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

Friday, Oct. 24, 1862
 This morning
we had our
papers made
out. Played [Hello?]
& Greeting to LondonWatye
&Walgreens Gallop
The boys left early
Will & I waited for
the papers
The Regt were loth
to part with us
Some talk of keeping
our horns but it
fell through
Took the cars at
10 30 Came to Grafton
Changed Cars
arrived at Wheeling
before dark  Are
now at the moment
Home!
Clear beautiful day

MSS 10317

1862
Beyond Fairfax Oct 24
Dear Phebe
I have a little
time and make haste
to improve it although
there is nothing of great
interest to communicate
We are waiting for
something to turn up
Our cavalry made a
dash into the rebel camp
last night to see what
they were up to and
brought back about 400
of them prisoners.  They
were taken completely
by supprise and before
they could recovered
from it our men were
off for home  The rebels
have rienamed our cavalry
flying dutchman they
move so quick.  You

[page 2]
get all the news in the
papers and a good deal
more so I will not
write much about it. We
are getting along nicely
and as far as we can
see all is going well
troops are coming in
every day and we are
ready for any emergency
that may arise: We feel
that the time is not far
distant when this cursed
reblelion will be chrush
ed and peace restored
Your picture is first
rate I am much obliged
your letters & papers
have got along. they all
get along after q while
sometimes they are a
good while getting here
little late than never

[page 3]
do not worry yourself
about us We are safe
under the shadow of the
almighty wing and if
we hope in the constant
discharge of dutty will
have nothing to fear
Live near to God and
do you duty and all
will yet be well
                        Josiah

Josiah Perry, Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts

MSS 2215

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

      Oct. 24th, ’62.
Moved early & march-
ed very hard all
day. It was with ex-
ceeding difficulty
that I could walk
to day, & about 3 o’clock,
shortly after passing
through Liberty, I
was compelled to
ride in an ambulance,
being unable to walk
farther.
Encamped about 6
P.M. in a beautiful
beach grove.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm.

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

Fri 24.  Regt. got new Arms – Austrian rifle – visited sick – held a
general prayer meetg – also distributed books to Co. B.  wrote many
letters – sleep better now – warmer – frost last night –
made arrangements to organize a ch of Regt.
Long talk with young Vt. Sentry.
Granger – Son of Minister whose
ancestor came fr. Suffield.  he was posted in front
of my tent – as guard – while regl. was off for arms.

Butler mentioned in a previous entry that the 12th and 13th Vermont were in his Brigade.  The  12th included a George Granger (1838-1911)

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

Wednesday 24th  A little cloudy today–Liz Sarah & Eliza  have gone a shop
-ping–I spent the morning upstairs reading the news aloud to Mrs Walters
& we have very painful news form Wilmington the yellow fever spread
-ing & several of our finest young men killed & wounded in the
last babble in Maryland–Eddy Mears & willie Quince amongst the killed.
The two DeRossetts–Colonel William & Lieutenant Armand seriously wound
-ed–It is thought tom Cowan is killed also–Oh that I could hear Tom was
again safe–& that Sarah could get another letter from Fred–Mrs Pearce
from Wilmington is here–& we find her quite agreeable–Liz has
just left to spend the day with Mrs Phillips–I have written Joe a long
letter to day–Eliza has been writing all the morning–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

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

Friday 24–continued fine weather.  Some
thing like Indian summer–Much
surprized at the  entrance into the Bank
of Lt. Macon of Eugene
s company. He
left Richd in such a condition as to
afford little hope of his ever retur-
ning, but he has recovered and looks
as well as usual–though he says
one of his lungs is useless. He has
come to Virga to try to get an exchange
believing he could not stand a winter
here–as I am sure he could not–He
came by Lynchburg to satisfy him
self as to Eugene’s fate,having received
information which seemed authoritative
that he died in Richd.  He will stay
here with us until Eugene returns.
–I was not less gratified by a visit
from my old friend Sherrard,who
has been on a visit to his family in
Winchester–the Bank not having
returned thither–He represents the
condition of the people and town
as very distressing–During a months
stay he was not able to lay up a
cord of wood for his family–we
walked for an hour on the hills
and then called at the house where
we sat awhile—He would not dine
with us.  Sue spent the day with
us–tolerable well but very hoarse
At 1/2 past 3 went to church.  I was
requested to act as “Witness” for Abe
McDermot on his baptism and did
so with Dr Chalmers–There were
three adults and seven infants
baptised.  Mrs. Gen. Stuart was
sponsor for Jack Langhornes children
and the child of Dr. Walker.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Spent the day as usual. this difference
only that I enjoyed my bible: & Bickersteth on
the Lords supper, more than I have done
for a long time–Why is it that my
heart is so cold, I know that I do
not love God. nor Holy things as I should
do.  sometimes I fear that I do not
even try to love him–I ought to love
him without trying–& it seems to me that
if I was truely his child= I would do so-
it needs no effort for me to love my
earthly father–why can not I love my
heavenly as naturally=Oh I forget, the natural
[?] is opposed to Gods hates his ways
it is this evil nature we have to struggle
against–Oh I am so ignorant.  The way
seems so hard to find=I often wish for
some friend to show me the path ahead.
Every hour =then I should never fall=Oh
God give me the Holy Spirit to keep me to
find this friend in Jesus I want thy
grace assisting me–to put behind me
all earthly aids & seek the one great friend
Jesus Christ.  Yes I will believe that he
will help me.  I know that he does but
my faith is too weak–Oh God increase
it. Strengthen me for Christs sake.
My heart felt so much towards my dear husbands
[?] in his spiritual welfare that I wrote him a long letter on

[in left margin of page]
the subject=hope that I did not write in a spirit of dictation.  Hoped that
                                                                                         I would not

MSS 15406

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

Friday, October 24
Mr. Eliason spent last night here.  Dr. H and Fez gone to Winchester.  Walker’s Division passed through Millwood last night going below the ridge to keep off the Yankees.

MSS 9759

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

Thursday
Oct 23
Had an excellent drill in the bayonet
exercise. About noon a mail came in.  I
got three letters two from home and one from Hen.
Russell.  Savaria and I had to draw water for the cooks
I answered my letters home this evening, and sent home
ten dollars.  It has been a pleasant day and I have enjoyed
myself very well.  My tooth aches some this evening but
I hope it is not going to ache much.

MSS 11293