Monday June 16th 62
My dear girls,
I was disappointed in not having a moment of time to write
you by Capt. Robertson I sent off my trunk in such great haste by
him on Friday eveng last–then yr Pa & I went directly up to Sudbrook
we returned this evening (I mean morng) & I find yr poor cousin Jane did
not as I had been told she wd go down in the same boat with the Capt. &
that she is still in town–I will ask her to take an open letter for me.
Louisa has just come in & says she does’nt think Jane wd like to take a
letter–I will send it to W. I……..& get him to send it by one of the officers.
All are well at Sudbrook. We are all miserably anxious to hear if any
of those we love have suffered near R—–d or in the Valley–not one
word from Jackson since his engagement with Fremont first–& then
Shields–all our dear Balt: boys there!  My own dear boys near
R—d. Sidneys- & Jane R’s–My heart is agonized about them all!
Did you know that Lennox Smith & young Governeur Morris are both in
the Federal army? passed thro’ about two weeks ago with the New York
71st gone to Wash:n 8 months men.  Your uncle Governeur & aunt Jane
are Black Keys]?] — Pat is only for the Union I believe on its old basis.
Ere this you have recd yr trunk–I hope you thanked Capt Robertson, he
was so kind & polite about it & I did not see him at the last–I like him
so much & wd have loved to see him every day.  Have you recd my long
long letter by Mr T.?  Is’nt he a charming fellow?  I cd cry now at not
getting all those letters entrusted to Mr D. but in was a comfort that he
remailed them & did not burn them up, maybe we’ll have better luck
next time.  How I sd love to know how you like yr things–if the
gloves, the cor: the boats & shoes fitted–If the boys needed the things
I sent them &c &c &c ad infinitum.  If the gloves did not fit
write me word by some of the return prisoners & I may be able
to get you some more–perhaps you cd return those I sent by
some Fed: officer.  I suppose you are both aiding your dear
Aunt Minnie in her work of mercy–I wish I cd help too!
How about coming home?  I am afraid of a southern summer
for dear Jennie she is of such a bilious habit–Lu Lu
says she does believe aunt Het & aunt Jennie will ever


[page 2]
come home–I think when they do she will lose her senses.

We expect yr aunt Ellen & Esther in two weeks–school
here breaks up & we go to Sudbrook–yr cousin Louisa &
the two girls continue here & will keep house on their own
hook.  When we go up Mr M intends escorting his aunt
Eliz: yr cousin Clara & one or two others to Boston on
a visit to their friends.  I must not make my letter
longer–Goodbye my beloved children.  May God bless
& protect you all prays yr devoted Mother.

Miss Hettie Cary
Richmond Va

letter postmarked Petersburg June 24

Letter sent across the lines to Hettie and Jennie Cary from their mother in Baltimore


MSS 1415

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

June 17th

To day the rebs are hard at work on
their fortifications, which have become
quite formidable, all is quiet as usual
Pleasant and warm.

MSS 8493

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

Wednesday,  June 18, 62
This is for
June 17th written
by mistake
Guard mounting
after which all
went to practice
practiced several
pieces new ones
Recd from the 28th Band
Hunted up a place
to practice and fixe
it up with seats &
desks practiced again
during the afternoon
Were presented this
afternoon with Gloves
by the Adjutant and
ordered to fix up
[?] [?] clean Horns
[?] Parade after which
Drilled marched some
Clear sunshine day
grows cold during the
evening  quite so now.

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]

After breakfast this morning – had the
carry-all hitched up & took Brother into
town – Spent the morning purchasing
things for Capt H & talking to Brother, Mr.
T Benton & Wm Logan at the Spottswood
hotel – Returned to Office at one o’clock – The papers
of today contain orders of the fight on James Island
& particulars of Stuarts great Cavalry tour to the
Enemies rear.  Still troubled with my bowels today –
     Everything is quiet along our lines today – M C
is Evidently waiting for reinforcements before attacking
us.  he has fortified his position strongly since
the 1st – too strongly for us to make another attempt
against him – Am at a loss to know whether the mails
are going through to Jackson La. or not – will run the risk
of a letter tomorrow – Heard today through the
I columns of the Whig that Lieut Klinck of the Washing
-ton Light Infantry died in Philadelphia last week – Another
Noble myrter [martyr] to our Country’s Life! Poor Klinck!    

[Lt. Theodore Klinck
Washington Light Infantry: a local name for Col A, Hampton Legion Infantry]


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; comment by Robert K. Krick]

MSS 6154

[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars]

June 17  18 19   Passed wearily and hotly.  Some considerable
                         comfort was gleaned by putting our beds under
                         the bowers in front of our tents & catching each
                         zephyr as it floated lazily along. These days
                         were dreamy & not unpleasant.  The heat
                         drove each man to the shade of his bowre[sic]:
                         the stillness of the air rendered more so by
                         hum & buzzing of insects promoted thoughts of home
                         and one’s imagination savoured more
                         of dreamland than of grim-visaged war
                         whose wrinkled front we were soon to see.

MSS 9044

[from the diary of Jonathan B. Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars]

June 16   This day heralded the arrival of some more
               tents and each officer has now a common tent to
               himself. What a wonderful comfort in having
               nine feet square all to one’s self with the privacy
               of which it is capable.
               Heavy firing in front today.  Balloon up.
               These two armies cannot remain in such in-
                activity much longer. A collision must come.

MSS 9044

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

Monday 16 So cold this morning that  I have had a large fire made to warm
the room–The girls have been up to the Library to get books with Mr
VanDyke–That is Milly & Eliza.  the others have gone to return visits.
After sewing all the morning I walked out to see Miss S Mallet
–not finding her at home– I went over to Judge Person’s & spent
an hour or two with Mrs. Person who is very unwell again
Mrs. Tyler was out but returned before I left–While there I saw Mrs
Hepburn & Mrs. Fetter.  The girls had visitors last night. They amu
-sed themselves with music. Mrs. Dawson leaves for Wilmington
tomorrow she promised to come down after tea to sit with me
& say goodbye–but she has not come–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
                        June 16th

     As usual all is very very quiet, both armies
are closely watching each other, there will
be a break some where soon.  The rebs are
throwing all their reserves on to their right,
During the night the rebs threw up an
immense rifle pit, also mounted several
field batteries in their breast works,
Very warm and pleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7493

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

Monday 16  Sore throat and much in
disposition.  Pretty busily engaged
Made arrangements with Mrs Otey
for the reception of some of Eugenes woun
-ded men, who are to be sent up. Com-
ing home in the evening found my
old friend Ed. T. Tayloe, just from
Richd where he had been staying with
Mr. Robertson, & whom he saw Lewis
& William yesterday at dinner.  He
says a battalion of 300 men has
been detailed from the several brigades

to act as pioneers,or sappers & miners
and that Lantham has been appointed
to command it– He had just finished
repairing the Bridge which had been
much injured by the fresh.  From Tay-
oe and the papers learn the details
of Stuart’s exploit,which is unprece-
dented in warfare.  With 1500 cavalry &
two pieces of horse artillery he left Rich
mond Thursday Evg.  [?] [Taylors -?]
[?] to Hanover C. H.  church
white house, than round to the lower
Chickahominy which he crossed by a
bridge which he stopped to repair, &
arrived Sunday  [?] at day break
at Gen Lee’s Hd Qrs, after making a
sweep of 100 miles round the enemy
passing on their rear–The results of
this reconnaissance, were [?] the
accurate information he obtained of the
position & resources of the enemy, the
destruction of 100 wagons, their transports
in the Pamunkey filled with commissary
& ordnance stores, the destruction of depots
of stores and 100 prisoners, and all with the
loss of one man killed–Capt Latané and
three wounded.  A more brilliant feat

was never performed in the way of
reconnaissance The enemy asked
whether Jackson had come to Richd
naturally thinking that Ashby must
have been at the head of the expedition

[William Latané, a University of Virginia alumnus, was honored in John R. Thompson’s poem “The burial of Latané” and by William D. Washington’s painting of the burial, a copy of which hung in every Virginia parlour for decades.]

MSS 4763       

Blackford’s diary will not resume until the 24th

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

Monday, June 16, 1862

This morning
after Guard  mounting
wrote letter to
Theodore Shank
spoke to him about
the Band as I hear
they are getting one
up
This afternoon Jo
and I cleaned our
horns quite a change
the other boys
cleaned theirs some
Had parade this
evening after which
the companies drilled
Saw the Artillery
drilling
Mostly clear but
cool

MSS  10317