[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co. E, 42nd Va., “Dixie Greys”]
– Tuesday 28th. –
arrive at Staunton about 12 O’clock
report at Hospital and sent to South
tent. tryed to get a transfer but the board
did not meet. put my horse up at livery
stable. Saw David Croft. Came
14 miles to day – was very sick in evening –
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5526
[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28, 9.15,a.m.
to General R. B. Marcy
chief of staff-
Information through Union
people places Hill’s command
at Upperville, & that troops
have been passing thro’ that
place for some days–Their
pickets extend as far as the
Snickersville & Aldie Turnpike,
over which they do not allow
any one to pass–north or
south–I judge they are
holding Snickersville Gap until
they have time to pass through
Ashby’s which is the west-
I have parties in the direction
of Aldie & Middleburg & shall
soon know more–It would
be well to send some infantry
& force these fellows out of
Snickersville Gap–
My force is too small
[page 2]
to do that, & cover the
roads in front–Indeed
more cavalry here just
now would be of the
greatest service–
I have the country
covered to the Catochin
Mountains this side of
Leesburg–Everything
appears quiet towards
Leesburg–
Very respectfuly
A. Pleasonton
Brig. Gen &c
I sent you the map
of Loudon county
last night? Did you
get it?
MSS 495
Hd. Qrs. Cav Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28. 1.10 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff–
My scouts drove the enemy’s
pickets out of Philamont this morning on
the Quicksville & Aldie road.
& they took the direction of
Aldie–a considerable force
is reported at Middleburg—
The rebels have a
signal station on the
mountain to the north
of Snickersville–
Philamont is some
seven miles fromhere–
My people are pushing
on towards Aldie-for more
information–
Very respectfully
A. Pleasonton
Brig. Gen. &
_________
MSS 495
[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28. 6.30 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff–
Two young men have been
brought in by my pickets, who
say they left Martinsburg last
Thursday–& past thro’ Winchester
That all the rebel army was
at Martinsburg, except Jackson
Longstreet & Hill, who were at
Winchester–
that at Winchester
they saw 2500 men with
small pox who were to e
sent to Staunton–
Stewarts two brigades of
cavalry were at Berryville
between Winchester & Charleston
That yesterday morning
Walker’s brigade was at
Upperville that this
brigade had been picked
[page 2]
[page 2]
from the whole rebel army=–
At Sncikersville, he saw
one company of 2nd Virginia
cavalry & one piece of
artillery–Shall send
them with other prisoners
to Head Quarters to be examined-
My scouts captured a rebel
signal sergeant this afternoon
near the mountain–
A Union man told me
today that Longstreet was at
Upperville & occupied Paris,
Bloomfield & Middleburg—
My people are not yet in
from Aldie–
A part of Stoneman’s
force is at Leesburg–
Very respectfully
A. Pleasonton
Brig. Genl.
MSS 495
[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28. 9 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff–
My scouts are back from Aldie
& Middleburg–No rebel troops
at either place–about 100
paroled wounded & sick–a
rebel doctor in charge at Aldie
showed the officer an order of
Gen. Lee’s dated at Winchester
Oct. 27. directing him to remove
the sick & wounded from Aldie
& Middleburg to Winchester–&
to impress wagons for their trans=
portation–this my officer
prohibited–& some of Sigel’s
cavalry coming up, he left
them on picket there to
prevent it–
Walkers brigade
is between Upperville &
[page 2]
& Middleburg.
The Georgia battalion of cavalry
some 800 strong, is at Union-
at Snickerville Gap there’s
two guns & a brigade of
infantry in the mountains–
the roads are fine & the
country rolling & open about here.
In my dispatch of
6.30 P.M. I should have said
Longstreet, Hill & Jackson,
were at Bunker Hill, instead
of Winchester–
The cavalry driven out
of Hillsborough yesterday was
White’s independent cavalry–
The rebel troops in this
valley are evidently on foraging
expeditions–The people generally
are strong secesh–
Very respectfuly
A. Pleasonton
Brig Gen
MSS 495
[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Oct 28th/62
Camp Near William port
Md the Regt
got Vere Close
to Day
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 28, 9.30 Pm
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff
Numbers of the Secessionists
in this country are trying to
send off their horses to
the rebel cavalry–& to
prevent this I have been ob=
liged to take the horses,
for the Government service-
Please inform me if
the General desires other
action in these cases–
Tis the only efficient
check I have at this time-
A. Pleasonton
Brig. General
[writing faded to illegibility at many points]
1862
Beyond Fairfax Oct 28
Dear Phebe
You have often
asked me to write more
about myself, how I live and
&c and I propose in this
letter to give you a little of the
way which I live. My health
is good; very good, thanks be to
God; you can hardly feel
what a blessing it is to be in
the enjoyment of health in the
army; it is very difficult to get
[?] the things which are
needful for the sick to say
nothing of the thousands of
little comforts which can be
so easily procured at home
I have been very careful
what I have eat since I have
been here, eating very little
but bread and drinking as
little water as possible. The
[page 2]
water is generally poor and has
a bad effect upon the bowels. I
drink coffee, altogether, without
milk and very little sugar-
In the matter of ardent spirits
I have drank some twice since
I have been here; once when I
was out all night in a cold
storm; and once when I was
about exhausted by a hard
march: I have been offered
liquor repeatedly by Capt Rodgers
but have steadily refused as
I am satisfied that it does
more hurt then good: I have
changed my mind about
the use of liquor, and if I
am permitted to return I
will be a determined foe
of rum and shall at once
join in any enterprise having
for its object the crushing
out of intemperance. I have
[page 3]
seen enough of it to satisfy
me forever: About sleeping
When not on guard, I go to
bed as soon after supper as
I can, generally about 8 oclock
and do not sow myself until
roll call in the morning at
6 oclock, I avoid the cold
night as much as possible as
it brings of chills & fever: with
the worst form of dysentery: In
regard to washing I improve
every chance and usually
wash myself every day: as
that seems to be one of the
means of preserving health
I have made diligent inqui
ry of the old soldiers as to
the best means to preserve
my health and have followed
their directions as closely
as possible: About buying
things which are not
[page 4]
furnished by the government
there are many little things
such as pepper, ginger, lemons
cloves, allspice, tea, sugar,
butter & [all?] add very much
to our comfort and happiness
and cost but little. We have
been very busy since we came
came[sic] as we encamped in
the midst of a dense wood and
have been cutting it down
and burning it, until we
have got quite a large piece
cleared up: We can now see
a mile either way now and
can see the tents of the different
regiments of our divisions We
have all kinds of soldiers here
N. York, Penn, Ohio, N. Hampshire
Illinois, and many others which I
have not time to mention : You
write that you do not know
what to do about going to [?]
Providence this winter, I want
you to just as you want to
You write that you cannot
earn enough to pay your
board and also that you have
bought some things which you
will not need if you stay
[page 5]
in Sharon. That does not troub
le me at all; I have not been at all
afraid that your expenses
would be to large. I wish
you to use the money when
ever you think that you
need it and if it should
take all that I left behind
I shall never complain
so that you are made
happy: Perhaps it would be
as well to stay in Sharon
this winter if you are
satisfied to do so; I have
no doubt myself that the
war will be ended before
next spring. It is the common
opinion that the fighting will
all be done this fall and
it looks so to me: time
alone will tell; I am glad
to hear that the churches came
together to talk over the
[page 6]
matter of doing something
for the soldiers, this is as
it should be: I have lost all
the sectarianism I ever
had and shall never lis
ten any more to it: We came
together here without creeds
and some of the best working
christians, in the regiments
are of that church which
is often spoken against
(Methodist) and all the
books which we have are
furnished by the Episcopals
: You write that you feel
as though we: would under
stand each other better
if we should be permitted
to meet again This is no
doubt true: If I ever return
to you it will be a better
man than when I left
I shall return knowing
[page 7]
what it is to be deprived of
almost everything which
life comfortable and strong
as It may seem I shall
return: knowing you much
much better than when I
left you: It will no doubt
work, for our good: that
we are sepparated if we
only improve it arright
You wrote that you are
troubled about the election
It does not trouble me at
all the whole thing is in
the hands of one who will
carry on his plan without
regard to what man
may plan, It is easy for
God to defeat all our plans
and he will until we
are willing to do our duty
Then do not fear, God
is with us if do our duty
[page 4]
then let us see to it that we
do our whole duty and then
we shall have abiding peace
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Josiah
PS
Your picture is
first rate could not
be bettered natural
as life. Give my love
to all the folks and
tell them to write often
and write often yourself
JWP
Josiah Perry, Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts
Camp E. D. Keyes
Oct 28 1862
Dear Mother
Received your letter
and box of provisions
Shall carry the provisions with
me just as they are.
I dont want any of my
friends to come to Augusta
to see me leave.
I went down town last
night and saw the 21st start
There was considerable snuffling.
If I do not get those pictures
here, will when ever I get to
Washington
We shall probably stop in Boston
one day, as they travel by night
mostly.
I will take care of myself and
try and do my duty
Your affectionate son
C.P. Morrill
Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine
MSS 11031
[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Tues 28. Fine, sweet day – Struck tents, packed up – & marched across
long bridge – & so n.w. up Potomac & encamped just under Arlington
heights – within quarter of a mile ? of Gen Lee’s famous house.
Almost exactly west of the capitol – & not over two & half miles distant
I judge – I lead way to bridge & then after crossing – while crossing
the men fired at a duck – perhaps a hundred shots – & didn’t hit it,
We saw Gen Casey drilling some ten regts. on a field to the left –
we halted by roadside – while whole division marched past –
reached camp ground at 3 – at 5 had tents up & supper over –
Men caught some twenty rabbits, chasing them in the woods
back of our camp – We are on ground of Gen Lee’s Estate, rebel
Comd. in chief I suppose.
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12935
