26th 1862
Bland County november the
Dear Sister
                   I received your kind
letter the 23 I was proud to hear
that you all was as well as common
you said Pa was complaining
some I am inhopes he is well
by this time.  Cummings and
myself are well and hope wen
these few lines comes to hand
thy will find you all in good
health.   We have taken up winter
quarters hear If we dont have
to go to richmond. I got a
letter from rieves the day before
yesterday it was dated the 12th
he said he was well with the
exception of a bad cold. he
said they was stationed fore
miles from Winchester he wrote
he did not expect to saty[sic] their

[page 2]
long for he heard cannon every
day I expect he has been in a fight
before now I answered his letter
yesterday I wrote to him to write
back as soon as he go it so I would
know whither he was in any
fight or not. we have nothing
much to do now we dont drill
any. yestarday was a very cool
disagreeable day, but to day is a very
cam pleasant day. some of the boys
are building chimneys to their
tents.  we sleep very warm in hours
without any fire. the chimneys
are a goodeal in the way I don know
whither we will build one or not
I just com in from a dear hunting
me Vince Jessee & George Williams went
out togather vince & George saw
one but diden get to shoot at
it Cummings is out now Their

[page 3]
are is a good many deer hear but
they are too smart for the boys
they shoot at them but never
kill any.  I expect we will draw
our money in a few days some
of the companies have been paid
off.  The quarter master hadent money
enough to pay us all. you said
for me to write whither cummings had
got him any boots or not. he
hasent got any nor their isent any
chance for him to get any hear.
Their isent any shop hear makeing
boot for sale.  If you can you
had better get him a pair maid
and send to him.  If you had them
maid I expect you could send them
by old William Cumbo he comes to
see hi son about every month
Tell sarah to write I answered
hers & virginias letter togather Tell them

[page 4]
to write all the news how
all the young women are getting
along by their selves.  I was
sorry to hear of my cousin dying
with the diptheira It is a very
bad complaint among children
I am in hopes It will never
get to our house.  Tell Pa
to write how he is a getting along
whither he has hang hot all of
his corn up on not. & how
Jim & Cate is getting along
halling wood I reckon creed
is a great deal of advantage
to Pa Tell Cree to write to me
Tell George Williams to write
to me and give me to discription
of Kentucky.  Tell him to write
wither he crossed clinch river
or no If he did he supprised me
very much. no more at present
your Brother C. H. Gilmer
to Mr J. Gilmer
Charles M. Browing is tolerable
                                     well

Charles Hayes Gilmer
29th Virginia, Co. G.

MSS 5194

Dear Charles
Your favor of the 22nd inst has been recd
and the perusal was highly gratifying to me
Our Division (Picketts) being the last to march
from Culpeper arrived here about 12 oclk
on last Sunday after being out only two
and a half days.  We marched about 48 miles
crossing the river at Raccoon Ford passing
thence to this place through the poorest and
most desolate country I ever saw. the coun
try in Orange and Culpeper near the ford
and along the river on both sides is a most
beautiful fertile and desirable one.  Commo
dious and handsome residences stud the
hills and the country spreads out in almost
unbroken plains.  It is menancholy[sic] to think
that such a country abounding in all the
elements of wealth with rich and intelli-
gent gentlemen its owners should have
been desolated by such scoundrels as the Yan
kees.  Culpeper county has been made al-
most a wilderness by their ravages and but
few of its inhabitants dwell upon their es-
tates.  Upon reaching the vicinity of this re-
nowned and ancient city (Fredbg) I witnessed
sights which I hope I may never again see in
this war. Well dressed ladies old and young
with hundreds of children in every home are
to be seen along every road leading from the city &
in many cases the ladies were walking thro
the mud in their slippers with no protection

[page 2]
nor any assurance that they could b[   ?   ]
or housed any where in the neighborhood. On
Monday I went into the city (the first time I
was ever there) which presented a sad and
doleful appearance with all its homes de-
serted and closed no one to be seen on its
streets but a few citizens and soldiers.  At
one end of the Railroad bridge the yankees
pickets were in plain view whilst our were
at the other end the range of hills on their
side being filled with cannon set to swab
any approach to the city.  they did not fire
upon our men nor did ours molest them
but frequent conversations were held across
the river between the pickets. I should like
for them to have attempted to cross the river
for such another defeat as you would have
heard of has not yet transpired.  Our posit-
ions tho’ in some cases inferior to theirs
were sufficiently good to ensure the purpose
& the Yankees will know that or they would
not have laid so quiet.  The report is this mor-
ning that they are embarking at Acquia
Creek and that Genl McClaws Division  of our
army has moved toward Richmond.  I
have now thought that the Yankees de-
signed to fight a general battle here but
would probably move one column of their
forces against Richmond from this point.
Suffolk is the point I think they will move
from or City Point which I think is the
most [?] and would almost surely

[page 3]
result in the fall of Petersburg. That Genl Lee
is well prepared for them we may rest as-
sured and if he could fight them success-
fully at Sharpsburg with only 30,000 men
(which he actually did)  [?] upwards of 100,000
what may they expect now in a future bat-
tle when we will be stronger by 2/3.  They have
it is alledged 110,000 men under Burn-
side.  No place could be chosen where our
troops would fight more desperately than
around Richmond.
   I am pleased to hear that cousin Jennies
son got thro’ the Blockade tho’ loosing[sic] his
valuables.  the Cavalry Service is certainly less
dangerous than any other arm of the Service
an offers many advantages that are not had
in other branches.  It is more arduous in win-
ter than summer.  I have no doubt your ac
quaintance will better enable you to provide
for him than I to advise tho’ if he could ob-
tain a position on some Generals Staff he
would have a good time.  I think we will proba-
bly take up the line of march for Richmond or its
vicinity in a day or so & if I can then render you
any assistance in the mater I will cheerfully
do it.  Jno Lewis I saw a few days before we
left Culpeper & he was well.
   I should like to meet with Richard as I
never hear from him by letter and only know
by hearsay what Floyd is about.  If with you still
tell him to write to me.  I recd the clothes and
shoes sent me by our Post Master and the over

[page 4]
coat sent was also mine but was a
very inferior one.
    We had not hear that Mr Seddon
was certainly Sec. War.  He is an able
man and I have heard it said that
he ought to make a good officer.  You
will please present my best regards
to Uncle Powhatan Rebecca & all
friends with you–
       I am very truly yours &
                  Jno. T. Ellis

John T. Ellis, 19th Virginia Infantry

[docketed on side]
Major Jno. T. Ellis
November 26, 1862

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

              November 26                                      
     I returned to the Camp.
Remained in camp all
day.  Cousin B. Conway
came to see me this
evening

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

Wednesday 26.  Order came for a
transfer to Buchanan – I among the
Squad – take a tramp around through
town in evening – go to Church
at night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

David R.P. Shoemaker, 11th Ohio Volunteers, to Henry A. Bitner

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 11395

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

26. Wed.  Very blustering – Visited sick & held a small

but interesting & interested Bible class in eveg.
talked yesterday with a new enquirer after Salvation.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Nov. 26th, ’62.

As anticipated, we
marched near noon to-
day, toward Nashville,
on the N. & L. pike;
left the pike about
2 ½ ms. from the city;
moved across the
fields & struck the

N. & Chattanooga R.R.
about 3 ms. from the
former city, where
we encamped.
They are repairing
a bridge just be-
low our camp.
The firing of can-
non, heard last
night, on account
of the arrival of
the cars from Louis-
ville, Ky.

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

Nov 26th Wensdray
Genl Burnerdiz
Was at aquia
Creik to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

Wednesday Nov. 26, 1862

This morning after
breakfast Went
over to Aunts got
Dulse & went over
to Smiley Caldwells
where I now am
found him butchering
helped a little
cold cloudy like
snow a little on the
ground

MSS 10317

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

Wednesday 26.  Aunt Eliza went home to
day & father went with her as far as Tre-
=villian’s & from there to see poor Chapman Gordon–His
father is almost broken hearted–Meeting of the
stockholders.

Precept-“Thou has charged that we shall dil=
igently keep thy commandments”–Ps 119:4

Prayer– “Make thou they servant to delight
in that which is good”- Ps. 119:122

Promise-“Thou puttest away all the wicked
of the earth like dross.”  Ps. 119:119.

MSS 4208