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1862 November 15 “Hopedale,” Albemarle County, Va.

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

 Friday Nov 15 Father returned home without Ma;
she is to stay till Tuesday & bring Aunt Eliza
home with her–

Precept-“Let not up your horn on high, & speak
not with a stiff neck.”–Ps 76:6
Prayer-“Unto thee O God do we give thanks Ps.75:1
Promise-The horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”  Ps. 75:12.



MSS 4208


1862 November 14 near New Baltimore, Va.

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Camp Fifth Maine Regiment Near new Baltimore Va Nov 14th 1862

Dear Father–It gives me great pleasure to write you A few lines know
ing how anxious you & Mother are to know whether I am well, I am enjoying
the same good health but I am sorry to write to you that General Mclellan
who was beloved by the whole Army has been ordered to report at Trenton
New Jersey & General Burnside takes Command of the army I think it is the
worst thing that could be done & Maby they will have to call on him again
to save the Army & Maby Washington I wish you could hear the Officers Talk
about it & the men to you would think there had been a regular election & since
that order has been issued there has been many of the Officers that have sent in
thier resignation & say if McClellan cannot have the command they cannot
act as Officers, under any other Man & I do not blame them in the least can you
I am getting more & more discouraged every day thinking how they are doing the
Business when they have A good General they do not know it Just look at it &
see how General McClellan has stood the Abuses of those Nigger Talkers
such as John Andrews of Massachusetts he has had more to say McClellan
than any other man in the Country General mcClellan is the only man that
I think can command this Army & if he should have command tomorrow
& should go into Battle & meet with defeat the whole Army would have the
same confidence in him because they know that he is trying his best to close the war &
they have the confidence in him I will close t his by saying that Gen Washburn & Gen Howard was here
yesterday & Reviewed the Regiment give my love to Mother & all the folks I recd three letters from you last night dated Oct 29th Nov 3 & 4th & one from William 8th & Henry of the 9th & three Transcripts not signed forget I suppose being out of sorts

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied in a ledger by their father in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his sons both of whom died in the war. George fell at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph was mortally wounded at Spotsylvania

MSS 66

1862 October 14 New Bern, N.C.

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

Friday
Nov 14
I made out a requisition for stationary for
the Lieutenant this forenoon.  Talked and laid
round the rest of the forenoon.  Read some and wrote
some.  Went on dress parade.  Some of the boys had
boxes come to night. John Simonds among them
but a good deal of the stuff was spoiled so that it
was good for nothing

MSS 11293

1862 November 14 Camp Cooper near Winchester, Va.

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Camp Cooper Nov 14” 1862
  Near Winchester Friday Night
My own darling
    I received your short letter to day, in which I
am sorry you have to say that you are sick & the
children very fretful from Vaccination.  I am however
hopeful that before this reaches you, you will all be
perfectly well and hearty.  I was not very much cheered up
by your letter yet was very glad to get because I ought
to hear of your sorrow & misfortunes as well as of your
joys.  Liskeys impertinence in bringing his stock to our
well to water is perfectly insufferable and if I could
get to him would cowhide him for it.  You did per-
fectly right to lock the pump & I hope you will
keep it locked from the whole concern.  I am de-
termined that that piece of impertinence shall stop
the whole of them from using water then.  Let them
all understand distinctly that they you intend to be
mistress & manager of your own affairs.  I am
glad you have killed the hogs, but you did not
tell me how much they weighed  I suppose about
150 each  I did not think they would over go that
How much lard did they make.  You must not fer-
get [sic] that I take a deep interest in all these little things
just as much & maybe more than if I was with
you.  I even want to know how much milk the cows
give, whether it is rich ritchor not.  How the pigs are
doing and whether your hens lay any eggs and in
fact all about every little thing on th in and about
Elzia.  Of course I expect every letter to give an
account of all the smart sayings & doings of the chil-
dren and aoccasionally a word or so about Stephen
& Fanny.  I am just at the moment receiving the compli
ment of a serinade [sic].  Something I care very little about &
[page 2]
would prefer that all hands were at home asleep.
I am not at all surprised at your disponding [sic] views as
to a settlement of our dificulties [sic].  The failure of Europe
to speak at this moment leaves us no hope but in our
own efforts under Gods protection  The complete success
of the Democrats in the recent elections is an indica-
tion of a revolution there, but the precise course it will
take remains to be seen.  The difference between our sit-
uation now and six months agosago – is this – then
we could hope for peace only through foreign intervene-
tion no matter how great our success.  Now it is clear
to my mind that if we are as successful during the
next eight months as we have been during the past
six months, the north herself will be compelled to
recognize us, and it seems to me that we are stronger
to day than we ever were before.  We can therefore re-
ly on ourselves and can look to the future with brig-
hter hopes than ever before.  But oh! How I do wish
those eight months were past and we all at home
realizing all our fondest but often disappointed hopes
of peace.  How busy & happy I would be in laying
off and planting a garden, making fences, planting shade
and fruit trees.  I would help Lizzie & Jimmy and
little Jennie Watson too, to feed the chickens and hunt
eggs & help my old darling make bread & butter.  I would
feed the cows & pigs & look after the sheep & little lambs
and you would be with me all the time except when
I would be in my office & sometimes I doubt not
you would be there totoo.  Such are the scenes which
I sometimes picture in my imagination, but then alass [sic]
the uncertainty of the future is such that the beauties
of my fanciful pictures of the future are all distroyed [sic]
by the stern realities of the present.  But for the present
I must bid you good night.
[page 3]
Saturday Morning.  without having anything to say beyond the
fact that it is a bright pretty morning and everything perfectly
quiet in camp Cooper.  I understand that DH Hills Division
is in camp near Strasburg & that between there & Front
Royall they are distroying [sic] entirely the R Road.  I have
not heard of any distruction [sic] beyond Strasburg as yet, but
I doubt not the Road will be distroyed [sic] as far as the Narrow
passage bridge.  but that dont mean that we intend to leave
the Valley or that the Yankeys are going to get to you.
Dont you be uneasy about any such idea.  I suppose
that during this pretty weather the wheat is growing finaly [sic]
and now almost covers the ground.  How are the calves doing
I dreamed last night of seeing Fanny milk an enormous quan-
tity of milk from the cows  so you see you are not out of
my mind day or night.
  I have just finished my mornings work.  when I took
command of the brigade I issued an order that nothing would
be done before eight nor after 10 oclock just allowing two
hours in which I am to be bothered at the instance of other
people.  the remainder of the morning I attend to such
matters as my judgement [sic] & inclination suggests ought
to be attended to.  so that after 10, I have a quiet time
& do pretty much as I please.  Now for a little schol-
ding for you.  I dont believe you read my letters over
more than once, for I ask a great many questions which
you never reply to.  You dont imagine how much I am
interested in all the details of home & your doings.  What
sort of flour did you get from the mill – good, bad or
indifferent.  As you empty the barrels put them carefully
away each one is worth a dollar.  Let me know if
you will want any more cloth for either Billy or Stephen
this winter – if much needed I can get double width
cloth here at $6 per yard.
[page 4]
after dinner
I have so little to say that I am really surprised that
I am able to fill a letter.  the latest camp news in-
forms me that Genl McCleland has not only been relieved
of his command but is under arrest on the charge of treason
I dont believe it & it is therefore useless to comment on
it.  Another rumor attempts to revive the old story
of recognition, but I have been too often fooled on this
cry to pay any attention to it.  I think that you had
better send Stephen out to buy fencing plank just as
soon as he has his corn secured.  if he cant buy any
now I know he can engage some to be sawed this winter
it will be a great missfortune [sic] if you cant fence in
your garden in the spring.  I had rather loose [sic] $50 than
fail to have it done.  But as I dont intend to send this
until day after tomorrow I must leave room to say a word
in the morning
Sunday Morning.  My inclination of purpose to take
tea at Col Bakers was not fulfilled until yesterday
evening.  I had a very pleasant time saw Mars Baker &
daughters & DrCampbells sister found them all very
pleasant ladies and the whole establishment one of
those fine old Virginia concerns often met with
in this locality.  The old lady persisted in calling
me General which of course I had to explain I
was not entitled to although I had a Genls com-
mand.  It is astonishing what a difference rank
makes no matter what community you go in.
Our people are absurdly foolish about it.
  This morning is cloudy & very raw with strong
indications of a snow storm.  I think winter
is approaching most certainly and with a severe
aspect.  We will yet I am afraid have a hard time
of it.  How do you stand the cold weather  can you all
keep warm & comfortable –
[The following was written in the left margin of page 1.]
I have just recdthe enclosed note.  I send
it to you as a curiosity.  of course I intend to make
the lady happy & myself also by taking tea
“My own darling”, salutation – Warren’s wife, Virginia Watson Magruder Warren.
“the children”, lines 28-29 –
“Lizzie & Jimmy and little Jennie Watson”, page 2, lines 23-24 – Lizzie, his seven year old daughter, Jimmy, his six year old son James M., and Jennie Watson, his almost nine month old daughter Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.
“D H Hill”, page 3, line 3 – Daniel H. Hill, Confederate general, commanded a division under the command of Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson.
“the R Road.”, page 3, line 5 – The Manassas Gap Railroad ran between Strasburg and Front Royal.
“the Valley”, page 3, line 9 – The Shenandoah Valley.
“the brigade”, page 3, line 17 – Taliaferro’s Brigade, of which Warren had temporary command, consisted of the 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.
“Genl McCleland”, page 4, line 3 – George B. McClellan, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac until 5 November when Lincoln removed him from command.
“Dr Campbell”, page 4, line 20 – Joseph L. Campbell, Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry.
“I had a Genls command.”, page 4, lines 25-26 – Warren had temporary command of Taliaferro’s Brigade.  Brigades in the Confederate army were supposed to be commanded by brigadier-generals.
Though no signature exists on the letter, it was written by Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10thVA Infantry.
[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann,  IV]
MSS 7786-g

1862 November 14 Horse Shoe Va

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               Horse Shoe Va
               Nov 14th 1862
Chas Ellis Esq
        Richmond Va
             Dr Sir
                Please excuse
me for troubling you, but
I know of no one, who can
get the information I need so
well as yourself.
Under the a late law of Congress
the Secty of War is authorized
to grant transfers to soldiers
serving in companies from other
states, than those of which they
are citizens, back to companies
in the service of their own
State.  Is this the law?
Will you please find out
for me whether I can
get transferred to a Missouri
Co under its provisions
[undeciphered name] is sending
away his negroes, hogs &c. I

[page 2]
am going to Cumberland
this morning with a
portion of them and from
there, on to Richmond.
If you will please get
the information asked for
above & write to me at
Cartersville, Cumberland Co
I will be very much
indebted to you.   I think I
have done my duty so far
in the Army and the Govt
might grant the only favor
I have ever asked them it.
            Respfly & Truly
                   Edwin Sully

Obtain the approval of your Cap-
tain and Col. then send it
to Gen Lee, designating the
service you wish to be trans-
ferred to and Gen Lee will
have the transfer made
himself—-C. E.

MSS 2516

1862 November 14 Culpepper, Va.

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[letter of Andrew J. Gillespie continues]

Friday 14  I have just Recd your letter of the 17 and I am
sorry to hear the children are so mutch complaining but I hope
that they are better by this time, I am also glad to here that the
neighbours are so kind and obligeing to you as to you beeing uneasy about
fighting at Culpeper I know your mind is easy before this as elias
King knows their has bin no fighting here, their was some cannon
ading in hereing of this place but it was only the Cavelry Shelling
each other But did not doo mutch damage I herd yesterday that
A.P. Hill had a fight at Charlestonwn and took a good many
comasory Stores and some Prisners But we never know when
to believe any thing we hear in camp
  Our corps is a reserve and it is not exspected that we will
bee called in unless it a despert struggle like the Sharps Burg
fight and their we did not go in but was ordered to hold
certain positions
  you say you have put your Hogs up to fatten you aught to
have made you calculations how long your corn would feed
them and whether you would have Salt to salt them when
they have eaten up what you have to give them, I mearly mention
this I hope you have mad all of these calculations correctly
not to have to turn them out after they have eat all the corn
like I have known People to doo
 Davy Hearvy and Thomas are all well Hearvy has mended up lately
and Thomas looks a good deal Better than he did when he first
come in the Servis the other page I wrote yesterday But waited
exspecting to get your letter this morning, and sure enough
it came But all pleasures Seam to bee mingled with Pain
But I hope will work for our good although we suffer for a season

[letter of Andrew J. Gillespie of Ancell’s Co., Virginia Light Artillery continues on the 15th]

MSS 9564

1862 November 14 Richmond, Va.

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                                        Richmond Nov. 14th, 1862
My dear Mary
                            I will write you a short letter to day
to say that I was much pleased at the reception of your
letter dated the 3d inst, and also to say that if you
stamp your letters with two ten cent stamps instead
of one, you must have a good many more of them then
I have, you stamped your letter with twenty cts
From the result of the election in the North, which
have gone so largely against Mr Lincoln as is
supposed, I am induced to believe that you will
have less to apprehend an act of the servants, than I
supposed when I left home, and I earnestly trust
that your burdens may become lighter and lighter
every day, until you are at last entirely relieved
from the anxieties occasioned by this horrid war.
                            I wonder if Sallie has heard any
thing about Mr Bowen’s property near Greenwood,
Give my love to her and all of them, and tell them to write
to me as often as they can.  tom, who I hope you have seen by
this time, has been exchanged, and your mind relieved
upon that subject, Mr Washington has also been exchanged.
Tell Anna, Mr Taylor a very reliable business Gentleman of’
this place and Cashier of the Bank of Virginia, informed
me that the best investment of Confederate money, would
be in confederate Bonds, bearing 8 percent interest instead
of six, and I will aid Mr Washington in any way that I can.
                               I will endeavour to remit you
Valley money by the 1st safe opportunity I have.  Please
write and let me know your wants and if I can relieve
them I will do so with pleasure.  On yesterday I laid in
some coal and wood, coal $10 pr ton wood $15 pr cord,
and have you pretty much to housekeeping; every thing
is enormously high, and next to impossible to live com=
=fortably.                        Yours as ever
                                        Th. E. Buchanan

Thomas Ely Buchanan, 1810-1889

MSS 4560  

1862 November 14 Camp Casey

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                                                 Camp Casey  Nov 14 [1862]
My Dear Father
                                       I just this minute
received your letter also one from Geo
& Chas, and as I fear you did not get
my last letter and as I feel so well
I thought I would sit right down
and write – I am getting along
tip top   I went out and walked
around quite a while to day for the
first time   shall go out again to-
morrow   I have been sick now 2
weeks   I was sick a week in my
tent before I went into the
hospital but it is a poor place to

be sick in.  I have not had
the chill & fever that is I have
not had the shakes although I
had a slight chill two or three  times
but I have had the Camp fever
and it weakens one down pretty quick
as soon as I get my strength I
shall be all right..  the box had
nothing to do with my sickness
for I was sick before it came and
when it did get along every thing
was spoiled so that I could not
eat a thing.   The box lay in
Washington a week and if they
had brought it over as soon as
it came every thing would have
been  all right but it was so
large that they kept putting it
off.   We have got a splendid
camp ground here there are trees
of all kinds on the grounds and
we are going to raise up our tents

about 4 feet from the ground and
board it up around so that it
will make much more room
and then we are going to build
bunks for  2 all around inside
                   Gen Wright has taken up
his Head Quarters in a very pretty
cottage near the camp   he has
command of some 5 or 6 Regiments
and appears very well – will get
his star I guess –
                     I don’t know what
the boys do think about McClellan’s
removal as I haven’t been about
any but I am in hopes that  –
there will be something done
now soon   I am anxious enough
to have the army move..
                     I am glad that
you had such a good visit in
Warren although on so sad an
errand the old place must

look rather gloomy and quiet
     It is very sad about Seth’s death
although he died bravely and
peacefully it seems rather hard to
leave him down there so far from
his home, but it is perhaps best
            It is very pleasant weather
here now   is quite warm again but
it snowed quite sharp last Friday
did it snow any in Meriden?
            Have they rebuilt the Depot –
yet and are they going to build up
the shop again?   It must look quite
bare and empty about there..
            I saw Mr. Hotchkiss and he
obtained a 30 days furlough for his
son and took him home with him
he will probably reach Meriden before
this does   It seemed real good to
see a person from Meriden   Mrs
Sellers has also been on to see her son

[This next part is written in the top margin on page one.]
who is very sick in the
hospital.
            I must
stop now   I shall be
all right in a day or 2
I guess feel real well
to day – shall expect
to hear from home
again soon
           From Your
                Obed son
                         Jim.
(The stamps came just
in time..)

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

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668