[from the diary of Samuel S. Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

                                Feb. 2nd

On the 20th, the Left Grand Division (Franklin’s)
received marching orders, and early on the 21st,
the army commenced to move.  At one P. M we
left camp, and at five P. M. encamped on the
right of the army.  About 7. P. M. a cold and
disagreeable rain storm set in, which lasted
all night.  I was washed out of my bed and
after freezing all night trying to keep a fire
warm I succeeded in dozzing off to sleep, when I
was just beginning to become comfortable, I was
turned out to the very agreeable job of harness
-ing up a pair of horses with a wet, cold, stiff
and a frozen harness.  Oh, wasn’t it delightful!
After an hour’s work, where it usually took only
fifteen minutes, we mannaged to get hitched
up, but it was ten A. M before we got
started out of camp.  Our horses were so
chilled through, that it took twenty eight
horses to move some of our carriages, and
even after once getting started, we were obliged
to be continually doubling up our teams, in
order to keep in motion.  The country all
around was a perfect sea of mud.  All
along the road parts of batteries, reg’t.
baggage trains, pontoon trains, and every
material of war was stuck fast;  some of
the carriages were sunk out of sight in

the mud, dead horses, and mules perfectly completely
paved the road.  Oh, did’nt we have a good
time!  About six P. M., we managed to get
our pieces into a kind of camp, our cassions
were ordered to return to our old camp, the
mud being so deep that the roads are unfit
for traveling:  we moved back about one mile,
and went into camp, where we remained
two days;  until the remainder of the Army
had countermarched by us; we then again took
up our line of march, and after two days very
hard pulling through mud up to our waists,
we got back to our old camp again, pretty well
played out and as hungry as bears.  Gen’s
Burnside and Sumner have at their own request
been relieved from command, Gen Franklin by
order of the President, Gen Hooker has been
appointed to command the Army of the Potomac.
On the 28th had a severe snow storm.  The weather
has been cold and unpleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Edwards Dawson]

MSS 8493

Fort Gains – Feby 2nd 1863   4 Oclock in the morning    
          My Dear Wife.
                                  This being my night to post
and relieve guard at the Battery every two hours
precludes the possibility of my sleeping any at
all – And having read my Bible untill my eyes
are weary and tired of following its finely
printed pages – I have concluded to lay aside that
good book for the present – and refresh my mind
with the delightful task of  jotting you a few
lines –
 I will however commence this leter [letter] without
making a verry lengthy prelude by relating to
you a verry pleasing little incident which happened
last evening and of which I was a happy recipient
     In company with J.M. Burford and J S Callaway
about 4 Oclock walking along on the beautiful bluff
which Nature it would seem intended for some nice
purpose and on which our Battery is situated – we
came up to where there were standing these lovely
and neatly dressed young Ladies – upon a nearer
approach I discovered that they were the same three
that frequently visited us doing our exercise in
heavy artillery – Having satisfied ourselves of this
fact – I proposed that we venture up and introduce
our selves in as much as young men in and around
Fort Gains were verry Scarce – The proposition was readily
acceeded to by C & B and I tell you for about an
Hour I had a most excellent and animating time.
                                  The names of the young Ladies are
two Miss Tennill’s and a Miss Burnett – You must
not think because I am enjoying myself with the
Young Ladies of Fort Gains that I am looking for a
second wife – this fortunate occurrence will probably
not happen again for months to come – but – rest
assured if it does I shall always be in for
one chance with the best of Motives –
     We told the Young Ladies notwithstanding
we were married men we still loved to
associate with them – and more especially

[page 2]
when we were absented from Home and its charming
attractions – I have just bought 175 lb Sugar  tolerable
brown at 30 ¢   I will try and manage some way to get
it Home in a few days – Kiss all the Children for
me –                    Your affectionate Husband
                                                           W. H. Locke
[Written in pencil on page 2  is the following:]
P S     Feby 3  1863
     Your letter dated Sunday
has Just Come to hand
Let “Louis” finish pain-
ting the Dining Room
as we first designed
it will cost but little
more and will be much
better than to have it
half finished – 
                          W.H.L.

William H. Locke, Eufaula Minutemen, later the 7th Alabama Cavalry

MSS 13485

[from the diary of Captain Zachariah Heed, 91st Ohio Volunteers]

2.
Camp Fayetteville Va   Monday Snow is melting fast with considerable rain, this morning.  Afternoon,  Snow all gone, have been Franking Letters and Valentines very near all Day.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13406

[from the signal message book of Lt. Thomas S. Seabury, 3rd New York Infantry]

Feb. 2d
       To Col. Wardrop
               The Provost marshal
                is letting parties have one
                 and two sacks of salt
                 today It is all right.
                                   (Signed) Genl Viele

MSS 10781

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

Feb 2 Mon.  Fine.  pleasant letters from home.
3 Tues.  cold.  high wind our groceries arrived fr. Washington.
visited hospt.  talked with almost every one personally,

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Feb. 2d,’63.
Clear & bright this
morning.

[The following is written perpendicularly across the bottom of the page]
From this day until the 8th,
I have been unable to note
occurrences. I’ve been inform-
ed that there has been nothing
unusual, except some skirmish-
ing, with occasional firing
of cannon, on the right.
Have been much worse.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Monday, February 2nd – Intensely cold.  No falling[sic] weather.  No church yesterday.
Mr. Jones was called to Shepherdstown to perform the  sad office of the burial of
Mrs. Andrews.  Upper Longwood, Linden family and ourselves had service at Linden,
Cousin John, Deacon.  I received a letter from my precious brother Archie today
which relieves me of much anxiety about him.  He is near Mt. Crawford. There are
various reports of our troops coming to our relief, being stopped at Woodstock by
the snow, but I fear much it only exists in the minds of the newsmongers.  Cousin
John was here today and thought it might be true.  Our tyrants in Winchester are
drawing the reins tighter. They have carried off forcibly the servants in several
places.  Sue and Flora McDonald got a pass from Gen. Kruserez to go to Richmond.
Five miles from Winchester they were stopped and accused of having letters of import-
ance.  They were carried into a house by the wayside and searched by a black woman.
She was very much confused and said, “Indeed young ladies I don not know what I am to
do.”  They replied they didn’t know either so they got off very well from that part
of the importune. When they reentered their carriage an officer got in with them.
He said he had been ordered to do so to prevent the destruction of any important
papers they might have.  On their arrival in town they were carried to the Provost;
also, their baggage, to be searched.  On entering town they apprised their sister,
Mrs. Green, of their situation and she came immediately and insisted on the trunks
being searched in her presence, in consequence of which their examinations were not
very minute.  They were finally released and returned home, but not to Richmond.
Mrs. Tuley wrote to Lee Blair and requested him, on the score of old friendship, to
get a pass for Miss Mary Jackson to go to Washington.  He replied with many fine
speeches about recollection of past acquaintance etc., but refused the pass as her
visit might cause the death of many thousands of their brave men by valuable infor-
mation imparted. I suppose little Miss Mary has become formidable.  Verily these
are horrible times in Yankee annals when a damsel of four feet some inches is
reckoned equal to Samson.  And when these outrages are being committed in our midst,
the volcano which has thrown all this mud and dirt over us is as calm and smiling as
if its bosom was the dwelling of all things pure.  We hear of grand entertainment in
town of the chief murderers, grand balls attended by those even who have kindred
breasting the death struggle for freedom, with heads glittering with gold powder
while many are dying of want.  cousin Nannie Pleasant went to Miss Gro[?] wedding
with her head so adorned. Wrote to brother Archie tonight.

Gen. Kruserez:  perhaps a mangled guess at the name of Union General Wlodzimierz B. Kryzanowski, a Polish nobleman who fled Poland for the United States after the rebellion of 1848.

MSS 9759

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, Rector of Walker’s Church (later Christ Episcopal), Cismont, Va.)

Monday, Feb 2nd  Maria was seized this morning
with an alarming spasm while getting break
=fast.  It lasted some time, & left her as weak
as a child – Poor Sarah, screamed & cried, & was
very much frightened- We sent over for the dr
but he was not at home & did not come
all day – Ellen Lewis called today.-

MSS 4288

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

Monday 2d bright, pleasantly cool & clear.  Eliza Mallett has gone
to Raleigh with her cousin Ricky to spend one day at the Camp-
Christian is up & feels better – No mail to day – Mrs Walters &
Sarah moving to Mrs [Thappon’s?] – Little William has been round to
see me but would not stay one minute – Anica leaves in the morning.
Mrs Campbell & I went down to old Mr Charles Mallets & spent the
afternoon – I like his wife & daughters very much

MSS 6960

[from the diary of George W. Dabney, Clerk of Campbell County]

pleasant nay warm Th 60 Snow
disappeared entirely — got our mail this
morning – news of blockade at Charles–
ton raised & naval fight – cheering pros-
pects of peace at hand – Dick Clement
here to buy beef – referred him to Pa
offered $200 for both – Hung up meat
hams & shoulders with hickory ashes &
black pepper rubbed on – now 8 weeks
& 4 days since the meat was packed in salt
‘Lias off to town – with 4 midling
fruit trees (to [?] am) hominy 1 bush
to Pa. – road bad 2 horses to cart

MSS 3315