Richmond July 7th

Dear Cousin Meade  [David Meade Bernard]
We have fought &
won in the great battle before the
Capital we have pursued the enemy
to the James where he has made a
stand under cover of the gunboats,
their next position I don’t know, but
think McClellan will await reinforce=
ments if  he can hold his present
position.  The Ebenzer Greys behaved
well under fire, our brigade (Pickets)
was brought into action about 5 P.M.
was ordered to drive the Yanks from
their breastworks after two other brig=
ades had failed in the attempt, their
position was so strong, they were con=
cealed behind their breastworks in
a thickly wooded branch about
30 yds wide; whilst we had a field

[page 2]
to traverse about a mile wide, exposed
to a raking fire from two batteries beside
that from the infantry, nevertheless we
charged & drove them in confusion from
their stronghold,and on the opposite
side took a batter and about 600 prisoners
slept on the battle field and renewed
the pursuit the next morning.
I will now mention the casualties in
our company first Capt. B. C. Jones was
severely wounded in the knee, that limb
was amputated just above, he is doing
well, I was detailed to take him up to
Richmond and to nurse him, we had the
good fortune to get to a private house
through the influence of Dr. Smith of
Brunswick who brought also his friend
Lt. Sam: Hardy of Notoway who lost
his arm in the same fight. We had
several more wounded of Com E. but not
seriously, am surprised that any of us
escaped with out lives, I believe we were
held by the hand of Providence.

[page 3]
Yesterday evening we left the sick room and
walked down the street to the American
hotel to find probably an old friend
and who should it be but George B.
with several other old acquaintances
from Petersburg all wourn[sic] out and
going back to recruit; George is looking
badly but I think a short stay in
Petersburg will cure  him completely,
he sends his love and says he would
go to Orange but cannot get transporta-
tion conveniently, and the trip was too
long for him just now, he has been
through three battles without a scratch,
is not anxious to be in another unless
his duty calls him there: I agree exactly
with him; for fighting is the hardest work
I ever did, and you know I am opposed
to work, therefore object to fighting.
The names of those friends I will give
as you know most of them, Wilcox Brown
William Lee, Willie Hinton, Tom Branch,
and Austin Maclin, formerly from Greensville

[page 4]
They all go over to Petersburg to day.
Meade has just returned to his regiment
having been sick in Petersburg, George
says he is looking well.
We are in great doubt as to what
will next turn up but trust that Mc:
clellan will be forced to evacuate Va
soil soon.  Jackson has returned to the
valley, I hope for a good purpose.
We are staying at Mr. O. F. Weisiger’s
have every want supplied and are treated
as kindly as we could wish, he has 3
very nice daughters. I shall have to be
very cautious or my heart will slip away.
Give my best love to cousin Nannie.
Dick Tommy and Willie, write very soon
to me, direct to care of O. F. Weisiger
I shall be here a week yet I reckon.
I saw cousin  Andrew and George Field
several days since, Ma & all are well.
     Your affect cousin
                    Richard Feild
P.S. I use a Yankee envelope.  I have a Yankee gun
cartridge box and several other trophies


                                        R. F.

Richard Feild,  Co.E, 56th Virginia Infantry (Ebenezer Grays)

MSS 7745

[on patriotic stationary featuring the seal of Kentucky]

1862
Jackson Tenn July 7th
Dearest Delia
I was agin
made glad by the resept of an
nother of your dear good letters
yesterday afternoon dated the [?]th of
July you spoke of my long delay
in writing and seemed to allm
-ost upbrade me for it, but if you
knew how fully my time has been
occupide and with what incon
-veniance I wright attall you
would not complain, you have
no idear what kind of life I
have to live, in the first place
I have more to do than any one man
in the regt. and am less in one pla

[page 2]
ce I have been goinge and comng
almost continuly not stoping
onely for a day in camp and that
day spent puting things in repare
for another trip, for the last
5 or 6 weeks I have not eaven
had the oppertunity of sleeping in
my tent onely for one or two nites
at a time, I have camped down by
the rode side or in the woods
with nothing to shelter me but
the head heavens over my head, or per-
haps a frendly tree with its thi
ck foliage (which is remarkabley
so in this contry) which formes
a good protection from the dew
which is quite heavy hear, we
have had but very little rane for
a long time which has been favor
iable for traveling exsept the dust
which some of the time has been ve
ry bad, but with me there can be
no delay rain or shine I must go

[page 3]
I have been trying for some time
past to get my discharge from the
regt and going with Cap Fort he
offers me $75 a month, but if I sh
ould take my discharge from the
regt I should loose my bount
money which is $100 and land wa-
-rrant, but as yet I have not been
able to get my discharge from the Regt
yet and I do not think I can get it
attall, the Col is not willing to let
me go but still he said he will
sign the papers but he thinks it will
do no good for Gen Hallock will
not sign them without a sergn
certificate of disability, had I
remained in the company and
escaped harm I should now
without doubt been com of the
company, but I suppose it is all
for the best, I received yours of
June 6th containing one from  Genia
but I did not have time to answer

[page 4]
it, in it you spoke of Willie
Christoper having the membranous
croup and your visit to Mendtor
I was glad that you went down
to see them and that you
found Willie out of danger
I am sorry that Genias head
troubles him so much I think
that you have done right in
taking him out of chool[sic]
I would not send him as
long as the pain continues
in his head, you I suppose
that Mr Bissell thinks Gen Grant
a great man; some people
are grate admiers of sholder
straps yo[u] know, you has that he
thinks that if I would apply
to Geo[sic] Grant I would get my
pay increase, nonsence I shoul
d as soon think of applying to
a fifth corprell as to Gen Grant
for any such purpus but I must
close I am a going to make an
effort to get a furlow or leave
of absence pretty soon, I do not
know how well I shall succede
but I think I can get one
for a short time my health
is very good at present, I
If I do not have an oppertunity


[sideways in top margin of page 1]
I will send you
some mney pretty
soon I dare not send
by mule I hope
I shall be able to
come home and
see you this
fall.  give my
love to all my
friends, thank
Mr Robenson
for me for his
kindness to you
tell him I shall
remember him
for it I would
love to hear from
him, my love to
his famely, how
is Mr Tomlen
how dies he like the ma[?]
W O Shaw

[from the diary of Ephraim Wood of the 13th Massachusetts]

          Monday, July 7th  1862

I was supernumery of the Guard
this morning.  After Guard
mounting I went to the brook
and had a bath.  I then went
and got all the Cherries that
I wanted to eat.  I took a walk
around the Country.  On my travels
I came to a mill, the owner of
which was close by sitting, on a
stone wall talking with a couple of
Soldiers.  He seemed anxious to
have our forces whip the Rebels
at Richmond, and that the
War would end as soon as possible.
The opinion I formed of him was,
that he sympathized with the
South, but that he thought it
was useless for them to hold
out any longer and was in hope
our forces would conquor as soon

as possible.  He denounced the
Rebel Leaders.  The next house I came
to I stoped and took dinner, as
it was after two Oclock.  I had
been away from Camp ever since
eight Oclock.  I found the people
here very pleasant and kind.
There was two persons in the House,
one a Lady of about the age
of Fifty, and her daughter, who
was about twenty five or six years
of age.  Here I met two Soldiers,
one from this Regt, and one from
the New York Ninth.  The Youngest
Lady entertained us for nearly three
hours.  She said that she had
three brothers in the Rebel Army,
whose time of enlistment had
expired some time ago, but the
Conscript Law that was passed,
held them in Service over their
time.  She thought that Law
very unjust, and denounced the

the Rebel Leaders more severly,
then the Miller did.  She tried
to prevent her Brothers from
joining the Army in the first
place.  When the Rebel forces were
at Manassas, she said that Gen
Johnsons Wife boarded in Warrenton
The Slavery question was brought
up.  She thought that they were
better off with their Masters, then
they would be if free.  She said she
did not approve of selling them.
She had cried many a time at
seeing an infant separated from
its Mother and sold to the
hightest bidder.  I got back to
Camp a little before six Oclock, just
in time to escape a heavy shower
It was said that the thermometer yesterday
in the shade stood at a hundred
and ten degrees.  To day one hundred
and three.  Very Warm Weather.

MSS 12021

[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

                        July 7th

The N. J. battery took up a position on our
left to day.  both left sections being short range
guns, they were sent to the right to cross fire
our guns, if we were attacked.  Were turned
out at 4. A. M and remained in harness
until 7. A. M.  Very warm and pleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

July 7th/62
Camp Jones Flat Top Mt
Friend Eli
I wrote to Tom
a few days since and in
his letter said I would
write to you soon I
will now fulfill that
promise.  We are still
encamped on Flat Top
and I am afraid are
doomed to remain here
some time. We thought for
some days that we were
going to move our
camp on account of water
becoming scarce here
but I guess they will
sink Wells I hear they are
to commence to day
Col Hayes thinks it probable
that when we do leave here

[page 2]
we will go into
Eastern Virginia I only hope
it will be so
Our present Camp is a
very pleasant one being at
so high an elevation
it is quite cool especially
at night.  We are camped
on a very fine farm owned
by a Mr Braines he lives
here inside the lines
I believe he is a Union
man
What would you think
if an army should come
along and camp in the big
meadow below the road
burn all the rails use
the sheep barn as guard
house or stable also use
the old barn & stable
then place their pickets
all around (Pickets are

[page 3]
around Camps and all
the roads & paths and are
called picket posts from
three to ten men form a
post then outside of these
are other posts called
out posts and are guarded
by Cavalrymen.  these
pickets remain on duty
24 hours)  one post would
be on top of the  hill toward
Ashland annother where the
new road turns off annother
one in the woods toward
the other farm and annother
toward Charlie McWilliams
then beyond there at
the Blacksmith Shop up
at McGraths over at the
School House and other
places would be placed
cavalry outposts. No citizen
would then be allowed

[page 4]
to pass in nor any
one go out without a
pass people at home have
no idea of the inconvenience
ience that Citizens in this
country are obliged to submit
to every road that an
army passes over is literally
devastated then after the
army passes great Trains of
wagons are constantly passing
conveying provisions & they
gather up whatever is
left camping wherever it
suits them & burning rails
& destroying property without
stint or mercy if they
find any corn or oats in
the citizens barns they go
and take it asking no questions
and it is useless to remonstrate
these are a few of the evils
of war.  Now Eli I want

[page 5]
you to write to me when
you get this. Sit down
& take you time to it and
you can write me a long letter
tell me what you are doing
tell me how crops are doing
how is the wheat oats
corn fruit &c &c
are you or have you built
any fence & where?  how are

[page 6]
are the Evergreens in the yard
doing?  I want you to keep the
yard clean & I think it would
be a good idea to dig out the
stumps in the barn yard at
your leisure, you might fire &
burn them out  Have you any
pets now? Did MaryAnn get
her red birds?  How does Milo get
along? How many cats do they keep
this summer? How many horses have you
now &c &c  tell me everything you can

[right margin of page 6]
think up   J.D. Templeton

James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio


MSS 10317

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

Monday, July 7, 1862
Guard mounting this
morning & Parade &
Drill this evening
Practiced both before
& after noon
Felt like writing
some to day wrote
letters to Eli Hazel
& Mrs Campbell
Have news this evening
from McClellan he
claims to have gained
the position he desired
The Battle has been
indeed terrible one
great slaughter on
both sides
Clear & very warm

MSS 10317

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

  Jumping Branch, Va., July 7th.
     Having thought a visit to Pack’s Ferry,
where four companies of the 23rd are stationed,
might be of advantage, I started this morning
in an ambulance, and reached this place
this evening, traveling today about twenty miles
over roads that might be better, and the
sun beating down unmercifully.  I am staying
with a Mr. Upton, an old Union citizen who
has resided here a number of years.  This
Jumping Branch is the same place that
witnessed such a grand ‘skedaddle’ of ‘secesh’
last February, at the approach of a
greatly inferior force of our men.  This
subject is mentioned on Page 31 of this book,
and I will not enter into a repetition.
     The residents here who occupy the houses
spared by our troops when the town was
burned, aver that not less than 600 of
those four to five Southerners fled from
here when a trifle over 200 of those
same despised Yankees made their appearance.
So much for boasting.

MSS 13925

              Alexandria Va July 7th 1862

    Mr. Case
                 Dear Sir
               It is with diffidence that I
write you at this time feeling as I do
that I should have done so much
sooner but I should have done had
I not been expecting a leave of absence
which was promised me.  Circumstances
have transpired which prevent such a
procedure and render it necessary for me
at this late hour to make this communi=
cation by letter instead by means of  a personal inter-
view.
          When a year ago last June I visited
you home at the urgent reques6t of my
friend and Lieut., your son, I became
deeply interested in, and conceived a strong
and ardent affection for your daughter Addie.
Upon the close of my pleasant visit I
requested the favor of correspondent with

[page 2]
her which she granted, and for which I
have blessed her a thousand times.
     Of the superiority of her intellect
amiability of manner and goodness of
heart I was well convinced during my
stay with you and my admiration, respect,
and love has increased with the passing
of time, and interchange of thought and
sentiment.  I made known to her the
feelings of my heart–my love for her
pure soul, and learned to my delight
that my affection was strongly and deeply
reciprocated.   As yet, I had not
learned whether or not you would give
your approbation of her action in regard to
the matter, and accordingly wrote her in
quiring if you were informed of the “state
of affairs,” and she answered that she had
informed you, and that you had bade her “be
happy.”  Of course, I had not for a
moment thought that she would take
steps in so important an action, without
receiving your approval, and I was well

[page 3]
aware that Halbert was acquainted with
the “status” and that his superior and
proper judgment would admit of nothing
wrong or injudicious, hence my silence
to you.
       I love your daughter with an affection
as lasting as life itself and am assured feel that this
sentiment is reciprocated by her.  Have
I your consent to make her mine at the
close of this unhappy war, or at some time
she may designate?
       In making this request of you I feel all
due deference and respect to your parental
power and judgment, also feeling, that
diffidence attendant upon a person like
myself, nearly a stranger, while making a
like request.   It is perhaps, not nec-
essary,–yet really due,– for me to give you
a history of past life, as it is known to both
Addie and Hal.  I might , if necessary,
refer you to persons living East in regard to
my character in past years, but permit me
to say, (and I feel a pride in [stating?]) that I

[page 4]
am guilty of no crime nor dishonor.  the
company officers of this Co will bear witness
of my conduct since I entered the service
that I am guilty of nothing dishonorable
Of my pecuniary affairs I can say little
beyond that I have strong hands, and a
willing heart and “what others have done I can
do.”  Beyond my earnings while in the
army I expect nothing save what I can earn
and from past endeavors I feel assured that
the power lies with me.
     May I hope for your approval?  give me
your daughter Mr Case, and I will strive
to make her future life one of happiness.
     Hoping soon to receive your
approbation I beg leave to subscribe
myself

          your humble & obt servant
                  Charles N. Tenney

Please direct
                   (Co H, 7th Ohio Regt
                       3d Brigade, Shields Division
                         Washington D. C.)
 Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Case
and family.

Halbert:  Lieut Halbert B. Case, Co. H. 7th Ohio

MSS 11616

                                         Fort Albany  July 7th/62
                                                   8 o’clk PM

Dear Wife,
This afternoon I received yours
of July 3d.  We have had a tremendous hot day, but
this evening, we are enjoying a very heavy shower
of rain, intermixed with hail stones, as large
over as five cent peices.  We are having some very
heavy thunder and most splendid lightning.
I think by the tone of your letter, that you
are giving yourself much unnecessary and
useless anxiety on my account.  It seems that
your fears proceed from the thoughts that we
are to be removed from here.  I can assure
you that we shall not leave here so long
as Col Wm B. Greene holds the position
that he now does, I get my information
from persons high in military office
No longer ago than last night, Major Wa
shburn (of this Regmt) was heard to say
(by one of my mess) that no other Regm
could fill our place, and that there was
not the slightest chance of our being
called away from here, I dont know
his reasons are for saying so, but such is
the way it has always been talked by those
who ought to know what everybody says must be true

[letter of “Robert,” an unidentified soldier in the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery will continue on July 9]

MSS 1242

District of West Tennessee July 9th 1862
Office of the Provost marshal General
Special Order No 13  Memphis Tennessee July 8th 1862
Al papers heretofore issued to citizens either by the
Commanding General, the Provost Marshal General the
Provost marshal of Memphis or any other officer whi
=ch may have been issued without the party being requ
ired to take the oath of allegiance or give the precri
-=bed parol[e] of honor, are hereby revoked.
No pass will be granted in any case hereafter, except
upon taking the of the oath or parole
The oath will be substituted for the oath only in
Special cases (at the discretion of the officers authoris
ec to grant papers) where the party lives beyon[d] the pro
tection of our army.
                             By Command of
                                      Major Genl Grant
                                                W.S. Hillyer
                            Col & Provost Marshal Genl

MSS 10645