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

Friday, Oct. 3, 1862

This morning were
called out in line
after standing some time
were reviewed by
President Lincoln
We played as he passed
a large number of
officers attended him
After dinner I went down
to the creek went into
the big wheel at the
old works there bathed
washed my shirt &
pants.  Parade this eve
after which played
some very poorly though
mostly clear

MSS 10317

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

Friday 3d We were all invited to spend the day–But I had no spirits
to go when there is so much distress amongst friends & relatives–Eliza &
Sarah were prevented by indisposition from accepting Mrs Phillips’s polite
invitation–One has a bad cold and sore throat–the other very sick all
morning, from  The Wingfield family Mrs Walters & Liz have all gone
& no doubt will have a very pleasant day–I heard thro’ a letter Eliza re
=ceived from Mr M___n this morning that Tom was not injured in
the last battles–But I am afraid to believe it–For if safe he would certain
-ly have written me if only one line–I received a letter from Mrs Hardin
She has taken Willie Ruffin from St Mary’s & has her with her at  home
Poor Virgil wrote me a few lines from Wilmington telling me
of Mr Jewetts death–& remarked that we would never know the
town now it was entirely deserted–The papers say the fever
is still going on–Last account 18 buried of a day & 43 more
cases–But since they have received assistance from Charleston
it yields to good nursing–General Beauregard has sent one of
his staff–Dr. Chappin to render assistance, & several sisters of
Mercy have come on–but the inhabitants must suffer for
provisions–Weather still pleasant–Nothing stiring from our
Army–they are exhausted & broken down–Poor fellows have my
heart feels for them all–Lincoln’s last Proclamation must
rouse the south afresh.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Friday, October 3rd 1862
One thing has haunted me ever since you
left.  You said I didn’t care about your
going that morning. Oh! if you could only
have seen into my heart, you would have found
it aching, aching, yes it still aches–I confess
that I did not have as many fears for
you, as I did the first time you left, but
since you have gone, they have increased–
I think of so many things I intended
to have said to you, How to be careful of
yourself &c. I I enjoyed your visit greatly-&
deluded myself into thinking something
would happen to keep you from leaving
me again. I didn’t realize how short
your stay was till you had actually gone
& I was alone once more: Now I am
awakened at night by the thought that
we will never meet again.  I turn
from it, but it haunts me again.
  It is just the old tale even though
I said I must hope our parting is
not forever- – Oh the sadness & troubles
of this war—God have mercy upon
us & end it: Let us all pray for Peace-
Oh, for peace once more & quiet happy
hours: Dear Clifton, I hate to think of it
there we learned first to know on another–if I never live
there again I can never forget many many things.

[transcribed by her granddaughter, Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Thursday
Oct 2
Was very tired upon coming off guard
bur Phineas gave me a big sweet potato
which I ate and felt better.  Pared a few potatoes for
dinner. Went out on battalion drill this afternoon
Fairbanks got his sentence to night.

MSS 11293

                                        Camp near Winchester
                                           Oct 2d 1862
Dear Bell
                        I have written you several times
since leaving Richmond, but have had no word
in reply.  We have been here several days & the
probability is will remain some time longer, but
in the army everything is uncertain.  We may
move in ah hour–My health has been perfect
I wrote a letter in Maryland, to be sent to
father, in which I gave full particulars
of his daughters,–How is clothing selling
                                            for clothes
in Lynchburg?  I am getting right hard up ^
& it costs a mint of money to buy anything
here by the way–how are you all off for
money  I could send you some but since
I lost a hundred dollars near Richmond I
feel somewhat particular as to the mode
of transmitting it.  I saw Ned Ashby in Win-
chester two days ago, he seemed well–
–How is Lizzie May & the children?  I
often think of you all, this camp life
is a barbarous vagabond sort of an exist
tance, & I long for a return to the walks
of civil life, so do you, I know. give my
love to all.  I will send you money when
I have a chance. if you do not need it
turn it over to Lizzie if she does–Write soon
                      Your affectionate
                        brother
                             W.B. Gregory

William B. Gregory, assistant surgeon in the 12 Alabama Volunteers and surgeon in the 2nd Georgia Volunteers to his sister Isabel.

MSS 4777

                            U/Va Oct 2d, 62

Dear General [John Hartwell Cocke]

Your grandson arrived safe yesterday and went
to work today–Few students have yet entered–but the prospect
is hopeful–especially if the impending battle should for us
prove a victory–God grant this–for the rights‘ sake.
  My wife desires her acknowledgements for the grapes
and fruit–she will send Mrs Hoge her shares (with
your remembrances) this morning-Dr Hoge is at Synod
  We sympathize with you deeply, in the death of your
Christian servant–There are few better men of any color
than was “Uncle Ned”-is faith was practical in producing
“works” of an honest and upright life–
   Mrs McGuffey’s health continues to improve tho’ she
is just now suffering from a cold–she has made to “calls” on
the Lowes–at Dr Howards and to see Sue Maupin who is sick

[page 2]
Her next will probably be to see Mrs Cabell now returned
from Danville  We have no news- –
   My wife bids me say that she is trying to raise a
very beautiful heifer calf (of the cow you presented her) flecld
“flecked” in about equal parts mahogeny and white
The spots shew its Ayshire blood of which it is intitled
to one fourth–
   The weather is exceedingly dry–and every
thing parched–in consequence–our pastures are dried
up and our tomatoes wilted and we shall have no field
peas or beans worth speaking of–but the corn tho short
looks pretty well–
   We regret to hear of the indisposition of Dr Brent–but
hope and pray that he may soon be well–Our kindest regards
to him and Mrs Brent–and to Dr Cock and family–Mrs McG
desires her special respects to yourself.  every yours–WHMcGuffey

William Holmes McGuffey, 1800-1873, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Virginia.  Although a native of Pennsylvania and long time resident of Ohio, McGuffey sided with Virginia where he had lived since 1845.

MSS 640

[from the diary of Frank Fitzhugh, Cutshaw’s battery]

                                  Thursday 2   [October]       1862
     Left camp passed through
Winchester.   traveled 12 miles
up the Turnpike to Bunkers-
-Hill then turned to the left
went 2 miles
& took up camp.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

 [letter written on black bordered mourning stationary]

Hdqrs 3rd Va Cavalry
Jefferson Co. Va
Octo 2nd 1862

Pardon me dear madam for
this seeming intermeddling in your
sad trial, but I cannot refrain from
expressing my sincere & heartfelt sym-
pathy towards you, in this sore affliction
which our Heavenly Father has in his all
wise providence seen fit to call you to
sustain.  Words cannot tell you how keenly
I feel for you and yours, but an aching
void in my own breast deeply responds
in sympathy, only three short months ago
I was called upon to bear a similar
affliction in the loss of my darling
wife, and i was not present to take
a last sad farewell.  Only those who
have so suffered can know the intensity
of the anguish but he who doeth all
things well cannot will not permit the

[page 2]
storm to crush altogether the broken and
bruised reed, let us then both look to
Him for comfort and support in our affliction.
  I hardly know how to turn to the melan
choly subject, but I feel it to be my sad
duty to give you an account of our Colonels
last days.  On Monday the 15th, he with our Regiment
were exposed to a fearful fire, during which
his horse was shot while under him, again
the next evening we were stationed to support
a battery, and on Wednesday the 17th the Regiment
had scarcely more than formed, and were marching
off when a shell from one of the Enemy’s guns
struck a wood pile, throwing the wood in
every direction, wounding our Colonel & another
member of the Regt. while I was attending to
the wounded man I first heard of the Colonel’s mis-
fortune, and hurried to his relief. He had been
borne from the field, and was then removed to
a small house where we were tolerably safe
from the enemy’s shells: His wound wee of such
a serious nature, that amputation at the
shoulder joint was deemed necessary at once,
and so I had to perform it,  the Brigade Surgeon
who was present, giving me much valuable

[page 3]
assistance. the Colonel bore the operation
well, and we had good hopes of his ultimate
recovery until about 8 o’clock that Evening
when his mind began to wander & he became
very restless, in which condition he continued
until 12m when he fell asleep, and in that
way entered into rest at 25 minutes past
one of the morning of the 18th.  During the
whole time his bedside was surrounded by
members of his command, and every attention
given him, but alas human energy extends
itself in vain against the will of an all wise
Providence   Most sincerely does my
heart bleed for you as I write these
painful lines, but I feel it to be my duty
as the surgeon of the Regt.
    again let me offer you my sincerest
sympathy, and may our Father give you strength
to bear his righteous  will.
      I am Madam
          Your obt servt.
                Alex. T Bell
                   Asst Surgeon
                               3d Va Cavalry

Alexander T. Bell, 1836-1913

Letter to Mrs. John T. Thornton, on the death of her husband, Lt. Colonel of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry

MSS 4021

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

(Oct 2nd)  Expecting to send
James to Waterford & Leesburg this morning
thought would write a letter home in case
some opportunity might occur from the
latter place.  Commenced a letter to Jennie
and had written but a page when Jas.
came in and said there would be no
use writing, as Mr Braden had just
told him the Yankees were in Water-
-ford last night.  So stopped writing
About 10 o’c some soldiers were seen
coming up the road from Leesburg & in
a few minutes Mrs Peyton & Miss Lizzie
came in, in quite a glee, saying that
the whole road was filled with our
troops, & wanted me to see them.  Mrs P- opening
the blinds for the purpose; after looking at

them a little while it seemed to me the
uniform was too dark for our troops, and
asked the ladies if there were sure they
were our men, they seemed still to think
so, but went out to be certain.  In a
few minutes they returned with very
long faces, and whispered they were Yankees.
     In a short time they were all about
the house, and lot, while I was peeping
at them from my window.  They were fat
well conditioned fellows but terribly hard
faces.  Mr Braden at the time was up
at Wheatland, and we felt some concern
lest the fellows might take his horse
away from him.  In about an hour
they had all passed.  There being only one
Brigade of about 2000 men with Cavalry
& Artillery.  The ladies seemed very much relieved
when they had all left.  About 12 o’c Mr
Braden returned and said while Genl
Wright, Capt Grubb, & Lt Myers & he were
                                 
talking one of the Cavalry road-guard rode
hastily up, and announced five Yankees
on a neighboring hill, one of the officers
rode forward to see about it & Mr Braden
took a roundabout way home, encoun-
-tering five on the way, who asked him some
very silly questions & then allowed him to
ride on.  Reaching a hill from which
he saw the road filled with them, he
stopped at a neighbors until they all
had passed, while there, one Yankee rode
up & inquired if there were any Southern
soldiers in the vicinity.  He was answered
“yes indeed the whole country is full of them”
on hearing which he dashed off at a
breakneck speed.  This afternoon the country
is quiet again and the sun which had been hid
by threatening clouds all the morning, now shone
out as though rejoicing at being relieved of the
sight of the cruel horde of Yankees.  This evening
Mr Braden spent with me, which are passed in
conversation, on Richmond in bygone
days.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS  6150