[from a diary fragment, July 17-July 29, kept by Thomas M. Smiley, Co. D, 5th Virginia]

Camp at Larksville

Friday July 17th
             Nothing of interest
has occurred to day except a
heavy rain which is not very
agreeable to us being without tents

Saturday 18th In camp all day with
nothing to eat a great deal of dissatis
faction is being shown by the men on
account of not getting enough to eat

Sunday 19th  Remained in camp all
day preaching in the regiment by
a Chaplain of another Regiment
got orders this evening to cook several
days ratios, and move by five Oclock

Monday 20th  Started at five and marched
below Martinsburg on the railroad where
we camped.  the third brigade having
been sent out to tear up the railroad

Tuesday 21st  the whole division was
taken out to day to work.  tore up
and burnt a good portion of the
road got orders this evening to quit
work and march back to Larkesville

Wednesday 22nd  got to Larksville last
night after dark ordered to cook two
days rations and march at daylight
marched through Bunker Hill and
camped near Winchester.  after camping
we found a large field of blackberries
where the whole division was
bountifully supplied with fresh fruit
Received orders to cook another days
rations and march at daylight

Thursday 23rd  Went through Winchester
this morning turned off on the
Front Royal road which place was
reached at dark we crossed the
Shenandoah on pontoon bridges

Friday 24th  Left at daylight and
marched twelve miles on the road
leading to Luray through a mountain
ous country camped at sundown
and cooked two days rations
Orders for revelie at three
O Clock.  The first brigade is beginning
to look very small owing to hard
marching and not much to eat

Saturday 25th  started at daylingt and
marched to within three miles
of Luray where we turned off
the main road towards the mountain
and camped making in all
about seventy five miles traveled
this week. The men are now[?]
all out washing their clothes it being the
first opertunity for six weeks

Sunday 26th  remained in camp
all day in the morning Lieut[?]
Wright and S. F. McCutcheon went
and gathered blackberries out
of which we baked a large
family pie for dinner in
the evening there was
inspection. The day was spent
generaly by the men in washing their clothes and
mending them as they expected
to march tomorrow they considered
it a work of necessity preaching
in camp to day at three
different times several united
with the church and were
baptized. There seems to be a
great interest felt in the
army now on the subject of religion.

Monday 27th  Left camp at five
Oclock marched very slow until noon
as the wagons had some difficulty
in going up the mountain after
getting up to the top we marched past
and camped at Sperryville in a
large orchard had another Blackberry
pie for supper a great many of the
boys made apple dumplings.

Tuesday 28th Left camp at Sperryville
and took the Culpeper road but
soon turned off on the Madison
Court House road and marched some
ten or twelve miles and camped.
a right heavy shower of rain this
evening.

Wednesday 29th Left camp this morning
and marched about eight miles and
camped the road traveled being the
worst I ever saw in my life.

Thursday 30th  We have no move to day
remained in camp a great deal of grumbling
among the men as they drew bran in
place of lour; for bread.  Had a smart
shower of rain this evening. roads
very mudy.

MSS 1807

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

Friday
Aug 8
On guard myself to-day. No 3
third relief.  Read the Christians
Instructor.  The tents for the guard were
fixed up this morning, the first time
since I enlisted that the guard have
been decently accommodated.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]

August                      Thursday 7          1862                  
Returned to the Company,
found it 2 1/2 miles north
of Richmond

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

[from the diary of Lt. John Tyler of Letcher’s Artillery]

Aug 7th.  After Breakfasting with the Dr.
and spending several hours very agreably
with the ladies, was sent for by Henry, who
had returned with a wagon to take on
the balance of our Camp plunder.  This
being attended to, and leaving half our
tents with Dr Quarles, who kindly consent-
-ed to take care of them for us, Henry &
I  being invited to dine with the ladies
went over to the Dr’s. where after paying our
respects to the ladies, we did the same
to a most excellent dinner.  In an
hour or so after dinner started to overtake
our wagons, which we did 3 or 4 miles be-
-yond Gordonsville.  The battery having moved
on, I waited until next morning  Aug 8th
before following with the wagons.  Started
with Henry at about 8 o’c without break-
-fast & reached Orange C. H. (10 miles) at 11 o’c
where we found the wagons and met Maj’s
Taylor & Ginter, & Lt Tanner.  Went up to Hotel
and got dinner tickets for Henry & self.  At 2 o’c
our whole party made an ineffectual at-
tempt to get dinner, and at 3 o’c some
gave up in despair; but a few of us more per-
-serving managed to squeeze into a crowd-
-ed dining room, where a magnificent repast
rewarded our efforts. (corn bread & fat
bacon).  Soon after our dinner nap the wa-
-gon train was ordered on and that night
caught up with the Battery 2 ½ miles
beyond Orange C. H. –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6150

   Camp Magruder  August 6th 1862

Harrisons Landing Va Aug. 7th /62

Dear parents
I am glad to say to
you I am safe and free from
the rebels although I am not
in good health my back is
still quite lame and sore I have
been parolled or exchanged and I
expect very soon to be at home
I have seen very hard times
for the last six weeks it is
although almost to impossible to
describe the suffering I have
witnessed within that time.
I was very glad that to hear this
morning that you had got
a letter from me written at
Savage Station I wrote two
there I suppose you got them
both we were taken from
there to Richmond and put

[page 2]
on an island in the James
river where we were kept
three weeks we were kept
at Savage Station three weeks
they used us well in regard to
treatment, but we could not get
enough to eat and some for
men actually starved to death
on the island, I had a little
money and I bought something
to eat when I could get a chance
so I managed to live through it
I will give a list of some of
their prices. flour $20 per bhl.
salt $80 per sack of 2 1/2 bushels
molasses $6 per gallon sugar 1 dollar
per lb. the substitute they use
for coffee $1.00 per lb. and other
things in proportion.  I do not
want you to say any about my
coming home at present for I do
not know what they will do
with the prisoners yet I [wrote?]

[page 3]
our division gen. to day and
if we are not let off on paroll I
shall apply for my discharge
as I am not able to do military
duty I have not heard from
you for a long time untill
this morning  when I got a
letter I hope you are all well
and doing well I have worried
a great deal about the work
at home but I find it will
do no good so I try to be as
contented as I can I have
not any more time to write
to day so I must close
hoping it will please you
to read it as much as it does
me to write it if you can
make out the words
       From Your son
                 Hiram M. Cash
Tell Walter the Rebs have
not me now

[letter of Robert, unidentified soldier from Lynn, Mass., in Co. M, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, continues]

Thursday Morn Aug 7

Last night there was an immense war meeting
over to Washington.  Music playing, Drums beating,
Cannon booming, and a big noise generally. We
could hear everything but the Speeches.
Yesterday, one hundred and fifty Baggage Wagons
with 900 mules attached and 200 “nigger” drivers
passed through here, on their way to Falmouth, Va.
for the purpose of moving Burnsides camp equipage
to join some other part of the army.  We shall hear
of something soon, I guess.

MSS 1242

Camp Near Harrisons Landing Va August 7th 1862

Dear Brother–your of 23 July is received & contents noted, you seem to think that I dont
answer your letters as often as I should & that I write to others & not to you you say that
I have written to three or four other Persons since I received yours, now you dont consider
wether those persons were entitled to answers before you or not when I received your letter.  I had
six to answer which I had received long before yours came to hand, first Come first
served you know now dont let me hear any more about writing, unless I answer yours oftener
you I suppose have been reading the papers & see A great deal about the Army of the Potomac
resting now that is all on paper as for the actual rest I dont see it now we have something
to do all the time & when we get up in the morning we expect every moment to be put on detail
wether you wish to or not, if you dont like to go to the Office are not oblidged to go if I chosed I
should occupy all my time in writing about our hard fate but as that would not be interesting
to you I will write, you no doubt look for news but will find little in my letter we have to wait for
the papers to find out what is going on arround us, you wish to know if we beat the Rebels in the
Battle before Richmond, yes everytime but why did we retreat that question I am unable to answer
it may come out by & by our Regiment numbers about four hundred & fifty, only one Officer killed Capt
Patridge (Co I) none of the Field or staff were touched the seige guns were all boot off the Field
with the exception of one 32 pounder the siege guns are under the charge of the first Connec
icut which is one of the best Regiments in the service they will take care of the siege guns
this Regiment was in the battle of Big Bethel and was the only Regiment that stood its ground
that is where they got the name of red legged Devils this name was given to the Regiment
by Magrauders History is right on that point but the stories about taking batteries is not true
as the troops were forced or ordered to Retreat, I notice what you say about the Richmond
of Portland they are mean, as long as you have plenty they will let you have what you want
but if you show any signs of caring they will help you care still for all that Portland is the
place for me that is after I get money enough to live without any ones help I should like to be in
Portland Just at this time & take A trip to the Islands I think I should enjoy it, I see by the papers
that the new Hotel on Chusings Island has opened for the season if you know any thing about it
Just give me the description of it let me know how it looks is the cottage opened & who has charge of it this
sumer let me know what new buildings has been built since I left Home & all about matters & things in
general does Coe & Frank Covil still keep under the Preble House does Knight & Greenough, Ingersol
Cole Stearns & all the rest sill keep in their old places, I should like to be counting sugar
boxes & hhd shooks instead of drilling I used to think I had A rough time when
I was in Portland, but I have seen some hard times since I have been out here
which put that in the shade, I suppose you think you have A hard time
you dont know what hard work is yet well I hope you will neve[r] know what
it is to be A slave that is Just what we are slaves & treated ten times worse
than they are, well I hope this war will end soon it should have ended
long ago, hoping that it will not be many months before I return Home in good
health & find you all prospering.  I will bring this to A close from your Brother
                                                      George W. Leavitt

Letters from George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph of the 5th Maine were copied in a ledger by their father John in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of the boys both of whom were mortally wounded in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania

MSS 66

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

Wednesday   Aug 7th/62

After Breakfast, I went out
of Camp with one of the privates
of this Company to try and
find a place to bath.
We went to a number of
houses, to try and get some
thing to eat, as we had had
nothing for two day, but hard
bread.  One house we went to we
found it guarded.  The people
were union, the Gentleman
that owned the place was in
Washington, he is the editor
of the Washington Star.  The
Secretary of War gave orders to
have his property protected.
The next house we came to
we had some bread milk
and honey.  We at last found
a mill pond, where we had
a good swim, and washed
our cloths.  Got back to Camp
about one Oclock.  Dress parade at
seven Oclock.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021
                                       

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

                             Camp Green Meadows, Aug. 7th.
     Now that some hours have elapsed since
the excitement of yesterday, and it
having subsided effectually, and given us
sufficient time for mature consideration
as to the designs of the rebels in their
attack on Pack’s Ferry yesterday, it
is generally supposed that their object
was twofold, that of destroying the
ferry-boat at Pack’s Ferry, and also of
drawing our attention from other points
which they might make demonstrations
against, if they were thought to be insuffi=
=ciently guarded.  They partly accomplished
their mission, that of the destruction of the
ferry=boat, which our own men sunk to
prevent falling into the hands of the
rebels when our forces retired from the
river bank.  The perceptions of our own
officers, was sufficiently acute to see
that our little force at Pack’s Ferry
and vicinity was amply provided for the
reception of those of the enemy who
had as yet made their appearance, and
to provide for emergencies, the 30th O. V. I.
was ordered to our support from Flat
Top, this latter without materially weakening
the forces or the points guarded.  The
30th, after coming as far as Jumping
Branch, was ordered back, they being no
longer needed.
     Those injured yesterday by the stroke
of lightening are getting along finely,
one of the worst cases having reported
for duty this morning.  Singular that it
was not worse,

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925