[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd. Qrs. Cav: Brigade
Piedmont, Nov 4.  4.45. P.M.
To General McClellan
   General–
                       I have sent Col. Gregg
& the 6th Cav. to reinforce Averell
at Markham. On looking at
the road from here to Markham
I find it would not to move
my whole command to that point-
The country being very hilly, —
no places to turn round in
case of retreat–I have
therefore directed Averell
not to attempt to push farther
& if too hard pressed to fall
back upon me–Averell
mistook my orders this
morning which did
not contemplate his
whole force going to
Markham, but only
a scouting party–as
           
[page 2]
it is more important to us
just now to gain information
than to gain glory by thrashing
Stuart–I have found a
good guide & have sent
two squadrons by Barbees
to Sandy Hook on the Chester
Gap & Flint Hill road to
Culpepper–by the road they
take it is only eleven miles
from here–Averell sends
me word he had two guns
& three hundred prisoners of
Stuart’s at one time & then
lost them–I expect he has
had a hard fight- & as they can
so easily throw infantry upon
him thro’ the Gap & the
country is bad I have advised
him to be very careful-
  I begin to think Stuart is
taking these Gaps to lead us off
the Scent                  A. Pleasonton
                                 Brig. General

MSS 495

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd. Qrs. Cav: Brigade
Piedmont,  Nov 4 5.45 P.M.
To General McClellan
General–
       Colonel Colburn’s dispatch
from Ashby’s Gap rec’d.–I
send a staff officer for
orders, as directed-
            Averell’s command
is I fear a good deal crippled
from his report- He does
not give me his killed &
wounded– but tells me
one of his squadrons was
overwhelmed by superior
numbers- I have now
two squadrons on the
road to Chester Gap-
and shall soon hear from them
From what Averell says,
I am satisfied no one
but Stuart has been

[page 2]
in Manassas Gap–
 Averell talks of pursuing
him, but I shall halt
him until your orders
are rec’d, & strengthen
me at Chester Gap–
       From what I hear
General, I would advise
to push the infantry
forward as fast as
possible as the enemy
have a good start.

                I am general  very respectfully
                                 A. Pleasonton
                                 Brig. General

MSS 495

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd. Qr. Cav. Brigade
Piedmont Nov 4. 7. P.M.

To General Averell
  Comdg Cav. Brigade

In case you will have
passed Markham–you
will immediately return
to that point with your
command & report
the same to these
Hd.Qrs. remaining
thee until further
orders–
             Very respectfully
              A. Pleasonton
                 Brig. Gen.
              
MSS 495

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Piedmont, Nov 4.  p.45 P.M

To Colonel Ruggles
Asst Chief of Staff

Colonel-
               My scouts towards
Chester Gap have returned
& report the enemy in that
direction with two guns
in position on the road–
some nine miles from here–
      To go to Chester Gap from
here, we must pass Markham
& it will not do to leave
that point under covered
as it leads out of Manassas
Gap–I will push on to
Chester & Sandy Hook
tomorrow but want some
infantry at Markham
to prevent Stuart

[page 2]
coming thro’ on my rear
when engaged in front
with the enemy–
    Please hurry up
the Sharps Carbines Am-
munition & the battery
ammunition train!
        Very respectfully
         A.Pleasonton
         Brig. Genl
          Comdg Brigade

I want some good guides
very badly!—-

MSS 495

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]

Tues 4th – Lovely day – cold last night.  Wrote letters, fixed up generally –
Have rec. orders to be ready to march at moments notice – Six wagons
only to Reg – a shelter tent – a wretched little contrivance allowed
to two men or officers – least possible baggage –
We heard firing in direction of Centreville this morng.

tomorrow we detail 300-400 250 men as fatigue party to dig
rifle pits – besides 100 for picket duty – & so every day –
A review is ordered for tomorrow.
Heard of the death of one man Co. G.  Mr. Cook, at
Gen. Hospital (of measles) – I shall go dn. there tomorrow
& see our sick – Held an interesting meetg. in Co. D
tonight – & a talk with young Slinglant Co. C.  seemed
serious – & somewhat persuaded to become a Christian
said he prayed often – & had read the Bible more in Camp
than in 5 years before –     Today I attended funeral
of two soldiers close by camp fr. Hospital – & visited
Hospital – talked with several sick & wounded.  There are
over 1000 in hos. there – some 5 die per day on average –
Also saw 3 contraband under guard passing by,
Arranged tent, & baggage also made preparations to pack
& move at short notice & with small baggage

Company G had two men named Cook: Brothers Martin and William W.
Private John Slingland, Co. C., 25th New Jersey

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Nov. 4th, ’62.
All quiet to-day, un-
til about 3 P.M.,
when we received
an order to prepare
to march, imme-
diately. Drawn up
in line on the side
of the road, where

we remained un-
til the whole of Wood’s
division train had
passed, about 88.
M., [i.e. Meridian, or noon] when we started,
& marched rapidly
about 6 miles on
the Nashville road.
Encamped at 10 P.M.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1862

Had breakfast at
Smiths this morning
after a time went
down town–& with
the boys played some
at the McNulty &
Miller homes & down
at Mrs [Hatchers?]
Had some Oysters with
Billy Critch for dinner
Came home in a wagon
with Mr Wist & girls
Helped a little at loading
a log
Partly Clear Cool

MSS 10317

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

Tuesday 4th  have been busy sewing all day quietly in my room–The ladies
would come in & out-But it did not interrupt me–William is better

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

It is with a sad heart I open my journal
to night to record the death of our dear
sister Peachie.  Can she be dead so young,
so lovely, apparently so healthy, but a short
time ago, now dead lying in the cold ground
the food for worms=Oh my sister, my sister-
Have you left us & your husband & your poor
motherless children–never, never never to be with
us again=.  Yes we will meet again=No more on
this earth but in our fathers house in heaven.  she
has just gone before; is not dead, but sleepeth=
even now her angel form hovers o’er us, & if
she could shed tears it would be for us= O what
happiness, what joy, is hers, resting in her Saviours
bosom free from all care, trails & pain–no more
sin, no more sorrow, O God sanctify this trouble
to us=Let it draw us nearer to Thee=strengthen
our faith & be merciful unto my father-O
let it be the means of his turning his eyes to
the cross, & give him thy Holy Spirit, to lead
him gently into the narrow way.=. Oh, if he would
only accept a Saviour’s love, how good it would
be=Let it draw all of our hearts more & more
to pray for him til God will hear us, &
because of our importunities will give us
this blessing=& bring Emma & Nat Mrs Lackland within the
fold – then truly we would be complete in
Jesus. All washed in his blood, all clinging to the
cross–O-God hear me & grant this prayer for Jesus sake
                                                                 Amen

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

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

Tuesday 4. Another glorious day.  I
placed to day to the credit of
McDaniel & Irby $5000–or  ra
ther placed it in their hands.  On
this margin they are to buy me
$15.000 worth of tobacco–to be [in?]
[sured?] of.  they all assure me I cannot
lose and must make handsome
ly. There is every reason to believe
the price will continue to advance
and it will bound up if peace is
soon probable.  It is the first specu-
lation I ever entered into.  Had I
made it a year ago I might
have tripled my money–I received
the $5000 by giving my note to
McDaniel for the amt which
he had discounted in Citizens
Savg Bk.—Dined at Dr. Black
-fords and rode to the funeral
of Flora Stuart at major Langhornes.
It was after sunset before we left
the cemetery.  Recd. letter from
Charles, giving an account of the
manner in which he mad Mun
-ford eat his words and give
him a strong letter of recommenda-
tion.

MSS 4763