Va Military Institute
                              Aug 16, 1862

My dear John
Sainty arrived this morning,
and has handed me your letter.  As
it is Saturday, I have made him
come down & take a bed with my
boys, until Monday, that he may
look around & see about his
roommates.  In the mean time,
seeing that Dick Cunningham had
room for him on one of the tower
rooms, I sent for him & he takes
him in, & retains also a place
for Willie.  Sainty is looking well
& is much grown.  You know
my dear John, that on their
own account, as well as on acct of
my love and regard for their lamented

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father, my highest pleasure shall be
to promote the well being of both of
the boys, & to do for them, as I
would believe their father would
desire to have done.  I agree with
you that military education is the
great demand of the age, & our
boys must be made ready for the
issues of the times.
By the by I have not told you, that
the Board of Visitors at their last
meeting unanimously resolved
to have so much of our January
report as refers to the death of’
your father to be incorporated
in their July report as the
expression of their sentiments; &

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to be printed with the report.  I
will send you copies for all the
family when it is published.
I intended to have gone down to
Powhatan three weeks ago.  But fear
I must put it off to the Sept Court,
as I have to qualify as Guardian &
Trustee.  The actions of the Treasr
caused me to postpone this.  Suppose
you were up  the last of Augt & I
will go down with you. The canal
now comes to Lexn.  I want to talk
with you about many things.
               truly I am ever
               [?] & sincere friend
                            F. H. Smith
J. B. Cocke Esq
Belmead

Francis Henney Smith, 1812-1890, 1st Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute.
Sainty:  Philip St. George Cocke, 1844-1931, son of C.S.A. General Philip St. George Cocke, 1809-1861.
Willie: William Ruffin Coleman Cocke, 1846-1883, son of C.S.A. General Philip St.. George Cocke.
John: John Bowdoin Cocke, 1836-1889, older brother of Sainty and Willie, and a V.M.I. alumnus.
Dick Cunningham: Richard Hoope Cunningham, 1845-1904.

Both Willie and Dick would be among the V.M.I. cadets in the battle of New Market in 1864.

MSS 640

From the diary of Wesley Hammond of the 42ndVirginia, Co. E (Dixie Greys)

16 – Leave Camp this morning with
three days rations.  Came in a few miles of
the Yankee camp – saw Gen Jackson.
March about 15 miles.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

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

(Aug 16th) Started
at dawn, crossed the railroad & pursued
our way up the right side of it.  That day
dined at Dr.          [blank left by Tyler] two miles from the Rapidan
river.  In the evening found ourselves on
Wm Crenshaws farm near Raccoon ford on
the Rapidan, having marched 14 or 15 miles.
After giving directions about camping

having fires put out at dark etc went up on a high
hill, from which we saw just opposite us
on the other side of the river the whole of the
Yankee army, their tents all pitched & fires
lit in the most unsuspecting manner
totally unaware of our proximity.  Took
supper this evening with Letcher Artillery,
as did the Genl & staff. 

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

                       Fort Runyon Aug 16th 1862
                                 Sat eve 9 oclk

My Dear Wife

                             I received your most welcome
letter of the 13th, this afternoon. I was very glad
to get it, because I did want to hear from yo
so much,and then again, it was a capital
letter, a good long one, just such as one as
I like to have from you,  I wish you would
always write just such ones, and most espec-
ially the long part,  I am very glad to hear
that you wand the other darlings are well,
I am pleased to know of your ride to Lynn-
field and that you enjoyed yourselves so much,
how I should liked to have seen Ernie,
when the sentinel pointed the musket
at him,  Poor little fellow I guess he thought
he was gone that time sure, Did’nt he
dream about it at night, to-day there has
been plenty of excitement here,  Two regmts
of Infantry have come over from Washington,
the Penn 124th Regmt and 126th, they
passed through the fort and encamped
about a mile above Ft Albany, Yesterday

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the 107th N.Y. passed,they also encamped
a mile or so above here, so you you[sic] all
the new regiments begin to pour in thick
and fast,  I expect next week there will be
lots of them pass here, We’ll clear the
rebels out when we get ready.  I guess you
would think it was, all quiet on the Potomac
now, if you were here, I cant hear but just one
cricket chirping, and he seems about “played out”
Good night I’m going to bunk

[letter of Robert, and unidentified solider in Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, to his wife Priscilla of Lynn, Massachusetts, will continue on August 17]

MSS 1242

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

Saturday, Aug. 16, 1862

Bivouacked last night
by the roadside with
Sweet and some other
boys of the Band
Were ordered to be ready to
leave by 3 1/2 Oclock this
morning, accordingly got
up a little after one AM
had some  coffee went up
to the Regt. soon after 4 oclock
were under way the 12 & 30
preceeding us marched 15
miles to McCoys Mill for
some dinner after which
marched onto Fayetteville
in all marched 25 miles this
day are now at the tannery
Have just enjoyed supper
Clear pleasant fortunately
rather cool

MSS 10317

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

Saturday, August 16

Cousin Evelyn and Rebecca breakfasted here this morning.  Immediately after break-
fast we went to reading a “News Sheet” giving an account of the Cedar Mountain battle.
They must have had had fearful losses.  All of the officers were killed in some of the
regiments.  McClellan speaks of his hospitals as being alarmingly full and he can
do nothing without reinforcements.  There is a secret society formed in the southern
part of Indiana and Illinois composed of fifteen thousand, ready at any moment to
join with us.  Went to Clay Hill in the evening.

MSS 9759

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Saturday, August 16, 1862

Spent this day nursing.  though
Jacque is much better he is very cross–
I am still giving calomel–Has already
taken 5 grains

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

MSS 15406

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

Saturday 16th  The weather still continues very cool–I hope
the Soldiers are enjoying it–Eliza has finished her bonnet
it really does her great credit–It is well shaped & fits nicely–
Mrs Watters & Sarah have availed themselves of the cool weather
to return visits–they took tea with Miss Sallie Mallett–No
news in todays paper–Mr Fetter- (Fred Fetter) arrived tonight-
he called in & had a chat with Eliza the other young ladies
had retired–William is getting quite well again–Mrs Watters
presented Eliza this afternoon with a handsome Bible accom
-panied by a very sweet friendly note–She is a lovely woman
in every sense of the word–& a good example in her daily
walk–& Benevolent ways for us all to follow–She received
a letter since dinner from Mrs John Cowan saying Mr
William Wrights daughter Isabel is quite ill at the [?]
The physician & Mrs DeRossett sent for–

MSS 6960

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

Saturday 16  Recd letter from Mary dated
Thursday, Evg–Eugene had return of
fever and the pain in his leg con
tinues–I am very much discouraged
by this news.  I had hoped he wd
be able to get home in a day or two
Discounted less than at on any day
since we went into business–not
8.000 —very closely engaged
all day–Called at night and
brought the Misses Wallis to our
home with young Taliaferro. They
spent the evening with us [Fleming?]
[Saunders?] came in about 8.  just from
Jacksons army which he says was
to march this morng–Young Brooke
has not improved much.

MSS 4763