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

Tuesday 14th  It has continued to rain all day. So we are housed
again–We have all been lucky in the letter line.  Mrs Walters recei
-ved a very satisfactory one from her son.  Neither he or Fred were
in the battle near Corinth–They are still in Washington County
& I expect will be kept there to guard the River from Gunboats-
They had quite a severe skirmish with one a week or two ago–
He expected to  visit his, & Fred’s plantation before he returned
to Camp–He wrote from Jackson where he had gone on business
for his Colonel–Eliza had a letter also from Mr M–He is still
in Hampton–My three letters were from Mary-Joe & Alfred
Joe seem sanguine about completing his house very early this
fall or winter, & says we must all come out–Black white big
& little–Mary still up–& Alfred tells of his visit to the sound
Fan’s illness & Mr Jewetts death &ct &ct–I have just seen an
announcement int he journal of Joe Lippitts death–also Mr
Dix’s–I feel truely sorry for their wives–Liz & Eliza I think
will leave for Enfield next Monday 20th I hate to part with
them both–But can[t] feel selfish enough to persuade them
to remain–When they will enjoy themselves so much
more there.  Joe says he has received a letter from Mr. Ma
-son–& he is for his sisters marrying before the War is
over if they both desire to do so–I have seen very little of
Sarah to day she seems not as bright and sociable as usual
William is very sweet–I have just given $7 for a pair of shoes
for Kate

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Tuesday, October 14, 1862

Margaret was late again to make the fire–
poor thing I pity her but wish she knew
her place feel very little like teaching
her.  Indeed it is a hard thing to do–Time
alone will cure her.  She thinks because her
face is white, that she is on an equality with
everyone & I dont think I can put up with
that, it irritates me–the idea of any one
acting in the capacity of a servant assuming
airs of importance–Give me black faces-
-You can make them what you please, &
feel too when you own them that you
are the gainer, Not in these whites-Teach
them what you will, they turn their backs
on you in the hour you need them most
if they feel inclined to,–
Gen Stuart returned from Md. today
It was quite a brilliant affair, went
into Penn & Md.  got about 1500 horses &
700 prisoners, so we heard & [crossed?] over
into Loudon.  Nat was with him
& we are most anxious to see him &
hear the truth–Soldiers have been comeing
all day–Jacksons men are tearing up
the railroad, presume that it indicates
the armie’s moveing away–some think
into Md, but I fear towards Richmond
again & leave us once more.

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

MSS 15406

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

Tuesday 14.  Rain nearly all day.  No-
thing decisive from Kentucky–I
begin to fear however a reverse to our
arms.  In the evening came dispatch
announcing another Raid of Stuart
at the head of 300 cavalry–He
crossed at Hancock–Struck for
Mercersburg–then by the turnpike
to Chambersburg.  He destroyed a
vast amount of stores, captured
many prisoners & horses & returned
without losing a man.  The conster
nation in Penna was awful.  He might
have had difficulty in getting back,
but he could have gone to Harrisburg
and perhaps Phila.  His name in-
spires great dread in the north.
This exploit is not less brilliant
than that of taking the grand round
in  June–and it was in the enemys
country.  Read in Allen on the
[?] of the battles of Lutzen
and Bautzen in 1813.

MSS 4763

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

Did not get to sleep till after midnight
my head ached so.  This morning I feel better
Went up to the surgeons and he gave me a dose
of oil.  It still continues to rain.  They say there is
a mail down town and I hope to get a letter.  It is
now about noon, and Waham, Haynes, Partridge and
Boss are playing whist. Alger is cleaning
a gun and there is the cry “a mail has
come.”  no letter for me this time.  The new assis-
tnt surgeon came to day. His name is Mecomey
brother to John of Fitchburg.

MSS 11293

                   Winchester Va
                           O ct 13th 1862
My dear Madam:

                          Having heard of
an opportunity of sending you a
letter, I avail myself of it to ex-
press to you my sincere sympa-
thy for the misfortune which has
befallen your son I trust he
may soon be able to go home,
where he will enjoy the advantages of
a mother’s care.
   He  joined my staff
last December and has been with me
except at short intervals, until he
received his wound at Sharpsburg
During our association, his many
generous and noble qualities have
greatly endeared him to me–I
feel under the deepest obligation to
him for his personal devotion to me

[page 2]
as well as for his intelligence and efficiency
as an officer, in aiding me in the discharge
of my duties–In the several battles of
Kearnstown, Boonsboro’ and Sharps=
burg, he was conspicuous for his gallan=
try and fearless bearing I am ac=
quainted with no one who enjoys a
higher, or more enviable reputation
than himself, for courage and daring,
among all those with whom he has
served.
  Elliot also served as volun=
teer aid to Genl. Ewell (I not having
a command at the time) in the several
engagements which took place last
August about Manassas-The General
spoke to me of him in the warmest
terms.  On one occasion he said
“Johnston was worth to him his weight
in gold.”  Such a compliment from
General Ewell is truly valuable, for he

[page 3]
proverbially a man little given to
making professions, and only bestows
praise where it very hardly earned.
   In conclusion I hope your son
may soon be restored to health,
and that every success may attend him.
Please also accept my Kindest wishes
for yourself and family-
               Very sincerely
                  Your most obt. servant
                          R. B. Garrett
                            Brig’r Gen’l

MSS 5185

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

(Oct 13th)  Still cloudy & raining.
Head aches good deal.  Mr. Braden sat awhile with
me this evening, and said it was true news that
Genl. Stuart had made a raid into Pa.  & was at Cham-
-bersburg, with what effect had not yet heard.  Sat
up this morning, & finished 2nd Vol. Macaulays Eng-
commenced 3rd.  Mr Gregg has just come up to let
me know that the firing yesterday was caused
by Genl. Stuarts being attacked on his return,
having gone completely around the Yankee
Army, via Mercersburg, Chambersburg, Frede-
-rick, Spinks ferry & then to Leesburg.  Have not
heard yet what he did on his trip except
disappoint the Yankees who expected him
to return the same way he went, & captu-
-ring 1500 fine Pa. horses.  Mr Braden got back this
afternoon with Mr. Pusey’s horse, & says he saw

some of Stuarts with horses from Pa.  they told
him they picked out the best as they went a-
-long.  Feel better this afternoon.  Is raining quite
hard this evening.  Miss L – Jeannette sat with me
“ce soir”.  Miss L- very kindly furnished me with and
sewed some marks on my clothes & mended my vest.
She is so very kind to me that I cannot express my
thanks in words, hope I may some day have a chance
to reciprocate.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

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

Monday – 13th   Day rainy and bad. Rather

cool.  Spent the day [-] much in reading
and writing – feel rather badly and [-]
Tuesday 14th . Write to Miss A_____ . do some
writing for others. several of our boys [-]
to 6 am. from Staunton, been very
busy all day reading and writing.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

     Oct. 13th, ’62.
Feel very little bet-
ter to-day, still have
to go. Marched early
over the same ground
we passed yesterday,
struck the pike at
about the same place,
turned to the left, &
have moved along
the pike, rapidly, to
within 2 miles of Dan-
ville. Here we have
halted & stacked arms,
resting in place. Rep-
orted that we are

[34]
going to shell the town!!
     Still cold & chilly; rain-
ing occasionally.
“Something in the wind”,
& I do n’t know what; the
ambulances are all
hurry ing along the pike,
some parts of our train
going on, some parts
stopped. Mounted
orderlies fly ing a-
round & all confusion &
bustle. The cavalry,
which so boldly dash-
ed up to our camp
on the morning
of the 10th inst., was

Gen’l. John Morgan’s.
Went into camp; were
aroused at 12 o’clock,
& ordered to fall in as
quickly & quietly as pos-
sible; did so; march-
ed to Danville, – after
passing through part
of the town we turned
squarely to the left
(West).  Moved on rap-     [From “Moved on rapidly” to “and formed”,          
idly about 8 or 9 miles          the date Oct. 14th, ’62 is written perpendicularly
when we came up                  beside the entry.]
to the rear of the reb-
el army. We then left
the road, (leading to
Stanford,) & formed

in line of battle a-
cross the fields &
woods; advanced
in that manner
about a mile, when
a battery, in front
& to the left of us,
opened upon us.
They threw four shells –
none taking effect –
when our battery came up & quickly
silenced the offen-
sive intruder.
There were, as I
have since ascer-
tained, about 3000

cavalry & 2 brass pieces
of artillery. Reported
that we dismounted
one piece.
Took one Major &
should have taken
the whole force.
Passed through Stran-
ford[sic], & encamped for
the night about ½
mile from town.
A very fair little
village; quite a num-
ber of churches.
Clear & warm.

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Mon 13. Very busy with many things – mail – sick – & no Surgeon
Col D. is appointed to Command of 2d. Brigade – Caseys Div
Marsh Adj’s Genl – Slept in camp – no floor to tent.
called on Provost Marshall Dorter old classmate

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

Monday, Oct. 13, 1862

Left the [?]  this
morning made
some coffee in the
House made some
for a boy of Pryors Md
Cavalry found that the
brigade would go back
started off in advance
came to the Stone bridge
there took along the river
then across the country
went from there alone
arrived at Hancock
about 1 oclock
Crossed the river got
my dinner went onto
the same car that we
occupied before
Have been out Little
cover with South mts on
the east & the [?]
on the west  Cloudy & damp

MSS 10317