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

Wednesday 29  Glorious weather
no rumors to day of any kind
worked very hard–not long before
leaving the Bank, McDaniel enter
-ed and referring to an enquiry he
made the other day whether I had
indulged in speculation, said he &
Irby had concluded to make an
offer to me which he supposed I would
take time to consider and accept
His plan is this.  I to give him my
note for $5000 without endorsers-
He will get it discounted in the
savings Bank-I to place the sum
to the credit of McD & I–On this
[?] they will buy for my
account $15,000 worth of tobacco
They think I cannot fail of realizing
in the course of two or three months
several thousands dollars without
any risk–Mr Miller thinks I ought
to accept the offer.  I was certainly
very much surpirzed at the li-
berality of these gentlemen.  They intend
it as a mark of their friendship &
good feeling.  I shall sleep upon
the proposal, but think I shall ac
cept it.

MSS 4763

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

Wednesday 29th  I have been first sewing & then knitting steadily all day–
Mrs. Walters & Sarah called in to ask me to walk but I declined–We have
learnt that the cause of no mail yesterday was owing to a collision on the
Weldon road 15 miles from Raleigh one train ran into another & killed
4 persons & wounded 13–One lady who had been to Richmond for her
husband’s body & was returning with the Corpse was killed–A great
revival is going on in the Methodist church–

MSS 6960

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

Tuesday
Oct 28
On guard to-day in the rear of the camp
Had a real good time, quiet and peaceful
this forenoon I read a good deal in the testament
Felt my heart uplifted in love to my heavenly Father

MSS 11293

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

                                  Tuesday 28
   Started from camp about
9 A.M.   traveled about
seven miles and camped
for the night, within
four miles of Charlesto[w]n
near the C & Berryville
turnpike

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co. E, 42nd Va., “Dixie Greys”]

 – Tuesday 28th. –
arrive at Staunton about 12 O’clock
report at Hospital and sent to South
tent.  tryed to get a transfer but the board
did not meet.  put my horse up at livery
stable.  Saw David Croft.  Came
14 miles to day – was very sick in evening –

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28, 9.15,a.m.

to General R. B. Marcy
      chief of staff-

  Information through Union
people places Hill’s command
at Upperville, & that troops
have been passing thro’ that
place for some days–Their
pickets extend as far as the
Snickersville & Aldie Turnpike,
over which they do not allow
any one to pass–north or
south–I judge they are
holding Snickersville Gap until
they have time to pass through
Ashby’s which is the west-
  I have parties in the direction
of Aldie & Middleburg & shall
soon know more–It would
be well to send some infantry
& force these fellows out of
Snickersville Gap–
    My force is too small

[page 2]
to do that, & cover the
roads in front–Indeed
more cavalry here just
now would  be of the
greatest service–
      I have the country
covered to the Catochin
Mountains this side of
Leesburg–Everything
appears quiet towards
Leesburg–
     Very respectfuly
         A. Pleasonton
              Brig. Gen &c

I sent you the map
of Loudon county
last night?  Did you
get it?

MSS 495
        

Hd. Qrs. Cav Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28.  1.10 P.M.

To General R. B. Marcy
       Chief of Staff–
          My scouts drove the enemy’s
pickets out of Philamont this morning on
the Quicksville & Aldie road.
& they took the direction of
Aldie–a considerable force
is reported at Middleburg—
    The rebels have a
signal station on the
mountain to the north
of  Snickersville–
             Philamont is some
seven miles fromhere–
       My people are pushing
on towards Aldie-for more
information–
       Very respectfully
          A. Pleasonton
               Brig. Gen. &
                  _________

MSS 495

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28. 6.30 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff–
Two young men have been
brought in by my pickets, who
say they left Martinsburg last
Thursday–& past thro’ Winchester
That all the rebel army was
at Martinsburg, except Jackson
Longstreet & Hill, who were at
Winchester–
    that at Winchester
they saw 2500 men with
small pox who were to e
sent to Staunton–
Stewarts two brigades of
cavalry were at Berryville
between Winchester & Charleston
  That yesterday morning
Walker’s brigade was at
Upperville that this
brigade had been picked

[page 2]

[page 2]
from the whole rebel army=–
At Sncikersville, he saw
one company of 2nd Virginia
cavalry & one piece of
artillery–Shall send
them with other prisoners
to Head Quarters to be examined-
   My scouts captured a rebel
signal sergeant this afternoon
near the mountain–
  A Union man told me
today that Longstreet was at
Upperville & occupied Paris,
Bloomfield & Middleburg—
  My people are not yet in
from Aldie–
         A part of Stoneman’s
force is at Leesburg–
             Very respectfully
                     A. Pleasonton
                           Brig. Genl.

MSS 495

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

         Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
              Purcellville, Oct 28. 9 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
       Chief of Staff–
My scouts are back from Aldie
& Middleburg–No rebel troops
at either place–about 100
paroled wounded & sick–a
rebel doctor in charge at Aldie
showed the officer an order of
Gen. Lee’s dated at Winchester
Oct. 27. directing him to remove
the sick & wounded from Aldie
& Middleburg to Winchester–&
to impress wagons for their trans=
portation–this my officer
prohibited–& some of Sigel’s
cavalry coming up, he left
them on picket there to
prevent it–
                 Walkers brigade
is between Upperville &

[page 2]
& Middleburg.
The Georgia battalion of cavalry
some 800 strong, is at Union-
at Snickerville Gap there’s
two guns & a brigade of
infantry in the mountains–
   the roads are fine & the
country rolling & open about here.
       In my dispatch of
6.30 P.M. I should have said
Longstreet, Hill & Jackson,
were at Bunker Hill, instead
of Winchester–
   The cavalry driven out
of Hillsborough yesterday was
White’s independent cavalry–
    The rebel troops in this
valley are evidently on foraging
expeditions–The people generally
are strong secesh–
           Very respectfuly
               A. Pleasonton
                      Brig Gen

MSS 495

[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]

Oct 28th/62
Camp Near William port
Md the Regt
got Vere Close
to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913