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

Tuesday 24th  A bright cool, pleasant morning–No letters to day only
one paper the “dispatch”  No news of importance.  The City of Richmond
is quiet–Mr Fether took the girls to walk–The two Mr Renshers spent the
evening with the girls–Susie Fether came to see Liza & brought her some
cherries–The Hack brings news tonight that they are fighting in Rich
mond & that Stone Wall Jackson is in the rear of the Army with 40 000
men.It has been the warmest day we have had since /10 O Clock–  


MSS 6960

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

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

  June 24th

Were turned out at three A. M as the
rebs have kept up a brisk musketry
fire all night on our picket line,
which led us to beleive that we would
be attacked at day light.  Remained
in harness until 9 A. M when all being
very quiet, we unharnessed.  During the
evening had another severe thunder
shower.  The day was pleasant and
very warm.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

 MSS 8493

[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 – June 24th 1862
Brother George & Mullie woke me up this
morning having come out from town, the latter
on his way to his Company in Camp, they breakfasted
with me – such a pleasant talk together
as we may not have again soon – I have been
unable to spend Either of the last few nights with
them in town – Brother Geo stai’d with me until
noon & returned to town – I spent today busily
fixing up Vouchers & paying off men of the Army
Read aloud this Evening & night to Capt H.
from “Court of Elizabeth” which I am now
reading – Every thing seems quiet today des-
-pite the predictions of a fight – I fear
this suspense is doomed to last much longer
yet – The papers Contain no news of any
moment –Except acct’s of skirmishing yes’day
along the lines – I must get into more active service –
this Kind however valuable to the army does not
suit me – Terrible rainstorm this afternoon – R [Retire] @
11 o’c –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

24  Bridges again washed away
by flood.   Mother & girls write
to Park & Nannie and I to Jim by
Nannie Corbin who has attempted
a journey to Richmond.  Betty
also goes to join Wil by appointment
in Caroline.

MSS 2563-b

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

June 24  A tremendous rain storm came last night
             about midnight.  I was laying quietly in my
             bunk enjoying the music of the rain on my
             tent & wondering how the poor fellows were getting
             along who had been drowned out the day before
             when I heard a most violent seething, boiling
             and foaming on my foam on my floor.  I reached out
             my hand and to my utter disgust I found
             about three inches of water running through.
             I took me but a moment to jump up & pile
             valises, boots, shoes & clothes above high water
             mark & lie down & wait for the water to fall
             Just before the rain I was awakened by the adjutant
             & notified to be in readiness to move early in
             the morning, as the enemy had threatened an
             attack on our right flank.  We did not go for
             the rain undoubtedly prevented.

MSS 9044

                           HQ Caseys Division
                               Prospect Hll Va
                                    Tues June 24 1862

Mrs Edward Shephard
Your letter came
duly to hand, and as your husband
was busily engaged n performing the
duties of a laundress, he wished me
to write a few lines to you in
return in which I am pleased to
to say that we are getting along
as well as can be expected under
the circumstances.  It would be
somewhat a novel sight for some
of the ladies in Glenham, to see
how well the general routines of
household duties are performed by
some of us here, and I assure

[page 2]
you that Edward is not behind in
adding the sund4ry little fixtures to
our frugal repast.  We have been
encamped here nearly three weeks
during which time we have have[sic]
been permitted to ramble about in
the woods, and by the brooks providing
we did not go to far.  we enjoyed it
much, it has been pleasant weather
for some time, although pretty warm
Last night we experienced a most
terrific thunder storm.  the rain fell
in torrents leaking through our tents
sufficient to warn us that the
canvass was not waterproof.
      I think that an attact will be
made soon upon Richmond, and I
sincerely hope that the union army
will meet with success in bringing
the rebellion to a speedy close and
that those that are spared may be
restored to their friends, to life[sic]

[page3]
in peace beneith [sic] the folds of that
flag for which they have left home
and friends to defend.  Edward wishes
William Bernett to get him 4 Linerich[?]
fish hooks, and 2 eel hooks not to large.
Write as soon as you rec this and
enclose them in your letter.
  Enclosed you will find ten dollars
if you receive this I will send
$10 more in my next or less.
   Take good care of the boy.  Remember
me to friends and I remain
                       With Respect
                         W. H. Knapp

Mr. & Mrs Edward Shephard

[page 4]
P.S.  Genl McLellan has
greatly changed his oppinion
since the late Battle in regard
to Caseys Division, the first
report came out by the jelousy
of other officers, but since
then it has all been corrected.
The next money Edward sends
home will be forwarded by
Express if we are near an
Office.  Tell Father & Mother
that they must write to me
as often as possible, and not\to worry as I think I will get out of this all right yet.
   Write Soon

           Edward Shephard
           Will H Knapp
Excuse bad writing
in Haste

 Knapp and Shephard were both privates in the 7th Independent Battery, New York Light Artillery

MSS 12631

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

Tuesday  24  Here is a long interval during
which I have not made an entry
For several days of the last week I
was much engaged about various
matters and on Thursday 19 I went
to Richmond on business of the Bank
that is to buy bonds–I had tele-
graphed to Gwathen that I should be
there and his son had taken the
trouble to notify them so that on my
arrival I found William, Lewis,&
Eugene at the house.  It is the first
time for some years I have had them to
-gether–they are all well–remarka
bly so–Mary Gwathen is very kind
to them & they, or rather Lewis & Eugene
made her house their head quar
ters–Friday morning, I transacted
business with the Treasury Depart
-ment–and at 12 went with Wm
to see his Pontoon Bridge–He had
a steam tug at  his disposal, & we
steamed down in a few minutes.  The
bridge is very simple in its construction
some 20 or 30 boats–schooners & canal
boats are anchored head to stern at
the distance of 25 feet, bow, of course, [up?]
[stream?]  –across these are laid four
rows of sill 16 in by 4–and then
plank put on in the usual way.  There
is in the middle a large lighter
which serves as a draw bridge.  Wm
says when ordered to do the work
he had no book to refer to and had
to depend on his own resources–He
spend three days in getting the
materials, vessels &c and commenced
building Saturday at 10 AM & had the
work finished  6 P.M. Monday,–After
examining the Bridge we proceeded to
Drewrys bluff and went over the
batteries which are certainly very for
-midable as are the obstructions in
the river–I feel  [?] the enemy
will never pass there–but they
may be carried by an attack on the
land side.  The batteries are all
casemated–the guns of tremendous cali
-ber and manned by sailors–spent the
evening with Rob Maury whom I met
[?] & his son Dick, Major 24
th- wounded in Btl at Seven Pines
Saturday I devoted to business pretty
much, and did all I could accomplish
at present getting about 107 [?] of bonds
Saw Lewis in his way to Petersburg
on duty–Took tea at Robt. Maurys
Sunday; Wm sent his horse on for me
and I rode out to his quarters. Eugene
came just before I started.  I regretted
being thus cut off  from for the day
William & I called on Gen Huger At
his Hd Qrs.–then at the camp of the
Beauregard Artillery –then at the
camp of the 11 Regt and then rode
on to Gen Gardlands [sic] Hd. Qrs. where
we were expected to dine.  We had
a very good dinner.  At 3 witnessed
a Brigade Inspection.  His Brigade
a[l]together of N.C. regiments–I never
saw a larger[?] or finer looking set of men
than those of 20: N.C. which was drawn
up in front of Hd.Qrs.  After dinner
rode with Garland & William through
our lines which I though very
strong–saw many parties at work
went within a mile of the pickets
but had to return on account of the
lateness of the hours–Found  Eugene
at Marys–but he would not stay
all night–Lewis, who returned in
the evening train from Petersburg, remained
all night. Monday eveng–got to
te cars in time & met Martha Mau
ry & dick who accompanied me
home.  shortly after our arrival
tee came  Willy Davis & his cousin
Ann on their way to Careyswood where
they are to remain a while–Found Ran-
dolph McKim at our house. He
is no aid to Gen Stuart, who
is wounded at the house of Dr. Davis
Mary has been very sick during
my absence–and has not yet re-
covered

Tuesday 24–very early breakfast for
Mathew Dick & Randolph McKim
The two former took the Charlottes
ville train–the latter the Richd
Found arrrearages of work which
kept me very busy all day.–much
worried by not being able to lay
my hands upon these mptes pf tje
Mobile & Ohio R R Co which
a telegram informed me would
now be paid.  I have satisfied myself
they were not forwarded for collection.
Heard that Launcelot had been left
in Staunton sick & disable.  I
hope he may be able to come home
after night Mr Old, wounded at
7 Pines, called upon us. He was at
the University with Lanty & was his
pupil at Stranges–a very inteli
gent young man.

MSS 4763

                                     Camp Near Richmond
                                               June 23d 1862
My Dear Creek
                      As none of my mess are up
out of bed yet and every thing is quiet this
morning I will try and write you a short
letter, but I dont know whether you will ever
get it or not; I never get one from you now
by mail, and I know you send them, the
last I heard from you was by E. W. Byrum, and
that is over a week since, I am getting very
anxious to hear from you again, surely I
will get one this evening.
There is nothing new transpiring about here
just now, sometimes a little picket
skirmish, but they have been so common
of late, that they cease to excite us, particularly
as there is never much damage done in
them.  John V. Moores Regiment has been
assigned to our Brigade, and is now camped

[page 2]
close beside us, we are all very glad to have
them with us, it is a very fine Regiment.
Some of our nieghbours are pretty badly fatigued
since they came here, I have seen a good
many of them.  Pete Ackers, Gus Vandiver &
are all here, and wishing they were back
to South Carolina, they find some difference
between soldiering in Virginia and S.C.
but they will soon get used to it, they
are all getting along finely.
Tell Billy Smith Gambriells wound is doing
well, he is in a fine Hospital and has
the young ladies fighting about who shall
wait on him, he is doing finely and will
be able to come home in a week, or so, others
or our wounded are not doing so well and
several of them will die, but they are all
strangers to you,
how is the fruit crop at home this year,
you must try and have a good water
melon patch for me when I come home.
I sometimes think the war will close by
that time and let us all home again

[page 3]
wouldn’t that be fine , oh I could be
so happy at home now.  I would never leave
you again.   I have been longer off than I
expected, but let us hope that it will not
be much longer till we assume our former
happiness, which will be all the sweeter by
the consciousness of having done our duty.
William is getting on finely and keeps his
health well, and does his duty like a man
hardly ever speaks to me though unless I
speak to him, but that is his way, you know,
and he is a noble fellow.
Give my kindest regards to all our friends.
Kiss Little Maggie  for me, and tell her not
to eat any more green apples.
Good bye Dear Creek, May Heaven Bless You
                       William

The last letter written by Major William Anderson of the 4th South Carolina Infantry to his dear “Creek,”  Lucretia McFall Anderson.On June 30th he was mortally wounded in the Seven Days Battle before Richmond, and died July 4, 1862.

MSS 10366

                                                          Head Quarters, Western Department.
                                                                            Tupelo Miss June 23  1862


My Dear Cousin
            Dick
                                       Major Brent formerly of the 17 Va intends going
     to Va soon and has kindly offered to take this to you.  he has been acting
as of Chi[e]f Staff in Col Jordans absence (who has been quite sick for some time)
I presume you heard that I have been in this office.  I was seperated from
my command at Fort D.  they escaped a few hours before I did but I
did not know it until I reached Columbia Tenn. consequently I have
never been with them since–they are now near Chattanooga Tenn and
I am very anxious to join them but find a great difficulty in getting
a suitable horse in this Country in fact there is none to be had at all.
                     I was very sorry indeed, to hear of Willie R having lost
his arm.  Alvin Buck is now in Richmond and you will probably
see him before he returns.  Irvie & Geo Hope are still in the office
Geo. Williams has been promoted recently to the position of A.A. G.
on Col Liddells staff. Comd’g a Brigade.
                 Dick–Genl. Beauregard has left us for awhile.  he has gone to
take a short respite for the benefit of his health, and Genl. B. Bragg
the “Man Slayer” as he is usually called is in Command of our little
band of patriots.  Marsh B. is here in a Missouri Reg’t also Frank
Buck.  Br. Marcus is in the Qr. Mr. Dept.–“Clark’s Division.
”  Irvie has just stepped in. he said tell Dick that I wanted to write
to him but he had treated me so cussed mean I won’t write.  he requested
me to tell you that you are a “Sow Hog”  he sends love,
I would be very much oblige to you if you would be kind as to inform

[page 2]
where Mack & Dick Bayly are.  write soon and believe me to be
                                          Very Aff
                                               Your Cousin
                                                     R. Blackmore

P.S. Our retreat from Corinth was fine did not lose a man
except a few sick prisoners, not a piece of Artillery, and  only lost
some 300 worthless muskets and a few Commissary Stores.
                                               R.B.

Love to all the boys


Letter to Richard Bayly Buck, 1844-1888, of the Warren Rifles, Co. B. of the 17th Va.

MSS 3064