Farmington Jan 7th 1863

            My darling precious Charlie
                                                     Will you
forgive me for allowing one whole week
to pass by without writing to thee when
I know how much pleasure it affords you?
  Do not think darling, that I have been
voluntarily silent far from it  Every
day I have thought that another should
not find you neglected, but the next
would come followed by its usual
work, which must be performed and
go, finding me, to all appearances
as far from writing to you as the
day proceeding.  Today I have sat down
regardless of study etc determined that
I will neglect you no longer.
  I have not heard from you since you
wrote me of your sever illness, from
which you had not recovered, and

[page 2]
naturally enough dread apprehensions
fill my mind, apprehensions that I
dare not breathe.   I, in a manner
dispel them with the thought that if you
were worse you would get some one to
write me but I am fearful that you
are worse and dread to let me know of
it until you are better.  If so darling one
let me entreat of you, as I often have
done before, and as you value my happi-
ness, that you will inform me all about
your health.   I should so love to hear from
you daily, aye, even hourly if could  [be?]
but I know the latter is impossible, and
the former nearly so. Nevertheless I would
try and be content with hearing from you
once a week if I could not hear from you
oftener.
  Forgive me dearest, if my letter has the
appearance of being dictated by a complaining
heart; let me assure you that it is only
my love for you, that causes my anxiety
I can not conceal it if I try ever so

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hard and I have tried earnestly and, –
as I expected I should –  have failed.
 I can not longer conceal from thee dear,
the suffering I have been compelled to
endure, since learning of you illness
  Darling, let me urge you to speedily
come to me if possible, If I only was
permitted to fill the sacred office of
watching by you I should be happy,
but, even that is denied me, and I
must —  (Addie what art thou writing,
has he not enough to suffer without
sharing thy grief? Hush you complaints)

  The weather is cold and gloomy not
a bright spot to be seen in the sky.
A few snow flakes are straggling down
as if fearful to tarry with us in
this world of sorrow but then we need
some gloomy weather, in order to fully
appreciate the the[sic] fair weather.  How
weary I do get looking and seeing what?
Nothing but leafless trees, ground covered

[page 4]
snow, and dark frowning clouds.
These all have a tendency to make me
“bluer” than I otherwise should be. But why
I should write so “bluish” to you is
more than I can tell.   I can not send
this out till tomorrow, – so I will “lay
it by” till morning.

Good evening dearest.  How art thou
this cold evening.  I trust your[sic] are not
suffering from the cold even if we at
the North do,  I think I never “saw
such sudden changes in the weather”
as we have this winter,  Yesterday morning
when I arose, it seemed more like a real
refreshing spring morning, than like a
morning in midwinter, Every thing
seemed so exhilarating, nothing seemed
deficient except the joyous notes of’
the little birds, but towards night the
wind moved into the N.W. and today
it has been very cold, so cold that
as they breathe little frosty particles collect

[remainder of letter from Adelaide Case to her fiancee Charles N. Tenney of the 7th Ohio,  missing]

MSS 11616

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

Wed 7. Fine but cold – In hosps. Q. M. is sick with typhoid – goes home –
are discharging soldiers – now for disability – It is sd. we have
taken Vic[k]sburg & defeated rebels at Murfresboro-
pleasant letters yesterday fr. Henry & Paterson –

Quartermaster Sergeant John S. Muschamp

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

Jan. 7th, ’63.
Ordered to be ready to
march at 7 A.M..
Marched at that time,
on the pike toward town,
crossed the river above
the R.R. bridge, passed
through the town & out
the pike about ¾ of
a mile toward
where we turned to the
right about ½ mile, when
we were making prepara-
tions to go into camp,
when we were ordered
to fall in. Marched

left in front back
across the pike & to
the left & toward town,
about a mile from it, when
we encamped in a beauty-
ful wood.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Jany 7″ ’63  Wedn
Clear & cold. – at Olivers
house much exposed –
left 3 pm & reachd home at
dark – cold ride – found Wm
Wiatt domiciled there –
found my leg in very
ugly inflamed condition
dressed it.

MSS 3315

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

Wednesday, January 7th – Intensely cold and bright.  Went to prayer meeting at Linden.  Carried sister Mary home, then went to Longwood.  While there Cousins Mary and Evelyn came in from Winchester.  Cousin William had been sent off to Martinsburg.  Cousin Mary saw him a short time in the Provost office.  She had been out in a hard rain and felt so uncomfortable she did not stay long, thinking he might get permission to come and spend the night with her.  In the evening she was walking down there and met Cousin William and he told her he was to be sent off to Martinsburg.  The waggons had already started.  They had not given him time to get his clothes which were just across the street.  They said he was to be sent to Richmond from Martinsburg, there to be exchange.  The Monitor has been sunk, one of their boasted iron clads.  A few days ago Imboden came down to Romney and took their waggon train and a good many stores and they have sent most of the cavalry up there.  They have five fences built across our road.

MSS 9759

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

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Rev. Ebenzer Boyden, Rector of Walker’s Church, Cismont, Va.]

Friday 7th  Mr Nelson & Celia called – Mr Nelson
on business with Father

MSS 2488

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

Tuesday
Jan 6
Read and wrote some.  Have felt rather
better than yesterday.  Nothing new.

MSS 11293

                                  U. S. Steamer “Currituck”
           Mouth of Wighcomico River Station H.
                                January 6  1863

Sir
We captured this day two miles from
the mouth of Wighcomico River from a
contraband Crossing the river the Enclosed letter
from doctor J. R. Brown with Fifteen (15) Dollars
in Virginia money,  also two other Small papers.
I learn from the Contraband that J.R. Brown
was formerly a Doctor of Northumberland Co.
but now an officer in “Stuarts Rebel Cavalry”.
  I also Enclose a Duplicate of J.R. Brown’s
letter.
                            Very Respectfully
                                    Your obt. Servt.
                                          T.J. Linnekin
                                      Actg, Master Commdg.

To Commodore
   A. A. Harwood
      Navy Yard,
        Washington
                     D.C

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

Tues 6.  Fine in morg.  slight rain in P.M. – at 2 the whole 9th
Army Corps were reviewed by Gen Burnside – a splendid sight –
abt. 18 000 men – the cheers were tremendous – He only rode once
along the lines-& dismissed us a/c of rain–one regt. as we marched
off gave him three hearty Cheers – he raised his hat & Smiled –
visited hospl – read “Among the Pines” –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935