[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Saturday, Dec. 27, 1862
Went this morning
to Ashland. Settled up
with Greenewald. Paid
him $62.50. Went
with Arthurs boys &
had dinner
Went with Alf
up to Mr Smiths
[Met?] Mrs Smith came
down [staid?] with
her called at his
office Saw Miss Bell
Bought new diary
Saw Johnson about
crop matter
Saw Will Deshong
& Walt Selby
[illegible line]
the Custers
Cleared off this
afternoon but [?]
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Saturday 27 – Mrs Campbell & Hester arrived to day – & we made Mrs Campbell
come in & dine as it was raining very hard & we wanted to hear all the
Wilmington news – She succeeded well in disposing of my two parlors
furniture – & brought Hester up with her in the Fayetteville boat
& they remained there five days & then came thro’ Pittsboro to this place.
Mrs Campbell appeared frightened when she heard neither basket
or trunk had reached here – Hester looks wretchedly – & had but
little time to remain here – as Mr Davis the overseer arrived
the same after noon to take them all to Georgia – He left all
well amongst the whites but several negroes were sick & Elizas
boy Prince had died & Richds maid Jane – the things Mrs Campbell
brought from Fayetteville to dispose of were only tolerably pretty
& Mrs Whitings dress was a great disappointment to Eliza – Being entirely
different from what she had heard it was & had been worn –
so she will return it – One set of Collar & sleeve she has kept
they are very handsome. The others not pretty – I am undecided whether
to buy a bonnet for Ellen or not – Jessie & all the negroes went off willing
ly
MSS 6960
Saturday 27–The girls returned & said they were
invited to Mr Sampson’s tonight, but I dont
think they can go-for there is no one to drive
them – Thornton Roger is now at home, & is going
on as absendly[sic] as usual – Edward Mead is
a father. His son was born about a fortnight ago –
Emily is doing well – They propose to call the
babe Henry Zachariah after both its grandfathers-
MSS 4288
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Saturday,December 27th–We were invited to dine at Upper Longwood but shortly before the time for starting Fez drove up in haste saying the Yankees were in Berryville so he had to pack up and be off directly. He and Powell went in the buggy, John on horseback. Oh, when will one rest in peace, when no wars or rumours of wars shall be heard. I was sitting here all alone when Cousin Frank Meade came to the door. I knew immediately something had occurred. He begged me not to be alarmed but Dr. H had had a fall from his horse. He soon appeared. He walked into the house by himself and laid down. Was delirious all night. Oh God, last Saturday Thou dids’t bring me out of great trouble and again today. Oh in Thy great mercy take away this heart of stone and make me truly thankful for Thy many great mercies.
MSS 9759
(No. 7)
Va.
Camp Near Fredericksburg
Friday Dec 26th
Mrs E.B. J. Riley
Dear & Affectionate Wife
I wrote to you last mon-
day but I again seat
myself to drop you a
few lines as it seems
impossible to me to let
but few days pass with
out holding conversation
with my only true
friend xxxxI am still
in good health, anx-
ious that this may has-
ten its way to the object
that absorbs my whole
thoughs, finding her
as she was when I was
restrained to leave
[page 2]
here p. 2. i nthe best
of health but on the
other hand, not afflicted
with grief as was the
case when we parted.
last monday (Dec. 22) while
writing to you, I had
the pleasure of Receiving
your first favor, written
Dec 5, which I partially
Ans’d on at the day of rece=
ption; & which I hope
to do more justice by
in this. I want you to
write to me as often as
possible. this is the seven
th letter I have written
you since we parted.
In order that you may
know whether you get
all my letters or not, I
will number each one
[page 3]
from this on, at the
head of the letter, please
No. yours likewise as you
write them. I am going
to run a big risk by in-
closing some money
in this. the am’t that
I inclose is $50 I see
no other chance to send
it; & it is only in my
way here, therefore here
it goes, “Sink or Swim”
If you need anything
that my present situation
will allow me to accom-
modate you do let me
know it, & I will take a
delight in supplying your
wants, so far as my
ability extends, though
I do not consider you
cruel enough to ask
[page 4]
for more than I am cap-
able of furnishing, which,
on my part never has
nor never will be ask-
ed of you. I have not
drawn any money yet
from the fact that our
Quarter Master is not
in Camp, nor has
not been since I arriv-
ed here, when he comes
I will draw 8 months
wages (qt $11 per mo.) & $50
Bounty. I wrote you
in a previous letter
that D.D. Benson had
paid the note ($50 & in-
terest) that you hold
against him, but fearing
that you have not nor
will not & the letter, I
introduce it again
(see page 5)
[Page 5]
Page 5, asking you,
according to Dorch’s
request, to hand the note
immediately to Mrs. Nancy
Benson. We have not
got our knapsacks yet,
they are at Gordonsville.
I could have gotten
mine as I came through
there, but the cars did
not stop long enough.
My Mess is composed
of the following good look-
ing beef-eaters, Viz. Capt.
Smith, Lt. Walker, Sergt.
Dampeer (& waiting boy Sam)
Sergt. Bishop, Rob. Morris
& Mr. F. L. Riley. I believe
the boys all called yesterday
Christmas, but the mere title
is all that distinguished it
in camp from any other
day, we are putting up very
temporary winter quarters
I & Bob Morris (we sleep together)
[page 6]
completed our Winter’s habita-
tion yesterday with a bout
one hour’s work. we built a
pen about 8 ft. long & five ft.
wide, 5 poles high, leaving it
open at one end, & covering
it with a blankets. I am
now sitting in our tremen-
dous building writing & my
head reaches to the top of it.
but it is very comfortable to
sleep in, i.e. when compar-
ed with our former fare.
we have no chimneys yet.
we do not know how
long we will stay here,
consequently we consider
it useless to make great
preparations unless we
knew how long we
will be allowed to stay here.
Direct your letters as before
until other wise informed.
With sentiments of the highest
esteem I remain yours forever.
F. L. Riley to Mrs. E. B. J. Riley
MSS 7786-f
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Friday
Dec 26
Have been at work on the pay-rolls most
of the day, and they are, thank God about done
Got a check on the sutler today, the first one I have ever
had, and got some butter and candy and dates to nights
as my cough is very troublesome. Have had a hard
days work, but I feel that god will keep me and all will be well.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Milton W. Humphreys of King’s Artillery, as copied and annotated by him in 1893]
26 For
Some time after “Camp Thorn Spring” was established nothing of special
importance occurred. I will simply mention some disturbances &
some changes of noncommissioned officers.–About Christmas a great
many men became intoxicated. by order of Lt. Fowlkes, Capt. Bryan
having gone to Richmond, I arrested Mess No. 1 [the Union boys], and Frank
Robertson and James Dooley. Nothing was done with them.–A day or two
before Bryan went to Richmond, I asked him if he still looked to me for
the $34.50 that he said I must pay back to him when I reported at
camp McCausland. He was astonished seemed not to know what I was talking
about. After an explanation was given he had some faint recollection of what
was transacted at Camp Mc.C. But instead of my paying him 434.50 he
said that he must pay me $15.50.
MSS 1578
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
December Friday 26
I went near P. Royal to shuck
corn. on detail shucked
two wagon loads. retd. to
camp late & found that the
Battery had moved to Brigade
Wash & I walked up. 5 miles.
Cumberland C.H. Dec. 26th
My Dear Father
On Thursday last young
Fitzgerald of the riflemen (who formerly
lived in E O Hunton’s Apothecary Store)
and myself reached this place,
which is to be our head quarters
for the next thirty days at least.
We had intended if possible to
get board at some gentleman’s
private house, at a convenient
distance from this place but
first putting up at the hotel we
soon persuaded our selves that
we cold not well find than here
better accommodations and better
society than with our old land-
lord, who has a very nice fam-
ily consisting in part of two daughters
who sing and play very prettily
[page 2]
on the piano & with whom boardtwo or three ladies from Washing
ton, refugees, among them a Miss
Selden whose acquaintance I had
made last Spring, in Petersburg at
Alexr Dunman”s. Last night
Figzgerald having returned to Peters
burg for instructions, the young ladies
insisted on my going with them to
a frolic at a neighbors house.
Having nothing else to do I was
not at all loth to go. So I went &
had a very pleasant time.
We have not yet commenced
our operations as enrolling officers,
except so far as to post up a few
of our notices. We expect to begin
as soon as Fitzgerald returns. From
what I can learn we will not
have much to do, as there are
[page 3]
comparatively only a few conscripts
in the county and the county is a
small one. Our work will probably be
at an end by the middle of February.
My leg continues to improve. It is
only occasionally that it feels at all
uncomfortable. when my Present detail
is out I have no doubt I will be in
proper condition to return to my regi
ment. But I can but indulge
hope from present prospects that
our difficulties will be in some way
of settlement & there will be no
need for those of us not now in
the field to return to our commands.
The Yankees seem more depressed at
their recent defeat than at any
other they have before suffered & admitted.
they admit too officially a larger
loss than in any other, 15,000
[page 4]
U suppose you have received your
rifle & other articles sent by Col C[?]
ford. If the wagons return again
I will be obliged to you to ask Mother
to send [word lined through] Uncle Jno for me my
velvet vest left at Rockwood when
I was last there. However this does not
make very much difference as I hope
to be able to come up myself soon.
With love to all, Mother the girls
& the little boys and hoping this will
find you well
I remain your Aff Son
Geo. S. Bernard
P.S. P.O. Cumberland C.H. Tell Mary Ann
to write to me. G.S.B.
George Smith Bernard, 12thVirginia Infantry; survived the war, later a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
MSS 7745
Camp in Buckners Neck
December 26” 1862.
My own dear Jennie
In the absence of something better to do
I commence a letter to you. Yesterday James
paid me a visit and remained all night
with me and has just gone. He is well &
in good spirits but like all the rest very
tired of the war, and like the rest thinks
we have some prospect of peace. I cant see
exactly on what ground the opinion is based
but it is some how very generally believed that
the Lincoln party has played out & cant make
another campaign either this winter or next
summer and I believe the opinion is univer-
sal in the army that we will not have
another fight this winter and yet night
and day I hear artilery [sic] firing in the
direction of Fredericksburg. This however
might be kept up for twelve months and
neither do harm or bring on an engagement
The Rappahannock River is a great institution
just now in keeping the peace between the
two Armies. One of the Yankey pickets hollowed
across the river to me yesterday morning
“Burnsides has resigned and McClelland is again
in the field – Look out for yourselves” I who
we replied Yes! But I have stoped [sic] all
talking across the river at least I have
taken steps to do it as far as I can. I
am buisy [sic] fortifying this position and
am inclined to think we will never have
to use them. We had yesterday a grand
XMass dinner & some company to help us
[page 2]
eat it. I expect to return to my old camp to-
morrow having been on duty 7 days and I think
more pleasantly situated than if in camp.
Oh Jennie You dont know how home sick I get. I
cant help sometimes when alone, sitting down and think
ing how happy we will all be when the war is over
and making plans as to what we will all do, at
our little house, and then I cant help feeling very
unsatisfied when I think of our present situation
the uncertain duration of the war and that we
may not be spared to see the end of it. If Mr
Lincoln could be put in the field for a few months
& compelled to take chances for his life & live on
camp diet I am inclined to think he would feel
more like stoping [sic] this unholy war. as it is, his
political life seems to depend on his carrying on the war
and so I suppose we will have to stick to him as long
as he has the means or power to do anything against us
and probably that will be as long as he is president
but I dont think so. I think he is very near his ropes
end and almost in despair. Now is the time for France
If Napoleon will now step forth and say that he
in the name of humanity demands a cessation of the
war – he will succeed and for himself win more in-
fluence & power than five years of successful war
could gain for. In the first place it would make
us his friend – the act would commend him to the
peace party at the North which at the next election will
compose a large majority of that section. it will com-
mend him to all the people of the world who are now
suffering for the want of our cotton and who are
crying out against the war & praying for peace
in this continent. Will he be smart enough to
see it and bold enough to act in the matter – I
fear not, and yet hope he may be up to the occasion
[letter abruptly ends]
“Jennie”, salutation; page 2, line 4 – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.
“James”, line 2 – Jennie’s brother James W. Magruder, 1st Lieutenant, Company K, 2nd VA Cavalry.
“Burnsides”, line 23 – Ambrose E. Burnside, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.
“McClelland”, line 23 – George B. McClellan, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac until relieved in November 1862 when Burnside was appointed.
“Napoleon”, page 2, line 22 – a Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon III, was Emperor of France.
This letter is without a signature; it was written by Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.
[transcriptions and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g
