Camp Lyon Va. Aug. 28th/62

Dear parents
                                 I have sated long and anxiously for
a letter from you but have recieved none since I returned
from Richmond, and for a long time before.  I recieved the
last letter from you at White House landing sometime in
June and I have heard but very little news from home since
I hear ,by way of Sam D. that you got a letter from me while
I was a prisoner and the Capt. told me you wrote to him to find
out where I was this is all I have heard from you since June
you can judge from your own feelings how I have felt by
not hearing from you I hope if you have not written that
you will write as soon as you get this without fail tell me
all the particulars how you get along. My health is not very
good I am not fit for duty. I am afraid I have got a disease on
the kidneys the doctors will not tell me what ails me but
they say I am not able to do duty, my victuals distress me
very bad I have told the Capt I wanted my discharge but
but [sic] he does not do any thing about it. For the past three weeks
McClellan’s army had had a long hard march from Harrissons
landing to Newport News where they took the transports and
came up to reinforce Pope our division has stoped here for
the present and we may stop here for some time we are
now camped near the old fort Lyon that we helped build
and according to appearances I think we shall be stationed
here.  War matters look dark and gloomy at present the rebels
are getting very bold but I think our army will soon teach
them a lesson they have never yet learned we are all
anxiously waiting the result of this campain which if
successfull will do a great deal twords closing the war
If I had known this war would have continued so long
I should not have left home for I have come to the
conclusion that it was my duty to stay at home but the
error cannot now be corrected,  The new Regts are arriving
I have seen some of the members of the 16th Me. but I have
not heard where the 17th is yet I should be glad to see
some of them if I could find them I may be lucky

[page 2]
enough to find them yet  I cannot write much
this time and there is no news of importance to write
do not fail to write me all the particulars how you
are getting along and if you need any more money
tell me so and I will send it to you I am getting tired
and must close Tell Walter I think of him quite
often and he must try and take care of the things
and make the steers grow up as fast as he can

                       From your son
                                      Hiram M. Cash

Hiram Cash,  Co. K, 5th Maine

MSS 12916

[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

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

Thursday, Aug. 28, 1862
This morning went
to work to secure discharge
Col Hayes refuses to allow
us to go unless compelled
to. Arthur saw Cox Went to
an  attorney & got statement
to present to Cox  Col Hayes is
to sign it. A great many
troops passing through
lay about this afternoon
were not allowed out
several men brought in
drunk.  Saw this afternoon
Milt Pollock & Jonas[?] &
_____ of the 59th N.Y.
Troops passing through &
batteries of Artillery
A shower of rain came
up this afternoon & we
got our Tents pitched the
Sibly mostly clear

MSS 10317 

                  Carver Hospital
                      Meridian Hill
                        Washington DC
                           Aug 28th
                                /62
My Dear Brother
                            It has been
some days since I received
your letter in connection with
Dr. Conner’s (Russell’s [?]) letter
to you.  Russell is a fine
Surgeon, and also a fine
man, beloved by both soldier
and citizen, he is in New
York at  his home, just now
and another takes his place
his name I cannot recall
now.  Well, about the matter
I was speaking to you about

[page 2]
in my last.  I have suc-
ceeded in otaining [sic] a situation
as Nurse in the same ward
where I have been since my
stay in “C E. F”, so the building
seems quite like home.  I
was detailed, as Ward–Master
of No. 17 South Side, on Wed-
nesday 13th the day on which
all extra duty men were or-
dered to their respective Regts,
and convalescents, to take their
places. At that time there were
but 4 patients, besides myself,
and all of them pretty nearly
well. so the Dr ordered the
war evacuated, a few days
after this, and wished it
througly cleaned, and white
washed, and ordered me

[page 3]
me[sic] to superintend the fitting
up the same.  I had staid there
but two or three days when, one
afternoon on looking up from
reading I saw a train of
ambulances close by and
the Doctors with it, then I knew
that there was work for me
& threw open all the doors,
opened the windows, and wait=
ed the Drs orders. He soon came
with the order to make
ready 30 beds, and pretty
soon twenty worn out soldiers
from Popes Army came limping
and groaning[?] in to my ward.
          It has been a hard
job to get everything to going
right, but the men are
improving now, quite just

[page 4]
under the skilled [word lined through]
care of Dr. Roberts, and he thinks
good nursing of you brother
and his assistant Last night
the boys were quite poorly, some
six,or eight here very sick, so
that I dared not trust the
other nurse with the medicin
but set up all night attending
upon them.  I have one very
sick man from the 30th Ohio,
he has had the Chronic Dirrhea
for eight months and is mostly
but skin and bones.  I have
had a very hard [?]
[?] but will make it easier
when I get the assistant whom
I  [wish?] I do not know how
long I will may the remain
here,but write at all events
and direct as heretofore, and
you will greatly oblige
                 Your Affect Brother
                     A.S. Bartholomew
                          Ward 17

Love to all

MSS 10908

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

Thursday 28  [?] awake us very early this morning with
the news of Mr Mason’s arrival–It was very unexpected
& therefore doubly pleasing to Eliza–He is much thinner
& looks older–But just as pleasant as ever–He says he
has been sent to Winchester where the Yankees have posses
sion by Stone Wall Jackson to find and secure important
business–He & 4 others dressed in Federal Clothes & went
in the very town & gained all the information they needed-
They were several times in great danger–& endured much fatigue
& many hardships, & had they been caught they would have been hung as spies–

MSS 6960

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

Today the second battle of Manassas was fought.  Today we heard that our troops had
 retaken Manassas on Tuesday.  They took a good many prisoners.  The president has
issued a message calculated to give great satisfaction after all the fault that has
been found.  The Saratoga girls came yesterday to spend some time I hope.
The Yankees left Winchester today–Sept. 3rd.

MSS 9759

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

Thursday 28 various rumors from the
army–none of which can be re-
lied on. It has doubtless crossed
the Rappahannock and is forcing
the enemy back–one account is
that Jackson has taken many
prisoners at Salem–Having thus
gotten the Mannassas road, and
prevented the retreat of the enemy
towards the valley–letter from
Mary giving the most favourable
accounts of Eugene we have yet
had.  I think he can leave there
on Mondays Boat–Lewis & the
girls went to Charles & returned
at a late hour–I went to see Mrs
Garber[?]

MSS  4763

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Thursday, August 28, 1862

Willie read aloud after we got our [?]
but we were all occupied thinking
of the great fight & no one seemed
very attentive.  he reads too slowly.
Pa thinks that unless Jackson whips
he is in a tight place–
I think he will surely whip-
though I reel afraid too–no one
knows what the end may be.

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

MSS 15406

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

Wed 27 . Talked good deal. pitched a tent for children.
watched Mr. Heade of Boston paint – a sunset marine
view – then with him horseback – invited Miss Holman
she was engaged – was introduced yesterday to Ex
Pres. Pierce & saw him again today – also saw
Bis. Eartburn at beach – watched the ladies
bathe & afterwards bathed myself.  much warmer
     There are theatricals in parlor tonight for Sanitery
Com – I must see if meantime I can sermonize
a little while they are at it – reported that Gen
Sigel shot Gen. Mc Dowell thro. the head  in battle field
at Warrenton lately – I doubt it.  Great uncertainty
& doubt about Army Affairs.

Martin John Heade, 1819-1904, American romantic artist known for his tranquil marsh scenes and seascapes

Manton Eastburn, 1801-1872, eminent Episcopal minister and bishop of the diocese of Massachusetts

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

Wednesday