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

JANUARY 31.
Fayetteville Va   Saturday Morning   Entered on my duty as Officer of the Day,  cold and rough.  Some Snow on the ground   the guards are attending to their respective duty   I relieved Capt Culbertson as Officer of the Day,
weather rather mild, very mudy, Leiut – Crawford, Officer of the Guard.

MSS 13406

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

Sat 31.  Fine, bright day – Made out my quarterly Chapls.
report to Col.  & handed it to him, visited hosps – talked per-
sonaly with many of them, rode horseback past Hd. Qrs of
Army Potomac – very muddy – In eveg. had games
of what is yr. thot. like – (field & staff officers)

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

Jan. 31
   To Col. Wardrop
        Find the bi-monthly report of
        your Regiment on the new
        forms immediatly[sic]
                                            Liebenan A.A.G.

MSS 10781

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

Sat’  Jan’ 31.
Windy & cold – no stripping tobo –
getting stakes for fences, hauling wood &c
visited patients several times – must
put in glass in cabin windows–
Dr. to Robert – prescribed & left directions
Jesse much better -Ro so-so – Marga
ret takes Lucy Ann’s place in household
duties, as she of course is to take it – am
in favor of all having it now – especially
Margarets young brood – no time more favor
-able – a full sweep alternated in time
will produce little drawbacks on farm
progress, & with proper care no serious harm

MSS 3315

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

Saturday, January 31st – A bright day.  Maria came over in the morning.  I went
down to Linden to spend the day.  The roads were very much drifted.  Lewis had to
spade and help us along in some places between the gate and the end of the lane.

MSS 9759

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

Saturday 31st    again cloudy & cold – I thought I would go
out again this morning to finish my visits – But have con
-cluded to delay it a while longer – & do some sewing to
day-

MSS 6960

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

Saturday, Jan 31st  Raleigh left us for good this
morning. God only knows where his lot may
be cast in future! but I can never cease to pray
for him – I have tried to fulfill my duty to him
while here – &, though weakly & poorly done, I
trust in God I may have been of some service to him
“The Judge of all the Earth will do right,” &
I leave him in His Almighty hands – Lord
remember him & watch over him for good for
His savior’s sake! I shall never love another boy as I love him

MSS 4288

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

Friday
Jan 30
Got a letter from home last night just as
I was going to bed.  They have not heard from
me since Dec. 27th. George and I went out on passes
We first went to Fort Totten and all over it, then
down almost to the Trent river by the side of
the breast work, and then over to Star Fort and
into the barracks and then downtown. This after-
noon I have had a bad headache.  The regiment have
been firing blank cartridges over the breastwork and
having a brigade drill.  The boys had a lot of express
stuff come. Played a game of chess this evening with George.

MSS 11293

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

Jan. 30th  Patterson 12 1/2 P.M.
   To Col. Wardrop
         There is fighting going on
          8 miles beyond Suffolk.
          Be vigilant
                        E.T. Viele Brig. Gen.
                        U.S.V.

———————————————-

Jan. 30th  11 P.M.
      To Gen. Viele
      Any later news from Suf
     folk? When did the firing
     cease
                       Col. Wardrop

————————————————

Jan. 30  11 1/2 P.M.
       To Col.Wardrop
             No report from Suffolk
             tonight.  Rebels were fal
             ling back at noon.
                         E. T. Viele
                         Brig. Gen.

MSS 10781

  Head Quarters 15 Regt. Conn. Vols
                   Camp opposite Fredericksburg Va
                                     (No 16)      Jany 30 “/63
Dear Brother George,
                                       I haven’t any
thing special to write but I
suppose that you are expecting
a letter from me so I will just
write a few words..   We have just
had a pretty good snow storm on the
ground (I mean mud) for it was
awful muddy before and I don’t
know what it will be when this
thaws for it will not stay long.
          I guess that this same storm
has given you pretty good sleighing
and wish I were there to take
a good ride after the “Bobs” [?]
has Chas had them out any this
winter.  Then you like the banking

business pretty well do you – it is a tip
top trade and I wish I were there
to even sweep out the institution
but you stick to it and be ready to
take Chas place if he gets his
appointment which I hope he will
as it would be a nice thing for him
     The Paymaster was here yesterday and
payed us off and it don’t take such
an awful smart fellow but what
Chas could do it..   I sent home
by Huisdale a letter with 20 $ and
paid him 5 per cent for carrying it
took his receipt but it is pretty good
price to give to insure letters – hope
Father will get the boots done in
time to send by him next Thursday
perhaps you might send me a
few other things as he comes right
through   he asks 6 cts a pound – I
would like some paper (writing) as
that was all spoiled that came in
the (old) box..

James Howard, 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668