was very  great.  The
nett work of telegraph wires center
ing at McClellans headquarters
brought him early intelligence and
nothing but great sluggishness, one
would think, prevented the assem-
-bling a force on the Banks of the
Potomac–sufficient to oppose his
recrossing.  He is said to have travelled
90 miles in 36 hours–the mortifica
tion of the enemy is extreme

MSS 4763

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

Thursday
October 16

Had a very good night last night.  The sun has
shone some to day.  I have got a sore throat to-
night but otherwise I feel very well.  Uncle Sam Hartude
came back from Beaufort. Dadmun got a box by express.
Wrote a letter home.

MSS 11293

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

Thursday 16

Received orders about

7 ½ P.M. to be prepared to

move at a moments

warning. Harnessed the

horses, packed knapsacks

& expecting every min-

-ute to start.

MSS 4448