[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Tuesday
Feb 3
On waking this morning found that it
snowed and the ground was covered
wrote and read most of the day. Sent a letter home.
It cleared off tonight and is a splendid evening,
but quite cold. The moon is almost as bright as
day.
MSS 11293
Camp [?] Feb the 3 63
My Editars I have seane
one or two of you papers
Witch pleased me vure
much the Wold find
a Wide surculation in
our camps if it Ware not
for one artical Whitch is
Headed Cutlines From
the outpost Witch dose
in Sertas other brgadsA the Sat he Says the
Stone Wall brgade dose
all the fiting and nevr
Stagles the Solgars is
hard down in that
artical tell that
Riter fo God Sak to Stop
it I Wich to Hear from
you thro your paper
A Volunteer
[letter from an anonymous Confederate soldier found in the papers of John Esten Cooke, a noted Southern writer, early biographer of Stonewall Jackson, and aide on the staff of JEB Stuart. During the war he sent dispatches to several newspapers under the pseudonym Tristan Joyeuse]
MSS 5295-h
Camp Fifth Maine Vols Near the Rapahanock River Va Feby 3d 1863
Dear Father——-I now sit down to pen y A few lines in answer to
yours of the 14th & 23d which I received on the 26th & should have answered
them at the time of receiving if I had not been on Guard that day, I suppose
you would like to know how many it takes to stand Camp Guard & as I
cannot thing of Much to write I thought I would write & let you know the
number which is thirty to give you A Time table of the relieves which is three
the day relieves stand in the following way, now this is the true time
day time night time table of each relieve which I
1st 9 to 11 1st 9 to 1 suppose will be as interesting to you as
2d 11 ” 1 2d 1 ” 5 anything that I could write what you
3d 1 ” 3 3d 5 ” 9 say about the removal of General Fitz
John Porter Now I will say I do not agree with you about the removal of him
as I consider him one of the best Generals that this Army had & A plaugy site better
one than the one that Filed charges against him Just look & see what he did at
Mechanicsville on the Peninsula & through all them seven days Fight & at
Hanover Court House where he drove the Enemy & captured five hundred
Prisoners Father I believe Fitz John Porter was as true to his Countrys Flag
as any other General in the whole Army & there is no one that will change
my opinion of him or McLellan two of the best Generals that this Army had
has been dismissed from it what for Just for the talk of some old black
abolitionist & nothing more & Just as long as they continue dismissing such
Generals Just so long will this war continue Father I do not like to write any
thing that will make you think that I am discouraged but if you was in the
same place that I am & you had seen the stuff that these two Generals was
made of, I think you would begin to think that this was carried on by A few
money making men, I will now close these few lines by saying that I am well
& enjoying good health which I hope is the same with you & Mother From
your Son Joseph Leavitt P.S. I also received A letter from Lizzie & William
Lizzies was enclosed in yours of the 23d
[Letters of George Leavitt of the 5th New York and Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine were copied into a ledger by their father in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom died in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania]
MSS 66
[from the diary of Captain Zacariah Heed, 91st Ohio]
3.
Fayetteville Va. Tuesday Morning cold and Snowing again wind blowing very hard Ceased Snowing in the afternoon, getting very cold.
MSS 13406
Camp near Fredericksburg
Feby 5th 18863
Dear Sister Harriet
Your letter of the
19th came to hand last
night for which you will
accept my thanks and I take
this opportunity to answer
it although there is nothing
new to write The furious
storm which burst upon
us last week ended up in
a snow storm: which has
made the roads impassible
It is now very cold and it
is very difficult to keep warr
warm in our tents: There
can be nothing done here
for the present that’s certain
and whether there ever
will be is more than I
know: They are divided at
Washington in opinion an
[page 2]
better give up the contest
for it will take time
The rebels have staked every
thing on this contest and
if they lose they lose all
with them it is death or
victory and the sooner
our people understand
it the better it will be
for them; Our army feels
it to be so and certainly
they ought to know a
little some thing about
it. I have almost lost faith
to believe that we should
finnally conquor but if
our people are going to
quarrel among themselves
all is lost: Strange indeed
that it should be sol, but
I humbly bow to the
will of him who doeth
all things all things well
[page 3]
to what it is best to do and
worst of all the people at home
are getting discouraged and
disheartened at our slow
progress. They do not and
cannot understand the
difficulties under which
we labor or the obstacles
with which we have to
contend, if they did I am
persuaded we should not
fear so much complaint
The strength of this rebelion
has not been understood
nor the time which it
will take to put it down
and if our people are
expecting to see this
rebelion put down in a
few weeks they will be
dissappointed and if they are
not willing to wait until
it can be done, they had
[page 4]
and not who cannot err –It is
sometimes hard to believe
this doctrine, but it is true
nevertheless: If we do our duty
God will take care of the
consequences, and although
it may seem mysterious to
us we are bound to accept
it is as right and just
in God. This is my belief and
though it be for the present grevious
it will if we improve it aright
work out for us exceeding joy
I must stop here. Give my love
to all and believe me your
Affectionate Brother
Josiah
PS
Send this to Phebe. I
do not get much time
to write to her
JH Pery
Josiah Perry, Co. K., 33rd Massachusetts
MSS 2137
[from the diary of Sgt. Robert Larimer, Co. C., 62nd Ohio Volunteers]
Tuesday, February 3, 1863
At anchor relieved of guard
Diarrhea prevailing to an
alarming extent – coal
MSS 38-129
[from the signal message book of Lt. Thomas Seabury, 3rd New York Infantry]
Feb. 3d
to Col. Wardrop
A number of your men are in town drunk, You
will allow none to come to town on any pretence
whatever.
(Signed) Genl. Viele
MSS 10781
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Tuesday, February 3rd – A bright day but intensely cold. Cousin John and Maria here
in the morning. In the evening Cousin William Whiting sent over a letter from Fez.
He started for Galveston on the 27th to take position as surgeon on board the Harriet
Jane. I am afraid she will be blown up before he gets there. It is the same boat
on which Mr. Wainwright met his death. Mr. Burton wrote a battle was reported at
Fredericksburg on the 27th but we can hear nothing of it.
MSS 9759
[from the diary of George W.Dabney, clerk of Campbell County]
Tuesday 3d
another snow about 2 in – thawd &
bitter cold wind p.m. – night intensely
cold – wrote Pa about beef to Clement-
patients improving – getting stakes
for fence – gaskets &c – Wm [?]
to post letter & didn’t return at night
uneasy ’bout here
MSS 3315
[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Rev. Ebenzer Boyden, rector of Walker’s Church (later Christ Episcopal), Cismont, Va.]
Tuesday 3rd Maria no better – We cannot get
her to eat a mouthful – There appears, however
no disease – nothing but weakness & langor[sic].
MSS 4288
