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

Sunday 2:  Remarkably mild and
pleasant–more like May than
November–large congregation
& the largest communion I have
seen for a long time–In the after
noon young Goodchild came down
into the library for the first time
May think of going tomorrow. He has
been furloughed — Walked to Jack
Langhornes to enquire after Flora
Stuart–Not much chance of her
living–It will be a dreadful
blow to her parents.  Called at
Sues–Church at night.

MSS 4763

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

Saturday
Nov 1
Had a good drill this forenoon.  Have
been reading newspapers.  Had a nice box come
from home for which I thank God who has sent it along
safely and enabled me to receive it all right, and may
I always be ready to acknowledge his mercies.

MSS 11293

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

Sat. November the 1st
Nothing of interest took place
to-day.

MSS 5526

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville Nov 1. 8.15  A.M.
To General R B Marcy
Chief of Staff
General

Your dispatches of 7. &
9. P.M. rec’d.
  I am just starting
for Philomont–shall push
my reconnaissance [out?] towards
Upperville as I can today
 Have not heard from
Gen. Bayard–Have sent
an aid to him this morning
if he can get thro’
  I send you Colonel
Gregg’s statement concerning
the men he wants for 8th
Penn. cav. according to your
request

             very respectfully
               A. Pleasonton
                   Brig. Genl

MSS 495

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Philomont Nov 1. 4 P.M.

To General R B Marcy
Chief of Staff
General
      We have had some hard skirmishing
with Stuart–He outnumbers
us & his infantry drove
my advance back with some
loss–but my guns have
punished him severely–
three times I have driven
his guns from position–He
has I think two batteries–
& they have reinforcements
at Upperville & I think
Union–This is a splendid
position & it is of the greatest
importance a brigade of
infantry should come up
at once & hold it--saw
another battery that [?]
may be free–
  Col. Gregg & Maj Keenan
of the 8th  Penn did
good service today

[page 2]
skirmishing with a superior
force of the enemy–
I think they are now
working round to my left
as my pickets towards
Aldie are skirmishing–
   I saw their wagons
going off towards Upper
ville

                  Very respectfully
                    A. Pleasonton
                      Brig. Genl

MSS 495

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
 Philomont  Nov 1. 4. 15 P.M.

To General R B Marcy
Chief of Staff
General
     I have just rec’d
a list of our losses today–
The 8th Pennsylvania cavalry
1 officer wounded Lieut: Carpenter
11 men wounded
4 horses wounded
3 ”  Indiana Cavalry
one killed
two wounded
6 missing
4 horses missing
of the enemy Col. Gregg
reports he saw five
dead on the field &
afterwards their loss
must have been heavy
skirmishing
                   still

[page 2]
going on–Pennington’s
battery lost two horses–

      I am, General, very respectfully
                    A. Pleasonton
                      Brig. Genl

MSS 495

 [from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
 Philomont  Nov 1. 7. P.M.
To General R B Marcy
       Chief of Staff
  General
     A brigade of infantry
with a battery has reported
to me from the cross roads
four mile in rear of this–
as they have made a long
march today–sixteen
miles, I have directed them
to remain where they are
for the night & to move
on in the morning–
    As soon as they ar-
rive I shall push with
my whole force to Union
& scout toward Upperville
    If Bayard comes
up tomorrow we may
be able to some good
work in clearing the

[page 2]
the country to Upperville
  Should Couch attach
at Snickersville Stuart mu
must make for Ashby
& push a force to Bloomfield
to try & intercept him–
   My scouts were as far
as Aldie today & there were
no rebels there–
               There’s an ugly
report about here that
Stuart captured some 200
hundred of the [word heavily lined through]  Rhode
Island cavalry yesterday
but I have nothing authentic
except the Captain was
killed–This position is very
strong–Very respectfully
                    A. Pleasonton
                      Brig. Genl

MSS 495

 [from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

    Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
 Philomont  Nov 1. 7. P.M.
Colonel Geo. D. Ruggles
       Asst. Chief of Staff

Your dispatch stating Gen
Bayard was ordered to Aldie
& would join this Army by
the way of Leesburg is rec’d–
   I had scouts to
Aldie to day & there is no
enemy in that neighbor=
hood–I shall go to
Union tomorrow–&
Bayards shortest route
will be from Aldie
to this place instead
of Leesburg–I
submit this for your
information
        Very respectfully
                    A. Pleasonton
                      Brig. Genl

MSS 495

Saturday, Nov. 1, 1862
Went this morning
with Dan Pritchard
& helped load the [boxes?]
at Chandler
Helped the boys load a
log. Went this afternoon
with Sam Horner & Jim
Whir[?] to Ashland.
Saw some of the boys
there. Found [there?] the
darky drill.

Mrs Lee visited me
this evening with
her family.
The boys went to town
this evening
Clear fine day beautiful

MSS 10317

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

Sat 1st Nov.  a warm calm, lovely day.  The regt. is ordered to
be vaccinated – & today Gen Casey reviews 3 Brigades
ours – The 5 Vt. & the Me. Regts.  I had just mounted to go on
review when back came the Reg – we break camp soon as can
get dinner & march to Fairfax Sem. to relieve Sickles Brigade
All is stir & bustle now –    Mr Campbell called & dined with
us – Struck tents after dinner.  I stayed to see part of camp
equipage packed & then rode after regt.  a pleasant rolling
country.   boys in good spirits.  fine day – found camp of
Gen Hookers Division just vacated, a dirty looking place

but Col. D’s. tact soon put a new face on affairs –
pitched as we could for the night – on summit – a    a
hill – overlooking valley of Potomac on East & a narrow valley
on west –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935