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

Saturday 22nd  Aunt Eliza & Ma have come home
at last–Ma has been quite unwell for a few
days with something like dysentery, but is better
now.  Aunt Eliza looks quite as young as she
did the first time I ever saw her–Ma told us
the particulars of the funeral–Every thing was
managed by Cousin Louisa, & was, of course
beautifully arranged–The dear departed had
as lovely & peaceful a countenance as a sleeping
infant-Her death was sudden at last taking
place in less than five minutes–She is at rest
& safe now–God grant my death may be like
hers-

Precept-“O, give thanks unto the Lord for he is
gracious,; for his mercy endureth for ever”–Ps 117[sic]:1
Prayer-“Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens
& thy glory above the earth”  Ps.118:5
Promise-“He shall stand at the right hand of
poor, to save his soul from unrighteous judges.”  Ps. 103:17.

MSS 4208

[From the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Saturday, November 22, 1862

Pa invited General  Jones & about twelve of his
officers down to dinner–Of course we would
not have gone into the parlor, but for
their sakes we were disappointed & sorry when
Cousin Tom W[illiams] came down -they were stationed
at the White House, to say that they would
not come as they were ordered off & Pa
heard this evening they had all gone to Winchester
& it was supposed Jackson was on the retreat.
 Tried to spend the evening in preparation
for to morrow but failed.–wandering thoughts
are written on all I do=
Was very unkind in my remarks to a
sister this morning–Why can I not
learn to restrain my temper, & my tongue, I
ask, but I ask amiss or I know that I would
receive this blessing=  A hasty temper,=cross
impatient, is my besetting sin–Oh God, have
mercy upon  me cleanse thou me from this fault
make me more amiable–less fault finding,
less proud,=& more willing to learn

[portions transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Saturday 22.   Richd. Davis got off at a
good hour having first had his break
=fast..  We had an unprecedented state
of things at our Board.  Our discount
line was within 28.000 of being up
to the limit allowed by law–and
we could not do half the offering.  I
was in favor of disregarding the limit
but the board did not agree with me
I telegraphed to Petersburg to see whether
the office would take $50.000. Which it
agreed to do–I wrote to propose they
should take twice the amt I believe
there is no other bank in the State
which has reached the limit.  In Peters
burg they have only 200.000$ discount
& not much more in Richd–our
net gains will be 7 1/2 per cent last
6 mos from discounts alone–which adds
to our interest not less than 3 1/4 more
This is doing pretty work

MSS 4763

[letter of Josiah Perry, of Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts, begun on November 22, concludes]

Nov. 27th  I will
now try to finish my letter
and you are celebrating the
which our forefathers set apart
as a day of thanksgiving. I am
on picket gaurd[sic]  Our Regmt
is constantly chosen for this
duty and it considered a
very high compliment to us
being comparetively a new
Regmt.  There has been no
complaint as to the manner
which we have done our duty
and we presume it gives sat
isfaction Joseph Blake was
one of t hose who gave out on the
march he has been sent to
Washington to one of the hospitals
Albert Morse was annother

[page 3]
he has been transfered to
drive an amunition waggon
Henry Parks has got his dis
charge and started for
home James Glover is
sick with jaundice but
is getting better Edward
Hixon gave out but has I
believe got smart again
James Herridon also gave
out but it was only for a
short time and he is now
well again  Charles Bryant
was not well when we started
being trouble with dysentery
and a march is not just
the thing for that complaint
he is nearly well again now
however.  I will not mention
any more and yo will not
mention any of these to any
one as I do not wish to hurt
any ones feelings and I know

[page 4]
that some people are very
sensitive.  It is very cold and
I must stop as my fingers
are getting stiff.  Plese send
me some papers, and write
often from you
                 Affectionate
                    Husband
                        Josiah

Josiah Perry,  Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts

MSS 2215

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

Friday
November 21
Went out to drill this forenoon, copied
orders this afternoon and taught George
Phonography.  got a letter from home to night which
makes me feel bad, but God is able to overrule
evil or what seems so at least, for good to those
that trust in Him.

MSS 11293

                               Richmond, Va
                                   Nov 21st: 1862
Dear Sir:
         I received your letter of the 15th in
stant and referred it to the Secretary of
War, for an answer to your enquiry.  the
reply will be found endorsed upon your
letter, herewith enclosed.
  The other enquiry in regard to Salt,
is answered by my Proclamation,which
has been published in the Richmond
papers, and to it I respectfully refer
you.  I am truly
                                         John Letcher
A.G. Grinnan Esq
         Orange C H
                Va

MSS 2118

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

                                  Friday 21
Started about light passed
through White Post, crossed
Front Royal T.Pike, entered
the Valley pike at New-
Town   passed through
Middletown & Shehpherdstown
and camped 4 mile south
of latter                            20 Miles

[transcript by Mary Row Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

[letter of Robert, an unidentified soldier in Co. M of the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, begun on November 20, concludes]

[page 3 continues]
                                                    Friday Nov 21st
Last night I received yours dated Nov 17th also
three papers, I was much pleased with your letter
for the reasons,that it was a good long one, and
contained the pleasing assurance of the con-
tinued good health of you and the children
It is still dull, rainy weather, with no prospect
of clearing away.  I have just been to dinner
I made me some hasty pudding in my tin
dipper, and eat it with butter and sugar, the
rest of the boys, eat salt horse,  All of my
mess are well and hearty, with tremendous
appetites,  There are but two or three of our
company, now sick in the hospital, the
health of the company, never was better, than
it is at the present time, You say that you
don’t believe I would know sissy now, I dont

[page 4]
know as I should, but I can tell you that
I am quite sure that neither she nor Er-
nie, would know me, with my long beard
and black face, I do’nt know as their Mother
would hardly recognize her husband,
You speak of your anxiety for me this winter
Please give yourself no uneasiness on our
account, we are very comfortable, We have
two good stoves, (only one in use however) and
plenty of good hard wood, we have good
(straw) beds,and plenty of bed clothes, when we
“turn in at night, we sleep as soundly as we
would”  on the best of feather beds, in fact there
are no soldiers in the army tat are situated
so well, or any better than the Mass 14th,
Hopeing that this may reach you in safety
and that your, and our darling children’s health,
and strength may be preserved from all ills
I remain your true and loveing husband
through separation and time,
                       Yours with much love,
                                      Robert

MSS 1242

    Hd.Qrs. Cavalry Division
                   Deep Run, Nov 21. 9.30 A.M.
To Major General Parke
        Chief of Staff–

General–
                 There has been no
signs of the enemy in our rear
& only a few cavalry pickets-
at the fords–on several of
the roads leading to the fords
the enemy has felled timber
across, showing they feared
us more than we have thought-
         The roads in this neighbor=
hood are so bad that this
command will not be able
to remain here much longer–
    The forage is eaten up &
my trains cannot supply forage
& subsistence too–In fact
since September my command
has been foraged on the country
it was in & required no train
                      for forage

[page 2]
The road from Harwood to this
place is now almost impassable
for wagons, & it is absolutely
necessary to remove this com=
mand nearer a depot of
supply to get subsistence alone.
             This creek, Deep Run I
am told is swimming after heavy
rains so I shall cross it as
soon as I can–I do not
think it is necessary to keep
pickets at the fords above this
creek a strong picket here is
sufficient–Please inform
me if I am authorized to with-
draw them? Infantry can
do this service much better than
cavalry for the country is wooded
& the river is very rocky–rendering
it difficult for horseman to
navigate in its vicinity–& with
no forage they will soon be reduced
to infantry-one of my wagon horses
died last night from the effects of the
                               storm
               

[page 3]
My command has only two days
rations & my wagons tho’ they
started fro Belle Plain yesterday
will not be able to get back loaded
over the roads around here–
    Would it not be well
to establish a depot at the
town of Rappahannock & throw
the cavalry on the other side of
the river to forage there as
much as possible–at the
same time we can be scouting
towards the railroad to see
what the rebels are about?
   I shall do my best to
shelter the animals from this
storm–There’s a great deal
of straggling behind the Army
& this also adds to the duties of
my cavalry–the cavalry of
each corps should keep its
own stragglers up & not
leave them for me to take care
                                  of

[page 4]

My ambulances have been
going constantly bringing up
sick infantry left behind
on the road–I mention these
things not as complaint but
for your information, that you
may understand the state of
the Servise[sic] & make the proper
corrections–

            I am, General, very respectfully
                         A. Pleasonton
                             Brig. General
                                   Comdg Cav: Division

[The dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton ends at this point]

MSS 495

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

Fri 21- heavy storm.  Not well, in bed till Eveg without food – wrote Tilly

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935