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

Friday 7  Nothing of any moment. A
gentleman from Martinsburg called
with a letter from my old friend
Holmes Conrad.  Weather sharp
but clear.   At night In the evening
came by the cars from Careyswood
Eugene Davis & his sister Lizzie-
Mr.  Holcombe came in about 8 oclock
and made himself very agreeable
Dr. Houston also called. Mr. H.
induced Eugene D. to go up with him
in the morning cars to Bedford
to see a place he had bought & to
avoid disturbing us E. went to the
Hotel to sleep. various rumors
from the army, whose situation
causes me great anxiety–The enemy
are obviously trying to separate the
corps of Jackson & Longstreet
and will I fear succeed.  They are
menacing Richd also from Suffolk
and by the River.  Great events are
on the  [?]  The elections in N.Y.
N.J. & Illinois have gone for the
Democrats and the defeat of the
Black Republicans is overwhelming
This must make for our cause.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quarter Master Dept.]

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

Thursday
Nov 6
On guard to day.  Number One at the guard
house.  It is cold and rainy.  John Spaulding
is commander of the guard.   Our cavaly pickets
were fired upon today.

MSS 11293

    Hd. Qrs Near Brandy–Nov 6th
Dear Mother
                   I wont have the half
sheet of paper you sent me, so I
send it back to you.
     Last night I returned from
Gaine’s X Roads, where I have
been several days.  There I had
a good time, meeting friends &
living high on honey, Turkey
pie, sweet potatoes, Irish Do.
persimmons, milk, apples,
buttermilk, corn & fodder for
horse, maple sugar, “raised”
& “light” bread, clean clothes,
coffee and Johny Cakes.
On reaching Camp your letter
was handed me.  I was
very glad to get it, & thought
it the best one you had
ever written me.  this
morning Mary’s enclosing
1 from Miss P. was given

[page 2]
me.  Both shall be answer=
ed when the wind stops blow=
ing.  I made up a fine
batch of bread this A.M.
using ashes Hickory ashes
in leiu of soda.
At the same time I received
an Atlanta paper–very
interesting–from “J.B.H.”
wh was a suggestive thought.
  I did not see the grand
Cav. Rev. yesterday Twas said
to exceed all others as a
pretty show.  All the move=
ments were ordered through
the flag floppers.
——-To Jemmie –casualties
slight–2 killed, 4 wounded
Gen S. & the women doubt=
less enjoyed the fun—-
Gen R. E. Lee’s Hd.Qrs. are
just opposite ours & I
see him every day. He
parts his hair behind like

[page 3]
Kelemeckers Ellet.  Do not
send me any clothing now
I hope to be at home be=
fore I need it.  I am as
pleasantly fixed as any
man in the Con. Army & w’d
not even exchange with
W.R. Ragland with his
millions.
I think Jemmie would
have a pleasant place at
Goshen. It is a Bap
tist oasis in a Presbyte=
rian Dessert.  There
are some refined Baptists
living about there, but
the majority are good but
plain Dutch descended
people.  A man could
have a good time & live
well on “Smearcase” &
Kraut out there, and
go to see Col. Ed’s pretty

[page 4]
daughters 1ce a month.
Miss Lou Jordan, especially
used to be a neat, pretty
girl. I remember once
I____never mind, but
if he goes to Goshen I’ll
go out to see him.  Sev=
eral people say that they
w’d bet a Thousand Dollars
that Chaplain Taylor came
back a married man.
Has Miss F. Braxton married
J. Ficklin?
A.P. Hill’s Corps of Inf. is
moving back some where
this morning–
That large body of timber
n front of Welford’s house
has entirely disappeared
& gives the country a
strange look.
Gen. S. has a new kind of a=
musement.  When he wea=
ries of Swinney’s banjo, he

[left hand margin of page 4]
gets together all his escort & couriers & staff & every
one imitates the cry of a different animal, rep=

[left hand margin of page 3]
resenting cats, owls, hogs, snakes, dogs, pea-fowls,
roosters, mules, mice, hens, crickets, horses,

[left hand margin of page 2]
terrapins, whip-poor-wills &c &c ad infinitum—

[left hand margin of page 1]
If you cant find out who this letter’s from, write me word
& I’ll let you know in the next.

[page 5]
Jemmie’s writing all the news
so I will only add a line
to ask one of you to send
me in your next letter
a copy of the descriptive
list sent home by Capt
Grey (Do not send either the
original or duplicate sent
by him, but a copy) I
hereby send a “Power of
attorney” by which my
pay can be gotten.  After
paying  $24 to sis Jane, let
the rest go to paying Alf
or Father for my horse-
Capt Grey told me the other
day that more was ow=
ing me, & that is the rea=
son I want the copy.
As ever, Affty Ch. E. Taylor

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, was originally with the 21st Mississippi Infantry.
Wounded in action, he was unable to march and obtained a position in the 10th Virginia
Cavalry.  After the war he became a Baptist minister, professor, and eventually president of
Wake Forest University.

MSS 3091

Camp 3 Miles from White post
  Nov 6” 1862.
My dearest Jennie
  We changed camp yesterday after I had
started my letter to you.  Moving about six
miles in the direction of Strasburg & Front
Royall & yet the same distance from Win-
chester that is about six miles.  My
regiment was sent yesterday morning early
to picket at Berrys Ferry about 5 miles
from this camp & will be relieved to day
being still the brigade commander of
course I did not go with it.  No one can
yet tell what is Genl Jacksons purpose in
so often moving his camps, unless it be
to create the impression on the yankeys
that we have a large and increasing
force, with and that we intend to fight if they
attact [sic] us.  in fact we are just in that situation
that I shall not be surprised at any thing and
try & keep myself prepared for every emergency.  I saw
yesterday the Dispatch of the 3d which spoke more hope-
fully of intervention than it has done for eight months
I therefore still cling to my hope that the detention
of Lord Lyons in England was for the purpose of instruct-
ing him fully & finally as to the future policy of
England & France and that that policy will be
in our favor.  You say in your letter how you wish
for peace & wonder if ever we are to see it together
again.  I know my darling how lonely you must
be at times & how much you desire & pray to see
the end of this wicked strife, but you are not more
lonely than am I.  You are not home sick.  You have

[page 2]
our dear little prateling [sic] children with you to keep up your
spirits & minister to your happiness.  I am lonely.  Home sick
& wife & children sick and have no remedy for either but in
a peace, giving independence to the South.  And when
will that come, He alone who knows all things and
disposes of all events can tell  I sometimes look hopefully
Oh, so hopefully into the future and think of the time
when this bloody war having ceased & our armies having
been disbanded I will return home to you all and
surrounded by my wife & children I will amid the
scenes of an humble home enjoy a quiet peaceful
Christian life, but then something will occur and
is constantly occuring [sic] to depress my hopes to such
an extent as sometimes as almost to create a fear
that we will never be successful, but this is only
momentary  my faith & confidence in the goodness of
an overruling Providence is such that I never quite
give up.  Have I ever told you how I warm my tent?
I have a Sibley tent, which you know is round & has a
hole in the top, in the center of this I have a small
funnel shaped stove with a pipe running half way to the
top of the tent.  this warms up my tent finely & never
bothers me with smoke.
Evening Thursday One P.M.  Much to my surprise I have
up to this time received no order to march.  when I got
here last night I expected to receive orders before mor-
ning, but as none have been recd up to this time, it is
quite likely that we will remain here at least until
morning, if something else dont hapen [sic].  The Yankeys so far
as I can learn are camped in force on the top of
the Blue Ridge in Snickers Gap.  how many there are
in other places I dont know.  A few weeks ago it seemed
to us the entire McClelland army was in front of us

[page 3]
opposite Martinsburg & Sheperdstown & above & below
these two places.  Now it appears that very few of
them are in that direction, that the most of their
army marched by way of Leesburg to the eastern side
of the Blue Ridge & thence in the direction of Warrenton
but it so turned out that Genl Lee & Longstreet had
gone there before them & then they stood presenting a
very formidable front to the enimy [sic], while Genl Jackson
continues in the vicinity of Winchester & Front Royall
so that if they (the enimy [sic]) advance against Lee, Jack-
son is in their rear.  a very good arrangement for
us unless the enimy [sic] should sudenly [sic] turn a round with
superior force in which event we may have to advance
backwards in the direction of Harrisonburg, but not
very far.  because if they bring a superior force against
us, Lee will be superior to those left behind & they
will be in dificulty [sic].  I am of opinion Lee will
take quarters south of the Rappahannock & we will
remain about in spots sometimes in one place & some-
times in another.  We have hog killing in the army
to day, and if I had our little sausage machine I
would make sausage.  as it is I must contend my-
self with spare rib & back-bone.  I cant complain of

[page 4]
of our living just now, we have plenty of butter apple
butter cane molasses & some honey, apples & ginger cakes
but have to depend on beef & camp bread for substan-
tials until we get our rations of pork.  I am very
much freted [sic] about Braithwaite doing nothing, if he has
not gone to work you must do as you said get Royer
to finish up the job.  You can wait.  Has Stephen got
his corn in yet.  The 10” has just returned from picket at
Berrys ford or ferry & it is dark.  The officers report that
the yankeys fell back from Snickers Gap to day & that they
are marching in the direction of Markham which is
the first station on the Manassas Gap RR east of the
Blue Ridge & couriers report that the head of this column
is at Markham.  from this point they can march to
Front Royall or towards Culpeper as they please.  And
I am of opinion that they will remain not far
from that point possibly all winter, but may
really intend to make a general advance as they
say themselves that they are making.
Friday Morning:  All quiet this morning but it was
very cold last night.  I did not sleep quite so comfortable
but am all right this morning.  I must have a servant
Rutherford wont do.  Tell to try & find me either a good
cook or butler Mo affecty  ETHWarren

“My dearest Jennie”, salutation – Warren’s wife, Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.

“the brigade”, line 9 – Taliaferro’s Brigade consisted of the 47th & 48th Alabama Infantry regiments, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.

“Genl Jackson”, line 11; page 3, line 8, 10 & 11 – Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, Confederate general, commanded the Left Wing (2nd Corps), Army of Northern Virginia.

“the Dispatch”, line 19 – Warren almost certainly referred to the Richmond Daily Dispatch.  The 3 November issue of the newspaper contained two articles bearing on the question of foreign recognition – ‘The Recognition Question’ and ‘Mr. Gladstone’s Speech’.

“Lord Lyons”, line 22 – Richard B. P. Lyons, British Envoy to the US government.

“our dear little prateling children”, page 2, line 1 – The Warren children were seven year old Lizzie, six year old James M., and eight month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.

“Sibley tent”, page 2, line 19 – This style tent was patented by Henry H. Sibley in the late 1850’s while he was a US Army officer; he later became a Confederate general.  This tent was conical shaped (very similar to a Plains Indian dwelling) and was some twelve feet tall and eighteen feet in diameter.

“McClelland”, page 2, line 33 – George B. McClellan, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.

“Longstreet”, page 3, line 6 – James Longstreet, Confederate general, commanded the Right Wing (1st Corps), Army of Northern Virginia.

“10””, page 4, line 8 – 10th VA Infantry.

“Rutherford”, page 4, line 23 – Archibald S. Rutherford, Colonel’s Orderly, 10th VA Infantry.  He enlisted 10 April 1862 in Company C2, 10th VA Infantry, as a substitute.  He was one of only two men who served in the regiment born outside the 1800’s; he was born c.1797.  On 24 April, Colonel Simeon B. Gibbons, then commander of the 10th VA, detailed Rutherford as a forager; he never returned to duty with his company.

“ETHWarren”, page 4, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.

[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g

                                                                Camp near Culpeper C.H.
                                                                 Thursday, Nov. 6, 1862.

My own dear Ella,
                                                    I have been disappointed thus far
in my hopes of getting a letter from you here.  the mail from Win-
chester has been forwarded to this office, and it may be ready for dis=
tribution to-morrow.  Not having heard from my application for a furlough
up to yesterday, I became uneasy, fearing that it had been mislaid
in the movement of the army.  so I visited Gen. Longstreet who promptly
issued the order I requested. So I will leave next Monday with cer-
tainty, Providence favoring; and spending Tuesday in Richmond, go to Dan
ville Wednesday.  If thee is still a daily stage, you may confidently
look for me Thursday.  Will you not be happy, my darling, when I am once
more seated by your side? I persuade myself that you will, judging by
the delight I myself feel in the anticipation.  I have felt lonesome all
day, partly because it is a raw day and I have taken a slight cold, but
perhaps chiefly because I have that furlough in my pocket and am impatient
to be off.  I could go at once, but am unwilling to shorten the two brief period during
which I may remain with you when we twain shall become one.  Besides
I like to spend as many sabbaths as possible with the regiment.  L. tom Houston
returned to us a few days ago.  He is in excellent health, but has not wholly
recovered the use of his wounded arm.  Cannon-firing has been heard yesterday
and to-day, but I do not know what it means.  Our [?] and baggage which
were left behind in the advance of our army against Pope have been sent to us
to-day: it is probable, therefore, that our troops will remain in the neighborhood
some time.

[page 2]
with this scrawl I close, if our affairs shall prosper as I hope, our corre-
spondence as lovers bound together by plighted faith. The time of our engagement
has been short, and yet long enough to make me, at least, realize fully the
relation between us in all its sacredness and tenderness.  I trust that our mutual
devotion and confidence, our union and fellowship of soul, are so perfectly developed
as to warrant us without doubt or reluctance in binding ourselves by the yet more solemn
and sacred vows of husband and wife.  I have endeavoured to excite in your heart
the deepest and liveliest confidence in my complete devotedness to you welfare–in
the thought and care with which I will ever watch over your happiness.  I have also
assured you how entirely satisfied and delighted I am in you as the choice of my
head and heart to be the partner of all my joys and sorrows, my comforter, my earthly
all–in a word, my own dear, precious wife.  I do thank God daily for your love.
I look ahead with prayer and hope to many days of happiness and usefulness by
your aid. Does not your heart respond to all I write, my darling?  I will in a
few days be with you, telling into your ear all my love to you, hearing from your lips all your
love to me. And now, my own dear girl, I have a request to make: it is that
you will think of our marriage and go through the scenes so near with only cheerful
feelings, with such a confiding spirit in my sympathy and love, with such an absorbing
affection, as will  keep you tranquil and satisfied and happy.  Isn’t that a small
and reasonable request?  I will certainly do everything in my power by the
most tender and considerate love to produce this state of mind in my darling,
and afterwards everything in my power  by the same, or if possible, an increasing
tenderness and consideration to promote your happiness all our days.  Good-bye, my
love, The blessing of our Father ever be with thee!
                                                      Yours with all my heart
                                                                     J. C. Granberry

John Cowper Granberry, 1829-1907, formerly an itinerant preacher and chaplain at the University of Virginia, later a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and a trustee of Vanderbilt University.

MSS 4942

                            Richmond Nov. 6th, 1862,
My dear Nancy
                          I arrived here on Friday night
last after a very disagreeable ride, being the greater
part of Thursday, and all of Friday night on the road
I caught a severe cold from which I have suffered
but I hope it will wear off in time.
                        To my surprise I met Tom and
Tip McLeary in the street on Monday, where they
informed me of their capture, and imprisonment
in Washington, their subsequent Parole, and passage
to Richmond, where they were sent to be exchanged
at the proper time.  Mr Ould the agent for the exchange
of prisoners informed me that they would be exchan=
=ed this week, and if they desired it might return
to their commands, if Genl Smith permitted it, which
he did.  I took them to Mrs Austins, procured them
their supper, a comfortable bed on the floor in my
room, and kept them there until their departure
when I gave them what money I could, and I hope
they are by this time safely at home.
                The salary of my Office has been increased
to $1500, but as Congress made no appropriation to pay
the increase of the Clerks wages, I suppose we must
wait until it meets in January, and in the mean
time I must do the best I can.  Living is enormous=
=ly high, but if I could only get those things I sent
to Mr Brown for it would help me very much.
                I learned the other day from a person
from Farmville that he thought I might get you
valley money for your check, if I succeed in doing so
I will remit it to you by the 1st safe opportunity.
               You must do the best you can under
your troubles, be prudent, and do nothing to
exasperate your enemies; about the sale of the
property, I think it is worth at least $6000 in Con money

[page 2]
before you part with it however, let me know, and do
not agree to give posession until April, unless you can
see your way perfectly clear, and know where you can go
say nothing of it to the servants, or indeed to any one
but the most reliable friends.
               I have thought a great deal of
Sophy and indeed of all the family, tell her to write to
me, it would embitter the balance of my days if I
supposed she entertained a serious design of con=
necting her fortunes with the person you mentioned
when I was at home, and after her promise to you
that she would not, I place too high an estimate upon
her word to suppose she would disappoint you and
me, and all those prominent friends she has made
since the breaking out of this unholy war.
              Ask Sally what she means to do
with all her baggage, should she get inside of the
Enemies lines, do you think it would be safe at Mr
Washington’s?  Let Mr Washington know that Mr Ould
says he will be exchanged t his week; and say
to Anna that business men here, think that an
investment in Confederate bonds, the best that can
be made at this time.  Old Mr Washington desires to
invest his money, and Anna requested me to make
enquiry for him.  Col Reynolds is here trying to
be made a Brigadier, and he told me yesterday if he
succeeded he would certainly help Charles.
              Mrs. Hoge is a friend of yours, and will do all
she can to help you.  What more can I say than to express the hope
thathe that you will not repine but keep up your
spirits, and encourage the children, to all of whom
give my warmest love and believe me
                                                     as ever
                                                      Th. E. Buchanan
This confinement does not suit me
or my health and I wish most heartily to serve the Government
in some other way.

Thomas Ely Buchanan, 1810-1889

MSS 4560

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond, Co. E, 42nd Virginia “Dixie Greys”

  Thursday 6th.  Leave
Staunton this morning at 7 O’
clock A. M. for Lynchburg, via
Charlottesville – arrive at Lynch
burg [word lined through] at 7 ¼ O’clock at night
report at Chompton Hospital

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

        Union Grove
    November 6th 1862

Dear Brother
             I heard this
morning that you had
been promoted, and I
determined to write to
day to tell you how very
glad I was to hear of it,
especialy as you desearve
it so fully.  I hope dear
Brother that you will
not be placed in any
more danger from
your promotion, for if
you were, I would be
sorry, instead of glad

[page 2]
that you had been
promoted. we want to
here very much from
you. all the particular
all that we have heard
has been from the news=
papers.
Willie is getting along
very well at school with
his lessons, especially
with his arithmetic.
Sister is very much
pleased with the
readiness with which
he adds up the long
columns of figures.
I study regularly at
home with sister now
every day, particularly
french.  I spend an hour
studying french every
day, and one in saying
it to sister, and sister

[page 3]
thinks that by next
spring I will be able
to read.
Grandma has been sick
but she is quite well
now. she is very anxious
to hear from Uncle
Alfred and from you.

[letter continues in another hand]
My dearest Charlie
                            I sent quite
a long letter to you to the Post
Office this evening, but coming
across Nina’s little note, I cannot
resist the temptation to add
a few lines, before folding it up-
My desire to see and talk with
you over the sudden realization
of your ambitions hopes for the
present, is so strong that I long
to join Aunt Sarah on a hurried
visit to the Fleet–The news
almost stunned me for a little

[page 4]
time to-day, and at first I thought
far more of Father than of you
-for which you will readily
forgive me.  But, as I think of the
importance of this early promotion,
of the grave bearing it must have
on your whole future career, and
the grave responsibilities it entails
upon you, I have no interest that
does not center around you–You
are now fairly before the country:
a case of promotion so sudden
and so rare cannot fail to attract
observation and, if any opportunity
of distinction presents itself, you
may be a popular hero at an
age when most men are at school.
My great fear is that the con-
sciousness of this may lead you to
court unnecessary danger-conduct
which, in you, would be not only
idle but criminal–On the whole
I am disposed to believe that your

[remainder of letter missing]

Nina Ellet and her sister Mary Virginia Ellet, later Cabell, to their brother Charles Rivers Ellet, upon his promotion to Colonel and command of the ram Queen of the West, the same boat commanded by their late father Charles Ellet, Jr., mortally wounded in the naval assault on Memphis. Charles R. had received popular acclaim for raising the Union flag over that city.  Uncle Alfred was the younger brother of Charles Ellet, Jr., and a Union brigadier general.  Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell later became a founding officer to the Daughters of the American Revolution

MSS 276

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd. Qrs. Cav: Brigade
On the road near Chester Gap
 Nov 6.     11.15. A.M.
To Colonel A. V. Colburn
     Asst Adjutant
Colonel  The enemy have their
guns planted in the Gap &
a discharged man tells me
that Jackson is there with
his force to defend it   I
think likely & I am trying to
get some round about road to
my destination–We have
found thirty six dead rebels
from yesterdays fight–
Stuart told his men he
intended to bag us as he
had his whole force–On
the retreat they said we
had too many infantry
for them–The rebels mad
three different charges & we
repulsed in all–
                  A. Pleasonton
                      Brig. General

MSS 495