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

Friday, Nov. 28, 1862
   Remained at
Uncle Cooks until
near noon, left there
& went through
Buffalo & down to
Mr Merchants where
I had my boots half
soled for 60 cts
from there came up
to Maths & from
there to Johns where
I met with some
Ladies the Misses
Matthews Atkinson &
Marshall–spent the
evening after which
accompanied them
to town went down
to the Seminary then
back with Miss Matthews
cloudy with some little snow

MSS 10317

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

Friday 28th  Weather bright & pleasant When I returned from evening
service I found Dr Armand DeRossett & his lady here–They came
to see about Mrs Morrows’ house–Their daughter Alice was mar
red at 12 o’clock to day to Mr Graham Davis & went immedi
-ately off to Raleigh, & from there to Petersburg–quite a private
wedding in Church–No letters–Mrs DeRossett told us also of Lucy
Empies marriage with Tom Brown-

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

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

Friday 28  Disturbed at 5 oclock by Mrs
d. & Lucy going off to the cars.  This
is the heaviest tax on our hospitality
-but it cannot be avoided.  I am sure
we have during the summer around
once a week that we have furnished
breakfast to departing guests at
the unreasonable hour of qr from 5.
-Robert Saunders returned to break
-fast.   I never saw a man more im
-proved by spending a winter in
Richd.  His mind seems to have expan
-ded and I dont know any one who
now converses more strikingly.  I
hope he will continue in public
life. It is something to have pure minds
[?] [?] more in the public service
From information derived from him
the forlorn hope I had of r’s innocence
is destroyed.  He sought an inter-
view with him-told him the ru-
-mors & heard a full confession.  He
 thinks if ever there was a truly sen-
-tient man he is one.
Since he misnamed the morning star.
Nor fiend nor man, hath fallen so far.
Much occupied indeed I never
was more so–my duties seem to
increase daily–then I have so much
to do at home: At night Charles
Trueheart read aloud in Albion
the battle of Dresden.  Napoleon
never showed more genius than
on this occasion–It was the last
grand battle he ever won.

Blackford slightly misquotes Lord Byron’s Ode to Napoleon:

Since he miscalled the morning star.
Nor fiend nor man, hath fallen so far.

MSS 4763

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

Thursday
Nov 27
Thanksgiving to day.  Have had a sad lone-
some day.  This forenoon I made part of a set
of chess men, and made out Scollay’s discharge
We had  baked beef for breakfast, fish chowder
for dinner, and an oyster supper with apples
afterwards.  In the evening went up to Mose Smiths
shanty and heard a fellow play the accordion
which he did nicely.

MSS 11293

                            Franklin on the Blackwater, Va.
                                    November 27th 1862

My Dear Phil[ip Barraud Cabell]
                                   I have been intending to write
ever since arriving here but our Northern connections
over the river have kept everything so lively since my
arrival that I have scarcely had time for letter writing
and possibly should have procrastinated still further
had I not heard that your wife was quite ill from
Jeanie–I am truly sorry to hear it and trust there is
no danger-it is nothing of this low fever I hope-
please tell her for me I am very sorry I am not free
so that I might take Jeanie up to see her, I was very
much disappointed that my application for a furlough
was refused before we were ordered from Richmond so
I might have paid you all a visit but until I
succeed in getting another position I do not suppose
there is any probability of my getting a leave of
absence this winter unless Providence interferes in
some mysterious manner to stop this war; the prospect
of its duration is exceedingly gloomy although my con-
fidence can never be shaken as to the end of it.  I see
that the general opinion is the advance this time will
be either from Fredericksburg or from Suffolk; my im-
pression is that it will probably be from this direction
as Genl. Lee has met them so promptly at Fredericksburg
they cannot well get foothold on this side the Rappahannock
this much is pretty certain that they have just been largely
reinforced at Suffolk–We are looking daily for another

[page 2]
shelling here but we are better fixed for them than
the last having just gotten the famous Long Tom and
Laughing Charley here, and heretofore we have had
but one rifled piece and that a 6 lbder on the last occa-
sion I think the enemy made about as cowardly an
exhibition of themselves as men will could they outnum-
bered us about six to one if not more, and from the ford
above here where they had already crossed over and
where I had half of one battery to meet them they retreated
with such rapidity that the shot which were put into
the guns were not even fired at them–here where
the river was between they shelled away for an hour or two
before retreating–I suppose Jeanie wrote as I asked her
why I did not get the boots you offered to have made for
me- I am very sorry to learn that Tommy has
given up his place in the Telegraph Office
it seems to me he has turned out of the direct road to
fortune, tho’ I do not know what his reasons were
for it.  Please give my love to Miss Pink with
hope that she will soon be right well again-Let
me hear how you all are and especially if she is better-
and believe me as ever
      Affectionately yours
            Alex. Q. Holladay

Alexander Q. Holladay, 12th Battallion Virgnia Light Artillery

MSS 38-111

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

Thursday 27.  Nothing of
interest took place up to 1st December.
Spent time in reading.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

                                  Thursday 27
Recd. Orders to night
to be ready to march
tomorrow morning at
day light

                                        Camp near Madison C.H.
                                                     Nov 27th—62
Friend William
                          According to promise I now proceed
to pen you a few lines.  On account of the many
inconveniences I have to encounter I will have to ad-
dress you in as few words as possible.  We reached
camp safely and found the boys well and in fine
spirits.  The following morning after our arrival we
received orders as usual to cook up one days rations
and be ready to leave camp at an early hour in
the morning.  We reached camp on the 20th and
have been marching every day since till to day.
We are expecting orders every hour to cook up another
days rations. Our company is about 30 in number
The Regts of the Brigade are reduced very much.
The 21st is but a good company. No tents have
as yet been received.   We have quite a time of
it in our little, oil cloth dog houses.  The Co.
received their pay a few days before our arrival.
I am well and stood the march quite well, but
I find a vast difference in my situation here
and that of a few weeks ago.  There is but
little sickness in our com. now, but there are
some with quite sore feet.  There are some of the
soldiers int his army entirely destitute of shoes.
It is very painful to witness these barefooted men
traveling in rear of their Regiments.  There are
not a great many of them, but I think it very
important that they should be attended to and
shod while as long as shoes can be had.  I have no doubt

[page 2]
they will be. Lieut Persinger has not yet ar-
rived, consequently I have not attended to that
yr power of attorney. As soon as he comes
I will present it to him.   I expected to find
him at the Co. but was disappointed.
Capt. Withers now is in command of the 42nd
Lieut. Arrington Adjutant.
Mr. Ingle has left camp. We met him on his
way to Staunton.  He said he had been
detailed to attend the hospitals as his
health was too delicate for camp life duty.
For the want of time I am compelled to close
I wold be glad to hear from you soon.

Unsigned letter to William McCauley from another soldier in the 42nd Va.

MSS 14953

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

27th Thurs.  Thanksgiving at home – Regt. went out
on picket – lovely but cold day.  busy writing for
Col. D. [The rest of this line is lined out.]
rode along whole pickets line – & to Supports.  Got in after dark,
passed Com. Forrest place – startled a large bird fr. a tree –
lost road – wandered in by paths & no paths   Struck R.R.  & reached
camp – visited sick – In eveg.  Stacy Wilson called again –
has been seekg. religion long time – very relieved – Sd. he had
spent large part of the day in prayer & while praying in the
valley near spring – this Eveg. he felt that God had heard him –
He gave very satisfactory answers to my questions.  I trust he
is a true child of God.  He prayed with me –

Private Stacy M. Wilson, Co. F.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935