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

Fri 17.  rain in night – cleared off, pleasant   our French
Cook came to day – Visited sick   wrote up journal of
where does my time go – not a minute to myself hardly.
Cook went off, not returned, held py. meetg in five tents at
night – quite an excitement in me – The Meth. brethren hope
one was converted.

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Friday, October 17, 1862
Yesterday evening there came the news that 2
fights had occurred in Town & our men
had to retreat leaving the enemy in possession.
They occupied the Inn & advanced on every
road driving in our pickets early this morning-
Nat left us to search for his Co. but returned &
passed the night, also John B. R. P.-Charly H–Charly
Alexander-Dr. Hunter–& as they wanted to get
off early this morning Fannie got up & hurried
breakfast for them, & when the bell rang-none of
them were ready–After they left many others
came into breakfast–all seem to fear that
our army will retreat, & not fight yet-
Beale Brown got back from camp today, not being
well enough to join, had gone up to get permission
for a longer absence.  poor fellow–looks wretchedly-
Awoke with a severe pain in neck & shoulders–
but went down & it increased, so that I had
to come back & lie down, which relieved it
sufficiently to sit up all the evening–Jacque
paid me for my nap by being very bad
this evening & I did not get to sleep till
after ten & he was very wakeful during
the night.  All of the children have
slight colds owing to a change in
the weather.  It is damp & cold–
Eustace Williams dined with us to day.

[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Friday 17th  Eliza & I have been busy altering her dresses to take with
her to Enfield–Mrs Walters & Sarah have walked up to Miss S Malletts
Liz is passing the day with Mrs Person.  We have heard of several
more deaths from yellow fever in Wilmington–Sarah has just
brought in a handsome blue Cashmere sent by a lady to sell.  Eliza
has bought it at $40 an enormous price–But she cannot
get one for less, & is obliged to have dresses–

MSS 6960

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

Friday 17  Very fine day–closely enga-
-ged–indeed my duties in Bank
have never [been] more arduous–[?] per
diem has increased to what it was
two years ago–We hear nothing de
cisive of the battles in Kentucky, but
all the intimations are that we have
gained victories & drove the enemy
over the Kentucky River–It is very
strange that we should so long be
kept in ignorance–The  Raid of
Stuart into Penna. & Maryland is
not, or has not been until now appre
ciated–Because it is only now
understood that the made a circuit

in the rear of the grand army.  I
thought he had only made a dash
into Penna and returned the same
way he went.  Instead of this he
went to Chambersburg, then turned
to Maryland to his right: passed through
Woodsboro, Liberty, New Market, Ur
banna &c and recrossed the Potomac
at or above the mouth of the Mo
-nocacy–sixty miles below Hancock
when he crossed at where he set out
He passed within 5 miles of Frederick
a great Depot of the army–He did
not have lose a man.  He brought off
a great many horses, equipped his
command with clothing, shoes &
arms & brought off a vast amt
of clothing–besides destroying the
minor commissary  & ordnance stores
at Chambersurg.  History presents
nothing more daring and brilliant
The risk he ran was very  great.  The
nett work of telegraph wires center
ing at McClellans headquarters
brought him early intelligence and
nothing but great sluggishness, one
would think, prevented the assem-
-bling a force on the Banks of the
Potomac–sufficient to oppose his
recrossing.  He is said to have travelled
90 miles in 36 hours–the mortifica
tion of the enemy is extreme

MSS 4763

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

Thursday
October 16

Had a very good night last night.  The sun has
shone some to day.  I have got a sore throat to-
night but otherwise I feel very well.  Uncle Sam Hartude
came back from Beaufort. Dadmun got a box by express.
Wrote a letter home.

MSS 11293

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

Thursday 16

Received orders about

7 ½ P.M. to be prepared to

move at a moments

warning. Harnessed the

horses, packed knapsacks

& expecting every min-

-ute to start.

MSS 4448

                                              Richmond Oct 16. 1862

My Dear Neice
                           I reached here on day before yesterday
A few days before leaving home your letter of the 24th
Sept was received.  To day I was informed by Mr John M. Speed
that his sister Mrs Rudd was about leaving for the City
of Washington under a flag of truce and he kindly offered
to see that any letter I might write to you should be
forwarded by him.  I gladly avail myself of the opportunity to send
an answer to yours of the 24th Ult.  I perceive that up
to the date of that letter you had received but one
letter from me.  I had written you three–all written
in time to have been received by you before the 24th
and all sent by persons who I was assured would us
every exertion to get them to you.  Your aunt Martha
ad your Cousin Margaret have also each sent you
several letters.
  I find some difficulty in advising you what course to pursue
were I to consult my own feelings alone I would desire
to see you and the children take up your permanent
abode in Virginia abut I do not think it would be right
to advise you to move to this state as a home during
the war as I can not tell what effect the such a step
might have on your own property and that of the
children left in your charge. No considerations of the
kind however seem to me to stand in the way of
your coming and bringing the children with you

[page 2]
on a visit for the winter.  I need scarcely assure you that
such a visit would be a source of the highest pleasure
to me, to Martha and to Margaret.  We are all anxious
to have you and the children with us.
 I think you have acted wisely in giving up your home
for the present.  I do not see how you could have
stayed there without some male protection.  I do not doubt
you will be able to get a suitable tenant for the house and
grounds at a suitable ren  handsome rent as it is a
very eligible and desirable residence.  I think too
that your plan of taking a place in some school
is a good one, as well for yourself as for the children.
In the discharge of the duties of such a situation I could not
but ope that your mind would be to some extent relieved
from the gloomy thoughts in which, in the absence of such
employment, I should fear you would indulge.
As stated in my previous letters it would give me pleasure
(and I can say the same for Mr Bouldin) to give you
any advice or aid in my power in the conduct and
management of the property and affairs of business
left in your charge.  You must not hesitate to connect
with us freely whenever you feel that our council or
assistance may be of service to you.  I am glad to
hear that thus far you have to been in want of
the means to meet, as they arose the expense of
the estate and  the children.  As however the
estate is yielding but a small income in its present
shape, and in the present disturbed state of the
country this it may happen that you may find use

[page 3]
in maintaining the children for more ready money
than the rest of the property will yield.  In such
contingency do not hesitate for a moment to acquaint
me with your wants and wishes.  It will afford me
heartfelt pleasure at any time to aid you in this or
any other way.
I saw Margaret the day before I left home. She was quite
well. She has again a very good school.  She told me that
she designed writing to you in a few days and
would forward the letter to me to be sent on to you.
I hope I may have the pleasure of sending a letter
from her to you in a short time.
  I was agreeably surprised in meeting Ella Bouldin on the
street to-day.  She is on a visit to Dr Dean and the
Barksdales her relations–She has recently had a
second attack of  Diphtheria but is now convalescent. Her
mother and several of the children have been quite
unwell for some weeks but but I am happy to
say that they are all now getting well.
My son John was slightly wounded (by a ball through his
hand) in the battle of Boonsborough.  He is at home and
is rapidly getting well of his wound.  He expected, when I
left Lynchburg, to pay a short visit to his Aunt Martha
and family at Roanoke about this time.
Joe and Stuart have both recovered of their wounds
and gone back to the army.
I trust you will soon get this and you may also soon
be able to avail yourself of some opportunity to
let us hear from you again.  I should think

[page 4]
that if you wold get some friend to hand your
letters to the Secretary of War at Washington with
a request to have them forwarded that the
request would be complied with and we might
thus hear from you more frequently.  Mr Randolph
has promised to send on any letters I may have for
you.
I expect to remain here, attending my court till the
25th of Nov.   In the meantime I hope to hear from you
often–Elizabeth is now with me but expects to go to Charlotte
in a few days.  She writes with me in best love to you and
the children.     Most affectionately
                                     Your Uncle
                                         Wm Daniel Jr

Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell, 1839-1930, and her siblings were orphaned when their father, the noted
engineer Charles Ellet, Jr. was mortally wounded on the Queen of the West in the naval battle for
Memhis, and their mother died a few days later.  She maintained a correspondence across the lines with her Virginia relatives and eventually married a cousin William Daniel Cabell from Nelson County.  Decades later she was founding member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

MSS 276
                          

(Oct 24th)  Rather
cold this morning & heavy frost.  Head aches a good
deal, & side pained considerably last night.
Sat up, & wrote letter to Cousin Ann Blair.  Miss
L- sat part the morning with me.  Mr Braden
tells me that McClellan is building a Pontoon
bridge at Berlin on the Potomac, for what pur-
-pose, none of us can tell.  Mr Gregg was to see me
this afternoon.  Miss Jeannette & Miss L- sat part
of afternoon with me.  Has been very pleasant
today.

[Lt. John Tyler’s diary ends here.]

Identifying Lt. John Tyler by diary transcriber Mary Roy Dawson Edwards

     As one reads this document, the deference given Lt. John Tyler by every one with whom he comes in contact is noteworthy.  Some research was done to try and establish if there is a family connection with the President of the United States, John Tyler, who was in office from 4 April 1841 to 4 March 1845..

     Some personal facts gathered from his dairy are that his birthday is 13 May (page 7). On page nine on 19 May [1862], he writes “married just one month today”.  He always refers to his wife as “Jennie”.  On page ten, he notes, “After tea went to see Col Marshall, sat with him until tattoo.”  On July 30th, he writes, “Reached Tuckahoe at 9 ½ o’c.  Spent a very pleasant day with Florrie & the Mrs’ Blair’s.  In evening with Henry & Florrie [his sister] went down to the boat, and met Miss Ann B…..” ( On page ninety-three, he notes that he has written to his cousin, Ann Blair.)  Lt. Tyler refers to “my old Co. F_ lost very heavily…..” on page 29.  Also on page 29, he states that he stopped at “Dr. Hill’s for breakfast (brother of General A.P. Hill)”.  On page 35, he mentions that he “Took dinner at Jas. Barbour’s (quite a fine house). This would be Barboursville, home of Governor James Barbour. Also, General Robert Wright visits him several times while he is ill.

     Extensive use of this diary is made by Dr. Peter S. Carmichael is his book, The Purcell, Crenshaw and Letcher Artillery,  pub. in Lynchburg, Va. by H.E. Howard in 1990.  On page 169, is the following: “Tyler, John: age 25, 2/1/62, transferred from Company F, Twenty-First Virginia Infantry.  Appointed lieutenant of Letcher Artillery. 5/19/63, resigned from post because of heart problems.  Member of Pegram Bn. Association.  His wartime diary, covering the year 1862, is located at the University of Virginia.”

     Dr. Charles W. Turner, author of  Captain Greenlee Davidson, C.S.A. Diary and Letters 1851-1863, published by McClure Press in Verona,Virginia in 1975, includes a letter of Captain Davidson’s written to his mother on 21 November 1862 (pages 58-59) that refers to Captain Tyler, as follows: “You can have some idea of how nicely we are fixed when I tell you we entertained two ladies at our Camp last week and lodged one of them for the night.  The ladies were the mother and wife of Lt. C. A. Tyler.  He was attacked with fever just before we entered Maryland and we were compelled to leave him at the house of a Mr. Braden near Leesburg.  He was very ill for a long while and his father, mother and wife went on to attend him.  Shortly after they reached Leesburg, the enemy re-occupied Loudoun  Co. unexpectedly and they were completely cut off from home.”

     “The Yankees discovered Tyler and paroled him whilst sick in bed, but did not discover his parents or his wife.  They carried off one of my best Battery horses he had with him – a splendid animal one of the finest I ever saw.”

     “After the enemy advanced towards Culpeper C. H. Tyler having recovered sufficiently to travel, his father managed to bring him over into the Valley.  I happened to meet them as they were passing Camp on their way to Winchester.  They were traveling in a two horse covered road wagon and looked as if they were jolted to death.  They seemed perfectly rejoiced however at having reached our lines.  I at once insisted on the whole party accompanying me to Camp and spending the night with us.  The ladies at first ridiculed the idea of staying all night in Camp – but when I told them of the miserable accommodations they would receive at the hotels in Winchester they finally consented.  We gave our friends an elegant supper consisting of nice light biscuits, beefsteak, scrambled eggs, butter, molasses and coffee with sugar and milk.  They declared that they had not enjoyed a meal more for many a day.  Fearing that sleeping in a tent might bring on a relapse with Lt. Tyler, I carried him after supper, to a farm house near at hand and secured a place for him and his wife……”

     “…….The next morning Lt. Tyler’s wife joined us at breakfast, but he was not well enough to get up to an early breakfast.”

     “The ladies said they were never more elegantly or handsomely entertained and have promised to pay us another visit.  Two or three hours after breakfast I sent the whole party in my spring wagon to Winchester where they took the stage to Staunton.  Mrs. Tyler says she had no idea how pleasant camp life is and says she will now have something to talk about for the balance of her life.”

      One notices that Captain Greenlee refers to Tyler as “Lt. C. A. Tyler”   and two paragraphs later as “C. H. Tyler”.  However, there is no doubt that this is Lt. John Tyler, who recuperated with Mr. Noble Braden and his family at their home, Eudora, near Leesburg.

     On March 29, 1863  Captain Greenlee writes from Camp Maury to Dr. [John] Tyler,  “You had better forward your surgeon certificate in order to show the condition of your health, since your return to Richmond and upon proof of your fitness for active service, your reinstatement should follow.  It was decided sometime ago that we were entitled to four lieutenants and I had Munford commissioned as 2nd lieutenant, to rank as such from November last.  Hence for sometime past we have had four commissioned officers with the company.”

     Is Dr. Tyler the same person as  Lt. John Tyler who became ill in September 1862?  Perhaps, however we do not know for sure.  And so far, his connection with President John Tyler or some other politically prominent person has not been proven.

     According to the eminent historian, Robert K. Krick, John Tyler “belonged to the prewar socially elite “Company F” in Richmond, which surely suggests some standing in the community”.

     According to Chris L. Ferguson, author of Hollywood Cemetery: Her Forgotten Soldiers: Confederate Field Officers at Rest,  John Tyler is “buried in Sec. L, lot 26.  It’s fairly close to the tomb of President Tyler.”  Mr. Ferguson states that, “As far as I can recall, there was some connection between the two.”

     His obituary appears on page one of the Sunday, January 6, 1924 “Richmond Times Dispatch” accompanied by a photograph.  A notice of his death appears on Tuesday, January 8, 1924 on page nineteen of the “Richmond Times Dispatch”.  His obituary states that after his illness “he was appointed first lieutenant of artillery on the Invalid Corps of the C. S. A. and assigned to the staff of General James Kemper where he continued until the end of the war.”

MSS  6150

[on patriotic stationary with vignette of soldier saying farewell to young woman with home and church in background]

                 Vermillion
                   October
                     16th
                       1862
Dear Bro
Received yours
dated 9th last night
Well I am in Vermillion
& calculate to stay there
a while I have not been
at Cleveland since you left
how is mother now I
received a letter from Geo dated
9th he did not say a word
about Levinas death all
he said about it that
made me think was that

[page 2]
little somebody was in
Richfield he says Mary went
with him and they had a
little time of it tell me
about it, quite a number
of the drafted men were
discharged from here
J Crop
Philo Moreouse
Mack Edron
G M Taft
I think I have some chance
to escape next time
Those that were not discharged
got substitutes
the names of those that got
substitutes
O H Tilden
G V Griffith
Thomas Green

[page 3]
Chas Martin Wheeler Washburn
Geo Tey Geo Taylor J Cronewalt
H Riblet Gus Black, Arzan
Bartholomew J T Black
I am well and feel well
have got me a new coat, cost
me $13.50 it is silk and wool, will
send you a peice do not know
what I shall do when I get
through here some work will be
provided for me I guess I do not
know where it is coming from
if I only knew how to telegraph
I could get an office right off
a south Charleston on the little
miama R.R. as agent and OPer-
ator I can get an Office any time
I have a mind to learn If I had
the chance I would learn now

[fragment of letter from Wilbur  F. Hawxhurst of the 65th Ohio]

MSS 11031