Alexandria August 27th ’62

Dear Mother
It has been
some time since I have
written to you but one
letter has to do for the
whole family when I am
on the move & even now
we have no tents to shelter
us from the sun all day
or the dews at night still
we are cheerful & happy
we expect to be sent up
the R.R. to Mannassa
in a day or two & when
there you will not have
any chance of hearing
from me because they do
not allow any mail to
go either way.  the tide of
War seems to be going

[page 2]
against us but still we
are ready & willing to fight
I am glad that we are to be
reinforced by those that
have been staying at home
while we have been at
work here for fifteen months
It is a wonder that Mrs
Spaulding could let her
son enlist as a private
at this late day if he had
come when I did his
time would have been
out in eight moths but
now he has three years
or during the war.  How
does Mrs Lake & Hull feel
about having their sons
going to the wars they
go at a time when it
is no honor to go but
they go for fear of being
drafter & I am glad of it

[page 3]
they are so selfish their
sons are so much better
than any one’s elses they
come at a time when
they will have plenty of
work to do for I have no
doubt but by the time this
reaches you we shall be
face to face with the
enemy but I hope that I
am prepared for the worst
but thus far I think that
God has blessed me f[ar]
beyond all of my expect=
tations all of which I feel
thankful for.  I am glad
that I came a soldiering
when I did.  does Augustus
or Edwin have any idea of
enlisting if so tell them
that they must make up
their minds to hard work
& that if they can get a

[page 4]
commission that they had
better do so.  I do not know
where Parker is but have no
fears of his safety & that he
will soon be back to the Reg
It seems like getting back
home to get here.  I enjoy
the best of health & have
been able to keep up on
all of the last six days
marching.  I hear that
martin Beers is offering
one or two Hundred Doll
for a substitute rather than
come himself poor fellow
he has started twice & backed
out each time. I think he is
a coward.  If Father has
not sent my box tell him
to do so.  We expect to leave
here tomorrow but I will try
& get a letter through to you
as often as I can.  Write often
for we may get them.  From your
Affectionate son
                   Chs. E. Bradley

[in side margin of page 1]
If either of the boys think of enlisting
& have to come as a private tell them
to go into the navy

[upside down in top margin of page 1]
Late orders has just been
given to be ready to march
at a moments moments notice.

Charles Ellery Bradley, 1842-1915, Co. I  32nd New York

MSS 9728

[from a diary fragment of Lancelot Minor Blackford, of the Rockbridge Artillery]

Manassas Junction–Thursday night. Aug. 27, 1862
This morning witnessed the consummation of one of
the most brilliant strokes of Lee’s strategy and of
Jackson’s execution that the war has yet exhibited
viz. the occupation of this important point by
the Army Corps under Gen Jackson’s command and the
getting in behind the whole force of Genl. Pope.
Monday we started at an early hour from our bi
vouack near Jeffersonton in Culpeper, though we
did not get fairly underweigh until 9 or 10 o’clock
I was fortunate enough to get a good breakfast in
the village at the house of my hospitable friend Mr
Davisson before starting; as well as to meet there for
a short time with my excellent and valued friend W.
P. DuBose, of So. Ca, Adjt to the Holcombe Legion–Evns Brig. Lonstreets Corps

We moved on by Amissville and finally crossed the Rap-
pahannock at ______Ford a a mill where the river was
quite narrow.  this point is some 6 or 8 miles above Jef-
fersonton.  After crossing we moved on rapidly pas-
sing by the village of Orlean in Fauquier about dusk.
We travelled virtually all Monday night, very rapidly
until toward midnight and then holding up to get
some provender and feed our horses, expecting to move
on as soon as this was done.  Instead of this however
we halted in the road some 3 or 4 hours just there,
every moment expecting to be ordered on, and con-
sequently the men either sleeping not at all or
very unsatisfactorily, the night being very cold and
no blankets unrolled.  By dawn, or before we pursued
our onward journey, moving quite rapidly all the forenoon.

Diary fragment begun on the 19th ends at this point.

MSS 5088

                                    Brandy Station, Culpeper County, Va.
                                                  August 27th, 1862
I wrote you, My darling wife, a note yesterday mor
-ning, to be sent by Asa D. Dickenson, Mr. D. didnt call
for it & I found an opportunity to sent it to Richmond
to be mailed.  To day Dickingson has been in & it thus
afforded me the grateful chance of sending you
another note this afternoon
I am still at the same post as when I wrote yesterday
nor do I know when I will be ordered from this
point.  We can hear very little from the front
This morning cannonading was heard beyond
the Rappahannock & I am told Jackson & Ewells
divisions have crossed the river.  Whether or not
any battle has been fought we have not
yet learned.  In what direction the Yankee
army is moving I dont know.  You thus
perceive that I am in a condition of
blissful ignorance as to all the [great?]
military movements that are now
going on.  Kept here in the rear to guard
against any approach of the Yankees in
this direction I can get no intelligence
to write you.________________________
                                I think, dearest, constantly

[page 2]
I wish, how much I cant say, that I could
be with you, my dearest wife.  But we
must have faith in the mercy of God
and look trustingly to our Heavenly
Father to guide and preserve us
through all our trials & troubles.
I try to put my trust in Him and to
feel the assurance that all will be
well with us under the shelter of
His love.–
                        Kiss the children & Mary &
Alice for me.  Love to Mrs Riddle.
Remember me kindly to the ser-
vants.  How is Craig?____________
     Farewell, my own dear wife. I
take you again in my arms & kissing you
with love & tenderly pray God to have
mercy on you.   Yr affectionate husband
                        John T. Thornton.

John Thruston Thornton,  University of Virginia alumnus, & Lieut. Col., 3rd Virginia Cavalry.

MSS 4021

                               
                   
                                        August 27th 1862
My Dear Father
                     The monotonous life we are living here
close by Richmond, affords nothing to write which wd.
interest you. The left section ( half) of our company
has joined the division, having procured two little
sic pound pieces. It is still uncertain when we
will get guns or horses. As we get guns of larger
caliber we have to add four more horses to each piece
That part wh. has left is probably in or about
Fredericksburg I suppose; as I hear the division
is there. Our army of course has nearly entirely left
the vicinity of Richmond, very few being left below.
     Pope it seems is trying to do what I have feared
i.e. fall back upon the Potomac. I hope Lee (or Jack-
son, the latter seems to be the moving spirit) will
be able to force a fight & victory before he
reaches there. You know Lee is now in com-
mand of that army. Johnson (J. E.) is still
in Amelia. I have frequently an opportunity
of going to town & of course when I do, attend
the meetings of Congress. Miles of South Carolina     [William Porcher Miles]
seem to have more attention paid him, when he
speaks or gives an opinion than any other mem-
ber. Whether it is because of superior ability or
his position as chman. of the Military Comtee. I do not know.
He is however a man of good judgment appa-
rently. Of small statue & dressed in either a gray
or blue coat: with short gray whiskers. He
speaks slowly & with some difficulty, apparently
that of a foreigener. Foot who is always
up is a short thick set man with bald head & red
face & of a vulgar appearance. Bococke presides
in the house with ease dignity & readiness.

[page 2]
Lyons of Richmond is thought by some to represent
the President – a man of the greatest possible
vanity. A member from Georgia introduced
a motion of enquiry yesterday whether it was not
better to withdraw our commissioners from Europe.
As it was agst. confederate dignity longer to keep
them there & the English Queen having declared
her determination not to recognize us, while
at the same time her ministers admitted we
established a right to it &c&c. The motion to inquire
was unanimously carried. You will see probably
in the papers a statement by a member from
Louisiana of a discovery in his state of salt in
a pure state & inexhaustible quantity, but the
owner he said was not disposed to make
much use of it or appreciate its worth. You
are aware that companies from differ-
ent states are putting up works at the mines
in Washington county. Still I expect you
could purchase it cheaper now than later
when the time for salting bacon comes, if
you could purchase it at all at the works
of which there is some doubt. Our comp-
any has recruited from among the conscripts
at Camp Lee a good many as drivers, so that
our company numbers about 112 now. Until I
leave Richmond do not designate that I belong

to any company in directing your letters or
they will be sent to the Brigade – but simply
as to a citizen = W. H. Perry, Richmond, Va. I have
not heard from home since leaving save
by the enclosed note. If you have written they
have gone to the division. My Dear father
farewell. Sincerely your son
                                                W.H. Perry Jr.

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery as recorded at a somewhat later date]

(Aug. 27th) burnt them, also some
small bridges on the R.R. then pushed
up, for Manassas, took prisoners a

company at Bristoe & the major portion
of a Regt at Manassas.  Ewells command
was left at Bristoe and Hill & Talia-
-ferro’s, went together to Manassas.  Here
we found long trains of  cars filled with
all kinds of army stores to the value of
Millions.  The army were allowed to
go in, and take whatsoever they
pleased and such sacking is rarely
seen.  The only spoils I secured was a ream
of fine white fools cap paper and an inval-
-uable book on Artillery, [Styled?]  “Military’
Commission to Europe” by Maj. Mordecai,
U.S.A. Published by order of War Dept. –
And one of these single tents which I always
carry on my saddle.  Maj. Ginter for our Bri-
-gade secured a barrel of ground Coffee
& another of white sugar, besides having all
their haversacks filled.  We got a very
large supply of medicines here, which
were very much needed.  After securing

all that it was possible to do with our
limited transportation, the remainder
was burnt up.  They were set fire to at
dark and the next morning when we
left they were still burning. – Ewell who
had been left below was attacked in the
afternoon and after quite a little fight
fell back on us.  We were ordered forward
in line of battle; our batteries placed
in position & so passed most of the
night, about 1 o’c while all were asleep
a terrible explosion occurred which
sounded as  though all our Batteries had
opened, it of course brought us all to our
feet, but it was found to be only the fire
getting to some ammunition, in one of the
cars.

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond of the Dixie Greys (Co. E., 42nd Virginia)

Wednesday 27.  Remain in camp near
Amesville.  on Pike leading from War-
renton & Sperryville.  No reliable news
from our forces.

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

    [from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C, 13th Massachusetts]

Wednesday Aug 27  1862

   It is now nearly nine Oclock
and we have had orders to be
in ready ness to march.  We are
not allowed to write home
but our band has got their
dis charge and they are going this
morning,  They kindly offered to
take letters for us.  I have
not yet got my Knapsack.

Wednesday   Aug 27/62

     Dear Sister Sophia
I have written this
Journal very hurriedly having
but a short time to write it
in  We can not write home now
till again permitted by Gen-
erals but I hope to hear from
you the same.  I received from
Edmund the other day a letter
inclosed was one from you.
I am well in grand spirits,
received this morning some papers
from you as well as Household
Journal, except my thanks, I
have not yet opened them.
My love to all
From your
Affectionate bro
Albert

P.S.
I will write when write when an
opportunity offers.
                                     Albert

               Aug 27th/62

       Wednesday, Continued

     About the middle of the afternoon
we marched.  We went through Warrenton
and on the road to Ganesville, on
the route for Manassas.  We were till
three Oclock the next morning, in marching
eight miles.  We had to halt for the
wagon train that was ahead of us
which made it a very tiresome
march for us.  At three oclock Thursday
morning we turned into a field and
went to sleep.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

Alexandria August 27th 1862
Dear Father  We are at this old place again after A three month
absence in the Peninsula & it seems like Home to be here again we started two
weeks ago last Saturday from James River & the first days march which was
six miles to Charles City Cross Roads where this Division was on the reserve on the
seven days Fight & the second day was fourteen miles to the Chickahominy &
the third day was twelve to Williamsburgh & the next day was to Yorktown
which was fourteen miles & the next day was twelve miles to Newport news the distance
hat we traveled in five days was fifty eight miles & from Newport news we took
the Transports & went to Aquia Creek & waited for orders which orders we received from
Alaxandria I will now close by letting you know that we are bound to Culp
epper this Morning I have received three letters from you since we left
Newport news of the 12th & 18th & one from William of the 22d & one Ad
vertiser I get your letters regular but I do not the papers I saw A Mrs Ha
miltons son & Mr Tebbets yesterday & they were looking finely I forgot to say
that this Division was rear guard this time From Your Son Joseph Leavitt

Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine as copied after the war by his father John, as a remembrance of him.

MSS 66

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

Wednesday, Aug. 27, ’62

Bivouacked last night
by the road side very
uncomfortable for want
of bedding.  This morning
without breakfast fell
in and marched after
several halts into Alexandria
there stopped in a vacant
lot spoke to Col Hayes about our
discharge  he will not hear to it
unless unavoidable.  A stragling
boy of W.g. City came with us
The Paymaster came in and
we are now being paid up
Rec’d 15 dollars from Crawford
of Co. H for my watch.
Did not receive my pay
from the Paymaster had
some talk with him about
it he acknowledges no right
to pay Regtl bands
Clear warm

MSS 10317 

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

Wednesday 27  I have been feeling very badly all morning.  My
stomach disordered-& a constant chilliness–The weather is threat
-ning again-& we may have rain to day–

MSS 6960