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

                            Camp Green Meadows, July 15th, 1862.
     Marched from Flat Top today, and rejoined
the Reg’t at this place, which has been
honored with such a neat=sounding, romantic
name, and not undeservingly, if fields thickly
covered with verdure, nearly surrounded by
forests of tall oak and chestnut, with hedges
of blackberry and whortleberry adjacent, do not
belie such @ nomenclature.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

[from the diary of Anne MadisonWillis Ambler]

Tuesday, July 15, 1862

We have spent the day listenng to C[harles]
talk – has told many funny things
about the Yankees.  Sis F[annie] came over
& spent the morning –  Was very agreeable –
– Frank Brooke called but had no
letters from you- Oh:  I am so deeply
disappointed — I had fully calculated
on his bringing me a letter — Tis ever thus –

 I have a plan for going home,
but it makes me very unhappy to put a
greater distance between us & I know you
want me to stay here tho.-  It is very hard
to decide –  I am exceedingly anxious to
get home & it seems to me I ought to
go  Sis Fannie will soon be back with
her children & they look for Jeannie  I
think I have staid long enough – It is
not well for a woman to impose on
her husband’s family & between us – I think
sis B would like a more quiet house –
  Mother has always been as kind as possible
& I have not the least reason to think, but
that she & father tho should as leave if not
rather I should not  make this my home
the war is over I shall ever remember
Mother’s kindness to F[annie] & myself


MSS 15406

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Thursday July 17
The third day of the hottest weather I ever felt.  John was here this morning.  I went over to Linden with him.  I found Mr. Jones there.  We had very cheering news from the peninsula. Several of the northern papers say that if they do not receive ten thousand men in twenty days their game will be played out. Their generals are a disgrace to any army, more so to that of a nation celebrated throughout the world for refinement and civilization.  General Butler stands first on the list of unrenowned heroes, next Mitchell and Bleaker. They have not left Winchester yet on dit they are fortifying.  I just read a splendid piece from the London Times entitled “The Bloody Spots of America”.  First at Harrisonburg where the Confederates fought so desperately even though near the oppressors land. Then Richmond where thousands upon thousands of bloody corpses lay, food for the fowls of the air, and the air filled with farewells of the dying who are yielding up their souls to the God who gave them to do honor to him.  and how has the precious gift been treated? They tell of starvation throughout the northern land.  We may be exterminated but submit never.

MSS 9759

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

Tuesday 15.  Another very hot day–close
ly engaged in Bank–nothing
of an great importance–much
jaded

MSS 4763

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

Tuesday 15th The day is bright & cheerful- & I feel equally so–Having just re
-ceived a letter from tom dated of 10th July–His regiment was in the
battle–But he as “Ordnance Sergeant” had to be with his wagon in the
rear–His general was mortally wounded by a shell (Griffith)  None
in the Regiment killed-But 16 wounded–His Captain Sessions was woun
-ded–But not mortally–(Major Campbell was not in the fight-having
injured his ankle a few days before in a skirmish-one young man
had to have a part of his leg taken off—All of the others will be fit for
service in one or two months–He says–He says “So carried my wagon
out of the reach of the shells on the day of battle.  But being so near I felt like
being in it-It sounded most awfully. Like all were being killed. I did
not like remaining idle in those awful moments–I do not drive my wagon
I have a driver”) He mentions having gotten a Testament off of the battle
field which he says he values more than anything he could have
gotten.  He had written immediately after the battle–But the letter
never was received.  Neither does he get any I write-But now they
have moved nearer Richmond I hope he will be more fortunate. Eliza
received two long letters also this morning from Mr Mason–He is still at
Goochland- & His health is improving–Says nothing of coming up here
soon–Liza is greatly disappointed–But I tell her she ought to be
thankful she can hear from him–After dinner we had a fearful
storm of thunder & lightning with considerable rain.

MSS 6960

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

Monday
July 14

Wrote a letter home. did not do any-
thing in the way of drill.  Brown brought
me a letter from home.

MSS 11293

Camp near Richmond
July 14 1862

Dear Bill
I wrote you some days ago, but
have not had the pleasure of hearing from
you for some weeks.  My health has been
very good although I have had a great deal
of work to do & a good deal to go through with
in the last few weeks.  I was in Richmond
for a day or two & saw West & got myself
refitted, for I was as dirty as a pig & had
almost as few clothes. when we got here.
We are now encamped within two miles
of Richmond with about as much chance
of reaching it, as if it were as far off as
Lynchburg, it is thought we will be here
a little although to day the rumor is that
we go with Jackson, but absolutely
no reliance is to be placed in Camp
rumors.  I was sorry to hear from Dr. Lewis
that Conrad Johnson had been killed.  did
you know Rob English, Lizzies old friend
who was wounded at the battle of Manassas
he also was killed.  Give my love to
Lizzie.  May – Jule & the children, also

[page 2]
to Mr Crosby–West tells me he sent
you a hundred & fifty dollars from
father & a hundred from one ninety five
I had given him for you, which was
all right.  I hope you are all comfor-
tably fixed–I think we will –those of
us who are live–will be in Alexa
next winter. This war cannot last
much longer, is the prospect not a a
very pleasant one. I  am heartily tired
of Camp life.  Love to all–
Write soon
               Yours
                    very affectionately
                            J. B. Gregory

 Dr. William B. Gregory, surgeon in 2nd Georgia.

MSS 4777

[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]

                        Monday – July 14th 1862
Rose this morning at three o’c & got down
to the Depot with Mullie & baggage to find
that Every car had been impressed by the
Government to transport troops on the Fred’s
-bg & Central rail road  – no mail train for
Petersburg – returned home & retired to bed to
finish our nights rest – Rose again at 9 ½ o’c
Mr H. would not allow us to be wake for
breakfast, but Mrs H gave us a grand meal
at ten o’c – Went down town to the store
of S & H with Bro & learned that a train
would start at 2 ½ o’c for Petersb’g in which we
succeeded in getting seats – A clever little boy who
brought down my our baggage w’d not chg us
for the same, Reached Petersb’g at 4 o’c & left for
Weldon at 4 ½ o’c this Evening – Reached
Weldon at 1 o’c at night & started for
Raleigh in another train where we ought
to arrive at 5 o’c tomorrow morning – A very hot &
tiresome trip tonight


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

                          Memphis Tenn, July 14th 1862—

Special Order No 17
                     It is hereby ordered that Samuel Sawyer Chaplain 4th
Regt Ind. Vol. have the general supervision of the “Appeal Buildings”
in conducting  a Union paper in the city of Memphis–
                    By order of
                                  Wm S. Hillyer
                        Provost Marshal General

MSS 10645