Sunday, July 6, 1862
A bright beautiful morning- we were anxious
to go to church as it was communion Sunday &
had just made up our mind to walk when uncle
Jim came & F[annie] & I went in the carriage Sis B
on horseback.  Mary staid with Mother who
had gotten a fall & slightly sprained her
ancle. said she was walking along & fell flat
on the ground without any sensation but a
deadly sickness,  insisted that she was not hurt but
I begged she would let me pull off her stocking &
then found her anckle was swollen.  We
applied parsnip tops, linseed[?] & vinegar which
seemed to relieve her very much–
Mr. D[uncan] preached from Rev. 19ch, 16th verse, “And he hath 
on his vesture & on his thigh a name written. King 
of Kings & Lord of Lords.”  It was a most 
excellent sermon–  I felt that it was good 
to be there & to hear it.  I missed you– looked 
around & could but envy Beck with cousin 
Jacquelin sitting there by her.  I looked for a 
letter but no letter came.  As day after 
day passes without hearing from you I feel 
that you are dead–
Mr. Leonard went to Warrenton to day. If there
are letters he will bring them to [?]




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




MSS 15406

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

Sunday 6.  Communion–great numbers–wea
ther very warm–nothing new from
Richd–very trying to the [?]–Wea
ther extremely warm–returning from
church at night found Charles who
had come to take leave, intending to re-
-join his troop tomorrow.  He is not well
enough, but he frets so much at
not going that perhaps he had
better make the attempt–Heard
of the death from his wounds, of
Wm. S. Reid, of this place–poor
fellow!

MSS 4763

                   Richmond  Saturday eve.
                              July 5th 1862

Dear Mama
                          No news of interest
going on I shall return to the waggons
tomorrow though my horse will not
be able to be used for a week–
You notice my name has been bublished[sic]
it is a mistake, the Col. apologised to the
Regt for putting in names that ought
not to have been in, but what do I
care for an apology to the Regt.
I have told him & the Capt. both good
many times that it was not satisfactory
atall–I have resigned my office as
quartermaster Sgt. Capt very much
opposed  English has it now, does very
badly, during Capt. Trents absence
the Col most always calls on me to
provide for the Regt. but I won’t do
it now since being published as I was
& if I have to do a commissioned
officers business let them give me
a commission, I will not accept of
any more commissioned office.
I sent a sack by Dr. Daniel these
4 bottles of chloroform in it you had
better take care of I gave the Doctors
good deal, it is very useful sometimes
& it is very scarce & costly, Uncle Caleb
lef[t] here this morning but I could not
find him Uncle James Vest[?] is here
now. Rice Burnley was the here today
looking very fat says Uncle Drury is
well & John & Murt[?], I don’t know where
to tell you to write, for I don’t know
at any time where I will be, I have
been courier for Gen. Jackson some
down this way Love to all
              Your affect son
                     Wm H. Burnley

William H. Burnley, 1840-1919,  2nd Regiment Virginia Cavalry


MSS 7871

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

Saturday
July 5

              Felt pretty well this morning so
              I did not go up to the surgeons
Went out on company drill.  this after-
polished up my equipment, Played
and read and lay round.

MSS 11293

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

Saturday, July 5, 1862

   Guard mounting the
morning after which
we practiced practiced
again this afternoon
Recd a letter this
afternoon dated May 8
from Libbie Weeks
immediately wrote
to her have not
written before since
we left Raleigh
Col Hayes & adjutant
went this day to
Jumping Branch to
look out a new camp
but heard that we
will remain here
Clear beautiful day
very fine sunset
got carbine for
John Benton

MSS 10317

Uncle Lewis’ lodgings–On Main bet. 6th & 7th
            2 doors above 7th
              Richmond
        Saturday night–July 5 1862

Mrs Wm M Blackford Lynchburg
My Dear Mother


On Friday we had a R.R. accident 1 1/2 miles below
Amelia C. H. resulting in the death of 4 or 5 persons and wounding of
several others.  This detained us a day indeed we did not reach Richmond
until 9 o’ck last night. We i.e. about 20 ladies & gentlemen of our crew–were
most hospitably entertained during our delay by Dr. Cheatham whose house
was very near the scene of the accident.  Personally I had no cause to regret
and had a good time during the stoppage.  Last night I was very kindly entertained
by Mr & Mrs Alex Rutherfoord, where I left Mrs Leftwich this morning after
breakfast.  Today I got a pass but was unable to get proper information
of the whereabouts f Jackson’s Div in time enough to start out for it to
day. My brigade I lean is 25 to 30 miles below town; exactly where, nobody knows
I expect to start out on foot for it tomorrow in company with a friend &
messmate of mine here who is just returned from sick-leave.  It will be a tedious journey.


[page 2]
I have been with Uncle Lewis a good deal to day and stay with him to
night.  I have enjoyed his company much & he has been very kind & attentive
I have also met crowds of friends and acquaintances–Our battery
was engaged on Tuesday and lost 2 or 3 men killed and several wounded.
No one in whom I felt any interest whatever save as members of the co. & fellow
soldiers was injured, thank God, nor any one you know or know of.  several
of my friends were bruised, but none worth mentioning scarcely by shell fragments I think
All of my brothers are safe, so far as I can make out.  Holmes Boyd has seen
Eugene since Tuesday’s fight.  Holmes was in town to day.  I was at Mr G watkins
this morning–Col Withers is there doing well, but desperately wounded, I shd think.
There are also one sick soldier (of 5 weeks standing) and two wounded brothers named
Marshall from La.  Besides Col Watkins has some of his friends with him.
The most general impression here seems to be that McClellan will save most
of his army under cover of his gunboats.  I was at Gen. Lee’s this evening
Mrs. Lee told me she had a note from her husband to day dated Westover.
She says he has not been home since the fighting began last week.
The president too is said to be very fond of the field and goes out frequently
I will write again as soon as possible.  Uncle Lewis sends you & all ours his love.
Please tell Robin of my excessive regret that being hurried
off without bidding him farewell as I intended. The same to Mary Jane
                                                                     Your affec Son
                                                                      L. M. Blackford.


Lancelot Minor Blackford of the Rockbridge Artillery


MSS 5088

[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 5th 1862
Rose at five & breakfasted with Mr. Harvey
this morning – going to his store & read the papers
there – Spent a few hours with Mullie – went
to Paynes office & spent the morning in
making out a final statement for Capt Harris
-on.  Rode down to de Reigners stables, & put
Phannie up there – Dined with Emmons
& Robinson – spent the Evening afternoon with Mullie
& Evening with Mr & Mrs Harvey, she
having just returned from Lynchburg –
learned further particulars of poor Johns          
fate at Cross Keys – Brother returned
from the Army this Evening, did not
take command of the 10th Reg’t – Saw
Andrew Knox today of 7th La Reg’t –              
No letters today – Could not get a horse
today to go to the battle field & see
abt my Com’ in the 10th La – Genl Magruder
& staff in town on way South –
         A – 12.M

[Mullie:  his brother Thomas M. Logan.
poor John:  John Didlake]


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 6154

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

July 5   This was a delightful day in Camp.  We spent
            much of the time in getting straight our Morning
            Report Books & making the lists of casualties per-
            fect in readiness to make up the muster rolls
            when the blanks arrive.  Twas sweet to be un-
            disturbed.
            Last Evening the 2d Battalion of the 14th arrived
            We were glad to see the officers & we had admiring
            listeners as we recounted to then the campaign
            “before Richmond,” from the troubles of which we
            had just emerged.  They were well supplied with
            everything.  Each officer had a wall tent.  Plenty of
           blankets, bedding, basins, pitchers, towels, soap–
           candle sticks  Camp bedsteads–They were well e-
           quipped–We looked upon them with envy.  It was not
           long however before the poor fellows had to send  home
           all their surplus baggage & to divide their tents with
           us & with a fresh supply of all articles we were
           in the course of time on an equal footing with them.
              About this time we were getting anxious to hear
           from home, and quite as anxious to get a letter to
           them–These Seven days were anxious days all over the
           North. The army had been cut off from its com-
           munications & our friends could hear nothing from us.
           In a few days however communication was restored by
           way of James River & the mails arrived & departed reg-
           ularly.

MSS 9044

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

Saturday 5   Went to the cars at an early
hour to put Mary Jane on board who
is unnecessarily called home by her Du
enna.  Going to the Bank found
Jno Miller had gone to Richd to attend
to his brother Tom who was wounded
and that Mr [?]was sick–Jack
& I had a hard time–we got through
by engaging Mr Morrison to copy the
checks.–Went to Charles at Ingles
& staid until 10.  Prospects brighten
of capturing all McClellans force

MSS 4763

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Saturday, July 5, 1862
This morning I felt the effects of my long ride
was weary & sleepy.  took a nap quite early & felt
much better after it–  We had quite a levee
this morning.  Sister Fannie & cousin James– Dr. Withers–
cousin John of Markham.   The gentleman
did not give such favorable accounts of  their
reports of the battle.  Dr. W said he was by
no means sure that Richmond was not in
the enemies possession.  Oh, it makes me tremble–
I finished a letter commenced last night–
& Mary,Fannie & I walked over to M. L’s to take
them to him to carry to Warrenton.  We met
Nannie and she was rather down, too, about the
battle-said there was an account that Halleck-
had reinforced Mc,Clellan with 80,000 men–
& that Beauregard arrived two hours later with
all of his army – We cannot believe it.  It 
must be only rumor, but can it be true?  It is awful 
to think what a bloody fight it must be–  
Mr. DeButts left Richmond Tuesday morning &
said that McClellan had asked for time to bury 
his dead but Lee said he must go on fighting 
or surrender = & that the dead would be cared for 
if he did.  Johnson is still reported incapable 
of service-.  We are most fearful as to the 
ultimate result of all this fighting. Oh
God have mercy upon us–Have mercy upon us.


[transcript from 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]


MSS 15406