Camp near Winchester
                               Otober the 17, 1862
Dear Cousin
                 I write you a few lines this
morning to let you know that we are
boath well and much hopeing that this
may find you all enjoying the same good
blesing,  I have no news of intrust to write
we have had a long rest sence we have
bin here,  tho I expect we weill have to leave
here to day, we have orders to be ready to
march at amoments warning. I do know
not know which way we will go,
 I received a letter from sister yesterday
dated the 8 of October & one from Sister the other
day dated the 5 of Oct,  I was sorry to
hear of sicknes being in the neighbour
hood,  we have some sickness in camp
tho not as much at present as has bin
we have too sick men in our Company
Bage Pritchett & John Hundley  thay are not sick
much tho thay are not able for sentry
I have injoyed very good health sence we
left Richmond.  I think I can stand the
service now if thay will gave me
enough to eat,  we have goten a plenty
sence we have bin here accept Salt, same
we have not goten more than half enough salt

[page 2]
  I am glad that we are going to leave this
place for the people through here are all
mostly quaker,s and i had almost as live
be with the yankees as to be with the
quakers.  the Yankees will sell us eny
thing cheap for the specie tho thay
will not take our notes,
the yankees will sell eny thing thay
have got when the spirit moves
them,  th we cant catch them rite half
our time,  I will hush about the
yankees and quakers and tel you
what a interesting meeting has bin
going on in Camp, it has bin
going on for near a month, nearly every
night thay has bin a good meney
converts sence the meeting commenced
I think it is time for them to turn
after being blesed so plainley as thay have
bin, in the past battles,  I thnik Mr
Penie had changed very much, be fore he
was taken sick.  he said that he was deter
min to do better than he had bin do ing. 
I dont think I ever saw a plainer change
in eny person than thare was in him,
 I must close as my paper is about out
gave my love to all the girls and share
a large portion for you self & write soon
direct your letters to Winchester.                                             James Booker

James Booker of Pittsylvania County, Co. D., 38th Virgnia “Whitemell Guards” writes on behalf of himself and his twin brother John  to his cousin Chloe Unity Blair

MSS 11237

Norwood Oct 17 1862
Dear Genl
       Your letter by Phill came to hand this morn-
ing, Phill & Pink are now here, they came up to
see Bettie.  From your not mentioning your own health
in your letter I hope you are quite well but I re-
gret very much to hear of Dr. Brents continued
indisposition as well as Judge Baker’s; I hope
though the next news we get from you will be favor-
able & that they will soon be restored to their usual
health.
    I am glad to inform you that Bettie is much better
today the measles having fully made their appear-
ance upon the surface; I only ope that she may
continue to improve and to this end shall have
our constant attentions.  Dr. Callaway in whom
we have much confidence is our family Physi-
cian.  Sally & Fanny & little Nina have had the
measles–Little Annie will be the next.  Sally is
now in Lynchburg at school.  Her Father went up
with her & brought us letters from her today–
She seems to be comfortably and happily fixed from
her own account and I have no doubt will do well.
The family at Union Hill are well with the except
tion of my little sister Katy who is extremely low
with scarlet fever.  As to the distress of the fam-

[page 2]
ily at Montezuma you can no doubt form some
idea.  Bruce & Nannie have both gone, the first after
an illness of about six weeks, the latter on the 10
of this month about six weeks from her husbands
death–both of the same desease[sic] Typhoid fever.
They leave four little boys now under the charge of
their aged Grand Mother and  under my Guardian
ship.  This is her only comfort and they will re-
main with her during her life.  Mrs. Brown and
five or six of her children (she has 8 children) will
live with her. The debt upon the Est. is very large
but having realized quite a hansome[sic] profit from
the sale of some Tobacco in which he was interested
in Richmond I hope with judicious management
to relieve the Est.  to a considerable extent.
Enclosed you find my rect for $90 (by check on
Bank of Va) in payment for the wheat.  As the
quantity fell short I will pay the cost of transpor-
tation myself but I will be glad for you to re-
quest Mr. Hughes to return the * bags by the first
opportunity.
 We should be very happy to see you up here again
Bettie & the children unite with me in much love
to you & the families at Recess & Bremo

*nineteen bags
                                  Yrs affectionately
                                        Wm. D. Cabell

[page 3]
Recd from Gen. John H. Cocke ninety dollars by check
on Bank of Va in full payment of Thirty bushels
of Bowers wheat shipped him Sep 4, 1862.  Witness
my hand this 17th day of Oct. 1862
                                                   Willm D. Cabell

MSS 640

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

                                  Friday 17
started out 6 A.M. went
about ½ mile and came
back to old camp about
1 Oclock P.M.

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

Friday 17th. – Fix to leave
camp to go to Hospital – leave with
the expectation of going home
report to Hospital in Winchester.
Get permission to board at private
house – go to Mrs. Masseys for dinner
then to Mr. Green’s. – become ac-
quainted with Mr. Braince & Lady.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

(Oct 17th)  This morning the sun shines out
clear & bright, but I do not feel in exact con-
-sonance with the weather as my side & head
have troubled me a good deal.  Miss L- made
her appearance about 10 ½ o’c from Mr M-s and
brought me some very fine grapes & a beautiful
little nosegay Miss Sue Miller sent me.  Miss L-
sat the morning with me.  Mr Bradens man
got back this afternoon from Maryland where
he was detained by the Yankees, charged with
the offence of having done work for Southern
men.  They took his horse.  A squad of our
Cavalry passed by here & Mr Braden got them
to stop, take supper with him & feed their
horses.  Heard that the firing yesterday
was caused by the Yankees making an attack
on our right, but were driven back.  Another
account is that Jackson made a feigned attack
then fell back, they followed, & Longstreet fell
on their rear & cut them off.  We hear cheering
accounts from the West.  Hope they are true

Miss L- & Mrs P- passed evening in my room, enjoyed
pleasant talk.  Finished 3rd Vol. Hist. England &
commenced 4th.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

Arlington Hights
Camp Chase, Oct 17 [1862]
Dear Sister Helen
I just received
your letter saying that you were going
to send a box Tuesday – I wrote yesterday
and named a number of things that I
wanted but did not think of your send-
-ing them so soon besides those please send
me a good stout pair of suspenders as
mine have given out – and you may send
me a knife & fork, I don’t care how small
they are – Wm Allen is sick to day so you
see we have an invalid in the tent about
all the time.. There is to be a great-
Review of all the troops in and about
Washington tomorrow on Capitol hill
and we will have to march over
there I suppose it will be a tough
job I guess.. 2 Regts right next
to us left this morning the 13 N. H.
& 143 N.Y S. V. and I guess this Review
will decide whether we go to W –
or not. I am a great hurry as it
is time of Dress Parade and I thought
I would just let you know that I had
recd. your letter – I will answer
Georgie’s very soon
With love to all
I remain Your broth
Jim

James H. Howard, 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668

                            1862
Norfolk va  October the 17
Dear wife i
receved youre kind and welcom

letter which was dated the 12
and was very glad to here
from you agane to here
that you was well I
am well at presant and
injoying good helth as I
i ever did in all my life
I wish that you wold rite
and let me no if that
box has arived or not
I hope that if I half to
stay in the army this
winger that they will
leave us here for we
have got a nice place
and evry thing looks
very plesant we are in
site of the sitty of norfolk

[page 2]
But his place donte
look like home after
all Will knapp is a
bout 8 miles from here
on craney island I am a
going to visit him to
morrow if nothing happens
more than i no of now
and when i rite a gane
i will let you no how
he is a getting a long
we have very good
barracks to sleep in
and it makes it write
plesant to what it has
bin we hante hate hante
had eney frost here
yet but it was quite
cold last knite but
we have good fire
places in our barrac
and that makes it
more plesant

[page 3]
we hant got our pay
yet nor we dont no
when we will get it
the last of this month
they will ow me for
six monts and when
i git it i will send
it home tell fathar
not to be un easey a
bout me tell him and
mother to keep up good
chere till i come home
i think that the war
cant last more than till
spring and i do sincerly
hope that i will have
good helth and be spared
so that i can come home
once more to grete my
frinds tell magga that
i will rite one of thes
days tell Jim that
he had better stay

[page 4]
at hame and let
us do the fighting
well i must close
buy sending mi
love to you all so
good buy rite soon
                    Yr Edward
                        Shepherd
Drect youre letter
to Mr Edward
               Shepherd
7 New york Battery
in care of P. Cregan
Norfolk…va…

Union soldier from Dutchess County, New York in 7th New York Light Artillery

MSS 12631

[letter of Charles F. Tenney of the 7th Ohio to his fiancee Adelaide Case begun on the 15th continues]

                                                   [Jackson should be placed at the head of the Confederate
Army]  he was assigned to only a single corps d’armee, while Gen. Lee, although lacking
in that peculiar quality–dash–was made first in command because he could plan
a campaign on a large scale, and handle the entire force with ease, leaving for
generals of smaller commands the rapid moves to make.  Now Gen. Pope
was altogether too fast in making his advance into Virginia, for while he was mak
ing the bold advance directly upon the rebel Capital, he did not sufficiently guard
the flanks.  Thus the Valley of Va. was comparatively free from our army, while
there should have been a strong force acting in concert with the grand army.
And in like manner the line of the Rappahannock from the edge of Culpepper County
was left without even a picket-line, to within eight miles of Fredericksburg!
  You will see that as Gen. Pope had his entire army massed in the vicinity of
Culpepper, nothing was easier for the enemy than to turn either flank.  When this
at last became evident to the worthy General, instead of having Burnside and
McClellan come to his relief via Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock, he ordered
them to come to his rear by way of Alexandria, and the same course taken
by himself, so that if McClellan had been two days earlier he would have
been on the Rappahannock; and Washington unprotected, for the “dash” of
Jackson by Lee’s order, had completely outflanked Pope’s entire army, placing it
in the greatest danger of annihilation, had it not been for the timely presence of Gen
McClellan which retarded Jackson materially.  But you will say that it
was Pope’s men who fought the disastrous 2d Bull run.  In part, it was and
in part by McClellan’s men, but had it not been for the presence of the army of the
Peninsula, the “grant advance” of the rebel army would have been neither more nor less

[page 4]
than an assault upon our own capital.                           While we were upon the Rap
pahannock we could see plainly the rebel troops across the river, moving around to our
right, and Gen Sigel requested permission to intercept the movement, (as might have
been done by guarding the passes of the Blue Ridge and Thoroughfare Mts.)  but Gen.
Pope told him it was but a ruse, and that he should be needed on the river.

Sigel was right.  Pope was wrong.  The rebels went around, and Gen. Banks
corps which was the rear=guard–just where the advance should have been–was on
cut off and surrounded, but by the superior skill of Gen. Banks we were extrica-
ted.  Have I made the matter any clearer for you.  Bu the way, Gen. Halleck said
at the time Pope was appointed that he had but little confidence in him.
       Since I commenced writing this we have moved our camp down the hill
nearer to water but our splendid view is impaired somewhat.  I was interrupted
while writing for that purpose, thus we have the labor of clearing another encampment to
perform.                   You ask me who is my partner.  Seth Coon, who has
been about all summer, in the Pioneer Corps, is acting in that capacity now, while my
regular partner, Bob Murray is still in the Hospital, being wounded at
Cedar Mountain.
         But I must close this as the boys are waiting for me to help
fix the tent.      Please give my love to all, not forgetting Addie
    and write soon, to
                        Your own loving Charley
It is said we remain here this Winter.

MSS 11616

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

Friday, Oct. 17, 1862

Lay about Camp
& did nothing
Some efforts have
been made by
Capt McIlrath about
our discharge
mostly cloudy & cool

MSS 10317

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

     Oct. 17th, ’62.
Clear weather this
morning. Feel a lit-
tle better. the country
around Danville is          
most magnificent, good
water, however, being
very scarce. The country
here is quite broken,
with very good water.
The part of Kentucky
through which we
have passed is not

well watered.
Saw Gen’l. Buell yester-
day. The boys punched
holes in the bottoms of
their plates & made corn
graters of them, by
that means we are
enabled to make some
corn bread. This eve-
ing I had the pleasure
of eating some mush
made by the boys, which,
although not as good
as mother makes at
home, yet it was quite
palatable, – it needed
some good fresh milk,
however. We have
remained here all
day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm