Saturday, October 4, 1862

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Pa is having his Fall apples gathered-
Some of them are the finest I ever had.
Here again I think of you, how you
would enjoy them–Wouldnt I love to see
you sitting right under them & eating an
apple.  Emma is very busy attending
to putting them away.  Pa says that she
may sell as many as she can & have the
money – (i.e. what are not used)

Rod to Rippon in the carriage yesterday & took
Tom & Daisy to have their feet measured–
– Paid 1 50 for Ds shoes 4 75 for mine
I engaged to make them for that
pd 8$ for shoes for Pa.

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

MSS 15406

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

Saturday 4.  Warm weather–at the Bank
today it was ordered that the Board
of the officers should be reviewed
This was done in consequence of my
stating that Read had requested
his name to be withdrawn–It was
[?] troublesome to get he signatures
of some of my securities–I am at
a loss to know who to ask to take
Read’s place–There are some who
would readily do so to whom I we
not like to be under the obligation
–Letter from Lanty–very interesting
How well he writes!  His description
of the mode of life at Edgewood
is painfully striking–He attributed
it to excentricities[?] cropping out
I fear it is simply intemperance.
I do not know a family more to be
pitied–no news of any particular
interest, except a demonstration
of the enemy south of Savannah
Eugene improving slightly.

MSS 4763

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

Friday
Oct 3
Felt very weak and discouraged as usual
but made out to do my duty.  Wrote home
and sent ten dollars.  O may God in mercy soon
cause the war to end if consistent with His will.

MSS 11293

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

Saturday 4th Very sick today – One
of our boys came to camp who were
prisoners at Cedar Run.  Gave some
account of stay in Yankee prison

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

     Alexandri[a] Oct 3rd 1862
     Dear Phebe
                      Your letter
has just come to hand you
are too much worried
altogether, I wrote hastily
and ought not to have said
anything about the blankets
I have not suffered for the
want of them. we made a
descent on some one some houses
here and captured a lot of
stuff and among other things
some blankets and although
I did not get mine, I got
quite a good one Col Maggi
told us to demolish the houses
where we found anything that
belonged to us which was done
It dont take 1,200 men long
to tare tear down a house

[page 2]
since then we have not had
any further trouble  The thieving
scroundrrels will find out after
a while that they cannot rob
us with impunity: I wrote to
Nathaniel to send me some of
the 5 cent ills: as it is very
difficult to get any change here
do not be alarmed about my
suffering for the want of any
thing There are christian men
enough in the Regiment from
whom I could at any time get
any thing which I want  We
are brothers here in a sense
which you cannot fully unders
tand, but you know I do not
like to be dependant on any
one and I thought I had better
write home and get the money
than to ask any favors: When
the things arive my wants
will be more than supplied

[page 3]
and my only regrets are that
that my letter should have
given you a moments uneas
iness.  We shall probaby be paid
off before long and I will send
you the money.  I wish you
to use it and the bounty money
also, and here let me say that
you made a great mistake in your
letter.  you say that the bounty
is mine.  It is not true.  The money
is ours and you have as much
right to it as I have; and for
the third time I say use as
much of it as you need.  I
will not hear any thing
about mine if is ours; We
are one and our interests
cannot be separated.  You
write that I seem to be in
good spirits.  I am; I am
satisfied that I am doing
my duty and although I often

[page 4]
think of you and home with
its comforts.  I do not wish to
return until this infernal
rebelion is chrushed: which
for one am satisfied will soon
be done: Be not affraid It is It
was Christs advice to peter when
about to sink an when we are
discouraged or distressed we do
well to keep in mind the fact
that God reigns and will do all his
pleasure! Give my love to all
the folks and believe me
your affectionate
               Husband
                 J W Perry

Josiah Perry, Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts
MSS 2215

                          Norfolk, Va.
                   October the 3, 1862
Dear wife  your moste kind and
lovin letter came to hand the 2
and I was very glad to here
from you once more to here that
you was well but was very sory
to here a bout those boys and
all in my [?] o you dont no
now bad it makes me feal
to think that all the best
boy mus be slain o it made
me feal so bad I cold not
hardley content my self I do
not no how soon it ma be
my lat to be numberd with
those that so lately has falen
but I trust in god that I
may return safe home to
the arms of my love

[page 2]
I hope the war will soon
end so I can come home and
see you all now dear wife you
tell father to fix the sisturn
so [?] cant git in a [?] 
if you no will knapp address
pleas send it to me for
I wold like to rite to him
you seem to think that I
wont help him some [?]
I wold help if I cold all that
he did not take very good
care of me when when I was sick
but if I was whare he
was is i wold try and help
him we lay in a very
nice camp the nicest place
we have bin in sense we
left Washington the first
sexshon is a bout 6 miles
from here and the centor
sexshon is a bout 10 miles
     from here

[page 3]
and we lay in barrack
and all we half to do
now is to cook and eat
how long we may lay here
we cant tell we may half
to go to Suffolk they are
a sending a good menney
troops of in that drecttion
but I hope that that
if we half to stay in the
army this winter we may
lay here we have not
draw our pay yet they
ow me 5 monts pay now
and whdn we get our
pay I will send hom
fifty dolars to you
  well i will hald
to bring my letter
to a close buy saing
gold buy
     this is from edward
  shepard to his wife

[page 4]
pleas rite soon
Drect youre letter to
Edward Shepard the 7
New York Battery
In Care of P. Cregan
Norfolk, va.
   Edward Shepard
tell father and mother
tl tell father and mother
thay must not git uneacey
a bout me

Edward Shepherd/Shepard, 7th New York Light Artillery, from Duchess County, N. Y.

This letter appears to be in Shepherd’s own hand.  Most of his letters were written by fellow soldiers for him.

MSS 12631

 (Oct 3rd) Quite foggy & cloudy this
morning.  Feel badly about head & side.  Miss
Lizzie brought in some engravings & views
she collected in her European tour, & I have
been delighting in them all day.  Mr Braden
brought me up Burns Works this morning
to look over.  2 Companies of our Cavalry passed
by here this morning, I suppose after the enemys
straglers.  Spent the afternoon composing & writing
Poetry (like a goose).  My side pains considerable this
afternoon; but my head aches less.  Enjoyed Miss Annie
Bradens music this evening, as I have every evening
since she has been here (two or three days), also had
a quiet chat with Miss Lizzie who stayed with me.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

     Dam No 5, Maryland
                Oct 3d 1862
Dear Parents
                       I have not
yet received any letters
from you.  but thought
that I would continue
to write you, as perhaps
your letters are miscar-
ried or I would get them
i have not been very
well for two or three days
but am considerable bet-
ter this morning, and think
that I will be able for
duty again tomorrow.
this is the first time
that I have been exempt
ed from duty since I have
been in the service.

[page 2]
We are still without tents
and the necessary equip
ments which we lost.
but the quartermaster
has promised to furnish them
for us soon.  If he does not
we shall refuse duty for
we cannot do without them
much longer.  It is now very
cool of nights and a
heavy dew falls.
  As yet we are doing
picket duty along the banks
of the Potomic; but how
soon we shall move I can
not tell.  Yesterday we heard
heavy cannonading in
direction of Winchester, Va.
and we conclude that
another advance is being
made.  God  knows.  I hope
that we may move on Richmond
                                 soon

[page 3]
for it is very certain
that we must rout them
our of their capital be
fore this war will close
  But I did hear yesterday
that Jeff Davis has made
a proposition to Lincoln
for peace, yet it was
on conditions It is
very true that I would
like to have this war ter
minate and get back
home to enjoy the lib-
erties and pleasures of
quiet life again but
nevertheless I say ac
cept of no condition
and let there be no
peace until every
traitor lays down
his arms and returns to
his allegiance with a willing
                       heart.

[page 4]
You need not look for let
ters from me as I may
not have a chance to
send them.  I will write
as often as convenient
and you all must do the
same.  Give my regards to
all inquiring friends and
tell them that I am here
with a willing and de
termined heart to help put
down this rebellion.
  If I could get my pay I could
send you near $100 but
I cannot tell when we shall
get it.  If you get a good
chance sell “Old Nig” &
dont keep any more stock
on hands then you need
and keep all the corn that
you can for it will certain
ly be high there next spring
as it is worth 62 cts here
now and it is scarce at that
price.  Do try to pay all the
debts you can this fall &
dont go in debt.  Dont forget
to pay one dollar to the editors of
the Mirror and 7 dollars to Landon
I want to know how you stand with
Crawford and whether you got
those notes or not.  Tell me all
about your business affairs
I must close Love to all the
family  your affectionate Son
                        W. H. Redman
Eli and Catharine Redman

William Henry Redman, Co. C., 12th Illinois Cavalry

MSS 7415

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

Fri 3.  Foggy in Morg. – Cleared off warm & even hot.
   Mr. Crane & Mr. Halstead came on visit   rode
twice to see   men bathe & wash clothes – Joe rode
my horse some – & after dinner Mr. H’s boys went
home at   Mr. C. & H at Eveg.  At Morng drill Mr. H.
Co. K  asked me to present a sword to Lt. Col. [Enoch]
Ayres in the[ir] behalf.  I did so – & he replied.
At eveg parade the Col. introduced me to Comp.
officers – attended p[ra]y[er] meetg in Barracks –
At 10 – just as I sat down to write in Col. tent – Officer of
Guard appeared with three men & three women taken outside
of lines – after roll call – & reported others off.  The Col ordered
out a Co. with loaded muskets – to scare neighborhood
& strengthen camp guard – I went with Lt. Col. Ayres on
long tramp thro. corn fields & potatoe patches by
 
   moonlight – when we returned to camp the Regt.
was roused fr. bed & roll called to discover
absentees.  It is now going on – Got boots wet
thro with dew.  Some of the men attempted to
get in – were challenged by guards – & ran – the
guards fire some half dozen shots – but no one
hit – I heard the balls whiz – past me as I stood
near Col Tent – & arrests were made all night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Oct. 3d ’62                
Called into line be-
tween 3 & 4 o’clock A.M.
Very wet & nothing
to eat. Marched
about 8 or 9 miles,
& halted for the
night. Saw the
remains of two
bridges, burned by
order of Gen’l. Nel-
son, when an at-
tack upon Louisville
was apprehended.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards[

MSS 10547-bm