Camp Near Fredericksburgh Va Dec 20th 1862

Dear Mother  — I received your most welcome letter of the 14th to day
informing me of your & all the rest of the Folks Health & you cannont tell how
much A letter from Home is prized by A soldier without you see them when
they get them I am well & enjoying good health the Regiment was across the river
but not in the fight but was under the Enemys Fire four days & when the Fighting
was over on left & right, I do not know how it was that this division was taken from
the Corps & put in the Centre where there was A big swamp & I suppose that is the
reason that the Center did not Fight any, I will close these few lines by saying I
hope that this will find you all well, From you Son Joseph Leavitt
P.S.  The Paymaster is here & is paying the twenty sixth New York but there is A
report that he is only to pay two Regiments n the Brigade but I hope he will pay off
the whole Brigade & if he does I shall not forget to send Father some & I want him to
understand what I send him is given with A good will or else I should not send it

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied in a ledger book after the war by their father as a remembrance of his sons both of whom were killed in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania

MSS 66

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

Dec 20th Satarday

Whe Remane in
camp to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

 12913

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

   Dec. 20th, ’62.
Fair & warm.
Brigade drill this
P.M. Quite a com-
motion caused by
heavy cannonading
in front, about 7 P.M.;
reg’t. ordered into
line of battle, but
soon sent to quarters.
Said to be a salute in
honor  Gen’l. Smith’s
marriage; afterward
heard that it was
the enemy firing on
Van Cleves pickets, –  

& still again, that it
was one of our for-
aging expeditions
defending themselves
from an attack of reb-
el cavalry.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Saturday, December 20–God has this day rescued us from a fearful loss.  while
seated at dinner a man rode up and told us the house was on fire.  We ran out and
the dining room end was blazing.  At first I thought there could not possibly be any
hope of saving the house, but God’s merciful kindness and the kindly aid of servants
and kind friends saved us with the loss of one end of the roof.  Princess Alice of
England married Prince Louis of Hesse

MSS 9759

[from the diary of George W. Dabney, a clerk of Campbell County, VA.]

19th Friday
Clear, cold  Th. 26. 54.
Wt to bros place
Lias frm town with Sugar 28 lb
dyes, blue mass do-
Small Pox in town-
getting rail Timber
Bob severe cold

[in margin]
Lucy moved to new house

20 Sat
Clear & cold  Th 16. 32.
dying coat at Dollys
wt home with nephew
rails.

21 Sunday
Clear & cold  Th 14. 32.
Wm. Wiatt down-all night
note frm little Lizzie Langhorne
to Christmas there & see tree

MSS 3315

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

Saturday 20th  A beautiful day, such as Raleigh was
wishing for. He set off for Richmond in fine spirits
May God’s blessing go with him! He has much to
be thankful for, but his heart seems little touched
with the feeling.  May God still have mercy on him!
-Dr Douglas called to day.  There is no doubt
that J. L. has typhoid but we hope slightly–The
Dr seemed to think he was doing well

MSS 4208

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

Saturday 21st [sic] I have been doing up things for Eliza–While she has
been running about the Village getting her dress & bonnet altered
Little William is quite unwell again–& the great panic which
was caused yesterday by the report of small pox at Mr Wm
Davis’ has subsided by hearing it was by the physicians decided to be
chicken pox.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat of Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Saturday 20.  Weather much colder
Board to day established another director
ship but did not make an election
Holcombe spoken of but I have no
confidence in his habits–He is not
likely to improve–should prefer Alfred
Miller to any one I know–but he is
in the army, and some of the Directors
object to having two brothers on the
Board–Recd a good deal of money
for the Fredg. sufferers–Published in
the morning’s papers Goggin’s letter-Some
think he is looking to the next Governor
ship and that would like to be a
candidate–Sent another check to Howi
son of $500 making 1750$ in all.
Shall raise 2500 before I am done
No news except that the enemy
has retired so far from the Rappahannock
that their camp fires are not seen from
our lines–only a small force is left
now Fredg & Port Royal–this looks
as if they were bound for Washington
  Went at night to see Mrs. C. Garland
-She has improved since I saw her last.
Jack Slaughter, who has just come
from Arkansas called while there.
His accounts of Arkansas & Mississippi

are gloomy.  Returning found [Revd?]
Richd Davis at my house, just from
his Regt at Harrisonburg. He is go
ing to Flat Creek

MSS 4763 

Camp near Port Royal Va
Decr 19th 1862

Dear Mother
Your letter was received yes-
terday, and was gladly perused, assuring
me as it did of your well being, and
continued interest in our welfare.
Though the weather of late has
been very severe, we have not sur-
fered as much as you would sup-
pose.  Even though we  have not
our tents with us we can quick
ly erect a brush shelter, which
with a big log fire before it, keeps
us comfortable.
Our Regt was not actively en-
gaged in the late battle, as we
were at the time picqueting below
Fredbg.  The day after the fight
James & myself rode up to the battle
field of the day before.  We had
gained a great victory over our
enimies–one which I hope will
be instrumental indirectly in
bringing about an early peace.
A gentleman just from Genl

[page 2]
Stuart’s Hdqrs told me yesterday
that the enimy’s loss was there
estimated at from 15000 to 17000.
  Only day before yesterday
I heard a Yankee halloo accross
the river to one of our picquets
“You rebels gave us [goos?] at
Fredericksburg, but we have taken
‘Fort Darling’ and will yet
eat our Christmas dinner
in Rd–Deluded fools.
For the last week I have
felt uncommonly cheerful
in regard to peace–more
as, in fact, than I have felt
since the war.  God grant
that my presentiment may
be realized!
  this morning I took off the
clothes I put on in R. & put
on those Aunt Judy wash-
ed for me.  I took a glorious

[page 3]
wash in warm water.
I thank you for offering
to make me flannel drawers
I do not need any more
garments now.
  Dic Alford got a letter I
wrote him in regard to “Old Tom
and some honey?  I [wrote?] an
answer.
  I commenced a letter to
Brother George the other
day, but was interrupted be
for ’twas finished. In the
Cavalry service, I do not
have the same opportunity
to write I had before. Yet
all things considered it is
an infinitely preferable
branch of service.  I saw
Gen. Jackson Tuesday-He is
much changed since I first [saw]

[page 4]
him at Winchester.
Tell Mary I am now wearing
her shirt front.  It is very
pretty.
I am gong to be vaccinated
today, as SmallPox is very
prevalent thro this coun-
try.
Please write often and
long. so we are sure
to get your letters direct
ly now.
I am as ever
                           Your devoted Son
                              Charles
Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, Co. F., 10th Virginia Cavalry,  later a Baptist minister and eventually president of Wake Forest.