[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk of Campbell County]
Dec” 25 Christmas
Clear & pleasant
paper, envelopes & to
Cous: Blair – note from
Cous. Betsy – Lias back
letter from Pa about Lucy
Anns wedding – forbid a
ceremony by me – fears
(groundless) excited by C.H.I.
thwarted again –
Wd & neph visiting
ano. letter from Pa on wedding
MSS 3315
[from the diary of Mary S. Boydon of “Hopedale,” Albemarle County, Va.]
Thursday 25th A lovely day–The roads are so good
that most of us walked to chruch. I did not go
at all but stayed with J.L. Sent a package to
the soldiers of four pair socks & three pair gloves-
In the afternoon received a box from Jrs Wellington
Gordon containing a beautiful bonnet Y pair of
undersleeves. We have got several presents of flour
&c, & Charlotte sent a turkey. God is so good to
us!
MSS 4288
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Thursday 25th Christmas Day – Professor Hubbard gave us a fine sermon
to day – The Congregation was large – & the church very prettily dressed
with evergreens – When we returned home we found a very
nice Christmas dinner – & after dinner we received more
dessert from different families – The negroes have been more
merry than the whites – But take it all in all it has been extreme
ly dull until to night when the young ladies & gentlemen got up
a cotillion or two & danced a little by the Piano – Mrs Walters & Sarah
paid a visit this afternoon but I have been busy sewing ever
since dinner – Eliza has been altering my bonnet into a more
fashionable shape – & I have written two long letters – Eliza recei
-ved two this morning – one from Captain Mason who is feeling
sad & badly at her delaying her marriage longer – But she was
obliged by the many disappointment she has met with in
her wardrobe to do it – A fortnight will soon pass – & then
she will think it was all for the best – Joes letter was not
very cheering – 8 negroes were down sick – 3 or 4 ill
with Pneumonia from exposure without shoes or thick
clothing – None to be had at any price – His house is not yet
finished – & he has given his sister some advice which I
hope she will follow, & that is to have her property made
over to her before she marries -But I fear she wont do it –
Sarah has gone to her room to write to Fred – & I am writing
also – Mrs Johnston’s sister Mrs Smith has arrived–
MSS 6960
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday, Dec. 25, 1862
Did nothing this
forenoon on act of
rain Went this
afternoon up to
Mrs [Gaults?] for Sarah
remained there for
supper Came home
ate in the evening
Raining hard roads very
mudy
Wrote letter & sent
it to [Herv?] Templeton
Raining most of
the day
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Christmas day, 1862
The most quiet one I ever spent. Cousin John Page, Fez and myself dined here quietly. No other visitors through the day. No Yankees have yet appeared in our neighborhood, though said to be still in Winchester.
MSS 9759
[from the diary of Joseph A. Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee of the Quartermaster dept.]
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Wednesday
Dec 24
Thursday night was one of the most
uncomfortable nights I ever spent
and I did not sleep any it was so cold, but
Friday morning I got up and ate a little breakfast
and then started on again. We passed by Kinston
about noon and stopped to eat dinner
about two. The boys shot a pig and I broiled
a piece and ate it with some hard tack, and
drank some coffee and pricked my blisters
and started on. We stopped about five and
encamped near the forks of the roads in a
good place. Here we found quite a number
of dead rebels. Saturday we went as far as
the woods about eighteen miles from Newbern
where we staid that night. It was very cold
so that it froze hard. I ate a little piece of
raw salt beef for supper with some hard tack
and coffee and got through the night after
a fashion. Sunday morning we started in good
spirits and reached Newbern about two o’clock
and there found a mail had come in
and were sorry to hear that Burnside had
been defeated at Fredericksburg. I got two let-
ters from home, and about five we had to go back
to our picket camp which we did with rather
hard feelings that we were obliged to march
so far for nothing, but I was glad to get back
and George and I thanked God together.
Monday I did not do much but fix up a
little and Tuesday we moved our camp into camp
Oliver and Wednesday were fixing up our
tents. The eighth boys had used our things
pretty hard and cut a hole through the top of
our tent but we sewed it up and put a patch
over it.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Frank Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
Wednesday 24
I walked to Port Royal
this evening
24th Decr 62
“Merry Christmas” to you all
dear Georgia! I only wish you
were near enough to receive such
greetings in person, it might in
truth make us have a “merry” time
-As it is-I repeat the old salutation
with the lips-but my heart is
not with it as of yore-I wish
the children & servants to be happy
& in truth everyone else who can,
but it seems strange & unnatural
now-for us to be gay. Joe came
yesterday & brought young Cohen
of Savannah with him–son of
Mr Solomon Cohen-he seems a
nice young man & very well
brought up-but a regular Jew
in appearance–Willy Cocke, who
rooms with Joe, also came, but
has now gone to Upper Bremo
where his mother is
[page 2]
Father returned from Richd
esterday where he went to hear
the particulars of the Battle.
Tom Tucker was severely woun
ded in the knee & is at Col
Morris in a precarious state.
I trust he may be spared; he
is such a noble fellow. Father
says no one can tell the horror
that the people had to endure
in Fred’g. Wm Little has lost
Every thing, both at Boscobell
& in Town–Cousin Lou told
him that the accumulation of
years was all gone! – Betty
Conway had three shells to burst
in her little house. De has in=
vited Betty & herself up here for a
while & they will come some
time during the winter. To him
do you wing your flight? – De
has been expecting to hear con
stantly – I had postponed my
[page 3]
visit to Danville more than a
month on account of the chil
dren & Father-& shall now
certainly go after Christmas
holidays–I was fearful that
the bairns would take Diph-
theria & I not be here to nurse
them-but they have escaped-
so far – I really think they
will not have it at all–I am
in hopes Father will let [B?]
return home tomorrow – though
you know we are very careful
about him. Father says the
Yankees did all sorts of things
in Glo’ster = destroyed & carried
off in a manner they have never
done there before – [Went?] to the
Rectory & tried to take Mr
Mann’s hogs – when his man
George vowed they should not
touch them & took an axe
& said he would strike the
[page 4]
first man that did. They
threatened to shoot Mr Mann
when he said “Shoot away,
I am as ready to die as I ever
will be & my days are but few-
But ye are not soldiers – but
cowardly thieves,” —Willie
was there, but escaped on
the horse into the woods–
Belle Tabb brought Mr Dugan
through their lines – as an ill
Lady in the carriage – & was so
solicitous about her (Mr D) that
they let them by. Ran & George
Mann had started for Glo’ster
when they came upon the
Yankee pickets without knowing
it – they fired at them when
but a few paces off – but the Boysescaped got into the bushes unhurt
a providential escape—
Mr Templeman started from home
[page 5]
with forty hogs & met the Yankees
at Mr Curtis’ gate – where they
relieved him of them! – he was
just in time for them.
Their cavalry fed upon Mr
Kemps for some days – when he
became up to Ri’d on
his way to Petersburg where he
intends remaining for the war –
“Robbins Neck” as usual esc
-aped & its citizens are as
tranquil as usual. Phil
Taliaferro & Ned his in the
woods for four days – they were
down there. Ran has gone to
Fred’g with Ned – he will be
with him. — De says she has
given up her trip to Lynch
burg for you – & will now wait
[page 6]
til you come – I would be so
glad if you could do it before I
leave – I do not know what day
Father goes South, but it cannot
be very far off now. De & I have
been as busy as bees working
for the children & servants, making
Xmas presents. you would laugh
to see some of them. We expect
a box with some things from
Lynchburg this evening – with
some trifles – but fear they will
‘not come – I wish Bryan &
Dan were here to look for Old
“SantiClaus” with the children.
Kiss then for me & give best love
to the Dr & Ella for me – I wish
them both “a happy New Year” –
Tell the Dr there has been farms
for sale over in Cumberland &
he should have looked better-
I wish you could get near us.
Mrs Dr Gibson is at [?]ville
[page 7]
her little daughter who
is ill with typhoid fever – the
child goes to school to cousin
V- Brooke – Nannie [?]
intended paying Mr Brooke
a visit this Xmas – & I wrote
to her to come here, but I
suppose she was afraid of
diphtheria as she has not
done so — Do write to me
as soon as you get this so
I may hear from you before
I go to Danville. You will
come as soon as you cam. –
Cousin V Brooke likes [?]
so much! – God bless you
Your own Sister
F[rances] T[ucker] Carmichael
All send love–
MSS 2118-a
to Georgia Bryan Grinnan, 1837-1912, wife of Andrew Glassell Grinnan, 1827-1902
Camp in Buckners Neck
Xmass Eve 1862
My own dear Jennie
I sent you a letter by mail this morning
but I have unexpectedly met with an opportunity
to send you one by Mr Jones who promises to deliver it
to you which I think will be earlier than my letter
by mail, so here goes for another but what to say I
dont know for I said almost everything I could think
of in the letter just sent of this morning.
Well this is XMass Eve. In times of peace at home
I would have been required by you & the children
to spend this day in your service I would have
been very buisy [sic] doing all sorts of things and
buying all sorts of notions so that the morrow
might be indeed a merry XMass to my treasures
As it is I am here in camp and you are far
away over the mountain in our Valley home
You must have your XMass in your way and
I must have mine at best I can. And al-
though I am detached from the Division on a
line of pickets yet we are arranging for
a XMass. We have a duck & chicken, have
a pudin [sic] engaged for dinner, have had for
four days past oysters & will have them
tomorrow & some other good things to eat
[page 2]
and to cap the climax we are to have an
Eggnog that is as much as a pint of whiskey
will make which will be a very small allow-
ance for a s large party like ours. I am just
as pleasantly situated here as I could be in
the army and would just as soon remain here
as any other place, away from you. I hope
you will all enjoy a pleasant XMass, but
I am afraid it will be lonesome. I have just
seen to days papers giving an account of the
dissentions and horrors & disappointments of the
Lincoln Government. What it will all come
to I cant imagine. They are certainly in greater
despondency than they have ever been at
any past time and with it all admit
that they have no hope of raising a new
army while we know that the present ar-
my is utterly demoralized – the privates are
perfectly free to admit that they are tired
of the dirty work and are not willing to
fight any more if it can be helped. My pickets
& the Yankeys are on the most familliar [sic] terms
and I find it impossible to keep the men
from crossing and recrossing the River. they
bid each other good morning across the River
& pass the complements of the morning and
when no officers are present cross over and
swap tobacco for Sugar Coffee & whiskey
[page 3]
The Yankeys in every conceivable way manifest
an earnest disposition to wind up the war and
go home & hesitate not to admit that they cant
whip us & there is no use trying. Thus it is unless
the yanks can raise a new army they cant expect
to accomplish much more towards our subjuga-
tion and will soon be compelled to give it up. If
we are forced into another campaign next sum-
mer they will find our resources equal at the
least to theirs. One thing I know to be true, we
have to day more men in the field than we ever
had before – for notwithstanding the arms we
have imported & captured we now have be-
tween 30000 & 40,000 unarmed men actually
in the field – they are almost all in the west
but we had before the last fight 4,000 unarmed men
in this army. This you must not speak of, I only
mention it to show that in men we are not de-
ficient at any rate. I dont think the North
with all the dissentions existing among them
can possibly have recuperative power enough to
enable them to put in the field next spring as
good an army as they had last spring while
ours will in every respect be better & stronger
This they will possibly find out in the next
two months and if so we may look out for an
armistice which will last during the summer
and terminate with a final settlement.
[page 4]
Our situation is a remarkable one just now. I dont
believe that even Genl Lee knows the exact position
of the Yankey army Genl Hampton has again
been looking after them & Genl Stuart will
if he is not now be feeling their sides in a day
or two. I have just been in Dr Campbells tent
and found him, Adjt Kisling & our cook buisy [sic]
making a pound cake & Egg-Nog for tomorrow
they were in big ernest [sic] & seem to have no
doubt but that it would be first rate – which I
expect it will be, if it is not spoilt in baking
which I fear it will be as it is now raining.
Boys & men do curious things in camp, dont
they? Kisling says when they finish the cake
they intend to bake some ginger cakes also.
I am curiously anxious to hear from you I cant
imagine why I dont get your letters for I know
you write two or three times a week any how –
yet I have not recd a line since the 13” of this
month. But it is in no use to talk about it we
must grin & endure it as long as the war lasts
and be only the happier when it is over
if we are spared to meet each other under
such favorable circumstances. And now
my darling I wish you all a Merry
Merry X-Mass and bid you a most affectionate
good night, & May God in his mercy bless
you all Ever yours
ETHW
“My own dear Jennie”, salutation – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.
“the children”, line 9 – Warren had three at the time – his oldest daughter seven year old Lizzie, his six year old son James M., and his youngest daughter ten month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.
“our Valley”, line 15 – Shenandoah Valley.
“the Division”, line 18 – Warren’s 10th VA Infantry served in Taliaferro’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
“the River”, page 2, line 24 & 25 – Rappahannock River.
“Genl Hampton”, page 4, line 3 – Wade Hampton III from South Carolina, Confederate general, commanded a brigade in the cavalry division of the Army of Northern Virginia.
“Genl Stuart”, page 4, line 4 – James Ewell Brown JEB Stuart, Confederate general, commanded the cavalry division of the Army of Northern Virginia.
“Dr Campbell”, page 4, line 6 – Joseph L. Campbell, Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry.
“Adjt Kisling”, page 4, line 7 & 14 – Whitfield G. Kisling, Adjutant, 10th VA Infantry.
“ETHW”, page 4, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.
[transcript by John P.Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g
