[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

19th  Mother & I have serious talks
about the prospects of servants leaving.
It is a serious matter.  Droves of
negroes go through the streets–Many
women with babies in their arms.  A
Hundred passed to day about to take
passage for Hayti–poor creatures!

MSS 2563-b

[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 19th 1862
Spent today in the office – nursing Capt
Harrison & Brother, both of whom are sick.  Brother made
an attempt this morning to ride out on Billy to see
Mullie but had to come back without finding his Camp
being too sick he had to return – he put up with me for
the night – I left him Easier at dark & went into town to
see Mr Coffin & let M Dunlop Know where Brother
is – Spent the Evening at Mr Dunlops with the young
ladies & the old gentleman – Mrs being sick with Croup –
after leaving them stopped at the Spottswood hotel &
learned from Geo Morgan the sad intelligence of the death
of John Didlake! at the battle of Cross Keys, the
noble fellow fell pierced through the head with a
Yankee bullet – as I learned afterwards from Capt
Dan Wilson whom I saw at Mr Frielands – Oh my
God ! this war is taking away our most gallant      
men! I had hoped to see my old friend again – but
like other “heroes he has died the death they like to
meet.” John has been sick all this spring, & was very
feeble upon going into battle, he was among

[The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
the first to fall – Returned to Dr Burrills &
Sat up tonight nursing Mr Geo Coffin who is very low
with Dysenterry – His Son’s wound is doing well –
They telegraphed yesterday for Mrs Coffin who had
returned to Charleston – Heard today of heavy
skirmishing between Kershaws Infantry regt  & the
Enemy yesterday in which our men took the contents
of a yankee Camp Church – they run the Yankees –
G.M. Road – Skirmishing also on our right by the Va
Reg’ts


[Brother: George William Logan, Jr.]

[John H. Didlake, formerly of Rightor’s Bn., killed at Port Republic, actually
the day after Cross Keys, as a lieutenant in Co. D, 7th La. Infantry. -RKK]
[Dan Wilson: Capt. Daniel A. Wilson, Jr.,  of the 7th La.]


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; family note by Sally Rice Forsyth Donelly; annotations by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

           Poe’s Farm  2 miles below
         Richmond June 19th  1862
Dear Mama
                              If Nannie has
received my last letter written
a day or two ago in which I told
her how long it had been since
I had heard from home. You
may imagine how delighted
I was to receive the last three
letters from Pa & you & Nannie.
It was a real family talk
as Pa called it  & I am sorry
now I scolded so about
you all not writing, as it
seems from Nannie’s note
that she has written several

[page 2]times & the letters were lost.
I was very glad to hear that
you were all so well, because
I knew that some of the family
had been sick & was fearful
it was still the case.  I myself
am enjoying my usual good
health. There is nothing new to
write about at all & my letter
must necessarily be a short
one: I reckon you all see
the papers pretty regularly
and they have published
all the late news.  Old
Stonewall Jackson, the
Napoleon of this war, has
been sweeping everything
before him in the valley &
Stuart down here, has made

[page 3]
the most brilliant exploit I
ever read or heard of.  I expect
to get the transfer to the “Ches=
apeake Artillery” today & will
probably join it tomorrow or
next day.  I went into Richmond
yesterday with a gun to have
some repairs done to it &
there met with the company
I expect to join.  Martin Harvey
told me that the Captain
(Brown) had gone over that
morning to General Pendleton’s
head-quarters, to get him to
sign the transfer & that he
would send it to me today.
The Sec War had nothing to
do with it, it only had to
be signed by the General

[page 4]
of the division to which I was
transferrred. The officers in
the company are all nice
gentlemen & most of the
men are nice good fellows,
though some of them are
right “hard cases”.  I will
either get a Sergeantcy in
the company or the position
of Gunner. In either case,
instead of having two horses
to drive & attend to, I will
have one horse to ride &
will be placed in the line
                         other
of promotion. My ^ reason
for joining the company, is
to get rid of driving horses
in this one & there is a pros-
pect of getting up in the
mountains under old
Jackson. General Pendleton
has promised the Captain
to send his battery off, the
first time any reinforce=
ments are sent to Jackson.

[page 5]
which atime he says will be
next week.  He sent the
whole battery into Richmond
yesterday to have everything
about the guns & caissons
fixed up & painted over
again ready for the march.
The battery consists of one elegant
rifled gun, two 6 pound field
pieces & one 12 pound Howitzer.
I wish to goodness I could stay
here until this fight is decided,
but I am afraid it will not
come off soon enough: I
reckon though we will have
a plenty of it to do when we
get under old Jackson. I know
you will not like my going
off up there, but I believe I
will be just as well off up
there, Mama, as I am here.

[page 6]
There is only one thing I don’t
like about it & that is, it
will be so hard to hear from
home & to get letters home.
Martin Harvey said he thought
the company would certainly be
ordered off next week; he didn’t
know what part of the week.
The company is now at Battery
No 2, down on the river road.
I am very much obliged for
sending the shoes down to me
so promptly & which suited
 me in every respect.  The pair
that Pa gave me fitted me
about the same way they
                         too
did him; one was ^ short, &
small across the toe & hurt
me so much that I sold them
to a fellow for 7 dollars after
I got the other pair. The

[page 7]
pair you sent me will last
me all the summer.  I
am in want of nothingnow
but one flannel undersirt
which I expect howevcer to
get in Richmond & two more
pair of socks. I am very much
obliged Mama for the kind
offer on your & aunt Becca’s
part to send me a box
of eatables and I should
send you word to send
them right down if I expected
to remain around R- long
enough, but we may move
off before you could send
the box down, so I reckon
you had better put it off.
I reckon you all are
luxuriating in cherries
& strawberries?  I was

[page 8]
quite surprised to hear that
I had another little cousin.
you didn’t tell me what
her name was. Give my
love to Cousin Bec & all
at Uncle Tom’s.  Give my
best love to Aunt Mary
& tell her I will write
to her next.  I must now
close Mama, for I have
nothing else to write.  I
shall look for a long letter
from Nannie in a few days.
                   to
Give my love ^ Aunts
Bec & Eliza & to all
at Grand-pa’s & to Walt
Bec, Dinkie, & little
Tommy & Leight & Frank.
Hoping to hear from you
again soon I remain
   Yr devoted son
    James P. Williams

James Peter Williams, 1844-1893

1st Regt. Virginia Artillery and Maryland Volunteers, Chesapeake Artillery; later a freight agent and the last superintendent of the Lynchburg division of the James River and Kanawha Canal 
Company.

MSS 490

                    Camp Near Richmond
                       June 18th  1862

My Dear Creek

                     I received yours by Mr
Byrum and was truly glad to hear that
Maggie had again got well, it has taken
a great weight from my mind.  I am
also happy to hear of you doing so well
I trust you will continue to do so, for
as long as I can hear of you being all right
I can make myself comparatively
happy and contented here, but when
anything gets wrong it makes me feel
miserable, as I cannot be with you to
render you that assistance which your
condition demands.  I hope you will
take good care of yourself, and I will
come to you as soon as an opportunity
offers, it will probably be some time yet
before that may take place, but you may

[page 2]
depend I will avail myself of it the first
chance.
I cannot write you much at present as we
are on Picket close on the edge of the old
battlefield, and I have not time, as the
courier starts for the city in a few minutes
and I must send this by him.
You need not send me any more socks
as I have enough to do me for the present
and I dont [want] anything, but what I cannot
do without, as we are [?] to loose so much
when we move.  I will send my trunk
home, by Stephen McCulley, if he will take
it, with mine and Bills winter clothing
in it, and if we are still here next winter
we can have it sent out again.  I have
not seen Byrum yet; but will as soon as we
get back to camp.  William is well, give my
kindest regards to all.  Kiss Maggie for me
and retain my love your self
                                                       Your William

William Anderson, Major of the 4th South Carolina Infantry to his wife Lucretia McFall Anderson


MSS 10366

                          Baltimore  June 18th 1862
United States of America
         To Wm. Meade Addison
(Late U.States Attorney)                       Dr.

To services rendered the United
States in the seizure of the Tele-
graph Office, & the papers therein,
in the City of Baltimore in May
1861——-                                 $250:00

The circumstances under which this
claim arises are as follows:–
    About the 6th of May 1861, Mr Peter-
kin, a Special Agent of the War Depart
ment, accredited to me by the
Attorney General as one possessing
the full confidence of the Secretary
of War, presented to me a letter
from the Attorney General, a copy
of which is enclosed, “inviting &
requesting my prompt & energetic
cooperation with all the means at
my command”‘ to get possession
of any Telegraphic Messages that
might have been sent with

[page 2]
purposes hostile to the Government
, or in relation to supplies of
Arms & Provisions, purchased for
and forwarded to the Southern Rebels.
      Mr. Peterkin was a stranger
in this city: and the work was
necessarily to be done by me.
     He informed me that it was
the wish & purpose of the Govern-
ment that the seizure should be
made simultaneously in many
cities.  This was necessary in order
that the measure might be ef-
fectual–
      After prudent and long in-
terviews with Mr. Peterkin, the plan
was formed, & on the day fixed upon
for the seizure, I went to Fort McHen-
ry, the HeadQuarters of General Cad-
wallader: informed him of the project,
and requested him to place an
armed force at my command, in
the City of Baltimore & within reach
of my orders, so that if it should
become necessary to resort to violence
to accomplish the object, the troops
would be at hand.  This he did.
                                                At

[page 3]
At the appointed hour, I went, accom
panied by the Special Agent, to the
office & sent for the president Mr. Zenus
Barnum, one of our wealthiest citizens–
On his arrival I explained my pur-
pose, reminded him of the frantic condition
in which the City then was: that it
was the interest of all good citizens to
quiet it as much as possible: and
that this was particularly the interest
of the large property-owners: that the ne-
cessities of the Government required the
seizure of the despatches, no matter
what the consequences might be:
and then informed him that I had an
Armed Body of men within reach suf-
ficient to effect a seizure without
fail: and invited him to give me peace-
ably the documents required.  He as-
sented to it-& I sent to the Post-Office
in the city for mail-bags & a Post-Office
clerk: superintended the collection of the
despatches: received them: had them
                        in a Post Office wagon
sealed up & carried ^ to the Mail Car of
the Balto & Ohio R-Road company, by which
they proceeded to Washington, where in the
evening they were delivered under
the superintendence of Mr. Peterkin to the
War Department–

[page 3]
Thus it will be seen that the wishes
of the Department were perfectly
gratified.
    The agent Mr. Peterkin distinctly
informed me that the Department
would compensate me liberally
for the services to be rendered.
    the services were rendered heartily
and with pleasure, notwithstand
    they were
-ing  ^ aside of my regular duties
and the action wholly without
precedent: and, in view of the temper
of the city at the time, not without
the risk of some personal peril.—-

Respectfully
      Wm. Meade Addison
      Late U. States attorney—

[enclosure]

    Copy
                 Attorney General’s Office
                     6th may 1861

Sir:
   This will be handed to you by
a special and accredited agent
of the Secretary of War. The object
in view is to enlist your services
and exertions on behalf of the Uni-
ted States Government to obtain
possession of any Telegraphic Despatches
that may have been sent with pur-
poses hostile to this Government,
or in relation to supplies of arms
& provisions purchased or forwarded
to the Southern Rebels.  all of which
will be fully explained to you by the
Agent of the War Department.
                The object of this letter is
to invite and request your prompt
and energetic cooperation, with all
the means at your command, in
carrying out in this regard the objects
and purposes of the Government.
              I am very Respectfully
 (signed)   Edwd. Bates
                    Attorney General

Wm. M. Addison, Esqr.
       U.S: Attorney for Md
                Baltimore–Md–

[on second page]

Account No. 2

MSS 4707

         Jones
Camp  ^Flat Top Mountain
Wednesday Thursday morning June 18
Dear Father
      We are again
fixed in camp
with a fair prospect
of remaining here
some time.
We removed
our camp about a mile
from where I wrote
you last
We have again recd
Tents We have now
the Sibley Tent the
largest and best in
use.  Our camping place
is a very pleasant
one We have a
most magnificent
view of the mountains

[page 2]
only 6 Companies of
our Regiment are here
now the other 4 Companies
are down on the New
River near the mouth
of bluestone guarding
th a ferry
I Recd a letter from Mother
a few days since she
asked if I wanted my
watch yet certainly
if you can send it–
I have heard that the
boys are getting up
a band again in Sav–
is this so if it is tell
Eli and Tom to fix up
my old horn and they
can learn if they
get up a band and
can send them
musick and it will
cost them nothing

[page 3]
Savannah should
support a band and
I am certain can have
as good a one as
Ashland
Are you doing anything
about that matter in
Pa
Have you shorn the
sheep? what will you
do with the wool?
How much corn have
you planted?
I have written in
great haste to get it
in this days mail
I have to go to practice
now and must close
write soon 
      J D Templeton

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


MSS 10317

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

Wednesday 18th  one letter only.  No papers–That one from Willie K Hill
I wish I could see the dear little thing–She is very smart-very graceful
& I think quite pretty.  How proud her father would have been of her
had he lived–She was 9 years old in Nov. & has read Beulah,
Mather’s Recompense & several other books thro’ went to afternoon service
very few there.  No company at night.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

18th  Letter from our dear Jim.  He
has charge of Hospital in Richmond
and Brad is his assistant. They
have their hands full of sick & wounded.
Dick Maury’s wound was gun
shot fracture of the arm  He is
doing well  Mat’s people have letters.

MSS 2563-b

                                                               Camp near Staunton
                                                                   June 18th 1862
My own darling Bettie
                               Wednesday, the 18th June, finds us occu-
pying one of the most beautiful spots we have yet camped on
A belt of wood, sloping northward skirts a most charming
little stream, as rapid and restless as the times we live in,
though taking its rise from a few springs not more than 100yds
distant.  Beautiful fields, covered with the richest grass, are spread
out before us.  Horses and men, for the present are enjoying
most delightful repose.  Merry, rolicking fun & the jocund
laugh have usurped the places of the stern look & war-worn
visage of the weary soldier.  I suppose we have some 8,000 or 10,000
men camped around here, most of them, however, being reinforcements
lately brought out, and I can say with Coleridge that we appear
as lazy and “Idle as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean.”
We have reason however to be very thankful, for we are mostly
very well, though some, a good many indeed, have given way
under the exposure of our late marches and have sever attacks
of fever & pneumonia.  the Captain has been quite sick, and Lt
Cochran is just entering upon an attack of fever–has been
sick no some five days.–I seldom leave camp and
never except on business, and have but little intercourse
with the remainder of the world, excepting the army.  But
camp life has its charms, as well as it sins and horrors

[page 2]
No good soldier can pass through a campaign, however arduous,
without being able to say he has had many a happy hour;
but wickedness & religion, the serious & the profane, the amusing
and the ridiculous are here in most wonderful combinations.
Let me introduce to your acquaintance Segt Waller Holladay
He is our 6th sergt and commands the 5th gun & detachment.
He is quite a wonderful specimen of the “genus homo”. He is a
lean man and short, has dark hair foxy eyes, blackish
sandy beard, dark pair and a over-eaten cadaverous
visage.  He is a son of the Revd Mr Holladay, who was elected
prof (president) of H.S. College & died soon after.  Waller first
saw the light in Turkey (I think) while his father was a missionary.
He is a boy of fine sense, can learn well, and has very con-
siderable literary & scientific attainments, and, for  his age, is an
excellent mathematician; but he has about as little common
(very uncommon) practical sense as any man I ever saw.
Without him to amuse us we would miss many a hearty
laugh which we now enjoy.  He knows nothing about riding
a horse, and we gave him a very good horse which had
some little spirit, and Waller was so afraid of it that we
had (at  his most earnest solicitation) to trade it for “The Sergt’s
little mare,” which is now one of the best known personages
about camp.  On our retreat, when we came to ford South River, the
ford was very deep & the current rapid, and one of the lead horses
of one of the carriages was washed down & cam very near being
drowned. The Sergt. had not crossed & was in great perplexity about

[page 3]
about the status of his “little mare”. We soon began to discuss the
question, & it was soon pretty generally concluded that Holladay’s “little
mare” was a May colt and that such colts always were prone
to lie down in water.  With equal unanimity it was soon
agreed that the only method of preventing such a dire calamity
was to tie up the “little mare’s” tail, which was no sooner agreed
upon than done by the sergeant to the infinite amusement of
                      practiced
the bystanders who ^ upon his childish ignorance.  The sergeants
mare has had a very sore back also, which it is said, the
sergeant proposed to relieve by shortening his stirrups and
rather standing up in them.  But, upon inquiry, the sergeant
says, that, if any man says that he proposed any such
                                         “he
remedy for a sore-back horse ^ tells a lie”—-who comes there.
An orderly who brings news from our commanding officer–“Prepare
to march immediately & proceed by way of Staunton toward
Waynesboro”–Captain about–horses all out–many men all
about–hot as fire with the sun–such is war and so here
we go.  My orders are “Prepare to march immediately–strike
tents–drivers to your teams!”  I have my own horse to saddle
mess chest to put in &c &c, so goodbye for the present

[letter of James L. Dinwiddie, 1st Lt, Carrington’s Company, Virginia Light Artillery will resume on the 20th]

MSS 10102

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