Post Hospital  Nov 3rd/62

Dear Mother
                           This is a cold windy day here
though I suppose not nigh so cold as it is with you
I still remain here about the same as usual if
you could see me you would think I was a stout
looking fellow for a sick one As regards news
there is about the same as when I last wrote
Nothing only troops have been going out to
Centreville for the last few days pretty fast
the 1st, 11th, 16th regts went Saturday I was over to
see [?] Flagg Friday he is stout and hearty
as a buck.  Tell Homer we sleep on the ground
with nothing but our blankets under us and
for fodder we get a loaf of bread a day and
some salt shoat or pig had quite a windfall
today had some quail one for 4 of us he ran
into the tent yesterday and we caught him
  You ask if I got a letter from Mary Stedman
I got one on Halls Hill last winter and answered
it soon after that is all I ever received from
her That Frank Stedman that you speak about
asked me one day if I knew any Stedmans
in Newton and told me about  his aunt Mary
Amerige & his Grandmother.  Why did not you
send me a plate of fried pork & apples the other
morning for breakfast while it was warm I am
afraid it is all cold by this time.

[page 2]
I wish I could be there to get some good
apples as we have to pay such an awful
price for them here  You ask about papers
dont send any as I dont get them
Haven’t got one since I have been here
You must not think strange I write so
little as there is nothing here to write
about.  Give my respects to Aunt Abby
and all enquiring friends
             From you aff son
                   Wm Wallace

Mrs E. Smith
Newton L Falls

William Wallace Smith, Co. B., 22nd Massachusetts

MSS 15360
        

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

Monday, Nov. 3, 1862
Went to work this
morning & raised
the kitchen. got ready to
go to Ashland. Went
down in the hack
Critch & Fox also Crotty &
K[?] also down.  Practiced
some played down street
[?] my supper at [?]
played in the Hall
Heard lecture by Capt B[?]
of the 42d  rather poor affair
Went to the McNulty[?] House
where a supper was [convened?]
After which went to
[?] Smiths Esq upon his &
wifes invitation Had
fine bed there scented with
cologne water Jo & Herb a little
drunk mostly cloudy
Paid Herb off $8.00

MSS 10317

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

Mon 3.  Fine cold blustering day – All the tent huts fold – My tent
last night only half pitched blew pins out & was very cold.
had it repitched & floored & now very comfortable.  Yesterday for
first time we sent out pickets – about 3 miles – no one is
allowed to pass be[yond?] without pass except Gen. officers – or to
come within except negroes & unarmed citizens – & they to be con-
ducted to Officer in command – 27th N.J. an No.[?] & 15th Conn.
an 50 – just by us – visited Capt. Wheeler of latter & he me in eveg.
yesterday talked with contrabands – she sd. when Jackson came
up to the “Siyde”[?] she escaped for life – got separated fr. two of
her children – most crazy about ‘em.  Got Kind o’ Squandered” –
found em by & bye – Send out pickets now every day.  Yesterday four
soldiers were buried fr. the large hospital close by – they keep half a
dozen graves always dug in the new cemetery just across road fr.
our rt. wing – one had lately been taken up.
At dress parade – men returned to quarters – when long roll was beat –
a stirring sound – it called them out at double quick –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

Captain John D. Wheeler, 15th Connecticut

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

     Nov. 3d., ’62.
Still in camp
here – Glasgow.

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

Nov 3d
Left Camp at 8 Oclock for to
Cros the Potomac
Rever at Berlien
On the Ponton
Bridge into
Vagana    Whe went
To lovitesville and
Stops until the [-]
Whent Pass and
Whent thow
Whiteland   2 miles

Genl Bunsides tuck
Comand of the armey
of the Potmac Nov
the 8th/62 and
Relived McCallan
Sent a letter home
to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Monday, November 3

Today Nannie Page, Jane, Fez and I went down to see the brigade parade but on
arriving withing a quarter of a mile of Berryville, we met the army coming up this
way, Ewell’s command in charge of Gen. Early.  They encamped near Millwood.

MSS 9759

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

Monday 3rd of November–Cloudy to day–Little William sick with
fever & sore throat–Sarah fears it is Dyptheria & as Dr Jones is
away from the Village we all feel anxious & uneasy–I have
just finished a long letter to Joe & must now go to sewing

MSS 6960

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

Monday 3.  Continuation of fine weather
pretty busily engaged–Our South
Carolina soldier, his mother & bro-
ther got off on the S.S. train for home.
She had been here three weeks–he
not so long–She wanted to pay for
board–but I of course, would receive
nothing. they professed great gra-
titude–and think the removal
of Robert to this home saved his
life–As illustration of several
differences and manners I may men
-tion that she gave the cook ten
cents as  reward for her extra
trouble–They are in easy circum-
stances & have money plenty.  it
has been a considerable tax and
inconvenience to have them here so
long but we do not regret it
Little Flora Stuart died this mor
-ning.  Her father telegraphed he
could not come but left his child
in the hands of God–Longstreets
corps is in Culpeper, around the
Court House. Stuart is in the
upper end of Loudoun–Rumors
of an advance of the enemy from
Suffolk–not authentic however
wrote to Kean about Charles

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

As usual made many good resolutions to
begin right this morning the first day
of the week but failed–The children all
woke up before day light & I was obliged to
get up soon after & make the fire.   They
were cross & hungry & I was impatient with
them & at Margaret for coming up so late &
being slow generally-. After such a
beginning could not be happy.–I know
that I have done wrong=So spent the
day with less pleasure than if I had
not sinned: Will I ever be a meek
humble, patient, charitable person= I
know that Christ can, & will, do great
things & for me- I mean to look to Him &
Him only & I pray that he may make me
a worthy follower of the cross.
   I am sad when I look at my children &
think of my responsibility & the consequences
of neglecting their eternal interest.  O that I
may never forget this= I pray & beseech thee–
O Lord especially for a blessing on my labors
for them put it into my mouth & heart
how to show them the Lord while they are
young-so that when they are old they may
not forget Thee;-
All Jacksons army left the valley to
day.= No company.  Colonel Magruder
took tea here last night

[partial transcription in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Sunday
Nov 2
On guard today with Scollard and Simonds.  Had
a very good time today. Read the testament some.

MSS 11293