Fort Gains    Feby 5th 1863                     
My Dear Wife –
                             Your favor of the 4 Inst was handed
me by Benie – You did not make a very grievous
mistake in applying Col to Reeves – for he was
Lieut Col when in Eufaula last summer and
when a man once becom has a big title it
is a hard matter for him to ever loose it –
                             Try and get My Coat back
from V Eals – I was a little sick last
night but feel bright this morning –
                                      Yours Affectionately
                                               W.H.L.

     12 OClock at Night Fort Gaines   Feby 5th 1863                      
My Dear Wife –
                        As My Night for posting and relieving
guard has again rolled round and no chance to
take a nap I have concluded to write to you again
trusting that in the plenitude of your goodness of
Heart and Superabundance of charity – you will
pardon me for intruding my reflections upon you
so often – My only apology for doing so however rising
from the fact; that; when I am all alone; every body
asleep and no body to talk to here; My Mind naturaly
turns toward Home and its endearments – I love to tell
you of my midnight thoughts while the guardian angel
is watching over and protecting you while sweet repose
from all troubles, rest Calmly and serenely upon
Your peaceful brow – Bless the thought! What a
Consolation, – How Charming the Idea – that there is
a “God” who rules and governs – but even takes Cognizance
of the little sparrow that falleth to the ground –
                        How delightful then the reflections that
even “Hercules” himself though powerful in
strength was as powerless in the sight of the “Great
I am” as the little aspin leaf that flutters in
the breeze – Then sleep on my Dear Wife; be not
disturbed or dismayed if you should be
aroused from your quiet and ease by the Moaning
winds as they pass swiftly by – Thy Bedside is
surrounded by that Heavenly and “God” like angel
Whose presence none dare hinder or make afraid
I also feel assured that My Dear little Children
while Sweetly and affectionately wrapped
in the arms of Morpheus they are also watched
over and protected by him who doeth all things
for the best.  As you are aware “Benie”  spent
last Night here – I am sorry that I could not be
with him [-] longer – but such are the fates of
War that Man Cannot always do as they would
like to – I am going Home next week if there

[page 2]
is any Chance to get off – Bray and myself
are the only officers here and if Lieut Roberts does
not return pretty soon we will write ourselves furloughs
and go Home –
Buford left to day on the
Str “Indian” also Mrs Dr Haddock formerly Miss
“Carrie McDowell” – We are having some
pretty rough weather for our business   Cold   Windy
& Rainy – I stand it very well because I am all the
time in the House by a rousing big fire – In fact none
of our men are exposed much –
                        Good by     Your affectionate Husband –
                                                                          W.H.L.

William H. Locke, Eufaula Minutemen, later 7th Alabama Cavalry

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 13485

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

Thurs 5.  Snow changed to rain moderated at night
Col. D. went home – vist. hos. &c   Got orders for
9th A.C. to Sail for Fortress Monroe without delay
3 days rations – under Gen W. F. Smith to report to
Pleasant letter fr. Mr H. “Wm. sails for Cuba”
Mr. Evans’ writes to know if I will accept call to
Cong. ch – ansr. not unless unanimous, don’t know
about it even then.  Wrote Col. & Mr H. & Mr Evans
than unless call was unanimous I could not entertain it –
if it was I would see – retired late

General William Farrar Smith, head of the VI Corps at Fredericksburg
General John Adams Dix, commander at Fort Monroe

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935 

[from the diary of Captain Zachariah Heed,  91st Regiment Ohio Volunteers]

5.
Thursday.  Fayetteville Va   a wind Storm last night.  very Severe, this morning two Canon left for Piatt,  yesterday evening and Afternoon moderating very fast.  Snow all gone.  everything quiet in camp.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS13406

                   Head Quarters 15th Regt C.V.
              Camp opposite Fredericksburg
                       (No 20)          Feby 5th  [1863]
Dear Brother George.                      
                                       I just received
your letter No 13 this evening and
am going to answer it right away
as we received marching orders
this evening and I may not have
another chance very soon – The
9th Army Corps is ordered to report
at Fortress Monroe so that our
Regt will go with to rest,  we
shall start just as soon as it is
pleasant as it has been raining
and snowing for 3 or 4 days and
is very stormy yet but we shall take
transports at Aquia Creek probably
and have a puking old voyage
down but I like the idea very

well any thing to get out of this
awful miserable place but we
had got very nicely quartered here
so that we were quite comfortable
but I am glad we are going
into a little warmer climate
I have a great desire to see
Fortress Monroe and now I have
got a chance to go and Uncle
Sam to pay my expences [sic].  Phil
Chapin Col’s orderly left Camp
on a furlough of 10 days Monday
morning and will stop at
the Bank before he returns
this movement put a stop to
all further furloughs for the
present     I dident [sic] know but
that I should get one and
just come home for a week or
so but it is all up now for
the present.   We have had a
great deal of bad weather

lately and it has been dreadful
muddy but the ground is frozen
up pretty tight now only to
stay so for a day or two and
then thaw out and make all
the more mud..    Eugene is
down at Aquia Creek in the
General Hospital there.   I heard
that he was clerk in the
hospital but haven’t heard from
him yet – wrote him the
other day.        Tell Father to
hurry up my boots and send
them as soon as possible
   Tell Johnson that those said
Gloves belong to a Mr. J. H. Howard
that has gone to the war just
where he ought to be,, but let
he take them if you want to.
    How do you like the organ
tell me all about it in your
next letter     is it in a good

nice frame and all about it
     How is every thing in the old
town?  How does Fathers school
get along?   Did Hen Wilcox [?]
get a letter from me,  yes
ask him.
      Nothing else to say
this time.
     love to all – in a big
hurry – Your affect
                        brother
                            Jim

James Howard, 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668

[from the diary of Sgt. Robert Larimer, Co. C., 62nd Ohio Volunteers]

Thursday 5
Continues cold and stormy
wrote a letter to C. W. Larimer

MSS 38-129

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

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

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

Thursday, February 5th – It was snowing when I awoke this morning and has continued
ever since. I scarcely recollect such a bitter spell.  Dr. H as usual made his
rounds.  He brought a paper, the Pine Hills, yesterday, full of Yankee boasting.
Verily they ought to be called a nation of contradictions. Burnside has left the
army with disgust at not accomplishing anything yet on their progress towards
Washington, declared, “The army is a good one, they can win a victory almost any
day they choose.  If properly wielded they can administer a most crushing defeat
to the Rebels, drive them pell mell to Richmond and capture that wicket city.”
Gen. Franklin, who was one of the defeated generals in the late battle of F, in
his farewell to the army (from which old Abe has withdrawn him) exhorts them by
the memories of many battles and the proud recollection they have never been driven
from any, to fight gallantly in the future.  I also trust these memories will in-
spire them to do likewise on every debatable ground.  Gen. Hooker desires to take
the contract for begging the whole Rebel army, infantry, cavalry and artillery.  He
is spoken of as a fighting man, predicted he will move immediately to victory or
defeat.  God grant the latter.  I cannot think we have much more to fear from people
whose seat of government presents the disgraceful scenes that Washington does.
Robert I. Walker, one of their legislators, declared that the Union is going to
ruin with railroad rapidity unless the finance bill is amended, no power earthly
or divine can save or even help.  This is certainly a comforting view of things.
Their Secretary of War has authorized a raising of black regiments in Massachusetts.
Wendell Phillips, Gov. Andrews and W. Bird etc., have been engaged in this mission.
They report large bodies of troops at New Market.  If so, I trust our release
is near at hand.

MSS  9759

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

Monday 5′
Snow again – 4 in – Cold
Dick Clement down to pay $250 , &
take the steers – staid to din & gave
C.H. news.  wrote Pa about Ellen’s hire
bond ready to be paid – Ro & Jesse impg

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

 MSS 3315

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, rector of Walker’s Church (later Christ Episcopal), Cismont, Va.]

Tuesday 5th  Last night we were all sitting in Ma’s
room round a blazing fire trying to keep out the
biting cold when Susan popped her head in & said
Mr Boyden there’s a gentleman out here wants to
see you. “O, some soldier”, we all exclaimed, “let’s
send him away!” Father went out, & returned
almost immediately saying, “It is Mr Mountjoy.”
We all exclaimed with delight – It was decided to
ask him right into the chamber, & in he came
It was really refreshing to see him – so bright &
lovely as his face is – He was glad to get to the
fire, no doubt, having ridden from beyond Gor=
donsville.  He came up on purpose to see us – but
his visit was made to Lilla especially, for he did
not know she was absent – & expressed regret that
it was so – I fear he has missed her greatly today
it storms without – the cold still continues, & it is
dismal – Celestine & I entertained him with music
& reading &c, but I think he had not a very
pleasant day – I was surprised to make the dis=
covery that he has lacks a thorough education – for
he is certainly a gentleman, every inch of him – &
a graceful, agreeable & handsome one at that-

MSS 4288

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

Wednesday 5th  A fresh fall of snow in the night – & it is now
so cold that we all find it impossible to keep warm with
a double supply of clothes & sitting by a good fire – I never felt
weather like it before – Eliza Mallett has just arrived from
Raleigh – She says they kept from freezing by having warm
bricks in the buggy – & by wrapping up head & ears – [?]
was left – I have been busy sewing all morning – Have made
a flannel coat – & the after noon sat down stairs with
the family & knit – After tea finished off a pr of socks
for Max – No letters for me to day-

MSS 6960