1862 November 30 New Bern, N.C.

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

Sunday
Nov 30
a nice pleasant day.  We had no inspection
this morning as we had the monthly review
and inspection this afternoon.  This evening George
and I went down to Phineas’ tent and staid most
of the evening.  How much we miss the New England
Sabbath out here in the army.

MSS 11293

1862 November 30 Concord, Mass.

     Concord, Nov 30th 1862

My dear General Hitchcock,
    When, in that golden noon
I bade you farewell so long
ago at my door, I thought I
should not be able to
wait until you had left
town before expressing to you
my sense of infinite gain
from your presence.  Una,
Rose and I all stood for
a moment silent in the
hall, where you left us, and
then Una said “Mamma,
you look perfectly transfigured”!
and I replied “I am”- and
Rose ran to my arms to
show her ardent sympathy
with my entire content.  I
thought I would tell you
of it immediately–not because
you would feel any self-
gratulatory emotion from it,
but because it was a kind
of poetical justice to her
                        rendered

[page 2]
The “anglico riso” softens both
my inner and outer face
whenever I recal[l] you–The
peace that passes all understanding
broods like a dove over the
waters of life at the memory
of your words and being-
I am sure that for all Eternity
I hold your hand, and that
wherever you are I can never
lose you, and so language-
seemed futile more and more
as time went on.  I was
convinced that you already
knew all I could say-and
that while I could communicate
every thing to you, that after
all silence was the most
effectual expression of the
unspeakable.  I liked to
plunge deeper and deeper
into the abysses of Light
without a sign, while it
seemed so near the open
visions that I was conscious
of your spiritual apprrehension.

[page 3]

1862 November 30 Richmond

Richmond  Nov 30th
My Dear Friend
I am generally so
prompt at writing to you that I expect you
think I have forgotten you by this time.
If I did not have a good reason for
not writing I should be ashamed of my-
self but the truth of the matter is I have
not had time,  Sidney Strother agreeably
surprised me on Saturday last with a visit
and he and I had a most agreeable chat
for an hour or so–and I regret very much
I did not see him more.  Sidney gave
me a most excellent account of you and
pleased me very much by telling me you
were the most studious and promising young
man in school.  How you have changed
since you used to catch hold of the back
of my chair at [Volgar and Saltons?] and

[page 2]
almost break my neck by pulling me over-
Yes my boy you were truly a studious
fellow then–My Duck has been away from
here for three or four weeks and if ever you
did see a poor disconsolate, lonesome young
man I am that very same individual–
as Sam Weller says–I have received only
one letter from her and that too on business–
While I would take great pleasure in attend-
ing to any business for you her I think
she might also give an account of her-
self, but her letter was strictly speaking
a real business epistle.
I wish you had been here to the hauling
up of the Old General–I do not expect
he has travelled so fast before for some
time, for he certainly came from the Dock
to the Capital Square in double quick time-
We are to have a gay time of it during

[page 3]
the 22nd of February when he will be uncov-
ered and left exposed to the weather all during
the winter upon the summit of that icy rock
called the monument.  the Lexington Cadets
are coming down to the Celebration on that
day-and I suppose you will come too–
If my company can uniform themselves
and be perfectly drilled by that time I’ll
turn out to receive them but I’m afraid
the hard times have thrown our company
back upon our oars and there we’ll
have to rest until the times get easier
Give my best love to all the Boys I
am acquainted with and tell Phil
Haxall I’ll write to him soon.
Answer this as soon as you get it
as I am very anxious to hear from you
                   Your Sincere Friend
                     Jas W. Pegram

Major James W. Pegram, later known for his efforts to assemble an African American Confederate Brigade

MSS 2516

1862 November 30 near Fredericksburg

 [camp near Fredericksburg]

Sunday 30th

My Dear Father

Night caught me last

night before I could finish it writing.

Mr. Bradly starts immediately so I can

write no more. The mail came

just now, but no letter for me from

home. Our cook is sick, & I

am cook to day. We bought a

turkey yesterday for 2 dollars

& I must devise some way of

cooking it. None of our

cooking utensils are large enough

except a camp boiler & it has

been suggested to boil it.

Farewell Dear Father

W. H. Perry, Jr.

[page 4]

There is nothing new this mor-

ning. Give my best love to Mother, George & all.

Does Lan’s health improve?

William H. Perry, Jr., of the Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

 

1862 November 30 Camp Cumberland

              Camp Cumberland
                   Nov. 30th, / 62
My Darling Pet Birdie
                                         Your
beautiful favor, & letter contain-
ing father’s are received, & I am
cut down to a few minutes
amid the confusion of getting
extra grub.

[Letter of Captain Henry S. Spaulding, of the 38th New Jersey to his wife Anna “Birdie” Spaulding will continue on December 2]

MSS 38-156

1862 November 30 Camp Tillinghast

[letter of Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, Co. M., 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, continues]

                     Sunday afternoon Nov 30
I thought I would wait untill I heard from
you, before sending this, I have received no letter
from you since last Saturday (Nov 22) there
is I hear some detention of the Mail, somewhere
Last night night[sic] I sat up with Earp, he has
had a relaspe[sic], caused by his going out to
soon, and taking cold, he is very sick,
and out of his head most of the time.
It will be a long time before he recovers
if he ever does,  I have my doubts of his
recovery, I was quite dissappointed in not
receiving a letter from you last night.  I
began to think that perhaps you or the
children might be sick, God grant that
such may not be the case

[page 4]
I must tell you again what a big feast we
have had through thanksgiven week, We
have had seven boxes during the week, con-
taining, Turkeys, Chickens, Fresh Pork, Mince
and Apple Pies, Sausages, Pickles & Preserves,
Apples, Plum Puddings, Cake, and a great
many other goodies, to numerous to men-
tion,  we have two more boxes coming
this next week, You would’nt think we
were Grahamites if you could see how
fast such things disappear about these
times.  I dont think of anything more
of importance to write to you now,
I shall anxiously await a letter from
you,  I think I shall get one tomorrow
night,  I will write and let you know
if I do, the middle of next week,
Please send me some postage stamps,
I have to borrow now,  Give my love
to all inquiring friends, Kiss the darlings
for me, accept a thousand for your-
self, and ever believe me the same in love
now and ever,  Your truly–Robert

MSS 1242

1862 November 30 East New York

                East New York
                  Nov. 30, 1862
Feeling a little lazy I have
neglected writing until it is quite
late in the afternoon, and as I have
written every Sabbath since we have been
here I will write a few lines now.
Will answer your questions in proper
order.
First, I enjoy myself just as well
as I can under the circumstance.
The labor  have to perform is no onerous
at all, every night about 5 o’clock
I have to go the rounds with my book
& pencil & take the names of all the
sick that have come into Hospital during
the day.  Enter their names in a book kept
for the purpose stating disease date of
entering &c  Look after the Hospital
Blankets sheets &c and see that the nurses
keep their wards clean.  I should rather

[page 2]
be in the ranks than a nurse in a
Hospital. it takes the strongest men
there are in the Regt.
  I have had colds since leaving Augusta
2 or three.  my throat has not
troubled me much.
  I have had no diarrhea since
leaving Augusta.  We get good coffee
& good bread and first rate whisky.
  I dont know whether any women
go with the Regt. after we leave
here.  I have not lost any clothes yet.
  Will send my miniature as soon as
I can.
  We are about four miles from Beechers
church.  can go in and out for 10 cts.
  have received no Indemendant[sic] for sine
time.
That red box I sold the day we
left Augusta.
  Give my best regards to Mrs. Stanby.
  The 45 was very acceptable
                  Your affectionate son
                          C.P.M.

Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine

MSS 11031

1862 November 30 camp near Fairfax Seminary

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

Sun 30.  Fine.  Inspection so long, no morng. service.  must see
Col. about it.  Visited hospitals – talked & prayed with
them – hung up cards of SS – in four dift.  tents & some[?].
                                 was about to
Just as Afternoon Service ^ begin – orders came to march
at 12.  tomorrow with shelter tents & seven days rations –
Preached. fr. Surely [symbol for “God”] is in this place & I knew it not –
We have abt. 200 off duty.  It is sd. Burnside is repulsed –
don’t believe it – Don’t know where we are to go –
Camp all astir getting ready.  I went to hospitals – & at
suggestion of a pious nurse established family worship
in four wards – while I am away – also conducted a
[Either a word missing or Butler intended to write “one” instead of “a”]
in Camp in F. in P.M.  Much pleased both they & I
& now may God prepare us for what is before us
tomorrow – we leave one sick – & one Doctor – & the Camp
standing for in charge of Adjutant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

1862 November 30 near Nashville

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

     Nov. 30th, ’62.
Still in camp.
In compliance with
the spirit and letter
of the recent proc-
lamation of the
President, the labor

of to-day has been
“reduced to the mea-
sure of strict ne-
cessity.”
Inspection of arms, &
preaching this fore-
noon. Raining some
this P.M.
Dress parade at 4
P.M.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm