[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Thursday, June 26, 1862
Guard mounting
after which I got Pass
then near noon went
with Tool to Mrs Harris
got some butter also
some Virginia Pies
made of dried apples
saus
returned to camp &
practiced.Parade this evening
Charlie returned to
day Drew pair Pants
& am now about to
bathe and change
my clothes
Clear pleasant day
but the nights are
invariably cool
at this high elevation
MSS 10317
[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]
Thursday – June 26th 1862
Last night heavy movements of troops were made
from our right to the left of the Mechanicsville
road – before daylight 50,000 of our army had
passed us as far as the farm of Mrs
Christmas – Commence firing towards Evening 3 o’c
commenced & Kept up very rapid discharges
Volley after volley of musketry could be heard
distinctly from 5 o’c till 8 o’c – No
particulars can be heard of the result but
from Capts Eustis & Alston of Magruders staff
I learn that also D H Hills divisions had engage-
-ed the Enemy abt five o’c – & he had driven them
from Mechanicsville & as far back as Beaver
dam on the north East Bank of the Chickahom’
river – Jackson’s army is presumed to be near
at hand – but for particulars see tomorrow – Bro
& I walked to town today & back – I fear it will be impos-
-sible for me to leave for the scene of action as
Capt Harrison thinks of going to the Springs for his
health on Saturday & is too sick to take charge
[The following is cross-written over the above page.]
of the money & officers – Besides we have to
make up returns of last months disbursements – &
arrange for closing up the office for the
present – to add another impediment our
Ambulance horses are Either stricken or strayed
off today & I have the prospect of ride round
to find them tomorrow – John has been hamstring
them up all day unsuccessfully – I have the diarrhea
badly again today – Rode out this Evening to see
Legrande & after the horses – I am sick of the pay departm’t
today _ & wish it was in anybody else’s hands than mine
[Eustis and Alston: James Biddle Eustis, later U.S. Ambassador to France, William A. Alston]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; note by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]
MSS 6154
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
June 26th
Skirmishing very heavily on our left all
day. During the afternoon, our advance on
the left after a brisk and decisive fight,
succeeded in capturing redoubt No. 4 of
the defenses of Richmond. At noon the
rebs on our right advanced, and crossed
the Chickahominy at Meadow bridge,
attacked, and drove in our pickets at
Mechanicsville. Norrells. Div. and two
brigades of Mc Call’s div. were deployed
in line of battle. Meade’s brigade being
held as a reserve, At three P. M the
rebs rapidly advanced and attacked
our whole line, making a determined
attempt to drive back Reynold’s
brigade, but after a severe struggle
they were forced to retire with a heavy
loss. A rapid Artillery fire was kept
up along the entire line. at five P. M
the rebs made another desperate assault
on our right, and were again repulsed
by Gen Seymore with a heavy loss,
Night coming on, the conflict ended,
Pleasant and very warm
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
Camp near Richmond
June 25th 1862
I wrote you, my darling, last week shortly after I
received your note written me by Mrs Knight.
I sent my letter by Judge Marshall to be
mailed and I hope it has reached your hands
safely. since that time I have not heard from
you. Elijah, Mr Evans Servant, leaves camp
to visit Prince Edward tomorrow morning
and I avail myself of this opportunity
to send you this sheet. since I wrote last my
time has been spent in Camp except on a
reconnaissance commencing Monday morning
last and ending Tuesday morning just after
daybreak I was in the saddle about twenty one
hours and was very much fatigued; so yesterday
I slept a great deal and this morning am
refreshed and well. It was twelve months yester-
will be
day since I entered the army and ^ four months
tomorrow since I parted from you the last
time in our dear home. It is useless to
speculate as to the period when the war
[page 2]
will end, I hear opinions of various shades
expressed. It is still more idle to indulge in
thoughts of what is to become of you and I
in the progress of the conflict. Our lives and
fortunes are in the hands of an all wise and
merciful God and we must give our souls
repose in the faith that He will do all
things for us better than we could for
ourselves. this is the truest, best and
firmest consolation we can have
in these days of trouble. When I can visit
home it is impossible for me to say. How much
I would like to drop in on you this morning
& see you, dearest, and our children all
around you. Let us trust that such joy is laid
up in store for us, and without perplexing
our hearts look forward to the future with
confidence and courage. I doubt not, darling,
your faith is firmer than mine: but by mutual
encouragement we can strengthen the hearts
of each other to bear misfortune if it is sent
[page 3]
upon us, or to receive with joy and gratitude
whatever blessing may be vouchsafed.–
Can you buy me in Farmville a light colored
felt hat? Kit Lockett can aid you in fixing the
size to be purchased.
Did you ever reply to a question I asked
you some time since as to the price at which you
would buy half a dozen hams for me? I want
them for our mess. they now ask seventy five
cents per pound in Richmond. What can
chickens be bought at? What vegetables
would bear transportation from
Farmville to this point? and on what
terms could they be got? Marketing is
very high down here, and every thing extremely
scarce.
I haven’t seen Col. Anderson since
the day on which my last letter was
written.–
Every one in the army and the
citizens around seem to be looking for a
[page 4]
battle every day. I am without sufficient information
to form a very intelligent judgment, but if
the tidings that come to my ears be true I think
Genl Lee is preparing to attack the enemy. Dont
be alarmed, and wait with patience for tidings
from me. I f I am wounded I will try to send
you the earliest intelligence of it.
Farewell, my darling, I pray God to
sustain and bear you up and console you
in all your troubles. Kiss the children for
me. Tell Willie & James to write to me.
Say to Dick he must take good care
of the cup I sent him: that Captain Palmer
gave it to me, and he must keep my present
clean & bright.–Give my love to Mrs
Riddle: I hope she has recovered her health.
Remember me to all the servants.
Once more I say good-bye to you my
own dear wife. I kiss you tenderly, warmly,
lovingly. I embrace you with unutterable love.
Sincerely, Your affectionate husband,
John T. Thornton
[in top margin of page one]
Is Whiteman still working in Farmville? If so send
to him & know if he has good materials to manufacture
boots & let me hear
John Thruston Thornton, University of Virginia alumnus and Captain, Co. K., 3rd Virginia Cavalry
MSS 4021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THIRTY SEVENTH CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Washington City June 25 1862
N. Shall Esq
Dear Sir
Your favor of yesterday
is received–
I have a number of
applications for the appointment
at Annapolis, from you county-and
find I must be cautious in committing
myself to any particular candidate.
I have been at the Department
for the papers you desire but
it is next to impossible to get
a hearing there–I shall however
[page 2]
get them in a a day or two and
will send you a copy–But
you will agree with me that
I ought not now even encour-
age any particular applicant
until all the claims of each
are fully heard.
I have one applicant from
your County very strongly endorsed
both in and outside the District
I will write you again–
I have just called upon Gov
Richardson and his speeches
are exhausted. I have ordered
500 copies to be reprinted form
myself which I shall get
very soon and will send
to you for distribution in
[page 3]
your township a number of
them.
I presented your regards
to Col Biddle this moment
He regards you as one of
his particular friends.
tell Col. Vansant I will
meet him at Harrisburg
on the 4th July
[?] truly
yours
John D. Stiles
John DodsonStiles, Congressman from Pennsylvania, 1822-1896
MSS 49
Richmond June 25th 1862
My dear Ma
I cannot let the large package go
without at least a few lines from me, although the
numberless letters we have sent off within the last
week must have told you everything worth know-
ing, still I have great reason to fear that my last
one of seventy five pages will never reach you and
in that case you will think me most unloving &
ungrateful–I am writing this morning with I
on the one side
must say the most divided attention, you & home ^
and the great battle on the other, I think that my
thoughts are entirely with you and I find myself
straining every nerve to hear the booming of the
distant cannon which will announce the opening
of the great battle so confidently expected by every
body to take place this morning, I have not heard
it yet and I fear–yes I fear that it has been put
off another day, for although the agony of mind
is terrible while the battle is raging, still everyone
acknowledges that the sooner it comes the better
[page 2]
for our course, and and as we are so perfectly confident
of our success, as the horrible fight is inevitable, as
the agony has to be borne, we would willingly
spare ourselves this wearying suspense, this dreadful
waiting and expecting–it has lasted now ever
since the Battle of the Chickahominy, every day since
we have listened with aching hearts for the contin=
uation of the dreadful booming which so thrilled
us with terror on those never-to-be-gotten days of
Saturday & Sunday–Oh! shall I ever forget them!
when I sewed & sewed and felt that on the bed I
was making before night would be stretched
a noble man, possibly one endeared to me by
ties of blood–bleeding, maybe dying–and
as each cannon boomed I stitched the faster &
my tears fell the faster, oh! it was a scene
most indelibly impressed upon my memory, that
room full of weeping, praying, sewing, women,
the organ in the Church where service was being
held, pealing out its solemn music over our heads,
and still, as an accompanyment it seemed that
terrible cannon! but this is a digression (which
you will excuse I am sure) the battle now is imminent
[page 3]
it must take place tomorrow or the next day for–
Jackson is here, and he does’nt wait–all that
suffering is to be gone over again, but we look forward
to it calmly, for we know what a glorious triumph
it will be and that it must be followed up. Ewell
is with Jackson and with him the remnant of
our glorious little Maryland Regt are not you
all proud of that Regt.? just think of the little flag
we brought on (and which is the only one they carry)
being pierced with bullets, bloody ragged and
almost unrecognizable, but all the more glorious
with the Bucktail fastened to the Staff, by
order of Genl Ewell, on commemoration of
their magnificent bearing in the fight they had
with that Regt I have seen a good many
of Bill Murray’s company in Richmond and
they have given me the most intensely interesting
accounts of their campaign, I wish you could
have heard them or that I had time to write them to
you–our Regt was always in the place of honor,
in the rear if retreating, in the front if advancing–
[page 4]
at night
sometimes ^ it would be in the rear after a long march
on a retreat, and the next morning it would be marched
through the army to the front, the soldiers saying as they
passed, “Something’s up, Marylan’s in the front again,”
or “Go on boys we’ll be after you soon, tell them we
are coming too”– The regt I am sure will be
filled up soon, Willie Murray’s company is
going back, and it has won so much glory for
itself, that I am sure the plagued men here
who oppose its reorganization will be brought to
their senses and be only too willing to join it–
Bill M. is still sick at Charlottesville, not at all
seriously tough, I suppose Claphams is with him-
I hope to see them both down here in a week
George Thomas is here, and very busy of course.
I’ve seen him twice but both times we had so
much to say that I could not fine out what he
intended to do in the coming battle–Bill Lemmon
and Bob Lemmon are both here, I think it
is probable they will all volunteer in the coming
battle–Louis Smith was here yesterday evening
he is recruiting for his regiment, he looks
very well as (as indeed they all do in spite of
all the hard marching & the six battles they
have been through–Louis brought us a
daguerre he had taken for this father in
[page 5]
his uniform, and we will send it the first chance
we have, would send it with this but the uniform
prevented–he said Willie Nicholas was perfectly
well, and would be here in a few days to recruit
for his company in case Jackson did not have
another battle–Frank Markoe asked me to ask
you to let his mother, who is B- I believe) know
that he was perfectly well and was acting as volunteer
aide to his cousin Maxcy Gregg – until his company
should be reformed, when he intended join it
again–he is a glorious fellow, as brave as a
lion–I have told the young man who is to carry
this and who will see you all about our coming
home, and Het and I have both written you
about it too–letters which I hope you have
received–I have just been interrupted to
read a letter from you just brought up from
the post office dated 16 June and sent by Flag
of Truce–oh! dear Ma if it were not for this
horrible impending battle I think I could be
perfectly happy, her getting all these letters from
you and being able to send you some in
return and getting the trunk, and having the
[page 6]
* strange! but a fact–
prospect of seeing you so soon, we have
written already so much about the trunk that
it is scarcely necessary to tell you the gloves
& shoes fit beautifully–do kiss Lutu twenty
times for me–We are going this evening
to take with Mrs Carrington Cabel, she has
invited Genl Price & Staff to meet us –we
expect to enjoy have quite a pleasant * time—
(entre nous) Price is an awful old stiffy !
Cousin George has gone off this morning to
examine a number of midshipmen–he
is perfectly well–however he writes to
Cousin Louisa by this–I am perfectly
well now but dread hot weather in this
town) it is at awfully unhealthy, he nearly
everybody is sick of my old bug bear and
I dread it–I take an awful amount of
care of myself, for I would’nt be sick
away from you for anything in the
world–I am in an awful hurry as
[page 7]
you will perceive–Love to all
Good bye
Your devoted daughter
Jennie
I suppose Mrs Hale has heard by this time
of the death of her brother Baker Thompson
I was shocked when I learned from Jr
T–that she did not yet know that he
had been killed at the Battle of Shiloh
Shot while gallantly leading his
regiment to the charge–
Jennie Cary, her sister Hettie Cary and their cousin Constance Cary, known as the Cary Invincibles, sewed the first three Confederate battleflags for Generals Beauregard, Van Dorn and Johnston. Hettie later married General John Pegram.
MSS 1415
[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars as copied and annotated by him at a later date]
June 25 Got orders this morning to march with two
days rations. We started at 8 oclock. the first
Brigade only constituting the expedition.
It was a very hot day and we took the direc-
tion of Hanover Court House. None of us knew
the object of the move, but it was rumored that
it was for the purpose of capturing a band
of guerillas that were prowling in that neighbor-
hood. About 2 P.M. we halted for a long time
on the edge of one of the most beautiful pine
forests I had ever seen. It seemed to have
been undisturbed for years by the axe or the
foot of man–a perfect level, clear of under-
growth except a few young pines, symet-
rical and beautiful. the surface of the ground
covered to the depth of several inches with
pine leaves which having decayed, formed a
carpet soft & noiseless to the tread & clean
as a parlor.
We halted here until nearly 5 oclock when
we again started on the march. After a few
miles further had been made, it being dark
we bivouacked in a most beautiful spot,
We thought there was something up, as no bugle
calls nor other noise was permitted. Well for
us that we kept a profound quiet, as we
learned afterward that the whole of “Stonewall”
Jacksons army was within a couple of miles of us.
Indeed it was reported in Camp that we had
been cut off & probably Captured. We slept well
however in spite of our suspicions that all was
not right.
MSS 9044
[from the diary of Sgt. Z. Lee Gilmer, 19th Virginia, Co. B (Albemarle rifles)
25th June 1862
Cannonading has been going
on all day, more than usual. We
have orders to get 3 days rations of
hard bread, & lights out at dress
parade, not a spark to be seen
after dark & many other orders
on which I base my firm belief
that the great fight of Richmond
will begin this evening or tomorrow
(Thursday). The Pickets have been
fighting for the last two nights
& most of this morning. we must
have it very soon. Old Stonewall
will not stand with his hand
in his pockets. the signal flags
have been busy all day
We are no doubt on the eve of
the battle that will decide our
destiny. May God be with us &
bless our arms.
MSS 4459
[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]
25. Luc & I ride to Chancellorsville
& have a charming time. Country People
are so kind! She sings “Brother wont
you meet me–and Bishop Kens Evening
Hymn coming home. Pony performs
delightfully. Luc decks his head with
Elder blossom. Found Mother & little
Mary waiting to see us. After tea
went to Bro. Johns–Ellen Mercer & Nan
Gordon both poorly.
MSS 2563-b
[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
June 25th
To day Gen Hookers div was advanced to
the front, and fought the battle of Oak Grove,
in which our forces gained one mile of
ground. In the evening the rebs made a
demonstration on our entire line, but were
repulsed at every point. Gen Mc Clellan
and staff passed through our camp to day.
Warm and quite pleasant.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493
