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

Sunday 20th  The Sun is out brightly this morning–I felt soon after break
-fast too unwell I thought to attend Church–but by Eleven OClock
the hour Church takes in up here–I felt better–& am glad now
I did to–As Mr Hilliard gave us an excellent sermon & Mr
Hubbard read the Service very solemnly–The Congregation was as
large as I have ever seen it up here-& the people attentive.  Mrs
London was there–& we walked home together–she leaves here for
Raleigh to morrow–Mrs Duncan Moore & her daughters are here on
their way to Charlotte.  I received a long letter from Mary to day- &
Eliza one from Mary Wilson.  All were well & enjoying themselves
Mary says Mrs Myers has heard from Mrs Springs & she intended writing Joe–

MSS 6960

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

Sunday 20   Fine day–Excellent
sermon–wrote to Eugene–called
in the afternoon at Sam Tyries
upon a Lt Shellman, of the 1 Mary
-land Regt., sick there–found he was
as I suspected, from Frederick & a
nephew of James M. Shellman
whom I used to know very well there
Had much information from him
of other friends there–most of whom
& their children, I was pleased to hear
were with us of the south in the
present contest.  Called afterwards
at Charles–Service at night.

George K. Shellman, 1st Maryland Infantry

MS 4763

 [vignette of McClellan]   
              Martinsburg, Va.
              July 20th, 1862

Friends at Home
                      Your
kind letters are safely
here and I hasten a
reply to them all in
general.  I was glad
to hear that you were
all well and enjoying
yourselves so well.  I am
well and never was any
healthier in my short life.
I shall send you my pic-
ture when I get my pay
so that I can get it taken.

 [page 2]
It is about all that
we soldiers can do
to mail our letters, let
alone getting pictures
taken now.  The Col.
says that we will get
our pay next week.  I hope
so for I never wanted
money so bad in my
life.  I shall send the
most of it to you by
Express to Lanark.
I will write and let you
know when I send it.
I hope that you will
have no trouble in get-
ting your harvesting
done.  You may depend
on me for money to
pay cutting.  Try to get
someone to cut it that
will cut it just as you

 [page 3]
can bind it up, and
I do not think it best for
you to change work with
anyone.  If the boys can
work out any after you
are done, it would be
well for them to do so
but see that your own
grain is harvested and
then it will be time to work
for someone else.
You must not forget that
Hank is all right and prom
ises to come to see his friends
after this war is over–
We are [sic] Give my regards to
all inquiring friends and
tell them that Hank says
 he will fight hard should
a chance present itself.
We boys begin to think
that we are approaching the

 [page 4]
enemy as we heard the
roar of canon days
before yesterday.  The battle
is said to have taken place
at Strawsburg about 40
 miles from here.   We
could hear very distinctly
the report of the canon.  Gen’s. Banks and Sigel it
is said commanded our
troops and drove the Rebel
Jackson until they got
him in such quarters
as to take prisoners the most
of his Army, which I
hope is true.  I have one
thing for you to do with
out fail and do it soon.  I
want you to send Nelson with
a dollar to Mt. Carroll and
pay the editors of the paper
for me. Now don’t forget to
do so soon as you may send
it by mail and another
thing I don’t want you to let
Hathaway sue you on that note
if you possibly can help it.
And do not go in debt any
more but try to pay all your
debts this fall.  Remember that we
are going to have hard times

[cross hatched on page 1]
and then use the rest of the money
to you own purposes.  If you can
get a chance to sell Old Nig, let him [?]
at a good price for all [?] and
use the money to pay debts.  Now, don’t
go in debt but pay all you owe now.  Hard
times are coming.  You must try
and do the best you can without
Hank for I do not expect to be at home
for some time yet.  I shall write
to you often and I want you
to do the same.  With many regards,
I am, very truly yours,                                                                                                                                                          
                                         Hank
                                         Martinsburg, Va.
                                          12th Ills, Cav. Co. C.
You may send me some postage stamps.

[upside down in top margin of page 1]
All write soon and often.

[cross hatched on page 4]

When Em hears from Crum I want her
to give me his address that I can write
to him and tell me what the boys write
back home so that I will know some
thing about them.  Tell me all about
the crops and don’t forget to give
me the particulars.When you get
the Mt. Carroll papers, I want you to
send them on to me and direct them
the same as letters.  I owe Crum 7
or 8 dollars and I owe Sheriff Landon
7 dollars which I want you to pay
as soon as I send you the money
and don’t forget to pay them for
it is due them long enough.  I want
you to try to pay all that I owe so that
there will be no grumbling at me.

William Henry “Hank” Redman
12th Illinois Cavalry


MSS 7415

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]

Saturday
July 19
After coming off guard Phineas
and I went down town on a pass
We went to see Ed Brown and I borrowed
two dollars of him, and then Phineas and I got
some pies and cakes &c and went round over
the city.

MSS 11293

                    Camp at White House, New Kent,
                                       July 19th 1862

Last evening, about dark, I received your long,
interesting & precious letter of the 15th.  I thank you
most warmly for it, my own, my darling wife.
I did not think you crazy when you wrote of coming
to Richmond to see me.  If that was evidence of
lunacy, if the desire, the burning wish for you
to visit me when I cannot visit you, was proof
of derangement I would be at any time a fit
subject for an asylum for the insane.  If I
am again in camp near Richmond I trust, dearest,
you will come to the city that we may be blessed
in each other’s dear society.  Even in these hard times
I think we cannot spend money more profitably to
ourselves than when its outlay will bring us
in each others presence.  As I read your letters
my heart pants to be with you in our dear home,
to watch you as you glide noiselessly from room
to room, to hold you in my embrace, to have
our dear children us, to feast our

[page 2]
souls on each others looks, words & kisses.  But
this dearest, cannot be, and if God, in His mercy,
spares me and you can come to Richmond
you must do so. Where would you prefer
staying, at a Hotel or Boarding House?  If at
a Hotel, which of them?  These occasional meet-
ings, my darling, are all that we can have of
each others society, I fear, for months to come.
How long will the war continue? is the question
you ask me, & is the question that now
interests all the people of our Confederacy.
My speculations on this question are worth
but little, but such as they are I give
them to you.  I did think the war would
last during Mr Lincoln’s administration,
because I could not see how the terms
of peace could be agreed on, or how the
men in control of the Federal Government
could negotiate a treaty with safety to
themselves.  I thought however the war
would be fought by the armies in the
field, the ranks only to be filled by
ordinary recruiting.  But now new and

[page 3]
large armies are to be created.  How long
can the sections without exhaustion stand this
draught on their resources?  I hope & think
that this large increase of military force
will bring the war to a speedier ter-
-mination.  The North, in its madness, seems
bent on our subjugation and destruction.
How many lives must be lost, how many
homes made desolate, how much treasure
wasted, before it wakes from its dream
of folly and madness, we cannot say.
The South must fight to the last.  If some
of her citizens are unwilling to do battle
in her cause they must be forced to
perform their duty.  I can fix no time
for the end; but I look now with more
confidence to negotiations for peace
some time next year than I have
ever done before.  But, dearest, let us
trust in God knowing he doeth all
things well, and that in His own
way and in His own good time
he will bring peace to our homes.

[page 4]
Would I could have dined on the Pig
with you, darling, since I have been here
we have had some vegetables & fruit &
an abundance of ice.  Col. Lee had filled
his ice house and we are camped
near it.  Your picture of Dick Kissing
you [?] and begging for the apple is
charming to me.  God bless my own dear boys; I do
pray sincerely that our Heavenly Father will
spare us both to train them, by His aid and
assistance, for usefulness in this world and
eternal happiness in the next.  I dont envy
any parents their daughters. For us, if we
are permitted to live, there may come some
gentle girls to bless and comfort our old
age.  I am sorry to hear of the ill
health of Dr. & Mrs. Lyle.  Remember
me most affectionately to them.
If Josie is still with you, give my
love to her & Kiss  her pretty daughters
for me.  I do not doubt she is a woman
who deserves all the words of praise you
bestow on her.  Give my love to Mrs Riddle
Kiss the boys for me.  And now, dearest wife,
I embrace you tenderly.  I kiss you warmly, and say
that love for you animates my heart always.  I pray
God to bless & protect you.  Yr affec.  husband
                                               John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, University of Virginia alumnus and Captain Co K, 3rd Virginia Cavalry


MSS 4021

                          Hd Qrs Department No. 2
                              Tupelo Miss July 19 “62

My Dear Dick
                                   In the name of heaven
& of the love you (should) bear me-write me:
this suspense is too horrible–You with the
rest of my relatives are engaged in
battle after battle–the result of which to
you we know not what I haave wirtten
you but without effect–have you forgotten
me? or do you supose I have no affection
at all for you?  Now Dick I implore
you to write me a detailed account of
the casualties–I to day received an im
=perfect newspaper list of the casualties–but
a great many are put down as missing
whom I suppose have rejoined the Co—I
was glad that none were killed–
        Alvin was in Richmond a month

[page 2]
ago, he would have visited you, but he
was there on business, & did not know what
moment he would be ordered back–He heard
it reported that Willie Richardson has died
from the effects of his wound–notwithstanding
the strong circumstantial evidence–I cannot
help believing it to be false–poor fellow his
affliction was heavy even, with the loss of his
arm–for him & you.  I have felt more solici
-tude than all the rest of my numerous relatives
engaged in this struggle for our nonor & liberty–
however I am getting too much on the 4″ July
order to please you–

[page 3]
I suppose you have heard that
George Williams has been promoted to Captain
& Adjt. Genl–to Act Brig Gen Liddle–he is now on
sick leave–he will probably resume his
duties tomorrow–Benton Roy has been
promoted to Major & Chief of  Genl Harde’s
Staff –if he were only a woman, the General
would certainly marry him–
Hope, Alvin & myself are the only

[page 3]
clerks left of our Manassas crowd–we do
nothing particularly but fight flies, fleas
& musquitos, all of which are very numerous
& ravenous–The weather there is exceeding
hot & very enervating, tho’ our troops are
in fine health–
      Cousing Alic & Marsh Blakemore are
now permanently station[sic] at Selma Ala,
Cous Willie has gone up there on a sick
leave–I miss him very much–Gen Johnson’s
quarters are very near ours & I am with
him every day–I suppose you are aware
that he is Gen J’s aid?–
                    Frank Buck & Marsh Blake
=more are both in Genl Price’s Army, & I see
them frequently, the latter is much im
=proved in every respect–
Do you ever hear from home
or is the “blockade” so effectual as to pre
=vent all intercourse?
I shall send this to Richmond by
Capt Jordan, who will find your locality &

[page 4]
send it to you.

[letter of Irving  will finish on July 22]

[Thomas] Benton Roy, 1838-1910, remained on Hardee’s staff throughout the war.

MSS 3064

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, formerly a Sgt, Co. B, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor’s), now with the Hampton Legion]

                        Saturday – July 19th 1862
Rose at five this morning & took Lilly & Julia
walking to the Congaree rapids abt two miles from
our home, spent all the day in the house with the
girls. Went to walk with the girls in the
Evening – Lillie gave us some delightful music this
Evening & sang for us for the first time –
[Here follow two more lines of code.]

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

                   District West Tennessee
             Office of The Provost Marshal General
                        Memphis Tenn  July 19th 1862

Special Order
            No 24

                     Satisfactory evidence having
been filed in this office that Jack Norman
is a disloyal and dangerous Citizen the Provost
Marshal of Memphis will order  him to leave
the City of Memphis within three days from
date of Service and see that the order is executed
                               Col W S Hillyer
                                      Provost Marshal General

MSS 10645

[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood, Private, Co. C, 13th Massachusetts]

Saturday  July 19th /62
   Pleasant, Our Work to day
was loading teams, We must
have loaded nearly two hundred
of them.  The pay Master came
to day.  In the afternoon a
Squad of men came to
our relief, while we went to

Camp to get our pay.
We got back to our quarters
about dark, Received letters
from Sophia & George also some papers.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

[from the diary of George Hazen Dana, of the 14th U.S. Regulars as copied and transcribed by him at a later date]