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

Tuesday 3d  When we awaked this morning to our great astonishment we found
that it had been snowing all night – & the ground in some places also covered
to the depth of 4 feet – Anica is snow bound she cant return to her mis
-tress – I received a letter from Lize to day – She is worried at not hearing
from me – When I have written her twice – & Captn Mason once – &
forwarded him two letters – She is still pleased with her boarding house
says Mr & Mrs Koskingy are as kind to Mr Mason & herself as tho’ they
were their children – That the Captn has hired a Piano for her &
she has had several visitors – Dined out one day at Mrs Hargraves
& rode in to town to shop with Mrs Koskingy – But found nothing
to buy – She sent me two very sweetly written letters to read which
she had received from Captn Mason’s mother & sister welcoming her
very affectionately to their family – I will copy the old lady’s
                                                 Jany 16th 1863 Richmond
Yesterday’s mail brought me a letter from my beloved Son, dated on the 11th inst
which informed me that on the following day he was to be a happy mar
-ried man, & would give me another daughter wh. I could love & cherish
as one of my own.  Trusting that his anticipations have been realized
& that he & his Wife have safely arrived at Columbus – I hasten
to send you My Dear Eliza my cordial, & affectionate salutations, &
to welcome you to our family circle with the assurance that you
will find yourself adopted mother & your new brothers & sisters fully
prepared to contribute to your happiness by every kindness & every re
-gard for your wishes which their appreciation of you & their affection
for my Son can possibly dictate. I sincerely regret that we have been
compelled to postpone the gratification which a visit from you would
have afforded us had circumstances permitted your husband to bring
you to Richmond.  But I earnestly hope that ere long I may have
the opportunity of cementing by personal intercourse the tie
which has made me      your affectionate mother
                                                            E M Mason

MSS 6960

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

Monday
Feb 2
Rained this forenoon but cleared off
about eleven and is now clear and
cold.  Read some this forenoon and ate some of
Halls walnuts and played gammon.  this af-
ternoon washed my clothes.  This evening com-
menced a letter home.  Morton got his discharge
papers to-day.  Southie went home this morning
Talked with Luther Clark on religion some to-day.

MSS 11293

[written on a U.S. Military Telegraph form]

camp near franklin
Delia feb the 2 1863
Dear frend  I take my pen
in hand to write you a few lines
to let you no that you I am well
hoping these few lines may finde you
all well I recived your letter of the
18 and was glad to here that you
was all well I was glad to here
that you got a letter from E L J

[paper torn in two obliterating most of next line]
      was sorry to that here that
he was porley  I got one letter
from him since I ben here I rote
him on the 24 Jan  I donte like
to stay here at tall we had a
battle and we larst our colnel
poge peet [burnard?] had his foot
shot but the docter sed his
foot wold have to be cut off
but I hope it will not haveto
be done I wasnt in the battle
I was in camp wyth the bagge
I want to come home verry but
I dont no when I can I want to see

[page 2]
    fedruary the 3 1862
I will tell you about the wether
it is raining here this morning
fast and cold I thought of the
woman folks thies morning what
hard times that see sutch wether
as this I herd this morning that
peet Daven[?]    foot was cut foo[sic]
the 2  I herd no news to rite
theis time I will close by say
ing Excusing my bad writing
and spelling your frend un
            till death

        H A H to
                 D B Jessup

[in margins around page one]

To yancy and persilluh [?] but yancey you must plant a
heap of potatos I think [?] and
we will be at home by that time  this is my own hand rite
and it is the first letter I
Ever rote

Colonel Thomas Poague, 50th Virginia, was killed in action at Kelly’s Ford, January 30, 1863

Henry A. Hefflefinger, Co. K, 50th Virginia to Delilah P. Jessup

MSS 13257

                                                         Richmond Feby 2nd 1863

Dear Sir [Edmund Ruffin]

                 Your letter dated Jany 22nd post marked 24th was
received on the 29th with your check for $300 attached, with the
request that I would invest it for you in Confederate States
8 pr cent loan.  This you will perceive by the date of the scrip
(which I now enclose) was effected on the 30th and bears interest
from that date inclusive.  The morning papers are filled with
the most encouraging news.  The opening of the port of Charleston
is the most  brilliant achievement of the war, and in its
far reaching consequences cannot be easily calculated. It is a
matter of congratulation that this signal success has been
reserved for South Carolina, as the supreme hatred with which
she is regarded by the Yankees will give point and poignancy
to the humiliation and shame which he has inflicted upon
them.  Can it be that England & France will be so pusillan
imous as not to inforce[sic]  the advantages which ensure to them
under the just interpretation of the law of nations by the
raising of the blockade?  We shall soon see.
                                                          Yours, very truly
                                                                Chs [Z.?] Williams

MSS 3026

                             U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                             Indian Creek Va
                                   February 2d 1863
Sir,
        Will you please inform me if I am
to destroy the SawMill & Lumber at Dividing
Creek. You informed me you required some
of the Lumber, and I do not wish to
destroy it until I hear further from you.
                          Very respectfully
                               Your obt. Servant
                                   T. J. Linnekin
                                     acting Master Comdg

E.R. McCrea Esqr
  Lieut Comdr & Adjutant
     “Potomac Flotilla”

MSS 15134

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

Monday 2
At anchor – numbers of steamers
increased to 25 on guard—
Very pleasant night cool

MSS 38-129

[from the diary of Samuel S. Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

                                Feb. 2nd

On the 20th, the Left Grand Division (Franklin’s)
received marching orders, and early on the 21st,
the army commenced to move.  At one P. M we
left camp, and at five P. M. encamped on the
right of the army.  About 7. P. M. a cold and
disagreeable rain storm set in, which lasted
all night.  I was washed out of my bed and
after freezing all night trying to keep a fire
warm I succeeded in dozzing off to sleep, when I
was just beginning to become comfortable, I was
turned out to the very agreeable job of harness
-ing up a pair of horses with a wet, cold, stiff
and a frozen harness.  Oh, wasn’t it delightful!
After an hour’s work, where it usually took only
fifteen minutes, we mannaged to get hitched
up, but it was ten A. M before we got
started out of camp.  Our horses were so
chilled through, that it took twenty eight
horses to move some of our carriages, and
even after once getting started, we were obliged
to be continually doubling up our teams, in
order to keep in motion.  The country all
around was a perfect sea of mud.  All
along the road parts of batteries, reg’t.
baggage trains, pontoon trains, and every
material of war was stuck fast;  some of
the carriages were sunk out of sight in

the mud, dead horses, and mules perfectly completely
paved the road.  Oh, did’nt we have a good
time!  About six P. M., we managed to get
our pieces into a kind of camp, our cassions
were ordered to return to our old camp, the
mud being so deep that the roads are unfit
for traveling:  we moved back about one mile,
and went into camp, where we remained
two days;  until the remainder of the Army
had countermarched by us; we then again took
up our line of march, and after two days very
hard pulling through mud up to our waists,
we got back to our old camp again, pretty well
played out and as hungry as bears.  Gen’s
Burnside and Sumner have at their own request
been relieved from command, Gen Franklin by
order of the President, Gen Hooker has been
appointed to command the Army of the Potomac.
On the 28th had a severe snow storm.  The weather
has been cold and unpleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Edwards Dawson]

MSS 8493

Fort Gains – Feby 2nd 1863   4 Oclock in the morning    
          My Dear Wife.
                                  This being my night to post
and relieve guard at the Battery every two hours
precludes the possibility of my sleeping any at
all – And having read my Bible untill my eyes
are weary and tired of following its finely
printed pages – I have concluded to lay aside that
good book for the present – and refresh my mind
with the delightful task of  jotting you a few
lines –
 I will however commence this leter [letter] without
making a verry lengthy prelude by relating to
you a verry pleasing little incident which happened
last evening and of which I was a happy recipient
     In company with J.M. Burford and J S Callaway
about 4 Oclock walking along on the beautiful bluff
which Nature it would seem intended for some nice
purpose and on which our Battery is situated – we
came up to where there were standing these lovely
and neatly dressed young Ladies – upon a nearer
approach I discovered that they were the same three
that frequently visited us doing our exercise in
heavy artillery – Having satisfied ourselves of this
fact – I proposed that we venture up and introduce
our selves in as much as young men in and around
Fort Gains were verry Scarce – The proposition was readily
acceeded to by C & B and I tell you for about an
Hour I had a most excellent and animating time.
                                  The names of the young Ladies are
two Miss Tennill’s and a Miss Burnett – You must
not think because I am enjoying myself with the
Young Ladies of Fort Gains that I am looking for a
second wife – this fortunate occurrence will probably
not happen again for months to come – but – rest
assured if it does I shall always be in for
one chance with the best of Motives –
     We told the Young Ladies notwithstanding
we were married men we still loved to
associate with them – and more especially

[page 2]
when we were absented from Home and its charming
attractions – I have just bought 175 lb Sugar  tolerable
brown at 30 ¢   I will try and manage some way to get
it Home in a few days – Kiss all the Children for
me –                    Your affectionate Husband
                                                           W. H. Locke
[Written in pencil on page 2  is the following:]
P S     Feby 3  1863
     Your letter dated Sunday
has Just Come to hand
Let “Louis” finish pain-
ting the Dining Room
as we first designed
it will cost but little
more and will be much
better than to have it
half finished – 
                          W.H.L.

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

MSS 13485

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

2.
Camp Fayetteville Va   Monday Snow is melting fast with considerable rain, this morning.  Afternoon,  Snow all gone, have been Franking Letters and Valentines very near all Day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13406

[from the signal message book of Lt. Thomas S. Seabury, 3rd New York Infantry]

Feb. 2d
       To Col. Wardrop
               The Provost marshal
                is letting parties have one
                 and two sacks of salt
                 today It is all right.
                                   (Signed) Genl Viele

MSS 10781