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

Monday 27th  Up early this morning to
make an early start.  Travel from
Mr. Neff’s to Burke’s, near Mt. Sidney  –
distance 32 miles

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

             Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
             Morrisville Oct 27. 7 a.m.
To
General R. B. Marcy
      chief of staff
My command stopped in front
of this place last night on the
Purcellville road–My advance
was two & a half miles farther
on & a scouting party preceded
as far as Purcellville, but
did not meet or hear of any
rebels in that vicinity-
         Day before yesterday a
foraging party of one regiment of
infantry one of cavalry & a section
of artillery came within two miles
of this place & took away a train
of forage & grain from the farm of
a Gen. Wright a noted secessionist
      In this valley, up as far
as Middleburg, there is an abun=
dance of hay & forage–the
foraging party day before yesterday
went out by Snickersville
                            Gap

[page 2]
Theres. a good many Union people
in this county (Loudon) & some
organization of them would be ad=
vantageous to protect themselves from
rebel guerrillas,as well as rascals
of our own who are prowling over
the country—besides it would enable
them to restrain their secesh
neighbors, who appear to be very
violent at times–
         Have found an excellent
map of Loudon county by Yardley
Taylor, it has the name of every
man’s residence in the county &
all the roads properly marked–
     It would be well to have
this map photographed, if you
have not one equally as good–
    last night was very hard
on my men & horses—I shall
proceed to Purcellville today-
scout in that vicinity–
await further orders–It
Snickersville with a force & has
proclaimed martial law–A
union man told me, the rebel army at
Winchester was in a miserable

[dispatch ends abruptly at this point]

MSS 495

[from the dispatch of General Alfred Pleasonton]

     Hd. Qr Cav. Brigade
     Oct 27. 1.30 P.M.
              Purcellville–
Genearl R. B. Marcy,
              Chief of Staff–
My advance drove some rebel
cavalry pickets out of this place
& find a small force some
two miles & a half from this on
the road to Snickerville I have
sent 8th New York, Col. Davis
to see what they have & what
force there is a Snickersville
  I am inclined to believe it
is only a small cavalry force
& that they have nothing of
any consequence on this side
of the Shenandoah–
  Shall I send for my
wagons–rations are out
tomorrow?
                 Very respectfully
                  A. Pleasonton
                   Brig. Genl

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

        Hd Qrs. Cav. Brigade
        Purcellville, Oct 27  7.15 P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy,
      Chief of Staff
   Your dispatch of 12 M
rec’d–shall send out in
the morning in the direction
you speak of–It is probable
Longstreet passed thru ‘Ashby’s’
Gap, & that they wish to
hold Snickersville Gap for
some purpose as there is
also a road from Snickersville
to Aldie thro’ Philadmont
  The road is good to
this place, & it would be
well to push some brigades
of infantry – this way –
              Very respectfully
                A. Pleasonton
                    Brig Gen &c

[from the dispatch book of Colonel Alfred Pleasonton]

Hd Qrs. Cav. Brigade
       Purcellville, Oct 27. 7. P.M.
To General R. B. Marcy
   Chief of Staff–
    Col. Davis 8th New York,
reports having driven the enemy
trough to Snickersville & that his
advance was fired on from
the gap & he lost one man
killed & five horses, but the
bursting of a shell–The Gap
is a strong position & will
require considerable force to
dislodge them–He saw
no infantry force–
The 8th Illinois
capture to rebel cavalry soldiers
this afternoon
         A.Pleasonton
Brig. Gen. &c

MSS 495

                   Williamsport Md
                 Oct 27th, 1862

Dear Sisters
                             I am just
in receipt yours bearing
of Oct 15th, (or it was writ
ten by Emeline.  I am well
and enjoy soldiering about
as any boddy here.  It
has been raining since
yesterday morning and
is quite disagreeable
on that account.  It
is very cold this morning
and we are barricaded
in a barn.  When I last
wrote yo or Father rather,
we were at Hancock. Since
then we have changed
our camp four times hence
you see we are kept moving

[page 2]
It is not much trouble
for us to move as we
have nothing to move but
ourselves and horses.  We
are now receiving our
new equipment and
this whole army is being
paid off and getting new
clothes  We consider this
as an indication of the
Great Southward move
that is to be made this fall.
I ope that something will
be done soon, for we are
tired of working all the
time and accomplishing
nothing either.  I should
like to know why there
is so much delay I am sure
that if this army of McClel-
land’s were led by the right
kind of Generals, we would

[page 3]
soon over ride the whole
south and thus hasten
a termination of this War.
We only ask good leaders
and we will give the North
good news to read n a
very short time.
   You want to know
whether I received any
stamps or papers  I did
receive two stamps in
one letter and two papers
-one Evening Journal & one Carroll
paper.  How often do you
hear from me?  I am not
dangerously sick and don’t
expect to be. I am all right
now and ready for a fight.
You need not think about
sending me socks or anything
else  I do not know how
much we owe Mrs Shimer
but she knows.

[page 4]
Neither have I counted
up how much Father
owes Crawford.  I think
he owed Crawford twenty-
five dollars after we
paid him the Stone
notes and the money
I paid him.  All the
interest was counted
up and I think father
gave his note for
all he owed him 20 or 25
dollars.  I want Father to
get all the notes u to that
time and let me know
all about it.  What are
those other things you
need trouble yourselves
about at  home other than
debts.  I know nothing about
Crow or Stalsmith  Em
be sure to get a School
if you can. When you
write give me all the home
particulars I dont care
any thing about who gets
married or who dont
Give my regards to all in
quiring friends
                    Yours
                     W. H. Redman
               Direct as before
S.E.R. & P.J.R.

William Henry Redman, Co. C. 12th Illinois Cavalry to sisters Sarah Emeline and Phoebe Jane Redman    

MSS 7415

Mon 27.  Still stormy – stove smokes – took it out & am
writing in mess hall – visited sick – appeared better –
Cleared up – Windy & cold – Selected a new camp ground
near Spring – & then at eveg. recd. orders to organize
a new Brigade 25 & 27 N.J.     Rhode Island –
New Hampshire & 15th Conn – Col Wright of latter com-
manding – & to march tomorrow to Camp Chase
near Arlington heights – we believe – Held pry. meetgs.
Have now held a meetg in ea. (men’s) tent in Regt,
except in Co. A where majority are Cath; & in one
tent there.  Notifying all others if wished to attend.
Tattoo is beating    when shall I hear it again in our
Camp North of the Potomac!

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Oct. 27th, ’62.
Very cold last night.
Having no blankets,
I sleep very little at
night, & marching rap-
idly all day, under

such circumstances,
is not very pleasant.
Clear & cold this morn-
ing. Over 300 men
in our reg’t. unfit
for duty.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm.

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

Monday, Oct. 27, 1862
This morning
strolled about town
looked at some clothes
about 9 oclock Arthur
went to the paymaster
General McCook
He had no funds Arthur
had to go to [Avery?] to
get some changes made
in our papers  When he
undertook to detain
us but upon application
to the Gov  [?] we were
decided all right
Left our papers with
the state-attorney to be
collected. We left
Columbus at about 4
oclock, reached New London
about 8 got a hack & came to
Sav about 1 & walked home
Clear cool

MSS 10317