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

Sunday 23 Last eveng Rev. H.R.
Scott called and sat until qr past 8.
Mary left her chamber to day–the
first time for a week.  One of Lantys
old pupils in Powhatan, Dick Cun-
ningham-was at the Institute, came
to Breakfast & the news is that Burn
side was in Stafford with batteries
directed towards Fredg–the surrender
of which he had demanded, under
pain of shelling it.  the inhabitants
had removed & the town is even
now perhaps ruined.  Its fate brings
war home to me more than other
incidents of the struggle–I know
every foot of the locality so well
what house will be first destroyed
and from what bank the cannon
will be fired–My heart sickens
at the thoughts of so many old
& cherished friends exposed to dire
necessity & want. God hep them-
I am entrusted  [or interested?] in property – but
think nothing of the fate of our
house in comparison with the
misery entailed on the inhabitants

MSS 4763

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

Saturday
Nov 22
Had a good drill in the bayonet ex-
ericse and read the rest of the forenoon
This afternoon I cleaned up for inspection and also
wrote a letter home.  It has been quite cool to day
there was a lot of papers came to-day.

MSS 11293

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

                                  Saturday 22
Started at light   passed
through Woodstock and
Edinburgh   camped to
night within one mile
of Mt Jackson   making
22 miles

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

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

Nov. 22nd

The past fortnight has been spent much the same
as the previous one.  On the 12th were reviewed
and inspected by Lieut Col. Platt. Chief of Div.
Arty.  At 8 A. M of the 17th we again took up
our line of march, for Stafford Ct. House, at
which place we arrived on the 19th after two days
very hard, and muddy marching.  We are to make
Aquia Creek our base of supplies for this camp-
-paign.  Expect orders every day to march to assault
the rebel works [word lined through] around Fredericsburg,
which are very strong and formidable.  A surrender
of that place has been demanded by Gen
Burnside.  The weather has been quite cool.  On
the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd, we had a very severe rain
storm, which rendered the roads unfit for traveling.

                                1862
Leesburg Turnpike Nov 22
                 Dear Phebe
                    I have just
recieved two letters from
you and as you seem to be
troubled as to whether I
get your letters or not I
will say that I presume
they have all arrived safely
although they are delayed
sometimes I have nothing
new to write you. We
are the reserve of the army
and just now we are
waiting to see the result of
Burnsides attack on Richmond-
as on his movements our
own depend.  meantime we
are kept busy repairing the
roads which are in a very
bad condition   they could

[page 2]
hardly be worse.  Waggons get
stuck in the mud so that it
is impossible to start them
even with a double number
of horses.  

[letter of Josiah Perry of Co. K, 23rd Massachusetts will conclude on November 27]

MSS 2215

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]

Sat 22. Better, not well, wrote Ive, visited hospitals – also rode with
Mrs. Ayres to find a better Barn for Col. A – Hope Mr. H. is better –
Letter fr. Till that he is. feel much relieved.  A box containing the Commu=
nion service came tonight – very pretty present from Mr. H.’s Ch.
also some peaches, mangoes & tomato catsup for me fr Tilly & Wm
     Pleasanter at night –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]

                       
     Nov. 22d, ’62.
Crossed the riv-
er about 6 A.M.;
passed through
the City & out the
Lebanon pike a-
bout 8 miles, to
which place, in
our absence, the
corps had moved.
About 2 miles
from the Her-
mitage.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Nov 22nd
   Remaine in
Camp to day

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

Saturday, Nov. 22, 1862

This morning
went over to Maths
to see about their going
to the funeral
Math & I went on
horseback to the funeral
of Mrs Reed.
Came on this afternoon
to Aunt & Uncle Cooks
found them at work
dressing fowls
Wrote letter last
night to Theodore
mostly cloudy
cold & threatening snow.

MSS 10317

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

Friday[sic] 22  this has been a busy day with me finishing off
work-& cutting out more–Sarah has  just made Eliza some
pretty presents of wearing apparel–things that Eliza can
-not get-William is becoming tired of the weather & close
confinement–I think this is the 10th day the Sun has not glad
dened us with a ray–

MSS 6960