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

Wednesday
Feb 4
Very cold to day.  The thermometer
stood at thirty above zero.  Staid in
Halls tent and Proctors most all day

MSS 11293

                                              Stone Hospital Feb 4th
Dear Mother
                       I received your letter today enclosing $5.00
also 6 others from home and 2 from York, Pa. in all
9 letters quite a large mail for me the other letters
are back ones from the Regt Do you think I am
awful saucy to you to say you are black well
it is strange what cheek sogers do put on I
suppose if I was to come home you would
not know what to do with me I should
be so cheeky I want to see slavery removed
from the country as bad as any one as I know
it is through that that this was has been
brought on but I think it might be done
some other way besides killing off all the
whites That is a bully job you name
I shall have to apply for it in time as
it may be taken up Once in a while we
have lady visitors here I have seen one
Mass woman here since I came here a
Mrs Baker of Dorchester and some from
other States every thing here remains lovely
quite a batch started for their regt
from here Monday. I am going to set the
Mass Relief association stirring the mud
about me sometime this week and see
what I can do I guess I shall go down
there tomorrow — Mud is 15 ft more or

[page 2]
less in depth here now I guess it is
less instead of more but no matter it
dont make any difference which    in future
you had better drop the 19th St on your
directions as it causes them to make mistakes
I have had one letter go tot he 19th Mass Regt
   Give my respects to all inquiring
friends and much to yourself and all
                    the rest
               From you aff son
                                  Wm Wallace

William Wallace Smith  Co. B., 22nd Massachusetts Infantry

MSS 15360

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

Wed 4. Very Cold last night. slept but little, called John at
half past four & had fire made – Our poor fellows On
picket must have suffered – Col. D[errom]. has pass to go home
tomorrow –

MSS 12935

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

FEBRUARY 4.
Fayetteville Va   Wednesday Morning, very cold, last night was the coldest we have had this winter, this far.  Snow betwen two and three Inches.  to cold to drill,  Six Four months in Service to day, received Letter from home

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13406

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

Wednesday 4
Cold & rainy weighed anchor
and ran farther up the
river to escape the waves

MSS 38-129

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

Wednesday, February 4 – A third very cold day.  The anniversary of my wedding day
five years ago.  How many, many changes have taken place since that important event.
Many loved ones have passed away.  Outwardly my life is very much the same but alas!
is my inner temple more adorned?  There can be no sameness in the soul’s abode.
Theologians say it must be more defaced of more fitted for the events above.  As the
years roll away I think more of the world than I did then, of its honors, its pre-
ferences.  Do I do my duty by my husband, my children, my brothers, friends?

MSS 9759

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

Wednesday 4th  Sent for the doctor who said Maria’s
attack was hysterical- Two soldiers came in this
morning for breakfast.  They are encamped between us
&Cobham – We had our meal in the chamber & asked
them right in – They appeared well pleased with their
visit – Bitter cold – Some hope of ice if it continues so

MSS 4288

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

Wedn’ Feby 4′
Intense cold Th 12 ° Wm retd with
Lias – Ro. sent money for his steer-
Letter frm Pa last night -has been
confined frm cold is a little better when
he wrote, but gives out coming down
next week as intended – sent fruit
trees, medicine & thread – hauled
wood for Old Mr Rice – Ro. & Jesse im
proving – Provisions furnished a cabin
for Ro. Jes & L. Ann – flour sugar & coffee

MSS 3315

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

June 7
Adeline child of Margaret
born
MSS 3315

no more entries until October 8

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

Wednesday – Very cold, every thing still covered with snow-
But Sarah made out to get here to see me – & sat until
very late – She & her mother are very much pleased with their
new quarters – She says that fare is excellent – their [rooms?] comfortable
& the ladies in the house agreeable & entertaining – The parlor is kept
warm by gas fires this bad weather & they have free access to it at
all times – I am really pleased they have gotten there as Sarah
seems to be recovering her bright looks – & cheerful spirits – that
at the Hotel she was fast losing – We have had fine news
from Charleston – Two of our Gunboats have broken up the
Blockading fleet – Sunk two boats – & took the whole crew
off another prisoners-

MSS 6960