White House Farm
July 8th 1862

The Regment came here day before yesterday
my darling.  This is the Farm on which Col
Lee, son of Genl Lee, lived. You will remem
ber it as the residence of the lovely
widow who became the wife of General
Washington. Here it is that while on
his way to Williamsburg he, contrary
to his custom, delayed his  journey from
hour to hour fascinated by the fair
owner.  Here he courted her,and here
they were married.  The Enemy made
it a depot of company stores–
clothing, arms, provender &c.
When they retreated they burned
a very large amount of these stores,
the value of them to be estimated
by millions.  They also burned the
White House itself, another act
of disgraceful vandalism committed
by our “Christian and humane enemy”
as Mr Seward says they are.
I am told that by deceit they enticed
Col. Lee’s slaves, the morning they left
on one of their boats & carried

[page 2]
them away.  We are here now
acting as a guard for the property
taken from the Enemy until it can
be moved away, and also watching
their movements below.–This
place is situated on the Pamunkey
River about twenty five miles
from Richmond–
  I wish dearest, I had time and
opportunity to write you a
long letter, but I am here, lying
on a hill side, without paper
& with no conveniences for writing
of any sort. I can only say how
dearly I love you, how much
I wish to hear your voice and to
look into your tender eyes.  I
can only say how sincerely I
pray that God will preserve
our lives in these troublous days,
will restore peace to our country
and will reunite us & enable us
to live together as his faithful servants
loving & obeying him.  Yr affec husband
John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, University of Virginia alumnus, lawyer and 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 8th 1862
Spent today doing nothing – Wrote to
Mrs Roy today – Sat in Capt Harrisons
room most of the morning – Took
And[rew] Knox to see Dr Fishburn – Dined at
Mr Harveys – after dinner went down
town with Brother George, but did not
succeed in seeing Genl Magruder,
Spent a few hours with Mullie at
Mrs Dunlops after which Brother
& myself called on Mr Gibson
taking tea & spending the Evening with
the familys. Miss Bartlett was as
Entertaining as possible giving me a
long account of her friend Miss Talley –
now imprisoned by the vandals in Fort
Delaware, as a spy for the Confederates –
No news today from our lines –
The Enemy are on James R, on the Blakeley & West
-over plains – Herring Creek being between the Enemy & our
forces – only offering one possible point for

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
us to attack – that now strongly Entrenched – The
gunboats are in range of our forces –
     Retire at 11 o’c tonight.

 [transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

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

 Pack’s Ferry, Va., July 8th, 1862.
     One of the horses attached to the ambulance
in which I was yesterday riding, having
suddenly taken sick after we had stopped
last evening, and died in the night, I
was obliged to trudge my way from Jumping
Branch here this morning, distance seven
miles, over a very good road, but really
a hot, sultry morning.  This Ferry is one
of the principal ones across New River,
and is named after Mr. Pack, who first
 established a crossing here many years
ago.  When Floyd retreated from Cotton
Mountain last November, he diverged from
the main road at Shady Springs, and
crossed the river at this place, which
is about 200 yards wide, and deeper
and less rapid than in most places.
A prominent characteristic of this stream
is its rapid flow, the numerous rocks
roughly strewn over the bed of the stream,
and rising in many places above the surface,
and its transparent, clear, pure waters.

Since our troops have occupied this
point, they have opened up communication
with Monroe county, on the opposite
shore, by means of a ferry=boat which     
is propelled across the stream by the
action of the current against its side
while laying diagonally against the
current.  Being fastened by a rope some
distance up the stream, it, of course,
does not descend, only to describe the
arc of a circle.  The boat was built
by tow companies of the 11th O. V. sent
here from Raleigh for that purpose.
     The rebels are encamped somewhere in
Monroe County in some force.  Col. Crook,               
36th O.V. commanding 3rd Brigade of this Division,
encamped at Meadow Bluffs, Greenbrier Co.,
can prevent the commission of any depredations
the enemy might contemplate on Gauly or
the Kanawha River. – Parties of the companies
here, frequently make excursions into Monroe
and Greenbrier, and usually bring in
prisoners, and sometimes property.

The valley of New River the farther down
you get, becomes, narrower, and towards its
mouth, there is room only between the steep,
mountainous banks on either side to allow a
channel for the stream.  Opposite where I now
am, and a little below on this side is a ^’are’
narrow strips of level land, between the hill and
river bank, which are very fertile, and well
adapted to corn.
                         
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

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

Tuesday, July 8, 1862

Guard mounting
after which we practiced
no practice this afternoon
[?] being down to
the 2d Brigade Parade
this evening & short
drill
John Buchan of Co G came
in this morning with
Deserters from the Rebel
Army.  McClellan repor-
-ted moving again–
successfully
this has been a lazy
day. thought to receive
a letter this evening
but was dissapointed[sic]
as the mail was only
a paper one.  It has been
a long day to me.  Men dug
out the latrine successfully to
day  Clear warm


MSS 10317

[from the diary of Ephraim A. Wood of Company C, 13th Massachusetts Infantry]

                     In the Wilderness, Near
                          Harrison Landing on
                           the James River Va.
                           Tuesd July 8th 1862

Mrs Edward Shephard
                            Yesterday we
were made glad by recieving a
number of letters from home
and friends.  Edward received three
one from you, his sister, & John
Clark which togather proved quite
a large quantity of reading
matter. Well since I wrote
last we have made several
hasty movements towards the
James River experiencieing consid-
erable of Pribvations and suffering

[page 2]
however here we are today
in the woods about a mile
from the river awaiting fur-
-thur orders. the infantry troops
are busily engaged throwing up
breastworks.  You wish to know
how we fare here- we have
enough some days, (such as it is)
and some days go without.
Suffice it to say that if we
return I think we will be
satisfied with what the table
affords.   I think that Saul
Hanks will not be noticed
much with his various reports.
Edward did not see him on
the day of the battle, and as
for me being absent ten days
it is false.  I should think
he would know better than to
worry our friends with such

[page 3]
incredulous stories, but you
must “judge from whence it
came”.  In my former letter
was enclosed ten dollars $10
and Edward wished some fish
hooks.  Please write if you re
-ceive it.  Ed has a bile
on his ankle, and dont feel
like writing.  I will write
to Clark as soon as conven
-ient.  the weather is extreem
warm here now, and the heat
increases every day–Take
good care of the boy we may
return the day may not
be far distant when this
war will be brought to a close
May God grant it.
    Remember us to friends and
         I remain With Respt
                             W H Knapp

MSS 12631

[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars, as copied and annotated by him at a later date]

July 8th  The army was reviewed to day by President Lincoln
            It was a grand display.  It was moonlight before the
            President reached us.  No doubt however the review
            was satisfactory.

On July 8th, Lincoln paid an unexpected visit to view the Union Army.  The army impressed him.  McClellan did not.

MSS 9044

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

Monday[sic] 8th  Again I am disappointed in hearing from, or of Tom–What
has become of him I know not–But trusting God -& hoping for the best
I have written him a long letter by Captain Dentson Matilda Cowans
beau who is going to Richmond in search of his brother & kindly
offered to take letters.  No Richmond papers again to day–& the
Wilmington Journal contains nothing new–I have just read Willie
Wooster’s Obituary–Very Fitting & very true.  There is also in the paper
a historical sketch of Colonel Mear’s life–The three bodies have ar
-rived in Wilmington & were to be interred the day the Journal was
sent off–6th of July I think–I received a long letter from Mary this morn
-ing all well & Ellen & Mrs Dunwady were making up a box of eatables
to send Joe & Captain Dunwady–I wish I could send Tome some too.
I hope the sick are having the pleasant weather we are enjoying here
in Richmond.  Eliza is very sad to day having received another letter
from Mr Mason-saying he was at Goochland, 5 miles from
Richmond at a comfortable place trying to regain his health
& strength.  But that it would not be in his power to come home
as he promised her–Having received orders to return to duty
as soon as well enough–But she might rest assured he would
come to see her as soon as possible.  I received a long letter from Mary this
morning–All were well–Miss Christine & the Fisher children left there
the [blank space] of June–Mary Constance did not go with them.  Ellen &
Mrs Dunwady were making up a batch of eatables to send Joe & the Captain
Mary intended to add her mite     Potatoe puddings &ect &ect
The Richmond Inquirer which I borrowed a few moments ago
to read- States that McClennan has been reinforced by
Shields’ division & he now numbers for 80 to 100 odd troops
& is ready to give battle–He is safely encamped now under
the Guns of his Gunboats–He is sending up balloons & ma
-king preparation for another fight–Learning–The news thru’
a prisoner and I hope it may be untrue.

Colonel Gaston Meares, 1822-1862, killed at Malvern Hill

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

8th  The girls keep shop for me.  All
the morning it is very cool down there.
Luc makes my [?] orders–little Mollys
talent does not lie that way so much
Nannie Corbin & Molly return from
Richmond.  They report their father
as being in the highest hopes for the
country.  We gained a glorious victory
before Richmond–but what effect it is
to have on terminating the war no one
can tell. The mind of the North
seems fully bent on conquest.

MSS 2563-b