[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Wednesday July 16, 1862

I was in a state of excitement this morning–
Last night Fannie talked me into the notion of
going home with her now–borrow Father’s horses
for the carriage & take Jack to drive – hire Mr. Feggins
wagon to carry the baggage to the river-I
thought I had it all planned nicely, spoke
to Mr. Downs to see Mr. F for me–When 
Father heard of it & said I had better not 
go that he would send after harvest any
day & Pa could meet me at the river.–I 
am afraid though something may happen to 
prevent it & still think I had better make the 
convenience of bro Charles as an escort & go I
will wait though till I hear from Mr F–
We all started to walk with bro Ca & sis 
B who were going to [?] when a tremendous
rain suddenly came up & gave us all
a good wetting, so we turned back,—
I wrote a long letter to you after supper-
intending to carry it over to Mr Brooks
whom I heard was going to Richmond early
f & I linger talking, every night. I will
miss her dreadful.
I did not read as much as usual in my
book to day.  I got id not read much in my 
book today,–I got so excited talking 
about home that I couldn’t read.


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


MSS 15406

Camp Stuart  July 16 82
Dear father I embrace the present
oppertunity of writing you a few lines
to let you know that I am well and
I hope that those few lines may find
you all well and enjoying the comforts
of the world farther I have now knews
to write  to you more than hard time and
I supose you know enough of them I
reckon you have herd from boyds men
and the untimely death of Brother Alex
I have never bin able to learn anything
about the boys more than what we could
here in papers and that want much we
are down on the river where we cant
here eny thing, I hope you have bin
able to learn all about the boys as
the wounded now gon home and you
must write me all the knews and let
me know what you have herd about
Alex and James farther I want to come
home some time in august if I
can get of I dont know now if
it will be but I will come up I can

[page 2]
I would like to come the best in
the world and stay 10 or 12 days
when the apples get ripe but
from all accounts we will have
to be fighting about that time as
the yankees are reported to be coming
back up the river again I dont care how
soon for I will get and get revenge
out of them for killing my brother Alex
farther we have not drawed eny money
yet and times are verry hard I wish
this cruel and unjust war was at an
end for I am getting awful tired of
it but I dont want it to wind up until
I can get a chance to kill one and I
think I will get act chance soon if
to days report is true but we cant
here the truth from here to the
spring to say you life but I am
living in hopes to see the yankees
whiped out of our land and then I
can return in quietness but not until
then do I want to come stay eny length

[page 3]
of time I saw a man since I
began to write who said Jake was
well I want to go and see him in
a short time we have had a hard
time but none of our boys got hurt
thought he yankees had us between
their gunboats and land baterys
and they coverd us up with their
shells but owing to the high bank
of the road they did not hurt eny of
us nor none of our horses though I
thought they had killed all of us
one time they trowed some bums
at us that weighed 140 pounds farth
farther you must write me all
the knews and send me some
tobacco by the first good chance
have  I have no knews to write
you giv my love to all the family
and receive a portion for yourself
be shore and write soon give
my love to all my friends
and relation

[page 4]
nothing more but remain your
devoted son until death

Fred Johnson

Could not identify Fred Johnson though a man  by that name later served in the 14th Virginia Cavalry organized in September 1862

Letter collected by the late Atcheson L. Hench, University of Virginia professor of English, who was fascinated by its phonetic spelling and what it revealed about the spoken language

MSS 8474-ab

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

Tuesday
July 15

Went out on brigade drill.  Played
chess with Proctor.  Went out on dress
parade.  Afterwards the Adjutant had a sword
presented to him

MSS 11293

               Camp at White House, New Kent County
                              July 15th 1862
I have written you two or three notes from this place
my own darling wife.  We are still here guarding the stores
abandoned by the enemy when they retreated from this
place. I do not suppose any army ever went into the
field so well and so abundantly supplied as the army
led by Genl McClellan. Not only was the money of the
government lavishly expended to furnish an equip-
ment that would make the soldier comfortable & effective
but private charity had also poured a continuous stream
of kindness upon their sick & wounded.  Their transporta-
tion was most excellent; waggons, ambulances, & pontoon trains
of the finest description & in quantities that look to us
marvellous: besides these, the rail road was placed in good
order, and fine locomotives & cars were on them: Hay in
abundance was brought on their transports: portable forges
with large supplies of iron & steel, blacksmith and
carpenters tools of every description and circular
saws were all in their hands. Their commissariat abounded
in all that even luxury could ask: not only was there
pork & beef & beans & sugar & coffee & all the other articles
that go to make up the full ration of the soldier, but their
camps appear to have been stocked with preserved fruits
& vegetables, sardines, herrings, eggs, potatos, whiskey,
brandy, wines, also , porter, lemons, indeed all that the
palate cold desire.  Portable ovens as large as an
ordinary two horse waggon body were conveyed by
them from camp to camp.  their tents were of the
finest material & of most excellent construction.

[page 2]
In their hospitals were pleasant couches, mat-
tresses & pillows, sheets & pillow cases.  In
addition to what was furnished by the
Government & Sanitary Commission reg-
ularly organised sent on requisitions
of the Surgeons all that the sick and
wounded could need.  How much the
enemy carried off with them in their
retreat I cannot say:  but the
amount they destroyed & abandoned
was enormous: They burned a great
deal, but the amount left to us
is of great value to our govern-
ment.  The small arms they
burned were numerous.  I suppose
at this camp fifteen thousand.  It
must be some time, if ever, be-
fore Genl. MClellan can
have his army in the same

[page 3]
condition as before his late defeat.
  Pack the hams you have
purchased for me in a barrel
and send them to Richmond
directed to me to the care of
Wm. D. Gibbons.  I can make no
arrangements to receive chickens
or vegetables at present.
  I wish very much my darling
wife, I could be with you at this
time, but, of course, no furloughs
will be granted during the present
campaign.–The last letter I had
from you was dated the 5th  & 6th
In your postscript, dated the 6t, you
tell me of the bill of fare you wd
furnish if I could dine with
you.  It is very tempting,, but it
is to see you & our dear children, to
hold you to my heart, to kiss your

[page 4]
sweet lips, to hear your voice
to listen to you conversation
that I wish to visit our home.
    Give my warmest love to
Josie & ask her to kiss her little
girls for me.  I hope her visit
may be cheering to both of you.
Where is Crosby has he
recovered. The last time you
mentioned him your report
was that he was sick at
Petersburg.-
  My love to Mrs Riddle.  Kiss
our boys for me.  Remember
me to the servants.  I pray
daily, my darling, for blessings from
Our Heavenly Father on you all.
Farewell, dearest. I kiss you tenderly
& love you with intensest devotion
                       yr affec husband
                     John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, a lawyer and University of Virginia alumnus, was captain of Co. K, 3rd Virginia Cavalry


MSS 4021

[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]

                        Tuesday – July 15th 1862
Left Weldon at one o’c last night with a
tremendous sound [?] & twelve passenger cars –
got along tolerably well until within twenty
seven miles of Raleigh where our Engine
broke down & we had to mend it up
so as to creep along within seven miles
of Raleigh, the locomotive broke down the
only driving wheel giving way – had to send
seven miles to Raleigh for a new locomotive which
arrived abt three & hf o’clock – Bro & I
went up town & visited the Capitol  a
fine handsome old building situated
on a high hill & studded with old oak trees – bought some
NoCa cloth for pr pants – left Raleigh with
a bag[gage] train & additional no of Passengers –
night to reach Charlotte No. Ca. at five o’c
tomorrow morning – Engine could not bring the train
up the grade abt 30 miles from Raleigh – had to
take up hf the train  go back for the balance
which did not get up to the Station till one

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
o’c at night – where there being no water in the
tank we had to remain till morning –
thus losing ten hours on our route

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 6154

[from the diary of Ephraim Wood of Co. C., 13th Massachsetts]

   
 Tuesday   July 15th  /62
Pleasant and warm  On Fatigue.
In forenoon I went to the
brook and had a bath,
after which I went to Mr
John White the miller,
where I took dinner.
I stopped there till after
three o clock, and then returned
to Camp, to help get the
Water, to make Coffee for
Supper.  There was no dress
Parade this evening

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021

                        District of West Tenn
          Office of the Provost Mar Gen’l
                      Memphis July 15, 1862

Special order
No 17

            Satisfactory evidence having
been filed in this office to shew that
Oliver Greenlaw of the city of Memphis
is an open and avowed traitor and
         . Col Anthony Provost Marshal of Memphis
a dangerous man you  ^ will serve
an immediate notice on him to
call at upon his office and take the
oath of allegiance or leave the city
and move south of our lines within
five days from the date of said
service–
                            Wm S. Hillyer

                        Provost Marshal General


MSS 10645

[letter of Charles Ellery Bradley of the 32nd New York. Co. I, to his father continues]

July 15th 1862  Enclosed find
my allottment take out the
amount of money (good) that you
have sent to me it is either 7 or 8
dollars & send me back a $5 treasure
note.  I have drawn out two months
pay & have over two more due &
cab bit draw it now.  If there is
any money left after takeing out
yours & sending me $5, pay it to Mary
I do not know when I shall get
down the River but I think not
until the latter part of next week
if I do then.  I am more fraid of
the fever than the bullets.
I heard yesterday from one of our
Brigade that there 200 killed
out of the 32 I said “I bet they
fought well.:  “well they did” he
said I am ancious to hear from
Parker Two of my Co were wounded
that I have heard of
           Yours Resp  Chs. E. Bradley

MSS 9728

                 Warrenton, Va.
                     July 15
                        1862

My Dear Mother
  I have a few moments
this rainy afternoon to write you
I have been to Washington for a day
on business & during my absence
the brigade has moved & the rain
has swollen the streams so as to
cut off all communication & I
am shut up in a little dirty
Hotel to wish & wait.  We are have
here a very large force but not
enough.  It is a discouraging
reflection the stupid sleepy in-
activity of the North.  The So.
have more men in the field
than we–they are better dis-
posed & handled their resources
are sufficient & we must
wake up. We are fighting a

[page 2]
powerful foe  Skillfully managed
& handled in his own home
They are desperate & have used
their power to the utmost We
are doing perhaps enough to rub
through but this is not at all
certain.  Here comes in politics
it will never do to draft till the
people(?) call for it–that would be
impolitic  Lincoln must manage
the war for the Abolition element
is opposed to McClellan.  No
nothing will be put before the
people as it is exactly, for that
would injure the political status
The army is large & powerful it
will not stand everything divided
repulsed &c. & I  hope this inactivity
will last long enough for the
army to rise in its might– to appoint
a military dictator & put down
this rebellion through one head

[page 3]
& one mind.  I would enforce this
upon Lincoln Stanton & Co by the
bayonets.  No war ever was conducted
by so many aspirants never in
the history of the world was there
divided counsels but bro’t ruin
& never was there so large a war
& seemingly calling for a more
powerful overulling of the Civil
& political status. The South has
adopted a more enlightened plan
aside from a more military one
They have given all their power
& all their strength to one leader
& he in consultation with his
Military leaders is Conducting the
war.  but it is no use to
think at all we know now the
War will be a long one but we
hope & trust that some mighty
power will guide us through
& that Providence will shine

[page 4]
upon us even in reverses.  I am
very well in body.  You have
not written me how the sale
of the House has progressed or what
you have done with the furniture.
When is Emily M going to be married.
Has Mary Ann Black been married
Why dont her beau come out I
should like a draft to bring out
just such men who have not
patriotism enough to volunteer.
I think it very strange they dont
write me [at?] Andover.  I have
written two long letters to them &
have heard nothing except 2 or 3 lines
about the deed.  I am using a
poor quill as you may imagine
Give much love to Lizzie & friends
Write soon to
                      Morton
Wen does Lizzie Russell marry?

Lt. Marcus Morton Hawes,  2nd Massacusetts Infantry


MSS 11372

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

Tuesday, July 15, 1862

After Guard
Mounting we
were called out &
with 4 companies
we went down to
the Ferry. Played most
of the way down
Had a fine time took
dinner in the sargeants
mess of Co G
A well arrainged Ferry
there Saw a pig  [?]
the [?]
Near evening we came
Alex came in with
back arrived in camp
near sundown.
chest &c recd letter
from Levi Hess
Very warm no
indications of rain

MSS 10317