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

Monday, Nov. 24, 1862

Wrote letters to
Father this morning
took it up to the
office gave it to the
carrier
Saw judge Wotring[?] he
spoke to me of my
business.  had shoes
fixed on my horse at
Buffalo.  Came on to Moths
then to Johns with him
went to Town. Seen
Mr Kultz[?]  also Jno Clares
where we had dinner
went out to the [Seminary?]
to see some sheep also
the 600 Dollar bull
 Came back to Mr Matthews
where we had super  a very
fine location Came back to Johns
Clear Cool

MSS 10317

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

Monday It has been raining all day–& quite warm nothing
new

MSS 6960

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

Monday 24th  Last night four soldiers came
to stay all night–Major Scruggs & Sergeant
Moody from Mississippi & two others of lower
rank of whom we learnt little.  The Major
was young handsome & agreeable–His high broad
forehead showed intellect, & his manners the
polish of a gentleman.  We were delighted
with him–He seemed to have a good deal of
humor & delighted to show off the Mr Moody
who could talk Irish & even German so well
that  we took him for some “outlandish” man
He has the look of an Irishman-of not a
very pleasant countenance-they paid $15

Precept-“Turn again unto thy rest,O my soul
for the Lord has dealt very graciously with
thee”–Ps 116:7

Prayer– “Oh that my ways were made so direct,
that I might keep thy statutes always”- Ps. 119:5

Promise-“The voice of joy & health is in the
dwellings of the righteous .”  Ps. 118:15.

MSS 4208

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

Monday 24–Nothing from Fredericksburg
The town had not been shelled up to 10 oclock
last night.  I am hopeful now that it
will not be.–Some five hundred
women & children flung from their [?]
and homes arrived in Richmond Satur
day night-thrown I fear upon the
cold charity of the people there-
  I went with Dr. Green to Shepard’s factory
or rather the state arsenal, where they
are manufacturing several of Williams
front loading cannon.  It strikes me
as far ahead of every thing I have seen
or read of–the guns were making out
of wrought iron – about 4 [?] feet long
and 1 1/2 in diameter.  They allege
that it can be fired twice a minute.  It
is very com[?] I am invited to a trial
of it to be made this week.  they are
intended for Floyds corps–I learned
an instance of Floyds ignorance of the
profession he has assumed–Gen Dimmock
sent him from here two mountain how
itzers–mounted on wheels three feet high
and three feet apart.  Of course the
gun is intended to be carried on one mule
or horse & the carriage on another-but
ignorant of this they hauled them over
the rough mountain roads & of course up
set them frequently
William arrived in the down train at
4 P.M. He brought news which we had
not before & now that his little boy
Landon was five weeks now-dreadfully
burnt by his clothes catching fire in
the morning.  He is likely to recover though
he has had a narrow escape–Wm brought
with him Major, or Rev. Dabney  Ball
first chaplain & then Qr master of
Stuarts Regt. a very fine fellow.
  Charles came over for super–Eugene
I omitted to mention arrived yesterday
-I had thus under one roof four of
my five sons–It has been a long time
-ten years I think-since such a thing
occurred before-Shall I ever have four
of them at once again with me?  God
knows–the chances are against it
Mr Ball in family prayer commended
them all to the special care of the Almighty
 — I did not mention yesterday that
Rob Maye Marye came home to dine
with us-He is Qr [Mas?] & stationed at Farm
ville & that in the evng Rev Roy Scott
who preached in the morning, brought with
him to call on us Dr Payne a brother of
the Bishop who I regret I did not know
was stationed here at one of the Hospitals

MSS 4763

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

Sunday
Nov 23
We were somewhat surprised this morn-
ing to hear of the orderly’s death, although
he has been sick for sometime.  A sergeant and
fourteen men were detailed to attend his funeral
which was down at the hospital.  Thus another of
our company has been taken from us, and may it
be the means of leading many who are thoughtless
to turn to the Lord.  I have not felt well at all today
as my food hurt me.  O Lord, remember
our friends in mercy this night and all
those who have friends in the army

MSS 11293

Sunday Nov. 23^d 1862

2 Miles of Fredericksburg

My Dear Father

Your letter reached me just before I left

Culpeper – I had answered before this but have

been so situated that I could not. We left Culpeper

Tuesday morning about day & after three days of

most disagreeable marching reached this neighbor-

hood. Since then we have been so constantly

moving about, cutting roads &c. that I have

not had an opportunity, until now, to write.

Our division came down – Lee & Longstreet came

along – the officers of this company think the

latter’s whole corps is here also – I suppose this is

at present the threatened point. Yesterday Day be-

fore yesterday the town was summoned to sur-

render, Lee declined. The women & children were

given until five last evening to leave. All day

yesterday they were leaving by every means of

conveyance. A good many really nice ladies,

(apparently), were walking, some of these quite old.

It was truly a distressing sight – all seemed

however in fine spirits, the most of them

laughing & gay as usual. From appearances

I think Lee intends to [word lined out] make some fight

[page 2]

should the enemy attempt to cross just here – It

seems to me however it could be easily turned by

the enemy a few miles below this place with the

assistance of their gun boats. I thought from

your last letter that you seemed to think the

enemy was between General Lee’s army & Richmond.

This is ^ ‘or was’ not so. Jackson & Longstreet each command

corps – each corps is commonly estimated at about

40,000. I have had no opportunity of estimating

their strength. These two corps embrace

the army of the Potomac – Jackson’s I suppose

is still in the Valley. General Pendleton insis-

ted on making us horse artillery & offered us the

very best equipment the Confederacy could

furnish but it was declined – Another com-

munication came to McCarthy to the same

effect at General Lee’s special desire but was again

declined – We were to be put with his son’s bri-

gade, Lan’s old colonel, this brigade has just

been formed – The 9^th Va. has been exchanged

for & put into it. I will want of clothes –

An outer shirt – I suppose however you all will

be unable to furnish that & I can probably get

one on as good terms as you can. Also a pr of

pants. – one or two or three pair socks. One under flannel Shirt –

I do not want any of these at present & I could not carry

them & would lose them. I can not write any more just now. I will

try & write again soon. My best love to all. most affly

Yr son W. H. Perry Jr.

[Written in the top margin on page one: ]“Direct to this place – My dear father I wish to see

you very much & often think of you all. I would

write more now but the orderly sergeant is just about to

leave for head-quarters & by him I must send this.”

William Hartwell Perry,  Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

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

November                   Sunday 23                                        
Started at day light   passed
through Mt Jackson, and
turned to the left at
New Market on the Sper-
-ryville road.  Crossed
the Massanutten mountain
and camped to night at foot
                              20 miles

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

Sunday 23rd
Go to the Methodist E. Church on
Church Street, heard a very good
sermon from by Mr. Edwards.
Go to same church at night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

Fort Tillinghast, Va. Nov 23/62

Dear Wife,
Yours of the 19th and 20th Nov
I have received, the enclosed from
Cal, announcing the death of my
brother is just such an one as I
should expect under the circumst-
ances, it was written as any one can
see, by some ignorant fellow, who
tries to make out a story, about expences,
doctors bills, &c &c, I shall not give myself
any uneasiness about his affairs, I
shall write a letter to a friend of mine
in Cal. (Capt a McQueen) and get
him to look up the affairs of my
brother, he will willingly do it,
No one but you and myself knows any-
thing about any money matters, or any
other business between me and my
brother, he was owing me when
I left him, eight hundred and fifty
dollars ($850.00) You need not say anything

[page 2]
to anyone, (except your own folks) about
the death of my brother, he left property
enough at home to cover my claim
I want you to tell me the time of
my going to Cal and the time of
my return, I think I know but
I want to be sure, I want you to
see Wm and tell him the circum-
stances, and see if he will do my
business for me, I dont know but that
it would be best to wait untill Wm
comes on here, then I can get him
to help me make out my bill, so
that it will be all right to begin with,
Please let me know what you and
Wm think about it, immediately,
Hopeing that we may be successfull
and that good fortune may attend us
I remain yours in love
                                  Robert

Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, Co. M., 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

MSS 1242