Dumfries, Va.
           Dec. 26, 1862
   The Misses Redman
              Dear Sisters
                                   I im
prove this present morning in
writing you a few lines
You first desire to learn
that I am well and I
can assure you that I nev-
er had better health in
my life.  We sleep out of
doors and enjoy all the
blessings of fresh air
which are many you know
However our tents will
be here to-day and then
we will fare better  The
weather here is very much

[page 2]
like October weather
in Ills.  We have no
snow and the ground
is barely frozen so as
to form a crust on the
surface.  All the ex-
citement caused by
Burnside’s defeat has
nearly subsided and
a universal quiet now
prevails among the
soldiers here.  I can
not see that the troops
which I have been privileged
to pass through since
the defeat are less en-
thusiastic than before
Fredburg all wish for
this war to close gut
we desire an entire
surrender of the enemy.

[page 3]
I should like very
much to be at home
with Mother and you
but I cannot, and I
shall have to be content
ed with staying where
I am. I will write
often so that you may
know that I am nev
er sick as the case may
be. When another battle
will occur I am not
advised Perhaps you had
heard of something being
done before long.  I do
hope there will be and
I want a chance too
I hope next time that
we may march on to
victory and an entire
annihilation of the enemy

[page 4]
Well Girls I  hope
you may fare well
and get along finely
Remember that your
[characters?] depend
upon the habits you
cultivate I hope to
find you enjoying
as good standing in
society as when I left
you to come to the war
Do all you can to pro
mote Mother’s comfort
Em it is best for you
to teach school and Jane
you help Mother at  home.
I want you to tell me
more about Father’s death
Write Soon  With much
love I am very Truly
Your Brother
                    Hank
Jane Redman
Em Redman

William Henry Redman, Co. C., 13th Illinois Cavalry

MSS 7415

                         U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                     off Windmill Point Station &c
                                          Dec. 26  1862

Sir
            I have to report the death of Pedro
Guillermo, Ord Seaman of this Vessel, who
accidently Shot himself, while on boat duty
at the mouth of Milford haven Creed of
Piankatank River
                                       Very Respectfully
                                           Your obt. Servt.
                                (Signed) T.J. Linnekin
                                  Acting Master Comdg
                                             U.S.S. Currituck
E.R. McCrea Esqr.
Lieut Comdg & Adjutant
Potomac Flotilla

MSS 15134

Camp of the Fifth Maine near the Rappahannock River Va Dec 26th 1862

Dear father   I received yours & Williams letter Boath[sic] of them was dated
the 20th which I was verry glad to receive there is A report going round that this Bri
gade is going to Washington to do Guard duty which I hope is so because I think if
there is A Regiment  or Brigade in the Army that ought to have a resting spell
this ought to be the one, I am well & enjoying the same good health I will now try & answer your ques
tions.  About General McLellan, why he did not cross the River I think it was because the
mens clothing is poor, I know that there was not A Man in the whole Brigade that had A
pair of shoes fit for anything I know that I never see the time since I have been in the Poto
mac Army that I was so poor of for[sic] clothing as I was in Maryland, what I mean by being
under fire of the Enemy is this we was drawing upon A line of battle in the centre & their Artil
ery Fire was over us by their having A crossfire on the left & right you say that the Fighting
was mostly done by Artilery there was as much Infantry as Artiley A fighting & I am glad to
that the 15th & 17th Maine Regiments done well & out of one company in the 16th there
twenty one killed & wounded besides the Captain & first Lieutenant I will close this
by saying give my love  to Mother & all enquiring friends I have not seen Daniel Shaw
since I wrote last From you son Joseph Leavitt
P.S. I have no postage stamps & cannot get them, as I have not been paid
off yet, but expect to soon Yours Joseph Leavitt
                                                      I shall send as soon as paid
Call at Fred R Harrisses Hat Store & you will find A letter for
you that Captain Harris carried there he was out here the other day
& started for Home again

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied in a ledger by their father in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his boys both of whom died in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania

MSS 66

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

Dec 26. cloudy – & wind – Pres. thanks Army of Potomac.
makg. arrangements to cross under flag of truce for Townsends
and Moseleys bodies – In hospitals – writing letters to dead, missg.
&c Soldiers friends – Paterson Paper finds fault with Col. & me
for not writing details &c – Col. sent full list abt. week
ago –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

Dec 26th Friday
all right along
the lines this
moringin
E R Brontus the
present of the
Santy Cemater of
Alleghney Couty
Arrived of
Camp to Day
and Same Was here
to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

     Dec. 26th, ’62.
Struck tents & march-
ed about 8 A.M. to-
day, – had to ride in
ambulance; moved
out the Murfreesboro
pike; rained nearly
all A.M. Rosecrans
passed on ahead of
us about 2 P.M.
Heavy cannonading
off to the right, skirmish-
ing in front.
Camped 2 1 m. from La-
vergne; rained all night;
slept in the mud.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

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

Friday, Dec. 26, 1862

Did nothing this
forenoon  Raining
this afternoon helped
a little at the
sheep shed down
by the woods
Rained all forenoon
breaking away some
this afternoon

MSS 10317

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

Friday 26th  Like a Spring day – Received a letter from Liz she sends a
[band?] but says nothing of coming – Mrs Walters & Sarah went to
Church this morning – I never keep St days – Mrs Wingfield
sat the morning with us – Sam Morpus went for Mrs Campbell
to day & I hope she will be here to morrow – Mr Phillips has
been doing business for me to day – For which he charged me
$10-

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden]

Friday 25th  Fanny & Father & I went to call on the
Pages at Cobham Park.  Found them a charming
family.  Miss Ellen & Miss Harriet Branham
came to spend the day – Maria took herself & child
off to Gordonsville this morning, so we have no
dependance but Sarah. But we did very well-
Mr John Lasley came to see father on business
this evening – We were much pleased with him.
Lilla & Fanny went to a little party at Mr
Rober Lewis’ & had to stay all night.

MSS  4288