Sunday
                                        Arlington Hights
                                                Camp Chase Oct 5 [1862]

                                           
Dear Sister Helen,
                           Here it is Sunday
again and we have got a little time
to breathe and write – we have had
to work pretty hard for the last
week – we have drilled about all
the time from sun rise to sunset –
There is a Lieut here – one of McClellan
aids and he has kept us at work
pretty well – Col Wright is acting
Brigadeer Genl amd Adjt Brown
is acting asst Adjt Genl. so you
see there has been some promotions
in the Regiment – We have been

out on Inspection this Morning
but it was a Regimental instead
of Company Inspection and had
to hold those old knapsacks for
an hour in the hot sun – it has
been awful hot for a week or two
as hot as I ever saw it in July
in Conn but it will be cool evenings
by and by I guess – – *
                             Our Company went
down to the bridge Tuesday to
guard it and we shall go again
Tomorrow – we have some good times
down there for we have to search every
team and all the boxes and barrels
and we have all the apples and peaches
we want and we take our hooks and
lines and fish off this bridge and
we got 3 ducks last time   we put
a piece of meat on the hook and threw
it into the street and when the
duck swallowed it we just drew

him in and baited for another
and when we come across a hen
or anything in the eating line we
generally confiscate it – did you
read a piece in the N. H. Journal & Cs
about the ration that we draw
Stone our asst Commisary write two letters
a week for that paper and he tried
to make out that we have more
than we can eat of fresh meat
bread sugar etc and it isent [sic] true
about once a week we have a good
meal of fresh meat and good rice
and molasses but the rest of the
time we have to eat salt beef that
sometimes is stale and not fit to eat
and beans we have about every meal
but I cant eat them   I have lived on
them too long. – now don’t think that
we are starving for we have more than
we can eat of salt hoss and hard
crackers but I want to have you know

that we don’t have things quite
as nice as Stone  tries to make out
          I received two papers from Chas.
yesterday – rather expected a letter
last week but only got one from
Campbell..   Every thing is quiet in Camp
haven’t had any more marching orders
          Regiments are coming in all around us
again – we haven’t had any rain
since we left Washington   it is dreadful
dusty and dry here – I suppose the
leaves are beginning to fall in Conn
          Tell George that it is just not the time
to hunt Grey squirrels..
          I see by the papers this
morning that the Rebels have raised
the black flag   don’t know as it is
true or not but I guess we can raise
about a black a flag as they can
and can play the same game –
     That Proclamation rather stirs
them up – I wonder what Genl
thinks of it – how are all the
people of Meriden – is every thing
lovely – I shall expect a letter

[Howard continues his letter in the top margin on page one.]
from Chas this week
with all the news
I guess he has as much
time as I do and I
manage to answer all
my letters –
     This letter is rather
dirty but it can’t
be helped we are
dirty folks down
here although I
had a bathe in
the Potomac –
yesterday –
     Give my love to all
the folks and write
soon     Your brother
                     Jim

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668

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

 (Oct 5th) Sunday
Head aches quite badly this morning.  No service to
day in our little church.  Genl Wright was to see me
this morning, enjoyed his conversation very much
found he had met with Uncle Joe Evans in Leesburg
He gave me some interesting accounts of his ex-
-periences with the Yankees, one of which related
to their stealing his watch & coat.  Highway robbery.

Mr Braden sent me up this morning, the N.Y.
Herald, of 30th Ult. & a book published at the North
entitled “Heroic incidents of the civil War in America”
of course very truthful.  While Genl Wright was
with me Dr Jackson came.  He seems to be not
an advocate for much medicine for which I am glad
of.  Prescribed blue mass night & morning for a few
days, ascribes my feelings to my liver principally.
Genl Wright informed me of two opportunities
to Richmond which I shall avail myself of.
Wrote letter this evening to Jennie & Jimmie.
Mr & Miss Miller were over here & came up to see
me.  Miss Mary brought over some very pretty
flowers which Miss Lizzie very kindly put in here for
me to feast my eyes on.  Quite cool this evening.  Miss Lizzie
came to see me.  Mrs Peyton & Miss Lizzie passed the evening
with me.  The former told me good joke about “killing hogs”.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Sunday 5 – Write to Hon. W. R. Staples.
Examined by Dr. Graham – Receive
a certificate for discharge – & receive
a pass to go to Winchester Hospital –
report there.  very much dissatisfied.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Sunday, October 5, 1862

Spent a pleasant & delightful day
Enjoyed reading more than I had done
for a long time–Read my bible & then
an excellent sermon from S[?]
Eccl–11nd  17th verse.
          ” I hated life, because the
work that is wrought under the sun is grievous
unto me”–But do not judge from
the text that it was a gloomy sermon
it only separated the good things from the
evil & showed us what to turn from, where
to place our trust & in whom to believe–
God be merciful unto us–My tongue is
parched & dry I know. no pray so suitable
for me as this. God be merciful to me a
sinner & often utter it when my thoughts
can not frame, nor tongue utter any other
This always suits me, I am always
a sinner–
 F & B walked up to the church to see a sick man
found hi lying on a bench, with only a comfort
to cover him & with typhoid fever-poor
fellow.  F will make him more comfortable
if possible–Mr Phillipot & Hillary called
to see Emma & spent the night–not
very interesting young men.

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

MSS 15406

Post Hospital Oct 5th
Dear Mother
                     I received yours
yesterday and was sorry to hear
Maria was sick, tell her to hurry
up and get well as soon as possible
what regt was Dr Kendall in. I
did not know he was out here,
I suppose the money you sent
went to Mill Creek and from
there it will be sent to the regt
What regt is E. Hunting in & did
he marry Miss Faristall, what
induced Chalres Marlow to enlist
they were bound to make sure
of their girls were not they, bully
for them. You talk about loving
the darkies, & I like them a good
ways off. I had not heard of
the death of Wm Fuller I know
he was wounded but heard he

[page 2]
was not bad. Tell Ann I think
she dont write enough considering
she has but one brother to write
to now, though I dont know
how many cousins she may
have to write to, I am glad
to hear she is getting right
smart, hope she will keep
so. She must be getting right
smart, I reckon, to harness and
unharness alone, tell her I am
awful proud of her.  So “My Joseph
Emery” has enlisted, is he a private
or an officer & what regt. She
talks about our regt dwindling
away last year at this time we
numbered over 1100 men and
now we turn out less than 200
for duty the rest are sick or
wounded.   I wish we had old
Dr Brown or some one as
good here–There is not much
of interest for news here

[page 3]
everything jogs along the same
quiet way as ever. nothing to do
and all day to do it in.
There was some ladies here
yesterday distributing shirts &
drawers &c to us. one thing I forgot
was pickles durned good
I tell you We get no mail
here everything is quiet, the
papers have nothing in
them Saw [?] Flagg the
other day he looks tough & hearty
as a bull Give my respects
to all inquiring friends and
take my love yourself
   From your aff son
        Wm Wallace

[envelope]
Mrs E. Smith
       Newton Lower Falls
            Mass.

William Wallace Smith, Co. B.  22nd Massachusetts]

MSS 1242

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

    Oct. 5, ‘62
Clear & prospect
of a very hot day.
To be off at 8
A.M.
On half rations.
A prisoner taken
this morning near
the camp.
started at 8 A.M.
marched all day
& until near 9 o’
clock P.M. All
of us almost ex-
hausted. Encamp-
ed to night in
the same camp
the rebels left
this morning – on
the beach fork of Salt river.
Three deserters
came in this morn-
ing from rebeldom-

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

Sun 5.  Fine day – but high wind.  Col. had ordered
two public services   one at 11.  voluntary, & one at 4
P.M. & all present.  Many of Regt. went to dift. chs. in
town in morn.  Roman Cath. Ch Soldiers to Burlington
to Ch.  In Pen. Regt.  but Still good attendance
preached without notes – on “Suit you like men” –
Drums piled for pulpit – Stop  Field officers on left – spoke
with some fervor – In P.M. whole regt. in hollow
square thus                   some hundreds of spectators present

at close of services – (the men stood except during sermon when they sat.)
& uncovered only in prayer – also –    Gen. R & Staff – Mr. Tilb &
others present –     beautiful sight – flags placed behind me.
At close the prisoners were marched in front of pulpit,  & on
promise not to offend again – were pardoned –  I spoke a few
words to them, at Col. request;  Some twenty prisoners
In Eveg addressed prayer meetg at Pres. ch – about 50 soldiers
     present.

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

Sunday, Oct. 5, 1862

Guard mounting
Lay about doing
nothing this afternoon
were ordered out
on parade Gen Cox
took leave of the officers
as he is ordered it
seems to Western Va
it is rumored that
we will probably go
to. Mail came in
had Letters from
Father Aunty Hayes &
John Olin
Wrote Letter to Father
Jim Munford came
over this evening
I had a long talk with
him.  clear.  Beautiful
moonlight night.

MSS 10317

                Sabbath afternoon Oct 5th/62
            Camp Mouth of Antietam Creek
Dear Father
                            I rec’d to day your letter
of Sept 29th also one from Aunty Hayes
            I know not why it is by we
receive scarcely any mail matter
here. We still remain inactive but
were called out this afternoon and from
remarks made to us by Gen Cox Who
it seems has been ordered to Western Va
there is a prospect of our being ordered
there again.  I hope not.  Should such
be the case I will try & telegraph to
you and have you meet us at Pitsburgh
You tell me to be more particular
in writing. Now hereafter should
anyone ask of their children if I have
not mentioned their names you may
assure them that they are all right as
far as I know
   When I wrote to you Sept 19th & 20th
& each time had but a few moments
to write and was obliged to confine
myself to the most important events
I wrote to Creps of Wills death ad did
one of the men attending him in Hospital

[page 2]
I told you in my last of McClure[?]
being here. the day after I wrote
Aaron T[?] procured a Furlough & went
home with him.  Jim Munford is 1st
Lieut of the Company.
  We have rather rough living here our
provisions being scarce & of a poor
quality–Why it is I know not
We have no Tents but lie around
like so many pigs our clothes have
wourn out & we cant get any
  You have doubtless read ere this full
particulars of the late terrible battles
here. If you will get Leslies & Harpers
Illustrated papers about 3 numbers of
each, there are in them some illustrations
of the battle that are passably correct
in both battles (South Mountain &
Antietam) I was with the Regt most of the
time carrying the wounded it was
a terrible task and we were very
much exposed. at one time I went
in to a point from where our Reg’t had
fallen back from directly in front of
the enemys fire and assisted in bringing
out the Col Hayes who was wounded
in the arm he had fallen down and when
we went to raise him he wished us to

[page 3]
raise him with his face to
the enemy for said he “I would
not be shot in the back for 500
dollars” the air seemed filled with
whistling bullets. If I could talk with
you I could tell you hundreds of incidents
which came under my observation
but language would fail to
describe to you the terrible spectacle of
of[sic] a Battle field: the thickly strewn
dead lying in every conceivable attitude
the moaning shrieking wounded. tis a terrible
argument against war and I hope I may
not be called to witness many such
The day before yesterday we were reviewed
by the President & McClellan accompanied
by Sec Chase & a large escort of Officers
(Stars of lesser magnitude)
I hope the boys had their expectations
fully realized in regard to their
trotting mare
What are they working at:
What are they working at:
What field did you put i wheat?
How are is the Potato-Crop & apples?
I had a letter from Libbie Weeks
a few days since She complains
that she hears from non of you.  She would
like to hear from you. Write soon
Tell the boys to write & tell me what they

[page 4]
[are] working at
Tell mother that I often think these
days whilst our food here is so
rough that I would like to take
supper with her and especially would
I like to eat a little of that fruit
We get nine here the country has
been stripped & what little remains
is strictly guarded
            Write Soon
Yours truly
                    J.D. Templeton

MSS 10317

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

Sunday 5th  a lovely day–But I was not well enough to attend church.
I awoke with a sick stomach & bad head ache& did not recover from
it all day–Mr Hilliard preached & he had communion–quite
a panic here this morning-From a negro man of Mr Ashe’s dying
with yellow fever–He was sent up by his master from Wilmington
sic–He walked about several days, & then took to his bed & died—
No one believed at first he had the fever–tho no one liked his being
sent sick up here–No cases since but the students are leaving

MSS 6960