[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23 Ohio]
Friday, Aug. 1, 1862
Guard mounting
Practiced this afteroon
Parade this evening
& drill
read some. [?]
a little [?]
Gillett went to the
river he is working
to get home and for
some little position
Considerable talk of
our being discharged
among the band boys
Clear, pleasant day
MSS 10317
Camp Near Harrisons Landing Va.
July Aug 1st 1862
Dear Sister
Yours of the 28th Ult was
rec’d this evening, as also one from
R.T. Woodard, and glad to learn that
you have passed the busy & exciting
scenes of anniversary week & come
out successfully. My health is first
rate now and as hearty as ever.
Matters remain pretty quiet about
here–excepting a little excitement
last night from 12 midnight till
3 o’clock. The rebels brought down
& planted a battery on the other side
of the river opposite our camps
and commenced pouring in volleys
into our transports and troops near
the rifer. The Gunboats soon were
[page 2]
brought into action & silenced the [daring?]
depredadors. The shells did not reach as
far back as our camp we were not
in danger, but were put under marching
orders in case any thing serious should hap
pen. I have not heard the results of the
affair farther than there were several
killed & wounded on our side. We are now
having as easy times as we can expect &
could we have cool weather should get
along finely. The greatest annoyance we
have however is the flies which stay
about and intrude their unwelcome
presence at all times a day & threaten
to devour one “sans ceremonie” It
is difficult to eat without swallowing
more or less of the saucy insects–to
offsett this however there are no musquitoes
I went over to see Isaac to day & found
him in the hospital. The doctor says he
as a slow fever, and is not dangerous.
He has fallen away very much. I try to get
him every thing he wants & shall not let him
[page 3]
as long as I can prevent it.
I am sorry that the Gov. thinks
he cannot aid me, especially on account
of having a chance to get home, but I
suppose it is all for the best & no great
disappointment as I had anticipated
such results, though if one expects any-
thing he must try for it. I think the Gov.
is fast in saying it was out of his power to
commission a member of another reg.
for there is an instance in our own com-
pany in which a private rec’d a commission
from the Gov. of N.H. some two months
since & is not discharged yet to my
knowledge–but I am satisfied as well
as pleased for the my friends at home
manifested for me, and am sure they
done their best.
I have read your essay & think you need
not be at all ashamed of it. You must
send, if possible a copy of Miss Stanley’s.
I wrote to Jo some time ago & am anxiously
expecting an answer.
[page 4]
I enclose a twenty dollar Treas note
No. 76130. Letter B. & payable at New York
which you will please hand to father &
request him to pay all expenses incurred
in my account & endorse the balance on the
A. Woodward note & have some one write
me immediately on its receipt. My love to
all & I will close as it is getting quite late.
Your aff. Brother
A.S. Davis
Allen Seymour Davis, 1st Minnesota.
MSS 11338
[several portions of writing faded to illegibility]
Harrisons Landing Aug 1
Dear Father
I am back
once more & glad am
I that I am here. I started
sunday afternoon &
got here Wednesday all
safe & sound. The boys
are all well but a poorer
lot you never saw
they are cheerful. some
singing & playing cards &c
The boys were out on
picket when I got here
they all seemed [very glad?] to
see me & I [?]
some of the boys lost
every thing but gun &
equipments we are near
a swamp but the [?]
sits up so far that it is not so bad
[page 2]
The major asked me
where I had been. I told
him. he wanted to know
when I left I told him
soon after the battle of
West Point & that I was
in that battle & came out
of the woods just behind
him & with Cap Whitlock
he thought a moment &
said he did remember
me also the Lieut Col
had some questions to
ask The Col I did not
think that any of the
officers knew me but
a good many did & as I
was passing a tent one of the
Cap. called out, “how are you
Corp Bradley. I told him
well I hoped & steped
up to the door of the tent
& there was the Major Ajt &c
[page 3]
Our Col is acting Briga
dier Gen. he had com-
mand during the last
fight the boys said hewalked rode right in
front his old sword drawn
& placed the Rgt where
he wanted them. Last
night the Rebs opened
with shot & shell on our
Transports but our men
soon replyed & they had
to leave the shells looked
beautiful as they went
up & came down forming
a curve I lay in my bed
& listened to the music
We are to have West
Point Gaines Hill &
White Oak swamp
inscribed on our flag
The boys all agree in
saying we lost but little
[page 4]
compared to what was at
stake & that the Rebs lost the
most men. the last days
fight was very sever an
then our men had set
fire to their liquer but
it did not burn & so the
rebs got drunk our men
formed the cannon on the
brow of a hill that sloped
[fold obliterates this line]
field in front & our batteries
in a half circle they came
out & charged on our batteries
& were each time
repulsed with great loss
& they being drunk rushed
madly on when it was
all foolishness. I think
that we shall stay here some
time they are building brick
ovens & as Parker is ready to
[fold obliterates this line]
may send me a pair of No 7–
[line smeared]
others were broad in the
bottoms long legs an extra sole nailed
on 7s are large for me–one
one pair of socks [?] writingpaper & [?] [?]
You
need not send me any money
except [?] as the last $1.00 of that
went [?] [?] We shall be
[?] the reserve this fall & winter
If there is any prospect of drafting why do
[two final lines illegible]
Resp C.E. Bradley
C.E.. Bradley, Co. I, 32nd New York
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Friday
Aug 1
Rained some Had inspection
this afternoon with knapsack.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Private Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C., 13th Massachusetts]
Friday August 1st/62
Pleasant
This morning Revelle beat
at half past four Oclock.
At six Oclock we were in line
to be review by Gen Pope, who
got along about half past
seven Oclock. He looks very much
like Gen Hartsuff, but no so heavy
a man. His Photograph in Frank
Leslies, looks very much like him.
After the great American Pope had gone,
we went to our quarters. After nine
Oclock, I went to the creek and
had a bath, and got some apples
which I stewed for dinner.
After dinner I layed down and
slept till nearly supper time.
Had dress Parade in evening and
a short drill. The late orders
are that every light shall be put out
at taps, and they are strictly enforced.
MSS 12021
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Friday, August 1
Fez came last night about three o’clock. I was busy all day fixing him, and with company sat up until daybreak this morning.
MSS 9759
[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler ]
Friday, August 1, 18662
Mr. Pendleton brought Pa another
letter from Nat telling of Newtons death
& your sickness= Oh, if I could only hear
that you are well once more:–
I get along better without a nurse
than you might expect at first Jacky
was very bad, but he knows them all now
& crawls about very quickly–poor little
fellow. I never look at him without
wishing, you could see him.
Pa is gloomy enough–he still thinks
we will be whipped all to pieces, after a
while–that our enemies are too strong
for us to contend against.
[partial transcription in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]
MSS 15406
[from the diary of Dr.. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
August 1st Our sweet Nannie
Gordon took her departure this
morning at half past six. Bro
John seems relieved and is composed
and very much sustained. Ellen
Mercer gives way somewhat–but on
the whole bears up well. She
looks so sweet as she lies on
a couch in the parlour–no
trace of suffering on her sweet
countenance. It is a relief to
look upon it. so devoid of all
appearance of suffering. The
dear Saviour has received her into
His arms. Perfect quiet prevails
in the house. everything is so well
ordered. Little Maggie looks
at her and weeps and said-
of herself–“I shall meet her at
the resurrection.”
MSS 2563-b
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Friday 1st Eliza is better today–Tho’ still very unwell–It has ceased
raining–But still very cloudy–Liz has just heard from her mother who
mentions the return of Noah to Enfield–He has Camp fever, & has been
sick three weeks–He says Tom took him to Richmond, & sent him
home to get better nursed–He says Tom tells him he is well–But he does
not think Tom looks so–& that he cant stand the kind of life he leads
it will kill him–Oh how I do wish the War was over – & my children
at home! Poor fellows they have to endure untold hardships—-
William looks & feels better this morning–He is full of fun & very
sweet & interesting–Mrs Watters received a letter from Mary Anderson
to day–Mrs Harris has a daughter-who they have named Mary–She is doing
well–Col Martin came in at night to see Eliza & staid til after eleven
MSS 6960
[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]
Friday Aug 1 Beautiful morning. Telegram
from Dr. Minor saying that Eugene
was doing well last but still fever
ish—Recd note from Robt. Saunders
asking me to send Eugene’s Horse
to him to keep until he was wanted
-The remains of Lawrence Meem
and six others, killed at Seven Pines
arrived to day–Busy in the Evg
making arrangements for the funeral
tomorrow. Succeeded in frustrating
schemes which would have spoiled
the whole affair. It was agreed
to have [just?] one procession. the Bodies
were deposited at in the vestibule of the
2d Presbyterian church. They were as
follows Meem–Terry, Tyree[?] –Reid
Cross, Elliott–The body of Russell
was taken into the country–all of them
belonged to the Home Guard, except
Meem who was one of the staff, but had
been orderly & Lt. of the same company
It has lost in battle 12 or 13–besides
near 40 wounded. When it was
raised it bore the reproach of being
a Band Box company–not fit for
service–Letters from Lanty & Charles
MSS 4763
