[fromthe diary of Wesley A. Hammond of Co. E., 42nd virginia, “Dixie Greys”]

Tuesday 21st – Remain at Massey’s
today – Read pretty much all day.
Wednesday 22nd – Go from Massey’s
to Mr. Green’s, in company with
bro. Bill – eat a good mess of
papaws – Thursday 23rd
Purchase a buggy and fix it –
up to day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s battery]

October                    Tuesday 21                                            
     Started out 7 A.M.                
went through Mar-
-tinsburg 2 ½ Miles –
on the R. R. east of the
town where we went
in Camp            

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448                                

Bakersville Maryland  Oct 21st 1862

Dear Father–I received your two letters of the 14th & 15th last night &
and was glad to hear of your good health which I hoped was the same with Edward
I still hope that he may be spared give him my love & tell him that perhaps
I may have the privelidge of seeing him once more, & that I continually think
of him, so far from Home, & have let them old feelings pass from my mind &
think that I was to blame the Division I suppose you have heard has Lost
General Slocum as he has been Promoted to A Major General & the old command
of General Burnside has been assigned to him the reason I suppose is because
General Burnside has been assigned to take command of one of the expeditions
that are getting up to go against Charleston & Savannah as he done so well last
winter & the Col of this regiment has been promoted to Brigadier General for
gallant conduct in the Field I can tell you that the Division feels bad about
General Slocums leaving on account of his looking out so well for the
men & he was one of that kind that the Straps on his shoulders did not make
him feel above A Private but would go anytime & sit down on A old log and
chat away with him Just as quick as he would with an Officer & so it is the
way with General Jackson & the Boys of the Regiment are sorry to part with
him, I suppose you would like to know the number of men in the regiment
that are fit for duty there is Just two hundred & sixty that draw rations
enclosed in this you will find A letter that I wrote for Mother last Sunday
& I thought I would not send it untill I got one from Home which for the
last fortnight or so, I have received as much as twenty all from you, William
& Henry & Ellen, you say that you got A letter from the commanding Officer
of Georges company & that it is to be published in the Advertiser. Cut the letter
out & put it in the next letter that you write as I am not so sure of getting the
paper, as I am your letter, I received that needle & thread that you spoke
about in your last letter & I like to see letters come in they way I have for the
time that I have been  in Maryland, & never shall get tired of reading of them
but the more I get the better I like it, I suppose by the time that you get
this you will see Captain Brown who has been honorably discharged from
the Regiment I must close this by wishing that Edward will improve in
health & hope that his Family & Lizzie are all well & all at Home.
P.S. tell William & Henry that I shall write to them next Sunday
From you Son Joseph Leavitt

[letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York, were copied into a ledger at the end of the war by their father John as a remembrance of his sons both of whom died in the war, George at Second Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania]

MSS 66

       Camp near Bakersville Md. Oct 21st/62.
Dear parents
                       I received your last letter soon
after I mailed mine and was very glad to hear
from you again and also to hear you was getting
along so well but I fear you will not get along
so well this cold winter that is close at hand
but I hope a kind providence will provide for
you so that you may not suffer for the
comforts of life. I think my health is sloelyy
improving as the cool weather comes on I
have not done any drilling except a company drill
once since last spring  I feel so much better now
that I shall try to do all the duty that is assigned
me and if I cannot do it I shall try to get
my discharge.  I will try to answer your questions
you asked in your last letter.  Charles Dare was
wounded in the shoulder nearly the same as Capt.
Bucknam the last I heard from him he was
doing well and did not suffur much paine and
the Drs think he will soon get well again.  Frank
Adams was hit with a piece of a shell on his stomach
his blanket broke off the force so it did not do much
damage except a blue spot for a few days it knocked
him down and he was lame for some days there
was six volenteers called for from this Regt.
to join a batterry of artillerry and Frank
volenteered to go He has been in his new post
position now about one week.  Joshua Spiller is
here with us alive and well he has been in
a hospital for a few weeks sick he says he
has written home three times and recived no
answer yet the rest of our boys are all well and
enjoy themselves as well as soldiers generally you
said that you heard we suffured for want of
food this is not the case with us we always
have enough to eat except sometimes when we
are on a long march we get short of rations
because they do not take enough to last them

[page 2]
Since I wrote to you we have moved twice we
moove to a better camp ground one day and the next
dy we mooved back near to our old campground
we have just recieved orders to moove somewhere
now. I have heard that the 25th/Regt. had started
for the seat of war but I have not heard from
Washington I think they will go down furthur
south perhaps to New Orleans or South Carolina
I am very anxious to hear form them if they
go down there I fear Washington never will
return after we get mooved I will try to
write a few lines more.  Our order to moove
turned out to be only an order to be ready to moove
at any time so we may moove at any time so I will
try to write a few lines more and close I have heard that
Phebe Symonds was quite slim and not expected to live
I should like to hear if this is true I feel an interest
in the welfare of all the young folks that I have
assotiateed with I should be glad to write to them
all but I have been so situated that I could not
and it appears that they have all forgotten me
I still remember them all as near and dear friends
and as I said before I would be glad to write to them
all if I could. The prospect of the close of the war is
so far in the distence that it cannot be seen and I
do not see any thing to prevent a long and tedious
war but I still hope it may soon close but I
do not wish for it to close untill the rebels will lay
down arms and submit to the laws of the consti-
tution I  hope the war will never end untill this
is accomplished.  I understand we are not going to
be paid untill the 15th of next month then I
will try to send you $40.00 or $50.00 so you can
hire some one to cut wood and haul it if the steers
are not big enough to do it try and take good care
of the cattle and give them enough to eat if you
have to buy hay who takes care of Washington’s stock and other
things my sheat is full and I must close
From you son H M Cash

Hiram M. Cash,  Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916

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

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1862
Lay around sleeping
&c nothing done yet
in our case
Had Letter this
evening from
Ma[?] & Robert
Slonecker also
one from S. Hanna
& one from John Olin
Some clothing &c
being issued to the
Regt
Mostly Cloudy Cool

MSS 10317

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

     Oct. 21st., 62.
Laid in camp all
day; at 11 ½ o’clock

P.M. as many of us
as were able; were
called into line of
battle. My command
consisted of 12 men,
nearly all of whom
were half sick.
An attack by Mor-
gan’s cavalry was
apprehended, but
was not made.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Ewards]

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

Tuesday 21  All up at 5.  Lanny & Mary I
accompanied by Eugene started for
the University.  the two first named
will stay there a week and then pro
ceed to Edgewood.  Eugene is to return
Saturday–The news seems pretty
conclusive that we have been wor-
sted in Kentucky & that Bragg is
forced back.  This is bad certainly
The triumph of the Democratic
party in Penna Ohio & Indiana
is a good sign.  If followed up,
as I am confident it will, by the elec
tion of Seymour in N.Y. I believe
the first step will be taken to
a suspension of hostilities. There is
certainly a revolution going on in
the mind of the north, and the
belief is rapidly gaining ground
that the it subjugation of the
south is impossible.  People are
speaking out their minds with
a freedom they did not dare to
use six months ago–Gaston Otey
died this morning.  He returned
sick from his company in Loring’s
army a week ago–He was the
best of the family–It seems quite
strange to have so few at table.
the  rest is not unpleasant however
Spent the evening quietly listening
to Lanty reading Scotts life

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

I have written this journal for your eyes, ever
since I commenced it, but I find that
my Christian life is not benefited thereby–
& I am going to change from this hour
I know not why it is, but in writing I
feel the same dislike to write on, as I am
to converse on, with you, that one great subject
which I hope we re both truly interested
in–Before you became a member of the church
I though that to see you openly profess Christ
before men would give me the greatest pleasure
on earth & so it did, but then it ended & neither
of us have been striving as we should have done
to help one another on; We have not opened our
hearts to each other I have felt that I  could do
it & think I have tried to do it but you
did not respond, & so we plodded along
you striving your way & I mine.  But I mean
to wake up, to arm myself, by Gods help, & never
rest till I feel assured that Christ is with
me–“Oh God, I pray & beseech thee, to
make this book a faithful witness of
my life.  Let me simply tell the truth
of my successes & failures in my course=
   I shall only state that I will hereafter-
write for my own good alone–hopeing that it may
be some restraint on my evil habits to know that
every evening I shall read them good, or bad,=
Oh God keep my [love?] pure so that at the

[continues on right hand margin of the page]

last day my name would be found in thy Judgment Book=For
the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ

[partially transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Ambler]

MSS 15406

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

Tuesday 21st  I have been cheered to day by receiving 3 letters–one from
Charles Bradley–one from Richd announcing the advent of another
little Hill–called “Lizzie Outlaw” & telling of plantation matters–
The 3d was from Tom who is still near Winchester–& wants
Noah sent on–He says for several days he lived on parched
& raw corn–& was so much fatigued riding all night he could
scarcely sit on his horse & feels certain had he been in the ranks
walking he would have given out–or been ill.  I thank God
he hold the position of Ordnance Sargeant-as it enables him to
ride–But when he wrote they were faring better, had bread & beef
I have just heard of the death of Eliza Ann McRee–& that both of
her grand parents are ill with the yellow fever & not expected to
recover–The fever does not abate in the least–but is spreading
far and near–How angry God must be with us to send
so dreadful a scourge upon us at this distressing time. When
all the horrors of War is waging thro’ the land & friends by
the dozen are killed in each battle–Oh that we could  humble our-
selves before him & repent in sincerity & truth for our past
forgetfulness of his many blessings & all the sins which we
have committed–I have written several letters this morning
& feeling wearied will lie down awhile

MSS 6960

                                 Harper’s Ferry, Va. Oct. 21st, 1862

My dearest Addie,
                 I have had that most horrible of all
diseases “Hypochondria” and still feel a little “blue.”–but I
have no business  to either.  Why? Because I have just
recieved your darling letter of the 12th.  Now i am going by
force of will, and an hours conversation with my treasure, to
dispel all traces of this horrible feeling. I can do it, and I will.
       First, let me place your portrait–that radiant lovely
countenance, before me, and allow me to gaze for a moment
into those loving eyes.  There it is–lying upon my bible, which
is yet open at the 42d & 3d Psalms, (I have been reading.)
         Are you well, my love?   No answer,–yet that same
quiet smile bids me good cheer.  “Why art thou cast down
O my soul? Why art thou disquieted within me?”  “Hope thou
in God.”  Yes, I will hope in God, and He shall preserve
thee and me.  Pardon me, Addie min, I have been
thinking of that home, which is no home to me,and like

[page 2]
a child have allowed myself to in memories of of
younger days when I would look forward into that mist
Future and picture to myself happiness–myself beloved by

brothers, sisters, Father and Mother!!  then I passed to the day
when I should have had, at least the sympathies of a Father-
when I sprang in my love of justice and liberty, to the defence
of my – our flag, but no wishes for my success–no hopes for my
return, but a cold shoulder, a cool “no difference.”
    “I am become a stranger unto my brethren,and an alien
unto my mother’s children,”     But I am more calm
now.  I am loved.  Thou art my betrothed–Laurie is my
sister–Hallie is my brother–and I am happy.  Yes, indeed am
I, my heart is lighter by far.    but I fear I have written
much that is uninteresting,if not painful to you: if so,forgive
me, for my heart was full.   Now that baleful “Hypo” is
gone, I can write with greater ease.  How I should love to
see you and chat with you and–yes, fold your precious self to
my heart, but mine is the fortune of a soldier, and I will
be a soldier, a stern unflinching one too, save to my dear friend.

   I will tell you how I came to wander back in
my reverie,–The camp is almost deserted, today.  Last
evening, or night rather,for it was midnight, the Adjutant
came around, and gave the order to “get ready to march with
two days rations,”  Well, I did not go, for I have been ailing
for the past 3 or 4 days and the Surgeon ordered me to keep
quiet.  The regiment started about 12.30 crossed the Blue
Ridge and proceeded toward Hillsborough, where they now are.
The object probably is to prevent the enemy from leaving the

[page 3]

Valley. I judge from the activity prevailing in camp that
our “Little Mac,” intends to make a forward move soon, but
new orders must be issued or we shall remain at Harpers
Ferry, for a general order was issued to the effect that the
2d and 12th Army corps are to remain at this place as a
Winter garrison.  Ours, you know, is the 12th,and of course the
order relates to me.   Still, I do not place too much
confidence in it,for it is not the good luck of the Seventh.
But it is growing dark and I will wait until the candle is
lighted when I will converse again with you.
          Good evening, Addie mine.  Will you sit
upon my lowly couch while we have a little chat?  No,
sit where you like, your spirit must be with me this
the evening of the 21st of October.    Byron–you love
Byron?  So do I. Well do I remember how I used to love “the
Corsair.”  But about as touching as any lines he wrote, at least
to me, are those commencing “Maid of Athens, ere we part.
                                                  Give, O give me back my heart”
But I am not in a poetical mood this evening, so pardon
me if I introduce politics.  The election is over and thank
Haven Vallandigham is defeated.  Will the dog dare again to
appear before honest loyal men? If he were to enter our
camp, I greatly fear he would not leave it alive, so intense
is the hatred existing toward him here.  I trust ow that
the “2d Tuesday in Oct.” is past, that the subject of “political
generals” will be consigned to oblivion.  I am assured in my
own mind, that this miserable bickering about politics, mixing
that poison with questions of the greatest importance, has

[page 4]
delayed the war eight months.  Political influence at the War
department prevented McClellan from having the cooperation of
McDowell’s corps, after the Battle of, and advance from Williams
burg.  It prevented him from recieving reinforcements (to
a great extent)  until after the six days battles.  It deposed Gens.
Fremont and Hunter.  It has kept Gen. Banks from a fit
position, and in command of one of the smallest corps in the army.
It whipped us at Bull run, for by political influence the traitor
McDowell was kept in command.   Heaven pardon me if
I am wrong, but I am tired of politics and political influences.
It has almost ruined our noble Republic!  Away with it, for
tonight at least.

   Shall we visit the Hospital?  Here we are, in the village
of Harper’s Ferry and in the Hospital. That laughing chunk of a boy is
Billy Bennett of our Mess. (No. 3.) he is caring for Ambrose Trimmer. he
has the fever.  Fred. Roberts is here too, not very sick, but not doing
duty.  Let us go to St. Pauls Church Hosp–Alexandria, Ah?
Bog Murray is hopping around on crutches, but will never be fit
for duty again  Geo. Moore is here, not very well.  He cant keep
quiet ling enough to get well.  He sends love–brotherly love
he says, for he is my brother.  You do not know the rest, so
we will just see that they are doing well, and will walk home.
Here we are just at the door, now a parting loving kiss, and
“farewell for the present,”  Give my love to all, and dream of
me tonight.   Write often
                                              I am ever thine own, now cheerful
                                                                 “Charley.”

Charles Tenney, of the 7th Ohio to his fiance Adelaide Case

MSS 11616