Battery No. 7  June 22nd 1862

          Dear Phill & Sister
                                I received your
affectionate letter last week but I am
kept pretty busy in my new office &
will not be able to write as often as I
would wish but will do my best.  It
was a great pity that I ever left col.
Robertson for I feel pretty certain he
would have taken me with him as
his Aid de Camp in fact Maben sais
he certainly would have done so you
know he has lately been made Br. General
in Ashby’s place & then again being
stationed out here in this mus work
does not suit me.  sometimes I feel low
spirited too fo on account of all this
entrenching instead of going right
ahead and whipping the Yankees out
but I hear that Beauregarde is in

[page 2]
Richmond now and feel better satisfied
for his luck seems never to fail him.
I am afraid Black Hawk will not suit
me he rides very well but has been
ruined for ever by that man over
the mountains and he cannot stand
it he is now slightly foundered from
eating bad corn or drinking too much
water & I have a strong notion of
sending him home & Fannie too as soon
as he is able to travel & have my little
mare “Julia Cabell” brought down.  I have
been to see Cousin Nannie several times
and very often to see Miss Bettie Cousin
Nannie is just as funny and odd as ever
she came out here to the battery with
V. and asked Garnett as we were walking
round the work “was that large ditch
there before or did they cut it for this
work?” now you must recollect that this

[page 3]
ditch is some twelve or fifteen feet
wide and about the same depth &
a very fine thing to have on a farm,
and she was in dead earnest all the
time too you know.  I must now conclude
as Maj. Boggs is going to preach at
eleven up at the Head Quarters and
I found a little note on my bed
just now in which I was cordially
invited to attend so must say goodbye
Ever yours dear Brother & sister
Richd M. Bolling
P.S. I suppose you have heard that Miss
Russel has gone to Petersburg I am too
sorry she has left home especially on Low’s
account she lost a dear friend here near
Richmond.  Write soon
                             R.M.B.

Richard M. Bolling, Co.F, 4th Regiment Virginia Cavalry to his sister and brother in law, Julia Bolling Cabell and Phillip Barraud Cabell


MSS 38-111

In Camp near Gainesville
Va. June 22d/62
Dear Sister
I received yours this
morning and was glad to hear you was
all well and that Mother was able to
go to Cambridge.  I am as fat and
lazy as could be expected here in
this warm climate.  There is no
musquitoes here, I have had a gay time
for the last week Monday I went on
                  or rather laid
picket and slept ^  all night on two
pine logs with the Chickahominy
running under me just got aroused
at 10 1/2 oclock, pack knapsacks
leave them and go in light marching
order started at 12 marched to
Mechanicsville arrived about
daylight, started back about
2 o clock P.M. arrived at our
camp before dark Thursday Friday
moved camp about a mile
rebels shelled the old camp
all day

[page 2]
Rebs surprised yesterday morning
to find their plan[?] stopped by
a fort which had sprung up in
a night with 8 heavy guns
mounted (on) it, staring them
in the face, kept quiet
since. We expect to lose our\Captain and there is not one in
the Company that is sorry as he is
getting to be a perfect tyrant, and
he has either got to resign or be
courtmartialed on three or four
charges carried in by men of the Col
backed by the Col. and charges brought
in by an officer of the engineer corps.
which will without a doubt dismiss
him from the service, as all can
be proved. the Co under him
has lost all pride in itself, and
wont try to do anything as we
have no encouragement, but
under our first Leiut, we shall
do well as we all like him.
Must go on guard So good by
till next time
                       Yours in haste
                        Wm Wallace

Miss Mary I. Smith
      Newton Lower Falls
                      Mass

Care of Mrs C. Smith


William Wallace Smith,  Co. B,  22nd Massachusetts Infantry


MSS 15360

 [written on patriotic stationary]

                 Camp C[?] June 22
                    Beclay[?] House
                 Friend Albert
I received the Box that you
and the boys sent I got it this
morning and all the Boys came
around to see if I had any thi
ng to drink in it for thay are
all hard up and thought it
was whisky but when I opened
it they say why in hell did
he not send some thing to drink
but for my self I was glad of
the tobbaco and cigars and so
was all the rest of the Boys
that any of it belong to
for they did not have any
tobbaco but I gess that I have
got enough to last now until
our time is out if nothing

[page 2]
happens or splits biger than

a shingall I just had to
stop and take A chew of
that Navy tobbaco it is good
I herd you had A good time
the 17th of June I shold like
to of been with you to had
some of the sport of going out
in the good skooner Tickles
for you know that we was
going to go A Saleing in her
this summer the salt water
will smell good to me for
it is the first time ever
I was so long away from
salt water in my life I wish
you was out here for we
have A good time out
here I can tell you 4
or 5 of the Marblehead Boys
came out here last week
thay say that thay are

[page 3]
going to stop untill the
Regt goes home then thay
will see how we are recieved
in New York the Ladys of
the N.Y. 7th presented us
with A color Regtmental
flag that cost $250. it is
A splendid thing I tell you
I cant tell you any more
news at present so good
Afternoon but if you can
as well as not send A Box
with something to drink
for the 4th of July and
some fire Crackers and we
will keep it up out here
in the south tell Wm and
sam the Boys send thair
Regards to them and all
the rest of the Boys Nat
Haskell says he wishes Bill
was out here he be darned

[page 4]
if he would not have
A time Friend All I am
very much obliged to you
for the things and tell
the rest of the Boys that
I and all the rest of them
are obliged
                I remain yours
             until Death
                        West
              Jimmy
Please give the enclosed to
the Boys as thay are
directed and oblige your
            old Chum
                     Jimmy

MSS 8474-ab

[unsigned fragment of a letter from Callender St. George Noland to his wife]

                                                      Battery No: 7
                                                   June 22d  1862
Dear Mary
                                I have not had a letter from you
for a long time. I saw Billy yesterday & found him
much improved.  I spent last night with your
Uncle who is at all times glad to see me, & makes me
feel at  home–You all know, as much about the war,
as we do for we can not believe one of the many reports
we hear.  Tell Neph his mare suits me, better than any
horse I could get, she is very gentle & very fat.  I
am anxious to see my dear little ones & hope some
thing will turn up soon to draw off the Army
from this part of Va and then I shall go  home—
I am [in] a fine  cool house with good water but can
not say much for my eating–I wish I could get
some good corn meal to Mr. Burnett–Meal is $3–
per bushel–sugar 75 c pr lb–meats from 50 to 60 per lb
buttermilk 10 cents a glass–Suppose you are in
the harvest  How are you off for money?  I have some
but not much & can let you have—I wish to get
some clothes, but my living is so very high, that I do not

[remainder of page torn away]

                     Head Quarters 4th Division
                     Army of the Tenn  Camp Campbell
                       at La Grange  June 22nd  1862

Special Order
No 18
                      Chaplains Episcopal Church
Will not omit any part of the Service
laid down in the Prayer Book of the Holy
Catholic Episcopal Church
Official attention is called
to the Prayer for the President of the
United States.
                    By Order of
                          Brig Genl Hurlbut
                               c. c. campbell
                                 Major & Chief of Artillery


MSS 10645

Camp near New Bridge Va, Sunday June 22  1862
My dear Mother–although I have not written A letter to you this some
time past, I have not forgotten you, moveing about as we have been for
the past two months it was a much as I could do to answer the letters I
received from Home & as I answer Fathers letter as soon as I get an oppor-
tunity I thought they would do for both to day haveing nothing to do &
no letter to answer I thought I could do no better than write you A few
lines informing you how I get along & what we are doing here my health
is verry good & I hope it will continue so, nothwithstanding we have had
verry hard times since we have been on the Peninsular my health has
been first rate, as good as it ever was this season of the year, we have
passed through A great deal of rough wether & hard work at the present
time we are taking A little rest which we need verry much all eyes I
suppose are turned on Richmond & everyone at Home I see by the papers
believe that with the fall of Richmond the war will end whether it will
be so or not time will tell, you need not look for a move on the part of
McLellan for several weeks as he will not commence opperations untill
the siege guns & Morters are in Position & to get the siege guns & to get the
mortars up from the White House wil take time, those that remain at
Home can have no Idea of the immense amount of labour that is required
& the difficulties that are to be overcome preparing for A siege in this
part of the country we that belong to the Army of the Potomac know
what difficulties have to be surmounted & account for the long delays I
believe in some of the letters I have written Father I spoke about the long
time it took six mules to move A waggon eight miles now they can move
from the White House Landing to the chickahominy there from the fcars the
guns & amunition have to be drawn to the different batteries in which they
are to be placed Oxen are used for this purpose instead of Horses as at the siege
at Yorktown, all that is now required is pleasant weather  which I hope we
will have as we have had any quantity of rainy wether since we have been
on the Peninsular last thrusday 19th, we received shelter tents the first we have
had since we left Yorktown they are welcome I can tell you we have no shelter
whatever except what we could  rig out of our Ponchon & a verry poor shelter some
of them made if it had not been for the rubber punchons which some of the men
were fortunate enough to have we should have been poorly off, as it was some
of us might as well have been out in the rain as under our rude shelter but we
soon forgot our troubles, if we have two or three days rain trhen we look at the
clouds overhead but as soon as the sun comes out bright & forget all about the ran
then another cause for A growl is the Grunt fall in for dinner Co F, sings out oll[sic] pop
the Cook what have you got for dinner rice perhaps will be the answer any sugar
or molasses to put on it No, then keep your rice sometimes it will be soup which
is made in this way take five pails of water in three of them put some fresh meat
& boil it untill you have used up every drop of water in the other two kettles then
take out the meat & fill up the kettle water to put in A little rice & some prepared
vegitables & boil as long as you chose stiring all the time with A stick, then there
is the coffee which we have only morning & evening perhaps you would like to know
how that is made, the same kettles that are used for boiling pork salt beef & soup are
used for making coffee the Kettle (the kettle has no cover) are filled iwth water and
put over the fire as soon as the water begins to boil the coffee which is of A good quality
& light colour is thrown into the kettle ans left to boil until the dirt fromt he inside
of the kettle gets mixed  with the coffee which gives it A splendid black look, then it is
given out to us then we sit down to our breakfast which consists of hard crackers, by way
of  change we have McClellan pies which are made the same as the crackers, do you
think you would get tired if youhad to live on  hard crackers for six months
now why I ask you this if for this reason you know there is A large number of us that
have lived on just such food ever since we left Baltimore, well now would n\you
wonder if we should wish to get something better, & would you wonder if when we see
A suttlers waggon approach our Camp we run to that suttlers waggon if we have any
money in our pockets to get something good to eat no matter what the price, I say
would you wonder, do you think A piece of cheese would go bad, or a few gintercakes
or A few lemons or oranges, in Fact do you think anything the suttler would be
likely to have would taste bad & then would you wonder if the waggon should be surrounded
by A Hungry crowd willing to pay any price for A small piece of cheese & A few cakes,& then
would you wonder if I was disappointed after waiting an hour for my turn to be served & have
the cheese all gone before I get A piece now the Suttlers take advantage of these circumstances
& charge awful prices to give you an Idea how we are swindled I will Just name A few prices
which the suttlers charge cheese 40 to 50 cts per lb butter 50  & lemmons 3 for twenty five cents ginger
cakes the same as the bakers sell for five cents pr doz the stutler gives 10 for 25 cts preserved meats
such as are sold in the groceries for 50 cts pr can 1.50 & everything else in proportion now
I know what you will say. You will say George you are not oblidged to buy of the suttler
you should save every cent, the only answer I shall give is come out here & try our
grub live as we have lived since we have been on the Peninsular Jo was over to se[e] me
A few days ago he looks well I was glad to see him as I cannot get out myselfe that is
to go any distance, how I should like to drop in some fine morning & get A good cup
of coffee (something we seldom get now) I was going to say warm buiscuit but
happened to think that mary Wallace is not there now I dont wish you to understand
by this that you dont know how to make god bread but you know that Mary
Wallace could beat the world on buscuits. I will close by hoping to meet you
next Fall in Portland from your Son
                                                             George

Letters from George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph  of the 5th Maine  were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in the fall of 1865 in order to remember his sons who were both mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862 and Joseph at Soptsylvania, May 18, 1864.


MSS 66

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

June 22   Bright, beautiful, balmy Sabbath. Services now
              held in the Camp of the 4th Infantry. A large
              hospital tent was tastefully dressed with Evergreens.
              Sears were improvised and all the necessary
              furniture for the altar.  Our minister of
              last Sunday, assisted by the gray haired,
              venerable chaplain of the 5th N. Y. Zouaves
              and another minister performed the services.  A
              very respectable congregation of Generals,
              Colonels and all ranks down to privates
              attended. After the sermon the Holy Communion
              was administered.  It was an impressive scene.
              If it had been known that before another Sabbath\
              all then present would have been engaged in a
             deadly conflict with a desperate foe, the occasion
             would have been indeed more solemn.  All passed
            off pleasantly & was productive of good results
            Nothing, it seemed to me, could have been more
            necessary & becoming than the humble worship in
           God’s first temple, at the time when it was not known
            how soon the deadly conflict might begin and
           many of us hurled into the judgement seat.
           It was an hour not spent in vain to me and I
           know it had a good influence upon others who
           spoke of it, who had not been much accustomed
           to speak or to think of such things.  May the
           seed then sown all fall upon good ground_______

        
MSS 9044

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

Sunday 21st  [sic]  We have all been to church and heard a fine sermon.
But I  have felt dull to day–Hearing or at least reading in the
dispatch of this morning that Burnsides has sent from Norfolk
& Suffolk 6000 troops to take Welden- & they are now only
30 miles from that place–at Franklin Depot–From the same
paper I learn that the Yankees have been shelling the 18th
Mississippi Regiment–& have done very little, but some da
-mage–The girls went alone to church–.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio]
Sunday, June 22, 1862

Have been busy
all day int fact too
busy for a sabbath
was employed during
the morning drawing
back rations belonging
to Sweet who commenced
boarding with us this
day Alex and I went
down to Mr Harris
got some butter chicens
paid Sweet for his
rations Went to
Mr Brumer[?] p[resented
an order and got
from him 3 dollars
recd Letters from Father & Eliza
Parade.  Clear fine day

MSS 10317

                                  4 ½ miles of Richmond

My Dear Father                  22nd June 1862
                     there is nothing
whatever happening along the
lines wh: would interest you.
The lines are close, & sometimes
heavy skirmishing takes place, but
nothing more. All the news I have
wh: it is probable you may not
have, is that General Jackson
is coming down with his army –
to join us. He is said to have
been at Louisa Court House
 yesterday with his army. That
is the only item,I know of, wh:
looks like a fight was expected
soon. I heard to day that General
Johnson is riding about. I sup-
pose it is true & sincerely hope it is.
The evening of the fight, just
before he was wounded, our

[page 2]
gun was just opening the
fight & firing very rapidly to cover
the attack of our infantry,
nearly all of our generals of any
note, among them president Davis,
were stand sitting on their horses
close by us; Johnson’s face was excited
& I thought him the finest look-
ing man I ever saw. McCarthy
started to Johnson to ask him
to withdraw as he was exposing
himself unnecessarily, when
he was checked by the wounding
of corporal Crump of our guns!
Not very long afterward Johnson
advanced farther & was wounded.
But I don’t suppose McCarthy’s
advice would have had much
effect. It is Sunday evening – I
was prevented writing this mor-
ning from writing by the

[page 3]
moving of our camp & as I am
driver this week it gave
me some trouble – The regular
driver is absent sick or pretend-
ing sickness & the different mem-
bers supply his place – a week at
a time to each man. So to conclude
my letter may be a little later
than usual this time. We moved
only about a mile crossing the
road & passing a little to the south
but further back from the
enemies lines. Our army seems
more busy than ever fortify-
ing. They have fortified the place
I wrote you they were not for-
tifying. We brought “Long
Tom” & some other guns down
& silenced their battery completely
some several days ago. Stuarts        
exploit was a gallant one.

[page 4]
I see the Lunenburg cavalry
was with him. I wonder how
Lan liked it. Is there not some
mistake about a company
from Lunenburg being  dis-
banded for want of arms?
My opinion is that the  govermt.
can furnish arms to every
man they can get. Our army
is well armed – a great many
improved arms among them.
It is said that Pryor’s brigade
did not come up to expectation.
Indeed that Huger’s entire di-
vision did not its duty. Huger      
is blamed. It is said he was
ordered to begin the fight
on the right at six A.M. but
he did not so until about
eleven. I don’t suppose any blame
could be attached to Pryor.

[Written upside down on the top of page 4]
Do not send any more paper in
your letters until I write for it.

[Written upside down on the top of page 3.]
I got hold of my knapsack a few
days ago, but it was badly rifled. Of

[Written upside down on the top of page 2.]
all outer clothes & socks. Drawers & a few
articles alone were left. In it I found
some paper. I have not time to write

[Written upside down on the top of page 1.]
anymore. Give my best love to all.
My dear Father farewell. Affly yr son,
                       W.H. Perry

William H. Perry, Jr., 1836-1915, of the Richmond Howitzers, after the war a Virginia lawyer

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d