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

Wednesday – 28th  awake to find the houses ground & every
thing covered with snow – & still it continues to snow
it is an elegant sight – I have been looking & admiring
everything draped in white ever since I got up.  The
audience met at the Ballroom but the Tableau
did not come off.  Anica arrived very unexpectedly
this afternoon – she brought me the money Liz had safely
and says Liz is slowly improving  They all beg me very
affectionately to come to Enfield & remain a month or
two but I must decline as much as I want to see & be
with Liz — I am afraid to venture now the Smallpox
is prevailing to such an extent & the Yankees are
expected at Weldon & Goldsboro’ daily – Had a plea
-sant letter from Tom – He was doing well – But grieved
to hear of his boy Israel’s death –

MSS 6960

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

Tuesday
Jan 27
Dull to-day and to-night it is raining
Got a letter from home and answered
it.  Played gammon and read some.  This evening I
have commenced learning Pauls epistle to the
Romans and may God bless its instructions to my
benefit.  A fellow was taken yesterday by our pickets
who was blacked up for a spy.  They mistrusted him
it is said by his countenance, and by his wiping
the tobacco spit off of his mouth, when it run
down, and they took him to the brook and washed
him and found him to be white. Our cavalry
also took several prisoners by strategy.

MSS 11293

 [docketing on top of page]
                        McGuffey Wm H recd Jany 30

                         U of Va Jan 27th
Gen J.H. Cocke
                           My dear Friend
                                                    Yesterday your grandson
called to say he had heard from you & that you were all
well-  I  hope the servant reached home safely and
that you recd my letter by  him – We have nothing of
special interest here at the U of VA — We, on the Lawn
are all well – tho’ there is some smallpox in the
neighborhood – but not near
      In my last letter I invited your attention to
the 1st chapter of 1st Peter – which seems to me rich
in encouragement to patience in under trials and perseverance
in duties – The Apostle writes to the strangers scattered
abroad – and christians are scattered in this world, far
from home and far from each other – But they are elect
of God –  sanctified – obedient – sprinkled with the blood
of Jesus Christ, and have cause to bless God for the relation
of children – for the hope of a resurrection – for the certainty of
an inheritance in Heaven, and for the preserving power of
God which will keep them thro faith unto salvation –
   Christians have ground of rejoicing, even in heaviness when
they reflect that their trials are needful as a trial proof of their faith,
that it may be found more precious than gold – found unto praise
and honor and glory – even their own glory – which they will ascribe to
Jesus Christ at his appearing – yes! – When God shall crown the
Christian, in the last time – how with the redeemed soul rejoice to
cast his crown at the feet of the Redeemer – and ascribe to him
all the honor and praise and glory of his salvation – !
  We walk by faith in Jesus Christ – Whom having not seen
we love, and believing on him even here, in this world of sorrow
in anticipation of the salvation of our souls,we rejoice with
joy unspeakable and full of glory – The christian has his sorrows
but our sorrows are better than the worlds joys — Oh! how
great is the salvation of our souls – Prophets foretold it –
The Spirit of Christ testified beforehand his sufferings by which
it was purchased – The prophets searched diligently respecting it and even

[page 2]

[several holes in paper partially obscure first line]
angels desire to look [upon?] it [that?] [they?] may learn more of the
justice and mercy of God in the salvation of sinful men
How sad then that men will so neglect it – Let us pray that their eyes may be opened! –
In view, then, of the ineffable dignity and holiness and perfect
happiness of that destiny that which is before us, and secured in Heaven for us
let us gird up the loins of our mind – that is, let us be
energetic in all our duties – let us be sober in our estimate of
all things earthly – let hope constantly animate us to the end – even
in the darkest hour – for Christ will bring us grace – Let us be
obedient – as children – because it is our father that comm-
-ands – let us fashion our characters not recording to the desires
of the flesh – but as is the holy will of God – let forth work by love
and purify the our hearts – let us be pure in all our motives, words &
      in all manner of conversation
actions ^ – And let us remember that tho’ God is our father, yet
he will require holiness in his children, for He judgeth according
to every man’s work – Let us therefore pass the time of our sojourn
sojourning here in reverential fear – lest a promise being kept
us of entering into it we may be any means – (our own unfaith-
fulness) we should so come short of that rest–
    Let us think of the worth of our souls, for which Christ
poured out his precious blood – as of a lamb without blem-
                                                                 before the foundation of the world
ish and without spot – slain for us – foreordained for us – ^
Let us remember that
^ none but those whose hearts or souls are purified by obeying
the truth are capable of unfeigned love of the brethren, as brethren
None but such can fully understand that immortal bond
                                                                     to God and to
by which all true children of God are united ^ to one another
  The Jew was bound to every other Jew as the common offspring of
Abraham – but every christian is bound to every other christian
of what ever name by this common relation to God – being born
again not of corruptible seed – (like the natural and fleshly
relation of Jew to Jew and of all Jews to the Patriarch-) but of
incorruptible seed – by the word of God that liveth and ab
-ideth for ever – This bond is not like the falling flower of grass
but, like the word of god, it endureth forever – not only in
this world but in the next – you my dear General, may go before
         we are both
me, but if ^  the true children of God, you will be there awaiting me
till my summons come, to join you in that world of bliss – Amen
                       Ever yours – W H McGuffey —
P.S. My wife desires her kindest regards to you & yours – especially to Mrs Brent

[William H. McGuffey, professor of moral philosophy at the University of Virginia. At this time the 80 year old Cocke, the last surviving member of the original Board of Visitors, has lost both of his wives and four of his six children.  “Mrs. Brent” was Sally Cocke Brent, his youngest child]

MSS 640

[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts as compiled by himself at a later date from war time letters and diaries]

Camp near Potomac Creek.
                                                                     Jan’y 27th 1863.
We reached our old camp ground here night before last,
Saturday, after having gone through a pretty tough
specimen of the life which is ‘always gay’ – the
soldier’s.
We left here last Tuesday, about noon, after having
had an ‘order-‘ of Burnside’s read to us, promising
certain victory, and a speedy advance on Richmond,
etc., and I really think, myself, had the weather
remained propitious, that we should have suc-
ceded; at least in the first steps of our under-
taking.        But the Lord saw fit (literally)
to throw cold water on poor Burnside’s plans,
for about 5 o’clock of the afternoon we started,

the rain began to pelt down.        We kept on,
however, till about 7 P. M. when we halted for the
night in the midst of an oak wood, thoroughly
drenched.        Wasn’t it cold and dreary?
No chance for a fire, the rain came down so hard,
so there was nothing for it but to make a sand-
wich of myself between two blankets, and take
the mud for a bed.        I slept like a top, till
morning, when I awoke, blankets soaked as well
as all my clothes, and raining still in torrents.
Wednesday morning, we started on again, marched
about three miles, and came to a halt in another
grove of oaks.        It still rained pretty hard,
but not enough to prevent our building fires.
So the trees came crashing down, on every side,
several hundred axes keeping up the chop,
and it was as much as one could do to keep out
of the way of the falling trees, and see that the
men kept their rifles from being injured, seven
of them being made utterly useless by
one of the first trees felled.        But at last
every old oak that could touch the regiment
was down, and then we had fires that were fires.
I had a pack of cards in my pocket, so I started
a game of euchre with three other officers, but

the rain soon soaked them – I mean the cards –
and split them, so that they had to be thrown
away.        Well, another night in the rain, and
another day – and Friday morning, most of the
officers found themselves pretty well used up.
I felt, however, perfectly well, with the exception
of two rather rheumatic arms.        About 10 o’clock
our brigade was ordered out to corduroy the road,
and we were kept at it pretty much all day.
But at noon the sun came out, and so did the
whiskey ration, and such a jolly set you never
saw, as by some mistake a double ration was served.
Toward night we finished our work, and were
ordered back for another night’s bivouac in the
woods.

MSS 5130

                        Camp near Port Royal, Va.
                                     January 27th, 1863
Dear Sir:
      I suppose you think I am a great liar
in not fulfilling my promise to write to
you, but I have an offset in your failure
to pay us a visit as you promised, if we would
whip Pope.  You certainly cannot plead non
performance of contract in that case, for I
consider it one of the cleanest jobs of the war.
  Well, to fulfill my promise, which is “better
late, than never,” I will simply tell you that
after whipping Pope, going into Maryland a couple
of times, taking Harper’s ferry, having a whaling
fight with McClellan at Sharpsburg, and finally
threshing Burnsides soundly at Fredericksburg, “all
of which I saw, and part of which I was,” for the
last month and more we have been quietly sitting
down here and watching our Yankee friends across
the river. Every ten days each regiment of our brig=
ade, the 4th, go on picket down on the bank of the
Rappahannock, immediately below Port Royal, and

[page 2]
there watch the enemy’s pickets on the opposite
bank, and the wild ducks swimming in and
flying up and down the river, in the day time,
and listening for the aforesaid “enemy’s pickets”
in the night when it is too dark to see.
   It is understood that Mr. Burnside, “to strike
a great and mortal glow to the rebellion and gain
that decisive victory which is due to the country”
is crossing his troops over the river again, and
we are under orders to be ready to march at a
moments notice.  Whether this movement is a
feint to keep our troops here while the real attack is
made in another quarter, as some of usually
very correct judgement, seem to think, time will
determine.  But I feel well assured that if he
does bring his army across, he it will get the
worst threshing that has been given any army
during the war.  Our men are in excellent
spirits and very confident of complete success
in the approaching battle, while the forces of
the enemy are represented from all quarters as
disheartened and dissatisfied.  This report of their
condition is partially confirmed by their pickets in
conversation with ours, across the river.  For my
part, I wish they could come across and be killed

[page 3]
as it seems that nothing else will do them any
good, for I want the war brought to a close.
   I have not heard directly from my family
since last February and you can image[sic] that I
feel no little solicitude on their account, – though
indirect accounts represent them as being very well
    Remember me kindly to your family, the
ladies, God bless them, in particular.  I often think
of them, and it invariably reminds me of my
own little nest at home.  but patience, patience
all will come right, in God’s own good
time, I trust.
    I would be pleased to hear from you
whenever you ave the time and inclination to
write, if for nothing else to remind me of the
pleasant time I spent on Mason’s Creek.  A
letter addressed me as below, would find me
if we are not ordered to reinforce Imboden’s
forces, as it is rumored we are to be
                                 Truly Your friend
                                       W. P. Cooper
                                  31st Va. Reg. — Early’s Brigade
                                  Ewell’s Division –Jackson’s Corps
John McCauley Esq.

MSS 14953

Camp near White Oak Church Va Jan 27th / 63
Dear parents
               I have received one letter
and a billet that you went in Samuel’s
letter since I wrote to you and, I think
I can give a good excuse for not writing
sooner soon after I recieved your letter
we got orders to be ready to march with
three days rations and 60 rounds of
catridges[sic] on the morning of the 20th we
were ordered to start at 12 Oclock and
when the time arrived we took up our
line of march we had a circular read
to us that we were about to meet the
enemy and more our Genl. thought the
auspicious moment had arrived and now
was our time to strike we marched
all day and just as dark went into
camp

[page 2]
and before we got out tents it
began to rain it continued to rain
hard night about five Oclock in the
morning we got orders to pack up and
be off our tents and blankets were wet
and we had no chance to dry them
and it still kept on raining but we
packed up and started by this time
it began to be muddy we marched
through the mud and rain about
four miles and all along the rout
we passed artillery stuck fast in
the mud with 20 horses trying to pull
our guns and the road was lined with
dead horses and mules the pontoon
bridges they were hauling up for us to
cross the river on were in the same
condition and the more they tried
to get them along the deeper they
would sink in the mud and the
Genl was obliged to give the order
to hault[sic] and then came the orders

[page 3]
to return to our old camp ground and
then came the hard work for the tired
soldiers the horses could not haul the
artillerry[sic] and pontoons out of the mud
and the soldiers had to get long ropes
and haul them back again our division
was left back for one to do this work
the mud by this time from six inches
to 3 feet deep you can imagine something
about the hardship but the reality you
never can now in six days after we
left our good quarters we returned to
them again and you might as well
believe we were glad to get back
again and as we were coming into
camp we met a man from Mcfalls
Me. who had come out to see  his
two boys who is are in this company
Mr. A. Dwinal was the man he says
if he should go back to Me. and tell
them there what he had seen that he
could not make them believe him
and I think so myself

[page 4]
This last move of the army has cost
the government millions of money
and accomplished nothing and all this is
because our leaders are not fit for their
position it is trying the patience of the
army and they will not stand it much
longer the day we started on this
advance quite a number deserted from
our Regt. 4 out of our company as good
men as we had Ting Libbey was one
of them from Co. D and not one of
them has been heard from since
and unless we have different management
this army will go into pieces and be
entirely demoralized Ting Libby told me
he intended to desert but did not want his
folks to know about it so you must
not tell about it for if he can get
away let him go it is considered here
an honor to a man to get out of the
army in any way in a short time
the two years men and the six moths[sic]
men will be going home

[remainder of letter of Hiram M. Cash of the 5th Maine is missing]

MSS 12916

    U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                             Rappahannock River
                                January 27 1863
Sir
                             I will thank you to inform me
how I am to dispose of the Nine Canoes I
have Captured.  the greater number are excellent
boats and must be of Value

                                      Very respectfully
                                         Your obt. Servant
                                          T. J. Linnekin
                                                actg Master Comdg.
E.R. McCrea Esqr
    Lt Commander & Adjutant
         Potomac Flotilla
           U.S.S. “Jacob Bell”

[written at bottom of page in red ink]

MSS 15134

                          U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                             Rappahannock River
                                January 27 1863
Sir
                             I beg to enclose a list of the
officers and crew of this Vessel.  at the Capture
of two Canoes at “Judkin Creek Va” on
the 23rd Instant and a Sloop and Nine Canoes
at “Indian Creek Va” on the 25″ Instant

                                      I have, the honor
                                           to be Sir
                                      Your obt. Servant
                                          T. J. Linnekin
                                                actg Master Comdg.
Hon. Gideon Welles
    Secretary of the Navy
            Washington
                                D.C.

MSS 15134

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

27.
Fayetteville Va.  Tuesday morning very mudy, and getting warmer, 2 oclock, wind is rasing   8 oclock P.M. wind blowing freely

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS  13406

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

Tues 27.  Wm. left us – rain – wrote up afrs.[affairs] re. letter &c
Wed.  Heavy rain   snow storm   high wind –
Thurs 29.  clear – Snow quite deep, men quite comfortable.
Tho. some trees blew down – in night – one man injured.
Fri 30 – Fine day.  Visited hos. & tents – wrote letters – fixed
up tent &c –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935