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

Monday 24th  Spend the day as usual
in reading – purchase a [–]
in book store, also some paper and
envelopes –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

Castle Hill 24 Nov. 1862

My dear sir,
I received a few days
ago your letter of 8th instant, accom-
-panied by a pamphlet copy of your
letter to certain gentlemen, with whom
you had been associated in a peace
effort one or two years ago.–I have
read the pamphlet with great interest;
and though not concurring in some
of its view with regard to the possibility
      of the union at any time or
of a re-constitution ^, under any form,
I heartily respect & sincerely sym-
-pathize in the spirit of Christian patri-
-otism & benevolence which pervades it.
  I do not consider it now as a
matter of any importance whether the
Crittenden resolutions or the propositions
of the Peace Conference offered, in the
main, the best terms for the South.
But since you desire my opinion
I will merely say that I always con-
-sidered the propositions of the peace con-
-ference the better adjustment for

[page 2]
the South; the reasons of which
opinion were fully stated in a
speech made by me in Richmond
in March 1861, a copy of which I
will send you, if I can lay my
hands on one:–
                    With great respect,
I remain very truly yours
                                       W[illiam] C[abell] Rives

E[dwin].G[illiam]. Booth Esq.

P.S.  Though I believed as
stated above, that a reconstruction
of the late union, under any form
is wholly out of the question, I will
add that my hopes of peace now rest
mainly on the obvious interest & I
trust, policy of the leading north-western
states to draw off from the war;
and it is quite possible that some
arrangement of mutual advantage
between them & the Confederate
States might, if pressed in a
proper spirit on both sides, be
brough[t] about, at no very distant

[page 3]
day

MSS 6122

                                                 Camp Casey Nov 24th [1862]
                                                        Fairfax Seminary
Dear Sister Helen
                                                 I received your
letter dated 21st this morning, and
think I will answer it this after-
-noon although it is very pleasant
and warm and I would like to be
out taking the air.. I was out
quite a while this morning and
went down and staid in our tent
for some time,  the boys haven’t
done much drilling since they came
back from picket it has taken
them most all the time since

then to dry their clothes and clean
up their guns which were completely
covered with rust.   They had a pretty
tough time.   So you was going
to surprise me by sending a box
was you, and not write me any
thing about it – well I thought
that you might send me one
but I hardly dared to trust
you and thought I would send
for it but I shan’t expect it
as soon as Thanksgiving for it
can’t get here so soon, but it
will be very acceptable at any
time if every thing is in good
condition..   I wish that I
could be at home Thursday and
help you empty the dishes and
spend a day with you all if
it were only for a day – but I can
wait until next year and then
I expect there will be a general

thanksgiving and rejoicing in
many homes but you must eat
a good dinner for me, which will
have to answer this time.  I hope
you will enjoy yourself and have
a good time.  They are fixing up
the hospital pretty gay are white-
washing and plastering and have
got Iron bedsteds for us all and
they are real nice and easy to
lie on,  I thought that I would
get out of the hospital and go
to my street this week but if
they are going to have things so
nice I don’t know but I had
better stay a little longer for
I shan’t do any duty for some
time yet.        We expect to be
paid off pretty soon and ought
to have been a long time ago
but they don’t pay up very –
prompt but I hope they will

let us have some money pretty
soon as I am played out..
                   Tell Father to write and
tell me what I had better do
about getting me some boots.  Do
you think that it would pay
to have my shoes sent home
until dry weather again they
are just as good as new and not

Richmond Nov 24th 1862

My dear Nancy
    As Mrs Magill leaves here to morrow,
I cannot let the opportunity escape to write you a letter,
and to say that this is the third which will have been
written to you since my return to this place, I have
recd two from you, which gave me reason to hope
that you were all getting along something better
than you anticipated when I let you; I most
earnestly hope this state of things may continue,
and that you may get through the winter in compar=
=ative quiet, I was somewhat concerned to hear that
Sophie (God bless her) was contemplating a visit to
Md; now she might get to Md, very well but I have
doubts whether she could return, and I would rather
she should remain at home in the plainest dress, then
be compelled to remain in Md against her consent,
you must think well on this subject.
I have priced the calicoes you spoke of in yr letter,
they cannot be had here for less than $1.75 and $2.00 pr. yd.
are you willing to give such prices?  I will try and
get you some valley money form Farmville as soon
as possible, I saw Mr Carson the prest. of the Bank the
other day and he told me that the valley money was
pretty much paid out, but if cousin Ann Magill
succeeds in getting some from them to day, I shall
hope to get some for you, which I shall send by the
first safe opportunity,  Have you heard anything
of my clothes, I wish them greatly, and will want
them more very soon, it is next to impossible to get
things here except at fabulous prices; if you get them
send them by none but the safest hands, I should
like very much a couple of under shirts.
Always write me fully about every thing, because
I can then know better how to advise; I heard the
other day that charlie was quite well, Tom I suppose

[page 2]
you have seen; and he amused you I have no doubt
with an account of his imprisonment in Washington,
how I wish this horrid war was at an end, and that
we could once more live quietly in our homes, and
renew in the autumn of our lives, the pleasures we
enjoyed in our spring; well we must bear with the
present, and if you will take my advise and preserve
a prudent course you will I hope get along better
than you expected when I last saw you.
                  Every thing here looks favourably;
give my love to all at home, and believe me as
                                      ever yours
                                    Th. E. Buchanan
P.S. Tell Minnie, Mr martin presents his compliments,
and desires to say that the recollection of the Balmoral
is very fresh in his memory.

Thomas Ely Buchanan, 1810-1889, to his wife Nancy Dandridge Buchanan

MSS 4560

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

24. Very cold, last night – ice – bright morng – had a series
of bright – pleasant dreams, some funny, some sweet,
Feel well today – read a good deal – visited sick
letter fr. Mr H[ornblower].

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Nov. 24th, ’62.
Still in Camp.
Brig. Off. of day;                        
picket lines about
4 miles.

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

Nov 24th A C Day
Queater master came
To Headquaters
and [-] in major Patterson
of the Breadge house
this was a fine Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

Monday, Nov. 24, 1862

Wrote letters to
Father this morning
took it up to the
office gave it to the
carrier
Saw judge Wotring[?] he
spoke to me of my
business.  had shoes
fixed on my horse at
Buffalo.  Came on to Moths
then to Johns with him
went to Town. Seen
Mr Kultz[?]  also Jno Clares
where we had dinner
went out to the [Seminary?]
to see some sheep also
the 600 Dollar bull
 Came back to Mr Matthews
where we had super  a very
fine location Came back to Johns
Clear Cool

MSS 10317

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

Monday It has been raining all day–& quite warm nothing
new

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Mary S. Boydon of “Hopedale,” Abemarle County, Va.]

Monday 24th  Last night four soldiers came
to stay all night–Major Scruggs & Sergeant
Moody from Mississippi & two others of lower
rank of whom we learnt little.  The Major
was young handsome & agreeable–His high broad
forehead showed intellect, & his manners the
polish of a gentleman.  We were delighted
with him–He seemed to have a good deal of
humor & delighted to show off the Mr Moody
who could talk Irish & even German so well
that  we took him for some “outlandish” man
He has the look of an Irishman-of not a
very pleasant countenance-they paid $15

Precept-“Turn again unto thy rest,O my soul
for the Lord has dealt very graciously with
thee”–Ps 116:7

Prayer– “Oh that my ways were made so direct,
that I might keep thy statutes always”- Ps. 119:5

Promise-“The voice of joy & health is in the
dwellings of the righteous .”  Ps. 118:15.

MSS 4208