[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk of Campbell County]
28 Jan’ Wedn’
Snow last night and all to-day
ground wet – cold Th. 36° m.
Stripping Tobacco, & burning
hickory for ashes to put on meat –
Dr L. to see Jesse, is severe case of
cold – left med – which gave –
Wrote [Pa?] & A.G. Hancock to send
by Lias, but weather prevents going
Wrote also by mail to D. Manning
about collection of clerks receipts –
Lias & cart kept fm going up to Town
MSS 3315
Fort Tillinghast Va Jan 18th/63
Dear Wife
Your welcome letter of the
22d Jan I recieved last night, I can imagine
how you looked and how the “sitting
room” looked when you were writeing,
I wish I was there this afternoon,
I am very glad to hear that you and
the children are so well, God grant
that you may continue so, I am
also perfectly well, and hearty and hope
to continue so, My chills have left
me entirely, I took about a dozen
doses of Quinine, and it drove them
away quickly, I dont think they will
return very soon, if they do I shall
try them with more of the same
medicine, Quinine, I suppose you
know is made of Peruvian Bark, and
of course must be a good medicine,
[page 2]
We are having some very dirty
and disagreeable weather Yesterday it
rained all day, and this morning it
commenced to snow about two o’clk
and has been snowing all day, very fast,
it melts on the ground however, nearly
as fast as it falls, the mud is ancle
deep almost, it is now about the time
of year to have a good deal of rainy
weather here,–You ask me why
I signed my name to that bill, Why
shouldn’t I: You cannot collect it, if
my name is not signed to it unless
you send it back to me, I did it
to save trouble, can you not tear
off my signature, from the bottom
of the bill, can’t you make out ano-
there bill just like the one I sent you,
It makes no differance who makes out
a bill.. I have a duplicate of the one I sent
[page 3]
you, which is not receipted, I will send
you that if you want me to, but I
dont think there is any need of doing
so, I’ll do just as you say however, In answ-
er to your question (Have you not made the
bill rather large?) I answer, No! I have made
the bill just as it should be, and the amount
is what is lawfully due me, to say nothing
of interest, Again I say, if my name at the
bottom of the bill is, or will be, any imped
iment to you, in your undertakings, tear
it off, or make out another bill, I lose
none of Earps company, now that he is
Lieut., any more than I did before, I am
as familiar with him and he with me, as
ever, You want me to tell you truly how
I am, Well! I have told you truly in the first
part of this letter, and, is there anything I need
in Lynn, Yes! there is, but you could’nt send
what I most need. You would have to come
[page 4]
yourself and bring them, I mean my own
dear wife and little ones, I am very well
contented however, to know that my dear
ones are in good health and are pleasantly
situated, and want for no food, clothing
or fire, as many poor soldiers dear ones
do, I thank God that we are as well situ-
ated as we are,–Those skins that I
wrote to you about, I have not been able
to dress very well, I dont know anything
about the business, and shall have to send
them as they are, next week, when I go
to Washington, I have three of them, I
dont know as they will hardly pay for the
trouble, but I’ll send them to you if J.B.
will frank them, I dont think of much more
to write now, I’ll try and write again, Sunday,
Give my love to Father and Mother, and to all
friends, Kiss our darlings for me, and receive
for yourself, much earnest, and true love from Robert
[upside down in top margin of page 2]
Thursday Morn 29th
Still snowing very severe, about six
inches on the ground this morning,
looks as though it would storm a month
[last line illegible]
Sergeant Robert P. Mansfield, Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
MSS 1242
[from the diary of Captain Zachariah Heed, 91st Ohio]
JANUARY 28.
Fayetteville Va. Jan Wednesday morning mud and rain, predominating 2 oclock P.M. Still Raining, 8 Oclock P.M. all quiet but Raining.
29.
Fayetteville Va. Thursday morning. no Rain but wind is raising pretty freely. 2 oclock P.M. cold and windy. 8 oclock P.M. cloudy with wind, Indications of Snow.
30.
Fayetteville Va. Friday morning. Some Snow falling but is melting as fast as it falls. 2 oclock colder. 8 oclock, P.M. freezing
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13406
[from the diary of Sergeant Robert Larimer, Co. C., 62nd Ohio Volunteers]
Wednesday, January 28, 1863
At anchor run into by gun
boat – sea raging & foaming –
cool & windy
MSS 38-129
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Wednesday, January 28th – Found the ground covered with snow this morning. Little
Pollie Cary is quite sick. I am very uneasy about her. This is the deepest snow
we have had for years. I fear the poor soldiers will have a miserable time.
Poor brother Archie. God in his mercy watch over him and keep him well in soul
and body.
MSS 9759
[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 38-158
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Wednesday – 28th awake to find the houses ground & every
thing covered with snow – & still it continues to snow
it is an elegant sight – I have been looking & admiring
everything draped in white ever since I got up. The
audience met at the Ballroom but the Tableau
did not come off. Anica arrived very unexpectedly
this afternoon – she brought me the money Liz had safely
and says Liz is slowly improving They all beg me very
affectionately to come to Enfield & remain a month or
two but I must decline as much as I want to see & be
with Liz — I am afraid to venture now the Smallpox
is prevailing to such an extent & the Yankees are
expected at Weldon & Goldsboro’ daily – Had a plea
-sant letter from Tom – He was doing well – But grieved
to hear of his boy Israel’s death –
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Tuesday
Jan 27
Dull to-day and to-night it is raining
Got a letter from home and answered
it. Played gammon and read some. This evening I
have commenced learning Pauls epistle to the
Romans and may God bless its instructions to my
benefit. A fellow was taken yesterday by our pickets
who was blacked up for a spy. They mistrusted him
it is said by his countenance, and by his wiping
the tobacco spit off of his mouth, when it run
down, and they took him to the brook and washed
him and found him to be white. Our cavalry
also took several prisoners by strategy.
MSS 11293
[docketing on top of page]
McGuffey Wm H recd Jany 30
U of Va Jan 27th
Gen J.H. Cocke
My dear Friend
Yesterday your grandson
called to say he had heard from you & that you were all
well- I hope the servant reached home safely and
that you recd my letter by him – We have nothing of
special interest here at the U of VA — We, on the Lawn
are all well – tho’ there is some smallpox in the
neighborhood – but not near
In my last letter I invited your attention to
the 1st chapter of 1st Peter – which seems to me rich
in encouragement to patience in under trials and perseverance
in duties – The Apostle writes to the strangers scattered
abroad – and christians are scattered in this world, far
from home and far from each other – But they are elect
of God – sanctified – obedient – sprinkled with the blood
of Jesus Christ, and have cause to bless God for the relation
of children – for the hope of a resurrection – for the certainty of
an inheritance in Heaven, and for the preserving power of
God which will keep them thro faith unto salvation –
Christians have ground of rejoicing, even in heaviness when
they reflect that their trials are needful as a trial proof of their faith,
that it may be found more precious than gold – found unto praise
and honor and glory – even their own glory – which they will ascribe to
Jesus Christ at his appearing – yes! – When God shall crown the
Christian, in the last time – how with the redeemed soul rejoice to
cast his crown at the feet of the Redeemer – and ascribe to him
all the honor and praise and glory of his salvation – !
We walk by faith in Jesus Christ – Whom having not seen
we love, and believing on him even here, in this world of sorrow
in anticipation of the salvation of our souls,we rejoice with
joy unspeakable and full of glory – The christian has his sorrows
but our sorrows are better than the worlds joys — Oh! how
great is the salvation of our souls – Prophets foretold it –
The Spirit of Christ testified beforehand his sufferings by which
it was purchased – The prophets searched diligently respecting it and even
[page 2]
[several holes in paper partially obscure first line]
angels desire to look [upon?] it [that?] [they?] may learn more of the
justice and mercy of God in the salvation of sinful men
How sad then that men will so neglect it – Let us pray that their eyes may be opened! –
In view, then, of the ineffable dignity and holiness and perfect
happiness of that destiny that which is before us, and secured in Heaven for us
let us gird up the loins of our mind – that is, let us be
energetic in all our duties – let us be sober in our estimate of
all things earthly – let hope constantly animate us to the end – even
in the darkest hour – for Christ will bring us grace – Let us be
obedient – as children – because it is our father that comm-
-ands – let us fashion our characters not recording to the desires
of the flesh – but as is the holy will of God – let forth work by love
and purify the our hearts – let us be pure in all our motives, words &
in all manner of conversation
actions ^ – And let us remember that tho’ God is our father, yet
he will require holiness in his children, for He judgeth according
to every man’s work – Let us therefore pass the time of our sojourn
sojourning here in reverential fear – lest a promise being kept
us of entering into it we may be any means – (our own unfaith-
fulness) we should so come short of that rest–
Let us think of the worth of our souls, for which Christ
poured out his precious blood – as of a lamb without blem-
before the foundation of the world
ish and without spot – slain for us – foreordained for us – ^
Let us remember that
^ none but those whose hearts or souls are purified by obeying
the truth are capable of unfeigned love of the brethren, as brethren
None but such can fully understand that immortal bond
to God and to
by which all true children of God are united ^ to one another
The Jew was bound to every other Jew as the common offspring of
Abraham – but every christian is bound to every other christian
of what ever name by this common relation to God – being born
again not of corruptible seed – (like the natural and fleshly
relation of Jew to Jew and of all Jews to the Patriarch-) but of
incorruptible seed – by the word of God that liveth and ab
-ideth for ever – This bond is not like the falling flower of grass
but, like the word of god, it endureth forever – not only in
this world but in the next – you my dear General, may go before
we are both
me, but if ^ the true children of God, you will be there awaiting me
till my summons come, to join you in that world of bliss – Amen
Ever yours – W H McGuffey —
P.S. My wife desires her kindest regards to you & yours – especially to Mrs Brent
[William H. McGuffey, professor of moral philosophy at the University of Virginia. At this time the 80 year old Cocke, the last surviving member of the original Board of Visitors, has lost both of his wives and four of his six children. “Mrs. Brent” was Sally Cocke Brent, his youngest child]
MSS 640
[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts as compiled by himself at a later date from war time letters and diaries]
Camp near Potomac Creek.
Jan’y 27th 1863.
We reached our old camp ground here night before last,
Saturday, after having gone through a pretty tough
specimen of the life which is ‘always gay’ – the
soldier’s.
We left here last Tuesday, about noon, after having
had an ‘order-‘ of Burnside’s read to us, promising
certain victory, and a speedy advance on Richmond,
etc., and I really think, myself, had the weather
remained propitious, that we should have suc-
ceded; at least in the first steps of our under-
taking. But the Lord saw fit (literally)
to throw cold water on poor Burnside’s plans,
for about 5 o’clock of the afternoon we started,
the rain began to pelt down. We kept on,
however, till about 7 P. M. when we halted for the
night in the midst of an oak wood, thoroughly
drenched. Wasn’t it cold and dreary?
No chance for a fire, the rain came down so hard,
so there was nothing for it but to make a sand-
wich of myself between two blankets, and take
the mud for a bed. I slept like a top, till
morning, when I awoke, blankets soaked as well
as all my clothes, and raining still in torrents.
Wednesday morning, we started on again, marched
about three miles, and came to a halt in another
grove of oaks. It still rained pretty hard,
but not enough to prevent our building fires.
So the trees came crashing down, on every side,
several hundred axes keeping up the chop,
and it was as much as one could do to keep out
of the way of the falling trees, and see that the
men kept their rifles from being injured, seven
of them being made utterly useless by
one of the first trees felled. But at last
every old oak that could touch the regiment
was down, and then we had fires that were fires.
I had a pack of cards in my pocket, so I started
a game of euchre with three other officers, but
the rain soon soaked them – I mean the cards –
and split them, so that they had to be thrown
away. Well, another night in the rain, and
another day – and Friday morning, most of the
officers found themselves pretty well used up.
I felt, however, perfectly well, with the exception
of two rather rheumatic arms. About 10 o’clock
our brigade was ordered out to corduroy the road,
and we were kept at it pretty much all day.
But at noon the sun came out, and so did the
whiskey ration, and such a jolly set you never
saw, as by some mistake a double ration was served.
Toward night we finished our work, and were
ordered back for another night’s bivouac in the
woods.
MSS 5130
