[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]

Nov 26th Wensdray
Genl Burnerdiz
Was at aquia
Creik to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Wednesday Nov. 26, 1862

This morning after
breakfast Went
over to Aunts got
Dulse & went over
to Smiley Caldwells
where I now am
found him butchering
helped a little
cold cloudy like
snow a little on the
ground

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Mary S. Boydon of “Hopedale,” Abemarle County, Va.]

Wednesday 26.  Aunt Eliza went home to
day & father went with her as far as Tre-
=villian’s & from there to see poor Chapman Gordon–His
father is almost broken hearted–Meeting of the
stockholders.

Precept-“Thou has charged that we shall dil=
igently keep thy commandments”–Ps 119:4

Prayer– “Make thou they servant to delight
in that which is good”- Ps. 119:122

Promise-“Thou puttest away all the wicked
of the earth like dross.”  Ps. 119:119.

MSS 4208

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

Wednesday  it has cleared of & bitter cold–I have had a letter
from Mrs Kennedy-informing Eliza of 2 pretty dresses Alice
De Rossett will part with if Eliza wishes to purchase them.
She also requested me to find out if Mrs Morrow was here or
gone to Goldsboro–I answered her letter by return mail-
Mrs Campbell has returned from Fayetteville & has promised to
go with Eliza to Raleigh to have her dresses made–She saw Mrs
Walters in Fayetteville.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of William M. Blackford of Lynchburg, Va., bank officer and  former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Wednesday 26  After a threatning morning
we had a fine clear cold day. No
movement made yet on Fredericksburg
Every days delay is of momentous im
portance to us as it enables our forces
to concentrate.  I scarcely believe the
enemy meditates an advance from Frg
to Richd. I think they will go to the
James River.  I wish they would at-
tempt the march–Nothing of any
particular interest during the day
which was one of sound occupation
to me.  At night we had “High
life below stairs” enacted in the
finest style.  Our cook, Elvira
was married to a man belonging
to James Langhorne.  The ceremony
took place in the lecture room of
the 4th st. Methodist church.  Hacks &
omnibusses[sic] were in attendance.  The
service as admirably performed.  The
supper, which was served in the dining
room, was very abundant and
elegant.  The only thing we contri
buted was a round & some rolls.
The company was select and the
behaviour very good. The negroes
excel us in manners and their
imitation of all the usages of society
is very amusing. We had a taste
of the supper after the servants
had their say.  It was near two
oclock before the house was quiet.
Charles Trueheart came in abou
about 1/2 past 8 from Charlottesville
He was not a member of the Rock-
bridge Artillery, but has been some
time in charge of a hospital in Win
chester & is now ordered to report for
duty here–He is a fine sensible
young fellow.  He brings news that
Mrs. Nannie, or Jno B. Minor,
has another daughter–

MSS 4763

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

Tuesday
Nov 25
Three contrabands came in this fore-
noon from above Raleigh.  They are
smart looking fellows and I am glad they are
free.  This afternoon the boys have been putting up
the new tents, Aaron Aldrich is up here.  He came in
here and talked sometime this evening.  I have been
troubled with diarhhoea[sic] to day.

MSS 11293

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

Wednesday  it has cleared off & bitter cold-I have had a lettter
from Mrs Kennedy – informing Eliza of 2 pretty dresses Alice
DeRossett will part with if Eliza wishes to purchase them
She also requested me to find out if Mrs Morrow was here or
gone to Goldsboro–I answered her letter by return mail
mrs Campbell has returned from Fayetteville & has promised to
go with Eliza to Raleigh to have her dresses made–She saw Mrs
Walters in Fayetteville

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh, Cutshaw’s battery]

       
                                  Tuesday 25
   Started at 7 ½ A.M.  passed
through Madison Co. H. &
camped 2 miles south on pike.
     I ran the Blockade and
went to Catletts.  spent the
night.

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co. E., 42nd Virginia “Dixie Greys”]

Tuesday 25th  Two men
die in Ward No 1 to day.  Nothing
else take place worth noting –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

Pro. Marshal’s Office, Nov. 15, 1862

My own loved Addie-
Does my chirography look
familiar t you? or has it been so long since
you had the pleasure of seeing a specimen that
you fail?  But I have just recieved two
darling letters from you dated Nov. 9th & 16th, in
both of which you complain of not recieving a
letter from “Charley” for “two-three weeks.”  I do
not wonder that you began to feel alarmed about
him, but calm your fears my love, I am neither
dead nor changed, & I am enjoying better health
than I have for three weeks past, and am
steadily gaining, so that I think there is no
immediate danger of my demise nor consignment
to the Hospital-  I must apologize for not
writing within the past week as I promised
to do.- We have changed the Pro Marshal, and
with the change came a great deal of work for
“us four clerks“, and we have had to keep hard
at work from dawn of day until half past ten at night.

[page 2]
                                                   remained for us
Thus you see but very little time for letter writing^
Will you not pardon me under the circumstances.
    It is now ten at night,and the rain is falling
heavily-as it comes dashing down upon the
pavement, the sound awakens many thoughts
which might otherwise lie in the deep recesses of
the mind.  No doubt but it snows heavily upon
the “Lake shore,” and you will soon enjoy all
the joyous pleasures of “Sleigh–riding.” Would I
could be with you!     Darling-how much-Oh!
how much I wish to see you, to fold thee to my
heart and gaze into those loving eyes–the windows
of they noble soul,-to hear thy gentle voice as it in
accents full of love and tenderness, thou sayest “I love
you.”  But the plash of the rain falls upon my ear
and I am “far away.”-  the pleasure is denied me
and I still toil on-a soldier in the good cause.
  Addie-what would you say if I were to
accept a discharge from the Army, and should
come home?  Would you say “yes“, or would
you prefer that I should remain in the “Noble 7th”
until it comes home to Cleveland within the “honors

[page 3]
of war,” and as one of the 1040 who left Cleveland “for
the war”?  It is a funny question?  But what
do you say?  Perhaps I might get discharged if I
should desire it.
    Yes, I would have given much to have
been present at Laurie’s wedding.  God grant
she may be happy.  Let us hope she may yet
love as she lives, and the past may be forgotten.
  You committed no act calling my pardon
in reading my note to Hal, and as to the question
as you will imagine, I have long since made
up my mind.  the time for enlisting has
passed, and I am yet a volunteer.  Your
information regarding Hal’s going to Mich. was
the first I had recieved.  I thought it some-
what strange that I recieved no tidings from
him, but I hope soon to recieve a letter.
    Although Gen. McClellan has been removed
I do not think his career is thus briefly ended
The patient resignation and alacrity to obey even
such an unpleasant order manifested by him
has gone very far to win himself many friends.

[page 4]
It is true that he sometimes was apparently inactive
but when a move was made, it was well made
                  isnt that pretty?
and as you remarked, “had it not been for the
politicians,” he would have silenced all
slanderers by success, where they by their treason
defeated them him.  I do not think Gen.
Burnside has been as “active” as many prophesied
nor do I think he will be soon, in point of
fact it is a difficult matter to move a body of
men as large as the Army of the Potomac, and
more so than a few thousand such as “Stonewall
Jackson’s” army, and people will find it sol
but at all events, “Success to Gen. Burnside.”
    But it is getting quite late, and yet it
rains.  We will have muddy roads tomorrow
Oh! do tell me all about Thanksgiving–dinner
and all.  How I would enjoy a piece of
mince or pumpkin pie, but I must content
myself with “Hard-tack, etc.”  I must now close
for tonight.  Good night, love, pleasant
dreams be thine, and happiness.  Write soon
to you own loving and true Charley.

[in left hand margin of page 4]
Direct care of Qr. Marshal–Harper’s Ferry, Va.]

[upside down in top margin of page 4]
Please excuse the blots on this.  My love to all.

Charles Tenney,  Co. H., 7th Ohio, to his fiancee Adelaide Case

[The last letter written by Tenney, “a soldier in the good cause”
Tenney, not wishing to alarm Adelaide, only hints at ill health in this and the past few letters.
He grew increasingly weaker and eventually died in the camp at Harper’s Ferry in 1863]

MSS 11616