[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Saturday, July 26, 1862
Feel week & badly had no idea that I
could [assert?] my self at all–But Carrie
told me that Mr. Ryland had come &
I dressed as quickly as possible to go out
& see him, as I know he had come from
home, & perhaps to make arrangements to
get us home- which was the truth.  Pa
had sent him to fix a day  in future to send
us, & he would meet us at the river. But your
unreasonable father wouldn’t hear to it. got
it into his head that Willie had come on his
own hook & said we must wait til Pa sent after
getting our letter & his message by bro. C: But we were
determined not to yield this time as we knew
Pa would be worried & had no one to send,
so he said we would  go with Willie Tuesday if
father wouldn’t let us appoint a day.  “go then
I will have nothing to do with its, go on your
own responsibility”  & so we decided to go
though it was disagreeable to act in
opposition to his wishes.
I wrote you & enclosed it in this letter
written to go by Frank Brooke–telling
you of our arrangements & bidding good
bye to you from Fauquier

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

MSS 15406

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

Saturday 26  Discount day–nothing
of any note–rather laborious
duty during the day –no rumors
from any quarter.  at sundown
had a dispatch from Robertson
stating that Mary was on the cars
went to the depot to meet her–found
she had left all her children-and
was on route to Richd on a brief vi-
sit to her husband  Ben[?] had joined
ed her at Liberty–Fanny Minor
had spent the day with us.  Wm
has been engaged in some hazar
dous observation of the Enemys
position–From the top of a tree he
made a map of McClellans posi
tion–Charles too has been entrusted
with an important scout & [?]
[?]  Fdg–and established a
communication with friends in the
town by means of market people
This  an honorable but dangerous
duty.  Gen Jackson was so much
pleased with his information that
he ordered him back–Charles has
knowledge of all the roads in that
quarter–I should not be surprised
to hear of his being taken prisoner.

MSS 4763

[from the diary of William Cox Holmes, 2nd Lt., Co. b, 1st Mississippi Battalion of Sharpshooters]

Camp Price, Warren Co., Miss
                                      July 25/62
If there is anything a man is green
in it is a soldiers life. When
going out, very prompt to do his
duty & so strict is he about every
thing that many advantages he might
take for himself, he does not no-
-tice all because he is fearful
that something will be done wrong
& then he will go & do things much
worse,  all for ignorance & then his
notions are so abrupt. From a light-
heart he becomes of  a sad, morose
character & cares nothing for any
thing.  It was the case with
me, that I thought that I would
do many things, but did nothing
Commenced to keep a dayly
journal, but most signally failed
in this, but here was some
reason for it. Being orderly he
has no  time for himself, but
is with the company all the time
But since we are at Camp
Price & have nothing to do it
will not be much out of the
way to do some extra writing.
as I have a most excellent chance
situated at my Head Quarters by [?]
will try &  spend my time more
profitably in the future in the
way of writing on the best
& reading what will in
struct.  Some of the ideas of
the young mind will be found
here & above all my object of
life with my view of it. Re-
ality will be found & “what I
indent to have during life” I
will see whether I come up to
it or not–My view of  hu-
man Happiness will be found
[last line smeared away]

[Cox’s diary will continue on August 6 ]

 MSS 38-472

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

Friday
July 25

Wrote home this forenoon.  Started
on an expedition up to Trenton
went about 8 miles and then turned into a
field where we are going to camp.

MSS 11293

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

Friday 25   Very pleasant day–Williamson
not well enough to continue his
journey.  He is an exceedingly enter
taining and intelligent man.  was
educated at the University of Hanover
and spent 9 years in Europe.  He
was a rising Lawyer in Baltimore
and a man of means.  He abandoned
all his advantages & has served
for months in the Maryland Regt
as a private –very dull & stupid
all day in consequence of loss of
rest last night, owing to drink
-ing too much strong coffee at
Deanes–nothing of any interest
except fresh news of further
[?]  [?]  present movements of
Morgan in Kentucky–He has fright
-ened the border towns north of the
Ohio.  I hope he will yet lay
Cincinnati in ashes.  Whenever we
have been aggressive we have suc-
ceeded.

MSS 4763

Bk Springs, July 25th 1872
Dear Sir
Poor Mr Traylor died on Tuesday
night, about 10 o’clock, & was buried at  his
plantation on Wednesday evening.  His family
will remove to their own  home early in the next
week.  I have taken charge of the books at Me-
herrin, & assumed the duties of my position
as understood between us.
The officers for enrolling conscripts, have received
orders to take them immediately to the camps of
instruction; & I learn that this will be done next
week.  I hope therefore that you will be able
to obtain a substitute for Rawlings very soon.
If more than one person undertakes to get the
substitute; it might lead to confusion, & more
than one substitute might be gotten for the same
man. I shall desire to hear from you when you
appoint your agent in Richmond to attend to the
matter, & I may be able to find some one whom
I could send directly to him for the substitute
When I have made permanent arrangements
for Meherrin, & can get things under way, I
will write again.  With kind regards to yr. household.
                I am, very truly yours
                J. Ravenscroft Jones


John B. Cocke, Esqr


MSS 640

 Camp Near Gordonsville
                          July 25 18862
My Darling Wife –
                             I reached here on yester-
day and now hold the place which I had
when I left, volunteer aid to Gen Jackson.
The position is very agreeable, and the
only objection to it is that I draw no pay
and pay my own expenses. I feel quite
at home and am entirely satisfied
to spend the rest of the war in this position.
Everything here seems very quiet. The troops
are drilling and there is every indication
that the troops will rest here for
some time. Considering the severe
hardship through which they have
passed since the war began, it is
very much needed – Every ^’thing’ has a happy
quiet appearance such as I have not
seen in the army since we were in camp
this time last year after the battle of Ma-
nassas –
I am sorry to have left you with so
much work on hand, but hope you
may bear it patiently. There is more
need now than ever that as much
should be made from the farm as poss-
ible as I am drawing no pay.
And now Darling Good – bye. I will
write to you frequently and let you
know how I am getting along. I hope
you will be as contented and happy
as possible. Manage matters just
as you please and I will be satis-
fied.                         Ever Yours
                                   E F Paxton

Elisha F. “Bull” Paxton, University of Virginia Alumnus, commanded the 27th Virginia Infantry and later the 1st “Stonewall” Brigade

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 2165

               Greensboro’ July 25th / 62
Genl J.H. Cocke
                   Dear Sir
                               I write you a
few lines to let you know how we
are getting on.  We are having quite
a sickly time.  The man that belong-
ed to Genl Philip Cockes Estae; that
was sick when I wrote you last died
soon after I wrote to you, since that
time we have lost Harriets daughter
(Sallie). She died with Typhoid fever
We have six (6) others sick, but none
dangerously ill.  they seem to have
pretty much the same complaint of
the others.  the people at New Hope
have had some little sickness, but none
of consequence.  We had a tolerable
rain yesterday, but not enough to do
the corn any good,  it may do the cotton
& potatoes some good. We made
a better crop of wheat this year
than Mr Powell expected; we made
(66) sixty six bushels. It was not very good,
the grain was rather small: the rye
turned out tolerable well at present.  I believe
as Lucy is going to write you a few
lines I will stop.
                   Yours Respectfully
                            S.W. Hardy
Gen J.H. Cocke

my Dear master
I Again take my seat to let you
hear from me  We are not all
very well at present I am
Sorry to inform you that we
are in the midst of Sickness
and death, but we have a right
to be thankful that we have
escaped so far –Sallie died
this morning, after an illness
of four days.  She was the woman

[page 3]
that was so sick the last winter
that you was out here. I have been
quite unwell for the last
day or two but I feels much
better than I have been.
I am not geting along with my
business very well at present.
So much sickness is seting me
back.  Mr Powell saw your
message to me about  Maria liv
ing with him but as his wife
did not receive the letter
you wrote to her he said
that he would not take
her untill he can hear from
you again. Mr Bordens family is
well. I have not seen more of
Mrs Averys family very lately
The garden is looking very dry.
This dry weather has nearly
put an end to our vegatables.
I will now bring my letter to a close
hopeing soon to hear from you again I am
as ever your Servant.  Lucy Skipwith

MSS 640
                                   

         Campt Near Liberty Mills
                       J uly 25th  1852

Dear Kate

             I seat my self once
more for the purpose of pen
-ing you a fiew lines.  I ar
rived safely in camp on the
2d[or 211] and have been improving
in health ever since.  We have
a very nice camp and the
water is very good   Our camp
numbers sixty odd at present
more than we have had present
for some time past I hope provi
dence may smile on our armies
and bless us with health.  I found
Brother John looking badly again
I was very fearfull he was taking the
fever but think he is somewhat
better today.  Charles has returned
to the Camp at last he was

[page 2]
to see [?] and ma.  he says he
had a grate deal of pleasure
I tried to shame him for treating
us all so badly by not wri
ting. he wrote home to day for
the first time for the last
six months I believe. we have
to drill twist a day.  Mr Robt
Taylor received his discharge
to day being over thirty five
years of age.  he has been as
good soldier and I am glad
to see him get of honerably
our Regt. has a Chaplain at last
he is a Baptist thare was prayer
meeting last night & night be
fore. I hope & pray that his teac
hings may be a benefit to the
Regt & that many may give
them selves over unto the true
living God, our Chaplains name
is Walters he is a very good preacher

[page 3]
well Kate I had a wonderfull
time Saturday night of the 28
hunting for deserters we all enj
oyed our selves finely serround
ing the houses & charging the dogs.
We arrested Frank Taylor & brought
him as far as Peter Hights and left
him in the charge of Isaac Vines
& George Hight untill I could go
home & return.  About sun up he ask
ed permission to go down to Mr
Faubers a half miles distant. Hight
granted his request & Vines went
with him. he had not been thare long
before he told Ike he wanted to go in
annother room to see Mr Fauber who
was sick Ike thought all was right
to let him go alone & then he made
 his escape.  Ike after looking around
for him returned aloan I had been
waiting nearby an hour. We all laugh
ed at Ike and told him he was a
bad sentinel.

[page 4]
Well Kate I came away & forgot
my preasents but I hope and pray
the day may not be very far
distant when I may return to
recieve from thee a richer & nobler
blessing, thy hand & heart. Oh dear
Kate with out thee evry thing would
be dark & dreary.  I would rise up
in the morning & lie down nights
with out having any one to whis
per the breathings of a pure
and noble heart.  I must bring
my letter to a close.  Write soon
My prayer is that you may be
blest with all the mercies of our
[alseeing?] god.  I remain your true
           and affectionate admirer
                                     W.F.B.

William Francis Brand, Co. e, 5th Virginia Infantry (Augusta Grays) to his future wife Kate (Amanda Catherine Armentrout)

MSS 11332

July 25th  / 62

My dear Boys
Both your
letters acknowledging the receipt
of the box reached me safely.
I regret it did not reach you
in time for a fourth of July
celebration but no doubt as
you say you enjoyed it as much
when it did come, I have some
fear lest the chicken salad may
have spoiled, it was delicious
when I made it, but it was
too long on the road to have
kept well.  I rejoice with you
that there is a prospect of a
speedy exchange of prisoners, there
will be much joy on both sides
at such a consummation

[page 2]
I think both governments
should have come to an under
-standing about a July exchange
long ago, better late than never
though; Oh how I do wish and ray
for peace, blessed peace once more,
why cannot this bitter feud be
calmly talked over and adjusted?
this cruel seperation from loved  ones
without being able to hear from
them is terrible beyond expression.
I have no news of interest to you
Lizzie Chambers went home soon
after you left–her brother was
married about that them, now
St. Paul on Monday, Lou and I will
be left here all alone, I shall have
the blues awfully I know.  I am too
sorry to hear that there is a prospect
of more disturbances in this state
I think it the most ill advised


[page 3]
measure ever heard of, it will
cause much suffering for no purpose;
and this terrible guerrilla warfare
I cannot but condemn it, & would
not for worlds have one I love en
-gaged in it–did you not see sometime ago
your father was at Vicksburg.  I do not
know whether [?] left in the
general stampede which has taken
place here within a few days past
among both loyal subjects and rebels
or not as I have not seen any of the
family since.  I wish I could write
a letter of  interest to you but there
is nothing to write about.  I hope
you will write me as soon as you
hear of your exchange, and that you
may come this way. Should you [?]
[?] give my love a thousand times
over. Adieu dear children may God
guard you safely to your mother’s arms
once more is the sincere wish of
                       your devoted friend.

unsigned letter to Alexander and Paul DeClouet, sons of Confederate Congressman and State Senator Alexandre deClouet.  Both were in the 1st Field Battery, Louisiana Artillery, which served in New Orleans until the fall of the city.

MSS 9564-a