[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F. 25th Massachusetts]
Monday
Oct 27
Cleared off very cold during the night. We
were put through double quick and bayonet
exercise. Wrote a letter to Hen Russell after drill. This
afternoon read and talked with John Simonds.
There was a small mail came in today
but I got nothing. Read this evening in the Boston
Journal and Cultivator. Three new regiments came
in today.
MSS 11293
[fromthe diary of John Ward of the 102 Pennsylvania]
Oct 27th
left Camp at
Mill Stone Point
at 9 A.M. and
march to Willimport
a distons of 20 miles
and Reued [reached] Camp
at 4 P.M. then saw
the Rebles Pickets
on the other side
of the river at
Williamport on the 26th
and Whe in Camp
2 miles from
Williamport to Night
With the hauld
Divishon
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
Bunker hill Va
Oct 27, 1862. Monday
My dear Jennie
I have not heard from you
since I left home and am very
uneasy about Lizzie but I am
confident of receiving a letter to
day. We are having very bad cold
weather but my health continues
very good indeed. I have as yet
no regular quarters. I sleep in
Capt Yanceys tent & have my of-
fice in Capt Byrds, both are
good Sibley tents & have stoves
which enables us to keep quite
comfortable. I am in command
of the Brigade composed of 5 reg-
iments with about 2000 men
So far I get along without any
dificulty [sic] & dont anticipate any
[page 2]
I dont expect to start my wagon
back for four or five days yet
I am expecting to be able to get
a sack of salt of 4 bushells [sic] for
$30 if so, when it comes to hand
I advise you to try & sell a bushell [sic]
at the same you pay Mr Shacklett.
The tallow I have to buy or it
comes from the beef & have it
rendrd in camp. as to clothing
I find it impossible to get a
thing nor will I be able to draw
socks or any clothing of any
sort. I have 15 very pretty brass
buttons to put on Jims clothes
& 2 pieces of gumelastic to make
him a pair of garters which I
will send up with the other
things.
We have no news in camp
of any prospect of a fight. I
[page 3]
dont think McCleland is disposed
to advance & I am certain we
will not. The pickets between the
two armies are very familliar [sic]
indeed. Col Harmon of our caval-
ry had last week a conversation
with a Yankey Major, (both being
on picket) in which the Major
complained very bitterly of McCle
lands recent order forbidding his
army to discuss political questions
The Major admited [sic] that his govern
ment was the most tyranical [sic] on
earth and declared that he was
not only tired but d__d tired
of the war & that such was the
opinion of every man in their
army and said that if left to
them they would make peace
at once. He asked Col Harmon
what we all thought of the North-
ern election, to which Harmon
[page 4]
replied that we did not think
it made very much difference
which party succeeded since they
seemed only to differ in the
manner of carrying on the war
both being in favor of carrying
it on to conquer a peace. The
Major swore it was not so, that
the democrats were for peace
and if they get the power
would make peace right away.
This I say occured [sic] on picket
between the two commanding of-
ficers. it was interesting to me
& I send it to you as I received
it thinking it may interest you.
I am fully persuaded that
we cannot remain here very
much longer on account of the
great scarcity of forage for
horses. our next stoping [sic] place
will probably be near Winchester
[page 5]
we will eat out every thing in
that vicinity & then fall back
again eating out as we go &
thus leave the Yankeys no induce-
ment to follow us up. I am sat-
isfied that between here & Strasburg
there is a sufficient quantity of for-
age to last us until next spring, be-
fore which time I devoutly pray
that peace may be restored.
Capt Coffman is now at home &
will return the last of this week
or first of next. I wish you would
get him to bring me my boots &
if you can get it send me 6 or 8
lbs of butter, provided he can carry
it with him.
I would advise you to kill
your four hogs just as soon
as you can after the 1st of Nov-
ember, they are eating a great deal
of corn & you will need it for the
pigs
[page 6]
And I think the corn should be
shucked out & the fodder put away
as soon as possible. I saw Peter
Grady who owes me & he promised
me to haul wood & rails to pay
it off with, but you cant rely
on him. if he brings it, well and
good, but if not, why it dont
matter as you will continue to
get wood of Liggett as fast as
you can get in.
I am getting along very well with
old man Rutherford he attends to
every thing very well indeed. Dr
Moffatt has been assigned to the 10th
& Dr Campbell is chief surgeon of the
Artilery [sic] & has his quarters with us
Dr Taylor has been assigned to his
old cavalry regiment. as yet we
have no one in his place. I hope we
will get a good one in his place
[page 7]
I forgot to get a couple of pillow
cases, if you have any to spare send
them by Capt Coffman.
Tell my dear little daughter that
I will be looking for a letter from
her every day until she answers my
letter to her. She must make haste
and get right well & then Mama
must take very good care of her
& keep her well until Papa comes
to see her.
I have concluded to send this by
some men who are going up to day
I think you will get it sooner
than if sent by the mail.
Write to me my darling as often
as you possibly can
I am most affectionately
E.T.HWarren
“My dear Jennie”, salutation – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.
“Lizzie”, line 3 –
“dear little daughter”, page 7, line 4 – Both referred to Warren’s oldest daughter, seven year old Lizzie.
“Capt Yancey”, line 9 – William B. Yancey, Captain, Company E, 10th VA Infantry.
“Capt Byrd”, line 10 – Abraham S. Byrd, Captain, Regimental Quartermaster, 10th VA Infantry. This position with a regiment was officially designated Assistant Quartermaster.
“Sibley tent”, line 11 – This style tent was patented by Henry H. Sibley in the late 1850’s while he was a US Army officer; he later became a Confederate general. This tent was conical shaped (very similar to a Plains Indian dwelling) and was some twelve feet tall and eighteen feet in diameter.
“the Brigade”, line 14 – Taliaferro’s Brigade consisted of the 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry regiments, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.
“Mr Shacklett”, page 2, line 7 – This almost certainly referred to Samuel Shacklett, a very successful Harrisonburg merchant.
“rendrd”, page 2, line 10 – rendered.
“Jim”, page 2, line 15 – Warren’s six year old son James M.
“McCleland”, page 3, line 1, lines 9 & 10 – George B. McClellan, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.
“Col Harmon”, page 3, line 5, 20 –
“Harmon”, page 3, line 22 – All referred to Asher W. Harman, Colonel, 12th VA Cavalry.
“Capt Coffman”, page 5, line 11; page 7, line 3 – Isaac G. Coffman, Captain, Company B, 10th VA Infantry.
“Peter Grady”, page 6, lines 3 & 4 – This was most certainly the Peter Grady listed in the 1860 Rockingham County Census as a 52 year old farmer with a total worth of $1,250.
“old man Rutherford”, page 6, line 13 – Archibald S. Rutherford, Colonel’s Orderly, 10th VA Infantry. He enlisted 10 April 1862 in Company C2, 10th VA Infantry, as a substitute. He was one of only two men who served in the regiment who were born outside the 1800’s; he was born c.1797. On 24 April, Colonel Gibbons, then commander of the 10th VA, detailed Rutherford as a forager; he never returned to duty with his company.
“Dr Moffatt”, page 6, line 15 – Samuel H. Moffett, Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry. He served with the regiment from May 1861 until being sent home sick in April 1862.
“Dr Campbell”, page 6, line 16 – Joseph L. Campbell, Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry. This assignment to the artillery proved to be of short duration as various surviving military records show he was back with the 10th VA Infantry in November and December.
“Dr Taylor”, page 6, line 18 – Thomas L. Taylor, Assistant Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry. He served with the regiment since 20 January 1862. The 9th VA Cavalry was his old regiment.
“I have concluded to send this . . . if sent by mail.”, page 7, lines 12-15 – It was more common for Confederate soldiers to send their letters in the hands of other soldiers who they knew where heading towards their homes than to place the letters into the official mail. As Warren noted, personal delivery was faster, and as it turned out, was more reliable. Comrades were more likely to ensure delivery than postal workers.
“E.T.HWarren”, page 7, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.
[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g
Bunker hill Oct 27” 1862
My dear Jennie
I have just received your first
letter writen [sic] on the 23d & mailed the
24” and although I have just sent
off a letter by a man going to the
county I will commence another
to be finished as I have time &
opportunity, which will enable
me to finish it in a day or
two. The fact that Lizzie is no
worse I take as very favorable in
her case, and I am almost sat
isfied by your decliration [sic] that
she is not much better, for being
just a little better is a great
thing. I hope the next letter from
you will say she is very decided
ly better. I am sorry Edward did
not succeed in getting anything
[page 2]
for you and the children as I am very
confident I will be unable to do any-
thing for you here so far I have failed
entirely in wearing apparel, probably
towards XMass I may get socks &c
Our men are very badly clothed
Indeed, are raged dirty & full of lice
I speak of the entire army. and
the supply of clothing very meager
not more than ½ doz pair of socks
being sent to a regiment for dis-
tribution at one time, but what
we do receive is very good.
Our camp is in what was a skirt of
woods in front of old Capt Boyds near
Bunker hill. we have good water but
short rations & only one or two tents
to a man company the cold weather
is very hard on the men, but up
to the time of my return, before the
rain their health was very good
[page 3]
Wonesday 2 ½ Oclock P.M., Camp
Fulkerson. Yesterday morning at
6 in the morning we recd orders
to be prepared to march at 8 ½ o-
clock, at which time we started &
marched 20 miles to this camp, a
very beautiful woods near Berry-
ville 15 miles from Winchester. We
are now at work as if we in-
tended to remain here for some
time but may march at any
moment. I am however satisfied
that if a fight takes place within
a month it will not be of Genl
Lees seeking but must be caused
by offensive movements of the enimy [sic].
our present position is almost due
east from Winchester. This move
will deprive me, I fear, of the
sack of salt I expected to get. I
must now try & get the tallow
ready & start the wagon back
[page 4]
I am still commanding the
brigade but am looking for
the return of Col Taliaferro every
day. I take it very quietly
have all the work done by staff
officers & satisfy myself with
mainly seeing it done. I dont
know exactly where Neds regiment
is. I think it is in Loudon Co
if so he can visit me as he
returns but if with the rest
of the Longstreets command he
will not get to see me without
going out of his way. The mail
came in to day without a letter
from you. How are you
getting along & how is my
darling little daughter are
questions I find myself constantly
asking myself. I will send this
tomorrow & certainly will
expect one from you.
“My dear Jennie”, salutation – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.
“Lizzie, line 9 – Warren’s oldest daughter seven year old Lizzie.
“Edward”, line 17 – Jennie’s brother Edward J. Magruder, Major, 8th GA Infantry.
“Wonesday”, page 3, line 1 – Unusual variation of spelling Wednesday. No indications exist to explain why Warren would have used this spelling. The date was in fact Wednesday, 29 October.
“Camp Fulkerson”, page 3, lines 1 & 2 – This camp was named in honor of Samuel V. Fulkerson, Colonel, 37th VA Infantry. He was mortally wounded in action 27 June 1862 commanding the brigade at Gaines’ Mill. At that time the brigade consisted of the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments, along with Wooding’s Danville (VA) Artillery Battery.
“the brigade”, page 4, line 2 – Taliaferro’s Brigade consisted of the 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry regiments, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.
“Col Taliaferro”, page 4, line 3 – Alexander G. Taliaferro, Colonel, 23rd VA Infantry.
“Longstreet”, page 4, line 12 – James Longstreet, Confederate general, commanded the 1st Corps (Right Wing), Army of Northern Virginia.
“darling little daughter”, page 4, line 18 – Warren could have referred to either his oldest daughter, seven year old Lizzie, or his youngest daughter, eight month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Warren. However, it is likely he referred to Lizzie as she was sick at the time.
[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g
[from the diary of Wesley S. Hammond, Co. E., 42nd Virginia “Dixie Greys”]
Monday 27th Up early this morning to
make an early start. Travel from
Mr. Neff’s to Burke’s, near Mt. Sidney –
distance 32 miles
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5526
[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Morrisville Oct 27. 7 a.m.
To
General R. B. Marcy
chief of staff
My command stopped in front
of this place last night on the
Purcellville road–My advance
was two & a half miles farther
on & a scouting party preceded
as far as Purcellville, but
did not meet or hear of any
rebels in that vicinity-
Day before yesterday a
foraging party of one regiment of
infantry one of cavalry & a section
of artillery came within two miles
of this place & took away a train
of forage & grain from the farm of
a Gen. Wright a noted secessionist
In this valley, up as far
as Middleburg, there is an abun=
dance of hay & forage–the
foraging party day before yesterday
went out by Snickersville
Gap
[page 2]
Theres. a good many Union people
in this county (Loudon) & some
organization of them would be ad=
vantageous to protect themselves from
rebel guerrillas,as well as rascals
of our own who are prowling over
the country—besides it would enable
them to restrain their secesh
neighbors, who appear to be very
violent at times–
Have found an excellent
map of Loudon county by Yardley
Taylor, it has the name of every
man’s residence in the county &
all the roads properly marked–
It would be well to have
this map photographed, if you
have not one equally as good–
last night was very hard
on my men & horses—I shall
proceed to Purcellville today-
scout in that vicinity–
await further orders–It
Snickersville with a force & has
proclaimed martial law–A
union man told me, the rebel army at
Winchester was in a miserable
[dispatch ends abruptly at this point]
MSS 495
[from the dispatch book of Colonel Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 27. 7. P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff–
Col. Davis 8th New York,
reports having driven the enemy
trough to Snickersville & that his
advance was fired on from
the gap & he lost one man
killed & five horses, but the
bursting of a shell–The Gap
is a strong position & will
require considerable force to
dislodge them–He saw
no infantry force–
The 8th Illinois
capture to rebel cavalry soldiers
this afternoon
A.Pleasonton
Brig. Gen. &c
MSS 495
[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 27 7.15 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy,
Chief of Staff
Your dispatch of 12 M
rec’d–shall send out in
the morning in the direction
you speak of–It is probable
Longstreet passed thru ‘Ashby’s’
Gap, & that they wish to
hold Snickersville Gap for
some purpose as there is
also a road from Snickersville
to Aldie thro’ Philadmont
The road is good to
this place, & it would be
well to push some brigades
of infantry – this way –
Very respectfully
A. Pleasonton
Brig Gen &c
Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
[from the dispatch of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd. Qr Cav. Brigade
Oct 27. 1.30 P.M.
Purcellville–
Genearl R. B. Marcy,
Chief of Staff–
My advance drove some rebel
cavalry pickets out of this place
& find a small force some
two miles & a half from this on
the road to Snickerville I have
sent 8th New York, Col. Davis
to see what they have & what
force there is a Snickersville
I am inclined to believe it
is only a small cavalry force
& that they have nothing of
any consequence on this side
of the Shenandoah–
Shall I send for my
wagons–rations are out
tomorrow?
Very respectfully
A. Pleasonton
Brig. Genl
