Sunday Nov 16th [1862]
                                                              Camp Casey
                                                               Fairfax Seminary
Dear Bro Geo..
                             I fell [sic] some like
writing to day and although I
have written 3 letters yet I will
write you a short one..  I have
been sick about 2 week with
Camp fever and there are a good
many sick in the Regiment with
it but I have not been very
sick   I only had the fever about
a week and the doctor broke
it up or else it run out itself

I don’t know which but I am
all right again except that it
took all my strength and has
me as weak as a rat but I shall
gain it again soon,..   You see
we have moved our camp again
we made quite a stay at Old
Camp Chase and I got pretty
sick of the place but we have
got a good Camp now although
it is 6 miles nearer the rebels
     Our Regiment has to go out on
picket guard but the boys say
it is fun and I want to go
with them next time they go
out about 5 miles from camp
at any rate it is better than
guarding long bridge, for I don’t
think it is as hard work
     There is lots of game here right
near the camp   rabbets   quails &
partrages but they won’t let you

use your gun so that we can’t
shoot them but as soon as I get
well I am going to set some
traps and snares and have some
thing besides salt meat to eat
                   Tell Father that I have
got to have a pair of long legged
boots pretty soon, as it will be
muddy, and sloshy very soon,
and these shoes are not not [sic]
the thing for mud and water
a good many of the boys have
got them at the Sutlers but
you know I never can get a fit
any where,.. now what had I better
do go over and look in Washington
or have a pair made at the same
place that I get shoes  I wish
Father would write and tell me
what I had better do about it
as I shall want them in about
a month as it will be dreadful

muddy and sloshy here this winter.
                   I suppose you remember that
Roberts boy that used to be in

Hinman’s printing office.  He died
in the hospital about an hour
ago he had been sick for some
time but I don’t know what
has been the matter with him
he had a bad sore on his back
which mortified and perhaps
caused his death..   he makes the
second that has died in our
company – there are a good many
sick in our company but it is
healthier here and I hope that
there won’t be as much sickness
     How do you get along in school
Father has a pretty easy time
in school don’t he as there are
not as many scholars as usual
     It there any thing new in Meriden

[[The remainder of this letter is written in the top margin on page one.]
write and tell me all
the news, am glad if
you had a good
visit to Warren
     how did the old
town look to you
did you remember
it?
     I must stop
now    write me when
you get time
         Your brother
                       Jim

James H. Howard, Co. A., 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668

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

     Nov. 16th, ’62.
My feet are exceed-
ingly painful and
sore from the effects
of yesterday’s march.
Cloudy but pleas-
ant to-day. Heavy
firing – both can-
non & musketry –
heard this fore-
noon to the

South East; report-
ed that Van Cleve              
& Breckenridge are          
engaged.
Commenced rain-
ing after noon.
Did not rain at
night.

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 23rd Ohio]

Sun 16.  Visited   talked   read & prayed with the sick in hospital
one young man D. R. Wescott very low with typhoid, dreadful sight.
deaf too   delirious – died in P.M.  Held two public services at
11 & 4 – first voluntary   good attendance.  Spoke with freedom
visited prisoners in guard ho.  held two tent py. mtgs. in eveg.  Also
attended to LS. & jr choir.  Adjutant fell over tent rope &
dislocated his elbow in Eveg.  11th NJ marched to Manassas
at 2 AM today – Cold rain day.  tired at night –

Daniel R. Westcott, Private in Co. I

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

Sunday, Nov. 16, 1862

As there was no
meeting remained
at home all day
John Olin remained
until afternoon
the day has passed
slowly
I was impatient
to start on my
journey
most Clear pleasant

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

 Sunday November 16, 1862

Felt inclined to enjoy my Sabbath was
in a comfortable frame of mind went
to my room & was so interrupted by the
children that I was completely upset=thought
it best however as some one had to keep them.
to go to work in a cheerful spirit & submit
The day passed quickly away & after they all
retired I had more than two hours of
quiet reading in my room all to myself.-
I feel that it is good for me to be alone-
When another is present, I can not give vent
to my feelings, in short prayers whilst reading
my bible, & I feel that this is good for me=
O that I loved God more, loved prayer-
loved holy things, hated sin: Oh my God
give me thy Holy Spirit & enable me to
draw nearer to Thee each day, that I live
so that, at last, I may awake with thy
likeness—-

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

MSS 15640

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

Sunday 16.  cloudy morning and
cool–a slight drizzle just as
church commence, which did not
however prevent the assembling of
a large congregation–Good serious
sermon by Rev. Mr. Hanson, who prea-
ched at qr past 3-an admirable
discourse to a very thin congregation
rain having commenced–Spent the
whole day quietly–not a visitor
of my [?] read little
or none

MSS 4763

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

Sunday we all attended Church & heard a fine Sermon from Mr Hilliard
He is on a visit from Fort Fisher to his family–In the afternoon it
rained too hard for me to go out with my cold–so James & I sat & chat
-ted till tea bell rang–He promised to return again at night-But
the rain prevented him–I sent a long letter off to Liz–

MSS 6960

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

Saturday. Awoke this morning with sore throat
& headache–Fit for little all day–Father made
two kettles of applebutter -& between us we knit
Hanson a pair of gloves

Precept-“Sing we merrily unto God our strength;
Make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob”–Ps 81:1

Prayer-“Turn thee again, thou God of hosts; look
down, behold & visit this vine, & the place of the
vineyard that thy right hand has planated, and
the branch that thou madest so strong for
thyself”  Ps.80:14, 15

Promise-The Lord shall show loving kindness, &
our land shall give her increase.”  Ps. 85:12

MSS 4208

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

Saturday
Nov 15
Drilled in the bayonet exercise this forenoon
this afternoon cleaned up my equipments and
gun.  We had some of Johns Jelly, and also some of Frank
Adams apple sauce for supper.  This evening George and
I have been talking and singing.  I also this forenoon
showed George about  Phonography.  Have felt the protec-
tion of my Heavenly Father abundantly to day.

Phonography: an early term for the Pitman method of shorthand writing

MSS 11293

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

November                  Friday 14                                      
     Had every thing ready to
move at 8, when we recd.
orders to be ready to move
at 2 A.M. tomorrow

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448