Hd Qrs U. S Forces
Martinsburg Va
Oct 19th 1863
Guards & Pickets
Pass Mrs Anna
M. Chambers to Hagerstown Md
on her way to the north.
also one Hat Box and
one Carpet Bag–
[S?] B. Pierce
Col Comd–
MSS 4966-b
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Friday 31st Mrs Campbell spent the day with us & in the afternoon
Mrs Phillips called–Mr John Walker set us down nearly
two dozen hot rolls for tea, very acceptable, & a basket of nice
apples–I wrote Liz & sent off a pr of drawers to Tom by express
to go by Noah
MSS 6960
[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Oct 31st
March at 4 oclock
thes morning on for
Bonsbroo Pass thau [through]
Bonsbro to one
mile on the other
sidy of Bornvillie
and camp for
the Night there [Written in the left margin: “M 20”]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
[from the diary of John Ward, of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
[Ward has two entries in his diary dated October 31; this one may be a misdate as it precedes entries for the 26th through the 30th of October]
Oct 31st
Whe in Camp Nere
The Batle grawn [ground]
of antedays [word lined out]
return the
mountains
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]
Oct. 31st, ’62.
Started at 6 A.M.
Marched hard un-
til 2 P.M. when we
encamped about
five miles from
Glasgow; stopping
soon on account
of water.
Robert Reynolds,
a member of my
company, died
very suddenly to-
day, at 11 ¼ A.M. in
an ambulance.
We buried him
this evening near
our camp in a
private burial
ground.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 10547-bm
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Friday, Oct. 31, 1862
Helped with the
apple butter the boys
at work plowing at the
pond. Father came to
Spoffords Mother & I
went to Ashland
Met Alf went with
him to Sawyer Smiths
to see Fulkerson & Arthur
Bought shirt for
$2.00 bugy broke down
as we were leaving
town Mother went home
with Leonards I brought
the bugy up to Carters
rather tedious job
Clear fine day
MSS 10317
[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Fri. 31 – A fair lovely day. The regt. inspected & mustered
for paying off. a hot tiresome job – Lt. Penrose who
inspected us – diner with us also Capt Champion &
his Lieuts – Called meetg. of Ch. committee in mess
Tent – tonight every man but one present – he was on
guard – very harmonious – resolved on communion
once a month, an prayer meetg; by Co. once a week
Sunday Schools – form of Ch adminis. &c. &c.
After meetg. a soldier came to show me his pastors
letter & then his sweetheart’s & her likeness –
As I was shutting my tent for night a soldier
seemed lingering outside – I asked him in – found
him seeking Christ counseled & prayed with him
he appeared earnest – solemn & tender. May he find
the Lamb of God – is sweet moonlight night.
Such cases as this are the most important & delightful I have.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12935
[from the diary of James Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258
[from the diary of Anne Madison Ambler Willis]
Before I was dressed heard that the troops
were moving & we all went on the upper porch
to see them. Was called to breakfast & afterwards walked
into the field with E[mma] & B[ertie] to get a nearer view.
Saw them all off & then came home to read
but my mind was so disturbed, that I was not
much benefited: Patty came up from the river
with Nat. on horseback & we all enjoyed seeing
her & hearing her talk: Did not spend my
[?] as usual = & could not write in
my Diary–sat up [?] quite late so
that I was sleepy: & not able to enjoy
my psalm. (There is no real religion
in me. I almost fear, Why should I (?) so
cold if I were a true Christian-It seems
to me that if I knew what it was to love
God at all, I would never feel as I do I
(?) to feel differently soon for an hour
is a (?) for me, so cold so impenitent
I fear God more than I love him &
“Perfect love casteth out fear”, sometimes
I feel that all of my profession comes
from fear=Oh, God show me the way
more plainly- I have no earthly friend that
I can go to & it seems to me that my
Bible is anything to me. Rather than
a light. I know that it is my fault–I
have a cold impenetrable heart.
[portions transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]
MSS 15406
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]
October 31 Continuation of fine weather
Nothing of particular interest
heavily engaged. In the evening
late walked to Jack Langhorne
to enquire about the condition of
Flora Stuart. Gen S’s little daughter.
Mrs. S. was not able to see me. the
child is very dangerously ill of
typhoid fever–Went then to Sue’s
–Stayed for supper & then with
Eugene to Deanes where we
remained until 9. Coming home
found Eugene Davis & his mother
had arrived.
MSS 4763
