Hancock, Md.
        Oct 21st, 1862
Dear Father:
                 We are under
 marching orders this morn-
ing and I have but little
time to write to you.  I am
well and doing finely.  We
 are kept on the constant
move and I do not have
a chance to get your letters
so I do not know whether
you have got the money
(60 dollars) I sent you
or not.  The receipt I got
for it says that the Ex-
press Co. is not respon-
sible for the money unless
a claim is presented to
them in writing for it
at the place where it

[page 2]
it was to be delivered
within 30 days after the
time it should be deliv
ered.  I expressed it at
Hagerstown, Md. on the
7th of October or Capt S.
Bronson did it for
me rather. It should
be delivered at Lanark, Ills. by the 10th of Oct,
Now you must go to
Lanark to get the money
and if it before the 10th
of Nov. and if it has not
come and you cannot
get it, you must present
your claims to them in
writing for it so that
you will be sure to get
it sometime.  Now dont
do any other way than to pre-
sent your claims to them
in writing for 60 dollars

[page 3]
which was delivered to
their agency at Hagers-
town, Md. by Capt. S. Bron-
son to be delivred to you at Lanark.
I have no doubts
but that you have recd
the money ere this; but
now you know what
you must do in case
do not get it when
you go after it.
Night before last our
co went out into Virginia
12 miles to the town of Bath
and on the other side some six miles on a
reconnoitering expedition
we traveled all night and
got back here the next
morning at daylight.  We
saw no rebels I do not
know what is going to
be done, but we are to
cross the Potomac here to-day
10 thousand strong.

[page 4]
I hope that we will
get a chance to do some
thing other than stand
Picket and reconnoiter
before long.  Things
look favorable just now.
and  should an attack be made
I think that success will
be on our side.  God grant
that it may, and that this
War will son close.  You
must not expect to hear
from me regularly for
I do not have many chan-
ces to write.  You must
do the best you can at
home and not entertain
any uneasiness or anxiety
about me for I do not expect
or anticipate anything else
but suc final success
in getting through the War
safely.  Ah, there is no danger
for there is not a traitor
lives to kill or wound
Redman.  I never was born
to die on the battlefield,
no never.  With much love
for the whole family I remain
 Yours Dear Father
                     W. H. Redman
Eli Redman

[upside down in top margin of page 1]

P.S. Do you get all my letters
and papers?  How often do you
write to me at home.  I do not
get many letters.  The 25th of Sept. is
 the latest date from home.  It was from
Jane and Em. Write soon
and Very soon

[upside down in top margins of pages 2 and 3]
Write particulars about you affairs at home about
every thing

[upside down in top margin of page 4]
P.S. Be sure to make all prep
erations for a cold winter
for it is best when [?] a thing W.H. R.

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

Monday
Oct 20
I watched from nine till twelve last night
and tried to sleep the rest of the night but
could not much. Sat and planned improvements of the
farm and also thought over old times.  this morning
Companies K & G took the place of B & J
went back to the city and ate my breakfast and
then did my washing.  Bought a can of condensed
milk and ate rice and milk for dinner.  Read some
It is a beautiful day and nature seems to smile.

MSS 11293

Richmond Oct 20 62
My Dear Sister Molie  I avail
myself of the opportunity of
writing to you this beautif
ul [day] as I have the chance and
can send it to the boat
this eavning.   I recieved
your kind and interest
ing letter day before yest
day.  I was very glad to hea
r that you had
lost your baby.  I know
it must grieve you ver
ry much but you must
try and keep from it as
much as possible for gri
eving dont [do] any good for
I have no doubt it is
better yes far better off
than either of us for

[page 2]
it will have no sins
to answer for nor nothing
to trouble it for I allmost
wish sometimes that I had
of died when I was a child
for I know I would have
bin a greatdeal [better] off than
I am now.  There is no news
of much importance afloat
here now but I write you
all I have. I saw in the pap
er yesterday morning where
our old Division had been
into a skirmish with some
yankey Cavilry a few days ago
it lasted about four hours
drove the Yankeys back some
three miles but I have not
heard how they came out
but I am in hopes none
of my company got
hurt for I think enough of
them has bin killed and
wounded to last a while.

[page 3]
I heard yesterday that G. F.
Boatwright & [N.?] G. Powell ha
ve gotten a fifteen days fu
rlow was at home I recon.
I will have have to go back to
the company before I ca n
get a furlow fro
me there than i would from
here.  I think I will try &
go to my Re[g]iment in a
week or too.  I recon i will
go about the middle of we
ek after next. I continue [to]
mend though my bre[a]st do
not seam to get much
better but shall not wait unt
-il that gets well for I do
not think that will ever
get well of that.  the Doctor
has bin giving me some of
the worst medicine you ever
saw in your life.  It is horse
medicine what do you think is.  I will tell you
what it is.  it is asifaedia the worst
that i ever did take.  I dont
know what he can be giving
it to me for unless it is
to make me long winded or high spirited.

[page 4]
  If you have heard from
Sam let me know how he
is getting on when when you write
again.  Tell Mama to send
my towels some soap and
some dried Peaches when she
send my box & to send it as
she can.  Give my love to Papa
Mama & all the Family
also to all enquiring friends and
my best love to you–remain your
affectionate brother until death  Richard Putney

Richard Putney, 44th Virginia Infantry

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 11095

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler, of Letcher’s Artillery]

(Oct. 20th)  The sky is clear this morning; but
the air cool, & the ground covered with frost.
Do not feel very well caused by my side paining
me.  Sat up, after breakfast, feel much better.
Spent most of the morning reading.  Just before
dinner Mr Gregg was to see me & brought me
over two dozen eggs, for which of course, I am
very much obliged, showing his kind thoughtful-
-ness of me.  Jas went after Dr. Janney this morn-
-ing, to see Miss Paxton; she seems better to day.
Heard this morning that Stuart, in his raid, took
three prisoner viz, the Mayor of Chambersburg, Sheriff,
& a member of the Legislature, the former rode a
horse without a saddle, the latter ditto; but the
Sheriff, not liking horse back riding, they brought
on a Caisson.  How I should liked to have seen
My Lord Mayor, riding bareback, & His
Excellency the Sheriff on his triumphal Car.
Ha! Ha! Ha!  And me thinks the Honorable Legis-
-lator, will find a seat in the Libby Prison, not so
comfortable as one in the House of Delegates, Pa.

Miss L- sat most the afternoon with me.  The Dr
was to see Miss Paxton & confirms our idea of her
condition.  My side pains me considerably this
afternoon.  Miss L- & Mrs P- sat the evening, avec
moi- and although side continued to pain me
the whole time, enjoyed their conversation-
extremely.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Monday 20th. –  Went to Hospital to
at Winchester, get permission to go
to Staunton – Return to Massey’s

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

                                  Monday 20
   Started 4 ½ P.M.   went
back to our camp where
we spent Saturday
night.                                  

                                    Octr 20th 1862
Dear Bill
                I recd your letter yester-
day, probably you got a letter from
me a day or two after writing yours of
the 13th in which I entered fully into
the clothing question.  I dont want
an uniform–but good, substantial
grey-or any other colour-clothes dont
want flannel shirts, would like
drawers will take cotton ones &
also socks. Dont buy these things
if  you have not the money to spare
for probably I will be able to
send you some in a week or two
when we get nearer you, as
probably will be the case.
     I did not have an opportunity
of hunting the Johnsons up, as
we moved to this place, about

[page 2]
nine miles from Strasburg, on
Cedar Run–some days aggo[sic]–
I feel sorry for Jenny–she was
so smart-lively & animated
& enjoyed life so much
   Write me soon–no news
here–we are going to have a
“protracted meeting” an old lady
tells me, in the neighbourhood
  Wont you attend–I have not
heard a sermon- for- I think-
fourteen months, not since the
first battle of Manassas.  I
would go to “preaching” had I a
chance.  I should like to hear
even the Revd Elias–Love to all
                        Your affectionate
                                 brother
                                      W.B.G.

William B. Gregory surgeon in the 2nd Georgia

MSS 4777

                Post Hospital Oct 20th / 62
Dear Mother
                           Last Thursday I
received 2 letters from home telling
that Maria was failing fast and
Saturday I received one informing
me of her death  The letter that
Jonathan wrote I never received
  Last Friday the Dr came
here to see me and I was gone
to Alexandria but got back
just in time to see him
before he left he gave me a
slight examination but did
not tell me what he thought of
me Saturday Ned came out
again to see me and I asked
him what his Father thought
of me and he said I was not
fit for duty but had no
permanent disease  Ned brought

 [page 2]
me out $5 which came handy
I tell you. When the doctor gets
home let me know what he
thinks of me.  I may possibly
spend the winter in the Old
Bay State as the story is that our
regt is coming home to recruit
I hope it is as I had rather winter
at home than in Va.  the 15th & 21st
are coming home and i hope that
they will send our regt home
but am afraid they wont I
heard the story from a New Yorker
so I place more dependence on it
I still continue the same as ever
There is nothing of any importance
here for news everything jogs
along in the same old quiet way
new arrivals every day and some
sent off that are able to go
I gave Ned an insight into
the way we were treated in
Hospitals and he was surprised

[page 3]
after all he had read about
how well we were treated at
the various places But I must
close as there is something going
on to day in the way of examining
the men
    From your aff Son
                   Wm Wallace

[Envelope]
Mrs E. Smith
     Newton Lower Falls
           Mass

William Wallace Smith,  22nd Massachusetts
MSS 15360

[on patriotic stationary featuring a cannon and flag and the years 1776 and 1862 beneath the motto BABY WAKER]

                            Camp Millington
                                     Oct 20th/62
Dear Cousin
                       I have not received
Eenny letters from you since I have
been hire I have writen two so I
thought I would try it agane to see
if you thought enouf of me to answer
my letters I am well and injoying my
Self in the highest Degree of Soldring
The 10 of this month we left camp and
started fro Chamberburgh to repell
the Rebbles witch had maid a Raid in

[page 2]
you have no Doubt herd all abaout the
Rebble Raid in Pensylvania through the
Newspapers when we ware order to March
to Chambersburg I thought we ware going
to meet the Enimy and I actualy wished
we might for I am getting tired of Camp
life and am Desirous of Changeing it
for a life of actual Sirvice but I was
Disapointed for the Enimy had began to
Retreat before we arived there and we ware
Ordered to Retrun to our Old Camp but on
our Return the Rail road bridge was
broke and we had to Wait untll it was
Repaired and we arived on our old camp
ground the 16th.  Their hant enny news
here this Morning thir is five Regts laying
around here it seemed like old times
I will now close for I want to get this
in the Moring Mail give My Respects
to inquiring friends and keep a god
Share for you Self
                          From you Cousin
                                    William

[page 3]
P S Derrrect
       Wm Townsend
Compeny. H. 128th Regiment
                             N.Y. S. V
                      Baltimore Md

MSS 10694

[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]

Oct 20th  Sent $40
     Dollars home to day
by Admas Expres With
     Henry Lightle
Post Master for the Regt
Sent a letter  [word lined out]
Home to Day by
Mail
Whe leade [laid] in this
Camp until the
morning of the 21st Oct

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913