1862 November 29 Fredericksburg, Va.

[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Masssachusetts as compiled by himself from wartime letters and diaries]

                                                           Near Fredericksburg.
                                                                Nov. 29th 1862.
–  –  –  I rode to Falmouth, yesterday, on
business, and then extended my ride along the
banks of the Potomac for about two miles; in
some parts the river not exceeding fifty feet in
width, our pickets reclining on the banks on this
side, the “grey backs” on the other.        The pickets
have agreed not to fire upon each other, but I felt
very uncertain whether they would include me in
that category.        I could hear them talk, dis-
tinctly – said one “How easy I could pick that
feller off his horse” – but I rode along without
a shot, and would not have missed the ride for
a farm, for one seldom has such a close look at
the “rebs.”

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130
                                                                                         29.

1862 November 29 Fort Tillinghast, Va.

                 Fort Tillinghast, Va, Nov 29/62
                                    Friday, PM.
Dear Wife,
          I have been expecting to hear from
you for the last two days.  I have as yet,
received no letter from you this week  I
expect to receive one from you to day.
I am enjoying first rate health, Yesterday
(Thanksgiven day)  we had a very quiet
time, we had plenty to eat, Turkeys and
Plum Puddings in abundance. We have
had, in my mess, three boxes this week,
and there is four more coming to-day,
I think they will be about as much
as we can take care of this week.
Some of the Messes had six boxes
come yesterday, each one containing
a turkey.  Next week, Capt Chandler’s
wife is coming out here to make him
a visit, she is to bring her oldest boy
with her, and Capt C. talks of keeping
him all winter. I dont think Capt
C. looks at things in the same light

[page 2]
that I do, if he did he would never
keep his boy here among soldiers all the
winter.  I would’nt have Ernie (as
much as I would like to see him)
come here to stay this winter for
anything, he would be spoiled in a
month, such conversation as he
would hear from the soldiers would
ruin him, in my estimation, for-
ever, Yesterday, I think was the pleas-
                    at this time of year
antest day that I ever saw  I had
a good mind to be homesick, but after
due consideration of the matter
I came to the wise conclusion that
it would do no good, to be homesick
so I gave it up, and ate my turkey
like a martyr, but still I wanted
to be with you and the children
very much, I’ll bet I will spend
next thanksgiven with you, if
we are all spared alive, untill
that time, I mailed a letter to you
on Monday last, (Nov 24th)  We have

[page 3]
not untill yesterday, received our
mail regularly for the last week,  there
was, I hear, some delay in Baltimore
Earp still continues to improve, and
if noting new of sickness, takes hold
of him, he will soon be well
enough to resume his duties

[letter of Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery will continue on the 30th]

MSS 1242

1862 November 29 Camp near Fairfax Seminary

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

Sat 29. Our men have had fine weather for picket – two Soldiers
woke me up last night, to consult about sending home
or burying here, their deceased comrade – .
A package of 1000 temperance tracts for my SS. arrived last
night.  We have suffered but very little thus far fr.
intemperance – God shield us in future.
Three or four men in 27”. Camp, are marching thro.
their streets with bricks in their Knapsacks – to tune of
rogues march – escort in front arms reversed, behind with
Charged bayonets –      We raised our camp flag today
Wrote Mother of poor Harris, we bury him today with
military honors – in grave yd. nr. Camp – He had an
intemperate father & wretched home I hear – I hope the
poor fellow found Jesus even in his latest moments.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

1862 November 29 near Nashville

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

     Nov. 29th, ’62.
Still in camp;
nothing unusual
occurred to-day to
relieve the monot-
ony of camp life,
to me it is quite a-
greeable as it af-
fords me an op-
portunity of resting
my feet.
Battalion drill, &
dress parade this
afternoon.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm                      

1862 November 29, Canonsburg, Pa.

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

Saturday, Nov. 29, 1862
Did not get home
until late hence slept
late this morning
went with John to
Maths for wagon &
helped haul wood

[at this point Templeton begins using a new ink which has faded almost to illegibility]

got horse ready
to take Aunt to
[?] Montfords but
as we were ready
[Uncle Charles?] came
along & we went
with them & remained
after they came back
I came over with
[?]  & stayed all
night

Cloudy with little
snow

MSS 10317

1862 November 29 Staunton, Va.

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee in the Quartermaster Dept.]

Saturday night, Nov. 29, 1862.
Still no war news. All quiet at Fredericksburg. Great complaints through the newspapers of outrages by the enemy upon our people in various parts of the country, and calls upon the Government for retaliation — The Richmond Enquirer — generally very cautious — advises our soldiers to shoot down every “Zouave” they may capture. One of these captures, wearing red breeches and red cap has been walking our streets for more than a week past, with other prisoners of war. Why they are detained here, I cannot tell. The shooting of ten citizens in Mississippi, by order of a Yankee General, caused a general outcry for revenge. Yesterday a report came from Winchester that McClellan and Seymour (Gov- elect of N. Y.) had been arrested and sent to Fort Lafayette. Not believed. More horses sold to-day. The sales of horses, wagons +c amount to about $13,000. Virginia told me to-night that we had been drinking rye, without any mixture of coffee, for several weeks, our supply of the latter having given out! I had not detected it. Miss Agnes brought a pound                   or two of coffee as a present from Dr Wills to Va. Linsey for servants’ dresses now sells at $2.50 per yard. The people are obliged to give the Factory prices, whatever they are, and the proprietors seem determined to exact the last cent. The extortion practised by those who have anything to sell,                   adds greatly to the hardship of the times. As a consequence, theft and robbery are becoming common. Port is selling at $20 per hundred. I learn that persons have been hauling off my wood, on the road near Legh’s, which I had cut for our own use — I have not been able to get it all brought in. Wood sells at $7.00 a cord.

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258

1862 November 29 “Hopedale,” Albemarle County, Va.

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

Saturday 29th Father got home to day–He
has been to Richmond while we were all won=
=dring what had become of him–Bought
in R. 6 lbs coffee sugar for which he paid
$4.50 or 75 cts a pound.  Pippins are selling
at $20 a barrel, & dried apples at from 6 t0
10 dollars–shoes are $20 a pair, calico $11.50 a yd
Poor Chap Gordon has been dead two weeks
& was taken to Richmond for interment.  Two
soldiers called to get dinner.   One was entirely
without shoes–Gave him a pair of socks-

Precept-“Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for
he is gracious”–Ps 136:1

Prayer “Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth
thee”- Ps. 142:10

Promise-“The Lord will avenge the poor .”  Ps. 140:12.

MSS 4208


1862 November 29 Chapel Hill, N.C.

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

Saturday 29th  Very cloudy again.  Only one letter & that from the
gentleman that wants to rent my house–Mrs DeRossett has re
turned from home after buying the house from Mrs Morrow $6000
&500–A letter from Mrs Kennedy saying Elizas box was sent by
express with her bonnet & frock from Charlotte three or 4 days ago but
it has not arrived & Eliza is very much worried–Sarah has just re-
ceived a letter from Fred & one from her Ma–She spends to day out-
A very mean breakfast we had this morning-But better than the poor
soldiers have-

MSS 6960