[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Monday, August 18, 1862
I must record a piece of Yankee
impudence.  I want to  remember it, so that
I may not err again & encourage any
one in the [?]  Capt Seabach
has been so kind to the neighbourhood
people that Pa asked him here & we
all went out to see him as he is a German
& does not willingly come & is only a militia Capt.
-But to day he presumed on our kindness &
brought a Md capt Lieut here visiting as a
beau. We did not know he was in the
sitting room–or none of us would have gone
in–Capt. S. is a married man–Pa
says that he heard him ask Tommie where
the ladies were–but he thought we would
not come in & so he pretended not to
hear – The girls are quite troubled
about it, as they fear he may be troublesome
–I did not like Capt. S to day either
He talked quite violently–said they would
bring thousands against us & we would be
forced to submit. that this thing must
end–many have taken the oath & Pa
would have to do it–before four weeks
passed over his head—

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

MSS 15406

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quarter Master Dept.]

Camp Near Drewry’s Bluff Va
                      August 17. 1862
General-
                     I send herewith a
copy of a letter just received by
me from Genl. Hill.
     I sent to the telegraphic
Office a telegram for both
Genl. Lee & yourself, but fearing
it might not reach send
this to you by courier–
         I am General
         yours respectfully
         J G Martin
        Brig. Genl.

Major Genl. Smith
Comdg Troops
around Richmond
At His Head Qtrs

MSS 38-348

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

Monday 18–cool enough for fire–roused at
4 and went with Mary  R. to the
cars– This is the most disagreeable
part of hospitality–I cannot say
how many times within 6 mos past
we have given breakfast at unseason
ably early hour to persons going in
the cars and boat–and starting
and starting at an early  hour–nothing parti-
cularly interesting. no news from Eugene
I cannot get Mary to send daily bulletins.
Fleming Saunders arrived from Flat
creek with Ann Davis: after two
he and Mary & Lanny went to see
the Willises–They brought word that
the cars after tomorrow would be occupied
in the transportation of troops–This led
 to the plan of the Brookes going to-
morrow–though I dont think he
is well enough

MSS  4763

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the 42nd Virginia, Company E, Dixie Greys]

17.  Remain in Camp to day – preach-
ing by Rev. Mr. Tebbs at 11 O’Clock
preached a very good sermon.  Wrote
home after sermon.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

Sunday
Aug 17
Went up to the surgeons again
and got some gentian to take
before meals.  Read some and lay around.

MSS 11293

                 Petersburg, Aug 17/62

General
                  I telegraphed last night
to General Lee at Gordonsville and
to General Smith at Richmond that
every thing indicates a total evacuation
of Berkley.  No Answer has been
received and I fear they have
not received the telegraphic dispatch.
The operator here can not be found
and a deserter just reports a
total evacuation.  If you can
telegraph to General Lee and Smith
please do so, Simply saying
that every thing indicates a total
evacuation at Berkley
                        Yours truly
                    (Signed)  D H Hill
                               Maj Genl

General J. G Martin
Drewry’s Bluff

MSS 38-348

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

Next day Sunday(Aug 17th) heard a good sermon from a
chaplain of Geo. Regt. in our Brigade.  Day
passed off without anything occurring worthy
of note.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

[on patriotic stationery featuring the Confederate flat and the verse”
“Gather around you Country’s flag
Men of the South!  the hour has come–
None may falter, and none may lag;
March to the sound of the fife and drum.”]

Camp on Picket near whiteoak swamp Augst 17 1862

Dear Susan thinking that you feel some
interest in hearing from us on picket I give you a fiew
lines after eating a fine dinner of beef and you potatoes
we are living fine here their is plenty of Fruit in this
neighbourhood apples Peaches, whortleburys we are camped
in a yankey camp and it is a sight to see their fireing
for a mile or two in either direction you can see nothing
But camps strewn with Boxes Barrlls catridge Boxes old
clothes old shoes and bots something of evry thing you can
imagine it would bee a sight to anyone that never saw
anyting of the kind I have found many tings that would
bee of use if I could send them home I am agoing to try and
send some things home if I can I have packed a small
box 3 coats bullets and some very nice Bottles and other
little trinkets we are very well fixt here plenty of plank
the yankeys left to make Flowers to our tents all the disadve
tage we labour under here is we have to bring our water near
a half of a mile but we have time enough nothin to doo
but gard our horses and guns I hear no taks  of yankeys
we and about 3 regiments of cavelry is all that is at this
point watching a bridge crossing whiteoak swamp creek.
their was a considerable fight at this point during the 7
days fight before Richmond

[page 2]
Evrything about here is laid waste with vary fiew
exceptions I have not heard of But 2 crops of corn in this
neighbourhod The People have nearly all left their
homes and evry thing when the Yanks came in and
now they have noting to come back to But their land
fields all turned out fencing all gone I pitty the country
that an army pass through, all of our men are in fine
spirits, you would not think to bee in their company
that any thing pestered their mind I exspect you
all see more trouble at home than the men doo here
D.G.  EH. & J W King are all well and seame vary well
satisfied But I think and well he migh[t] that
cosin James had the hardes tryal that he had
for many years, when we left him at amp I felt
for him his last son seperated from him it appeard
that he put great confidence in me, to see and advi=
=se for their good But could not say mutch to me at
the time of parting too full to talk and when I saw
him so affected I would not talk myself, and after
leaveing him I began to think and simpathise with him
and I could not refreain from sheding tears it
brought my thoughts back to our seperation but
I hope the time will soon come when our sorrow
will be turned into joy

[pge 3]
you must write me word what you think of the lot
I sent in the Trunk I think I sent three Blankets
one ax catrige Box and sent Back the too new shirts you
send down and other little things tat I cant recolect
we are 15 miles below Richmond and about 2 1/2 miles
from the R & YR Railroad this place looks like it
may bee healthy here I see no reason why it should
not bee however I dont recon we will stay down here
many days. longer but we are dooing a well here
as it many on Hill gard duty is mutch liter
than at camp our men have picked up lots of
broken guns Bayonets Swords, and Balls in any
quantity I could get led enough here to keep me
shooting for years at home I recon
Davy and harry has
25 or 50 lbs of led I herd that Nathan came
to marion Hill after his things that your pap
braught down I was very sorry that we had to come
away at the time we did Consequently we could not enjoy
the things that come from home so well but we had
some of them braught down last night and had a
fine dinner today Thomas King seames to make a
vary good start in geting a long in camp I think
he will stand it vary well he is peart enough it is not like
going among strangers he has friends to instruct him in the
                                                                    right course

[page 4]
Tell cosin Herniretter I will doo all I can for her
good that likes in my power and if either gets sick
I will let her know in good time Something was said
the other day about beeing dissatesfied since he
had bin in the war no matter what happens he
says oh its all in the war
This is sunday evening August the 17th we have
had several vary cool nights and the sun shines
like october this leaves me in tolerable good health
I felt a little badly from walking down here it made me
a little sore eight of us walked all the way down here
got here at dark  I hope when this reaches you
it may find you all well give my love to all enquireing
friends and believe me still our devoted and
                               Affectionate Husband
                                         A.J. Gillespie
the blankets in the Bottom of the trunk
one light one and one marked PV I gave $5.00 for
and I gave one dollar for the ax nothing else
I have sent you cost me any thing I have baught
me a pair of shoes cost me eight dollars
I hope I wont have to buy any thing else soon
They speak of geting us a uniform for winter but it is

[in right hand margin of page 4]
uncertain about geting it I think

Andrew J. Gillespie  Ancell’s Co. Virginia Light Artillery

MSS 9564

Augusta Coty  August 17th  1862

Dear Friend
It is with mutch pleasure
that I imbrace the presant opportunity of answer
-ing your most wellcom letter that I recd on
the 15 instant I was glad to  here that you
was well and geting a long well.  I had rather
cum to the conclusion that you had forg
-otten your promis a bout writing but I
believe that you air a man of truth.
what has becum of Jas Mc I hafe not
hird from him sence he left.  I would
be glad to here from you all often. Well
Thomas I suppose you was in the last
battle that Jack had with the yankees
how did you com out was you hirt or not

[page 2]
I have had no correct news from the
Company sence the Battle. I hird that
Baylor and Bowers was killed I am truly
sorry that it is too true I hird that the was
sum three or four wounded but could not
learn who the wais except Jnoh Gabbrit
the is so many reports going that we cant
tell what is correct.  you say that you
hird that I am to be married this fall
I think Sir you have bene missinformed
about the matter but I onley hope
it may be true if it should be the case
I sirtenley will take pleasure in sending
you som of the cake but I fear that
the is no sutch good luck as that the
Girls all want to wait untill the war
is over if that be the case I dont think
that I will stand mutch chance
well Thomas I dont think I haf eny
news to tell you at this time the is a
gratedeal of sickness in the naborhood
you can here of a deth most evry day

[page 3]
I was at Church today saw your
Father and sister thay wair well
I tell you, I saw sum mite pretty
girls John R B[?] hav gon to the spr
ings, I want to goe a day or two if I
can wish you was here to goe with me
Billy is geting along tolarble well
he has a very bad cold and cuf
but his wound is doing verry well
he cant bair eny weight on it yet
Billy Lucas Billy Fulton Jas Brown[?]
is here this eavning to see him.
I will  hav to stop scribling for
this time hope you will excuse all
mistakes  Pleas write sune and give
me all the news  Give my best Love
to all the boys and resirve a larg
portion for your self.
I remain you sincere friend
J. C. McKeny

[letter probably written to Thomas M. Smiley of the 5th Virginia]

MSS 1807