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

Tuesday
Nov 11
Wrote three letters for Geo Kinsman
this forenoon. Washed a shirt and two
pairs of socks this afternoon.  a scouting party f seven-
teen men from each of the three companies went out
to day after provisions. the rebels attacked our pickets
this afternoon, and after a smart skirmish during
which we went up there, we retreated in good order to
the city by stages as they had artillery. I took nothing
with me but my new shirt and pair of drawers & socks
from my knapsack.  Fortunately part of the troops came
back from the expedition to day. So if we are attacked to-
morrow as we expect to be, we can give them a warm
reception.  They threw three shells at us coming very near
but owing to the protection of God we all escaped unharmed.

MSS 11293

        Camp near Culpeper Co Ho Nov 11 1862
Cousin Charles
              Your recent letter has been duly recd
and I avail myself of the earliest opportunity
to answer it.  We have packed up twice within the
last three days to move but have again quieted
down,the Yankees haveing been gradually pres-
sing up with their Cavalry from Manassas and
Warrenton for the past week and on yesterday
Genl Stuart had quite a spirited skirmish with
them on Hazel River driving them back three
miles upon their Infantry at Amissville.  It
seems sometimes as if they intended to push on
until a general engagement is had or they force
us to retire to the Rapidan which is the only good
ground to fight on in this neighborhood.  If the ene
my get much farther up in this country and the
roads should get bad which they will certainly do
if it rains to any extent they will run great risk
of being cut up [ere?] they make a safe retreat.  I
think it utterly impracticable to advance along this
line to Richmond and whatever they do looking to
that object must be done in a very short time
or not at all this winter.  Genl Lee I am well
satisfied will be fast enough for McClellan and
as surely as this army again meets the Yankees
they will be whipped.  The forces in and around Wa
-rrenton are Siegels consisting principally of new
recruits, I cannot think a grand battle will
be fought on this line this fall unless the Yankees
wish to sustain a defeat.
                The news from the Northern elections    

[page 2]
would seem to indicate a great change in the pop-
ular will but whether it is to be for the war of
peace is hard to tell.  If the Congress lately formed
could go into Session in Dec. next we might
hope for better counsels to prevail but nothing I
I fear is to be hoped for from the present Republic
can congress [?] war to the knife.  If our country
can only stand the shock this winter I think
she will have nothing to fear unless the ene-
my again force their way down the Western
rivers and thereby gain a foot hold from which
it will be impossible to dislodge them without
gunboats until next summer.
    I fear from the best information we can
gather that Col Strange of our Regt was certainly
killed in Maryland I regret to hear it as he had ac-
ted very bravely in this war and leaves a large and
dependent family.  I called to see Jno Lewis a day
or two since and found him well.  He has a large
& efficient company now having 150 men or more
receiving many men from  some of the disbanded ar-
tillery Cos. You need not put yourself to any unnecess-
ary trouble about my overcoat as I can make out pretty
well yet awhile.  Whenever you can make a judi-
cious selection you may do so as the Qr Master depart-
ment is constantly receiving new additions to their stocks
I do not know how we are all to live every necessary is
high and rising. I fear much suffering will come a-
mong the poor at home and the soldiers families.  Present
my kind regards to Uncle P. Buck[?] & all with you.
                Very truly your frd & cousin–
                           John T. Ellis

Ellis’s fears were well founded.  Colonel John Bowie Strange of the 19th Virginia had indeed been killed at the Battle of South Mountain September 14.  Ellis, himself, later became the Lieut Colonel of the Regiment.

MSS 2516

In camp 15 miles N.E. of Strasburg & 15 miles
S.E. of Winchester, & 8 miles E. of Middletown, in the
woods, where this Reg. was encamped from the
7th inst. until yesterday morning – Nov. 11th 1862
     Dear Ma,
               I left Culpeper C.H. the 7th directly after
[There is a fragment torn out of the above line so the word “after” is a guess.]
writing to you.  I met a man there who wanted to
send a horse to a Captain in the 6th Ga. Reg.  He was
a good horse & I gladly undertook to carry him to
his owner, as it was directly on my route to my
own Reg.  On friday I rode all day in the snow.  I
endured it much better than I expected I could. – from
Culpeper C. H. I set out to go to Front Royal having to go
a circuitous route to avoid the Yanks.  It is impossible to
give particulars.  On Sunday evening I overtook the
6th Ga. together with D. H. Hills entire Div. on the march.
The Div. camped near Strasburg & I stayed with the 6th.
There was no commissioned Officer with Capt. Anderson’s
Co.  The Capt. was at home & 1st Lt. was left in the rear sick.
I made arrangements however to have the account attended
to.  Pa can rest perfectly easy until the account is sent to
him by the Auditor. – Yesterday I left Strasburg and at
4 P.M. reached this place.  The boys had made huts to

[page 2]
partially protect them from the snow & winter’s
wind.  The Brigade left yesterday to go some 8 or 10
miles to destroy some Rail Road.  The sick & barefooted
men were left at the camp – where I now am.
I find some half dozen without shoes & 10 or 12 sick,
among the latter is York Raines of course. The Reg. is ex-
pected back this evening so I will wait here for it.
There are over 40 men in the Co. besides those left here.
[Fragment is torn out of line.] the finest of health & spirits. – those that are
sick are only slightly so & look better than I ever
saw them. – I now wish I had brought my hat.  If Bob is at
home when you get this please send it.  He may bring as
many as he can.  the boys want hats & will pay a good price
for them.  It will probably be best for Bob to come on as
soon as he can, but he must fail not to provide him-
self with plenty of warm clothing.  The Pants he found &
left at Gordonsville were lost, as was one of the knap-
acks, containing a shirt & pair of drawers of mine.  I will need
my janes suit by the time Bob comes, but not before I hope.  I
left all my clothing, except what I have on at Gordonsville.  When
Bob gets there I wish him to bring my knapsack, which contains
a suit of underclothing.  I left it with Mrs. Jordan. – We
lost 5 men killed in Maryland.  Sergt. Hamaus & Wm Coleman, were
among the number.  The weather is mild now.  I am well.  Josh
is well. – 14th I am now with the Co.  We expect stirring times.
Josh wants a hat. – I left a blanket in Gordonsville.  Bob must bring
it. –                                         John

Lt. John Y. Bedingfield, 60th Georgia

 [According to Dr. Keith Bohannon, there are two men named Raines in the printed roster of Bedingfield’s company: A.W. Raines and William M. Raines.]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13119

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co. e, 42nd Virginia “Dixie greys”]

Tuesday 11,  Read pretty much all day.  Go to
prayer meeting at Baptist Church 2 ½
O’clock.  Methodist P. Church at night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

Nov 11th there Was
nathunk ocordere
to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

                                                 Camp Casey Nov. 11 [1862]
                                                        Fairfax Seminary

Dear Sister Helen,
                                       I received your letter
day before yesterday and have had two or
three from you before but could not answer
them as I have not been well enough
and am pretty weak to write now but want
to let you know at home how I am –
I am in the hospital now but I feel
much better to day   I have been sick about
a week or 10 days but have not been in
the hospital but 6 days    we have pretty
good accommodation and care and I guess
I shall be out in a few days.   I should
have got some one to have written home for

me but I thought that it might
make you think that I was very sick
when I was not.   Those eatables that
you sent me in the box were most all
spoiled the beef & chicken and indeed
every thing but the butter & cheese, was
mouldy & tainted but the other things
were all right   the mittens are just right
and the gloves do very well only a little
large    guess they came from Birdsey’s
the army knife is very nice
                            It is very sad about
Seth   I was just going to send you a paper
with an account of his death when I got
your letter with the piece from the paper
I had a letter from him the night –
before I heard of his death  received it
at the same time I did Cha’s – will
enclose it in this   it was written 6 days
before the fight.   You see we have
moved our camp again finally we
made quite a stop in Old Chase but

it is a pleasant place here we have
got our Sibley tents and shall stay
here some time I guess  we have
to do picket duty here, as we are so
near the end of our lines we are
6 miles from the old camp further
south.  The whole Regt has gone
out on picket to day to stay 48 hours
I hope I shall be well soon so that
I can go on picket for it is fun
                                       I guess I shall be
well soon.  I had the camp fever for
some time but have no fever now but
my back and hips are lame but they
rub them every day   I shall get
along first rate.   I feel much too
tired to write more this time will
write again soon
                          Your brother
                                              Jim

James H. Howard, 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668

Yorktown Va Nov 11 1862
                                  My Dear Sister
                                                       Feelling very
sad I take my pen to write you a few lines your
letter of the second reached me last night hearing of
              Brothers Death
Our beloved  ^ has quite undone me last night was a sleepless
night for me it came so unexpected that I could not have
it so Becca if ever one Brother loved another I loved him
you know he was always the stronger of the two and consequently
                     companion
was my constant  ^ from my infantile moments untill I became
Strong in manhood he was ever a good and kind Brother
to me and my love for him was great Dearly loved sister
it has been my lot for the past six months to witness
Death in a thousand different forms on the Battlefield
as well as in the Camp and to the Scene I have become
accustomed it is there I have seen the Father mourning the loss
of A Darling Son and the Brother weeping for the loss of his mate

[page 2]
and it Serves to convince me more fully that it is but
a step from time to eternity and one that we all must
take sooner or later and Dear Sister let us try and be
prepared for this important step that wee may be
enable to become better reconciled to Gods [mercy & ?]  providence.
Tell my Father for me to go to the Book of Books and
there on he will find words of comfort to Sustain
him in this his hour of affliction although myself
A wanderer from the field of Christ I know there
is peace in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ Becc I
wish I was with you for I know it would be A Great
Comfort to you all and wee could mourn together
for the loss of one who was so Dearly loved by us
all it becomes us all to weep for him it seems
as if wee was dubly afflicted A little more than
a year ago and Our Sainted mother was laid in
the silent Grave and now the Chain which bound our
little circle together is again Severed and wee mourn
the loss of another loved One who I hope and trust has
gone to a holier and happier land this recalls to memory
the last words spoken by my Dearly loved mother to me
her dying Counsel She said to me William put your trust
in the Lord he will sustain you in your every affliction

[page 3]
Words I regard as precious for they were left me
by my mother and in my leisure moments I
have to meditate upon Becca Comfort Father and
the Children as well as you can tell them their
Brother feels for them and would like to be with
them in their troubles but it is impossible you
Spoke about my getting a furlough it is impossible
Becca while I have been in the Service of my
Country I have tryed to act the man and
preserved the name given me by those I Love
as Dearly as I do my own life untarnished
I will never play Sick nor act the Coward for my
discharge no not I the thing is done every day
                                                     Death
most & if I am called to die I will meet ^ as
becomes a man and A Soldier be shure and
write me the particulars conserning Stephens Sickness
and Death I am anxious to hear I received the Box
Nov the eighth the Shirts and gloves fit nicely
thanks to my Aunts and Cousins for the
the[sic] things they sent me I got A letter from
you Dated Oct 31 and One from Maria in
the box write Soon all of you–we have not been
paid of yet the talk is now that Pecks Division

[page 4]
is going up the peninsula again
my health is first rate–from you loving
                         Brother Wm H. Girrell

     P S
     excuse all mistakes
     thank the Children for
     me for those beechnuts
     which were very nice
     Maria said Mrs Marshall
     wanted to know what the
     matter was with [Levi?]  the
     Doctor said it was Consumption
     Seth is sick the same way
     and has got his discharge
     he went this morning
     your preserves was very nice in[?]
                    my Love to Father
                    and the Children

Sergeant William H. Girrell
11th Maine Infantry
MSS 1618

Thoroughfare Gap Nov 11th 1862
Dear Father
                   It s with regret
that I learn that McClellan
has been removed. he is &
ever has been my favorite
Gen but those who knew
him, not to know him.–
I mean the Polititions[sic] of
the North must have their
way. They have got it–this
army has lost its best friend
but Public opinion is
stronger than this whole
army.  but remember–
there is (in my opinion)
a day coming when Mc
Cllellan will be called
back again to take com.
Still I am not like some
people, if they can not

[page 2]
have their own way they will
stoop–no matter how low
to carry their point.  Burn-
side is now my Gen & I
would do all in my power
to make him victorious
he is next to McC. & I
think a good go ahead
Gen.  I care but so much
who  has command if
they only bring this war
to an honorable close with
the loss of as few lives as
possible.  I have but about
six months more to stay
(unless I enlist again) & I
should like to see this
War closed before that time
every thing looks favorable
with the exception of the
removal of M.C. still
Burnside is the next man
& is liked very much

[page 3]
& I hope & trust he will be
cautious & strike fast-& shure.
We have had one snow
storm but it has all passed
away & the sun shines as
pleasantly as it did in
Oct.  We have had a march of
seven days duration & now
we are resting, son we
shall be off again.
Before me lays probably as
beautiful a sight as you
most ever saw one vast
plain as far as we can see
mostly woods with here
& there a clearing & some
thing white which tells
that there is or has been
some living being there
& to see the long line of
Gov wagons as they wind
themselves along through
the woods.  all looks beautiful

[page 4]
Yesterday McClellan Burnside
& their staffs were to see us
we cheered them long &
well.  It was a common
remark “I never saw Mc
C. look as sad as he did
today”  To-days paper told
the reason & I have no doubt
but at this time thousands
of soldiers are sitting around
the camp fires talking f
McC. Burnside & others
for there it is that the soldiers
do most of their talking
& if the Camp fires of the
Rebellion could talk they
would have something besides
nonsense to impart.  Va is
the cold side of the Sunny
South.  I suppose that E & Uncle
were very much pleased with
soldiers life they came in a
good time to see the best side
but got tired and on the first
days march & then went back

[upside down in top margin of page one]
Nov 13  we have not moved
Benj Spaulding is at Hagerstown
getting better slowly. cool but pleasant
I am 20 years old to-day

[unsigned letter of Charles Ellery Bradly, Co. I, 32nd New York]

MSS 9729

Hd. Qrs. Cavalry Division
Cowins X roads Nov. 11 5:30  P.M.
To Major Gen’l Parke
    Chief of Staff
General–
               A dispatch just
rec’d from Barbees X roads in=
forms me, that six hundred
rebel cavalry entered Sandy
Hook yesterday, that the
7th Virginia regiment is within
two mile of Markham
& that Jackson is expected
to march down the grade
road today–the grade
road is the road to Culpepper
& the demonstration of yesterday
was evidently intended to
cover that some such move=
ment as well as to recon=
noitre–Col  Davis of 8th
New York, at Newby’s X roads

[page 2]
reports he has scouted all the
roads leading from that point
today–& found no enemy
except at Hazel river, where
he captured a sergeant of
Longstreet’s body guard &
two horses–Pickets on the
Culpepper road report the
rebels with two regiments of
cavalry & two pieces of artillery
on the opposite bank of
Hazel river–they have
been reconnoitering towards
Jefferson today–
               My loss yesterday was
two men mortally wounded
& two severeley[sic]
             I am, General Very respectfully
                      your Obt. servt:
                        A. Pleasonton
                          Brig gen
MSS 495

Hd. Qrs. Cavalry Division
Cowins X roads Nov. 11
                                             9:30 P.M
To Major Gen’l Parke
    Chief of Staff
General–
                 I send you enclosed
a Lynchburg paper of yester=
day, which shows the rebels
are using the railroad in
that direction–It remarks
on the large number of
desertions of the rebel army–
     A deserter from the 8th
Virginia cavalry infantry
came in this morning,left
Culpepper Saturday–says
Lee has gone to Richmond–
That he was impressed into
service from Tennessee
with 40 others all anxious

[page 2]
to quit the rebel service
when they can get
away—
Captain Hutton
has communicated the
Generals orders & I
will do everything to
carry them out–
      Please order me
100,000 rounds of Sharps
carbine cartridges with
caps & have them sent
to me as soon as possible
my cavalry in this county
act a great deal on
foot & must have the
ammunition–              
                         Very respectfully
                        A. Pleasonton
                          Brig gen
MSS 495