Fair Oaks Station Va
                       June 13th / 62

Dear Uncle

               I recd a letter
from you while in camp
before Yorktown, and have
many a time since then
determined to answer it
but have not as yet had
the time.  About a week
since I got another from
you and as it is a good
chance to write now I im-
prove it.  We are now en

[page 2]
camped near the railroad
where the fight took place
on Sunday.  Our regiment
(I suppose you are aware) was
not in the fight although
ready and waiting.  Our
division, and part of
our brigade (the 7th Mich
and 20th Mass) did good
service completely routing
the rebels.  We were marched
to the battlefield, and
then sent back as we
had had no orders from
our Gen. Sedgwick.  The
day we got here (Sunday
night) the ground was
completely covered with
dead men, horses, broken
guns, equipments, knap
sacks, canteens, overcoats,
and many other articles
of war.  It was sickening

[page 3]
to see the fields of dead
in every direction, ghastly
and pale, and some
of them having lain
in the sun and rain
the stench was horrible.
Ditches were dug and
they were thrown in
to it and that was
the last of those poor
fellows.   The rebels are
shelling us quite lively
this morning, trying to
feel our batteries but we
have kept still until
a few minutes ago but
are now giving them fits.
We do not mind this
sport at all now as it
has grown old and we
used to the sound.  Where
We have very little peace
now as we have to fall

[page 4]
in every time the pickets fire
or any alarm.  We do not
dare hardly to wash ourselves.
Working parties are out
all the time digging
entrenchments and works
and I expect we shall have
to go pretty soon so I
must hurry up. Give me
love to Aunt Susan
Louise Miss Puckins[?] and
all inquiring friends, re
serving a very large share
yourself. Excuse this and believe
me.             Your Affec. Nephew
                    George O. Brown

P.S. You must excuse
        this uninteresting
        letter and I will
        endeavor to answer
        your next more prompt
        ly.   George

MSS 38-348

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

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

Friday 13th  A very warm day  I have finished my dress–& have
written a long letter to Liz–Mrs Wingfield comes to night for
Wilson to say with her mother–We are all grieving about
it & I shall hate to see her go–For tho’ she is a very young woman
only 21 Still she stays a great deal with me–& we walk toge
-ther every afternoon–I have a long letter from Tom received
this morning–His Regiment was in advance of the Army & the
pickets only a half mile from the enemy–His Major Campbell
was sick & he was then staying with his Lieutenant Colonel
at head quarters–He likes his Captain Sessions very much–said
he was his particular friend–The armies were only 2 miles
apart–& they were expecting a fight every moment–Toms
Regiment was sent on picket two days after he arrived
there & he said they had been knocking about ever since–Arms
in hand–& guns loaded–A little skirmishing was constant
ly going on–& the Yankees were sending up balloons–
He said they were all very much cheered up at StoneWall
Jackson Victories–first over Banks–then Shields–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts]

 June 13th.
     The weather here for some days past has been
pleasant, though hot, but the nights are actually cold.
There is much less sickness in camp than at first, as we
have now got the tents trenched about; while at the start
we slept in the mud: all the officers have also laid board
floorings in their tents.     All I have to wish for, now
is, that we may be on the move; for I cannot find any
pleasure in our present dead-and-alive sort of vegetating.
– – – – The company I am in (Co. D.), is the toughest on
the field, and a set that will take the upper hand if
they can get it; but I have shewn [sic] them that I will
have respect and obedience, and they are beginning to
understand it –

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130

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

  June 13th

All very quiet to day,  we were in harness all
day expecting to move at every moment.
The balloon is up to day.  Quite warm and
pleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

Adjt. Jno. W. Daniel
     11th Va. Regmt.
                        Judge Wm. Daniel Jr.
                             Lynchburg,
                                       Va.

                         Camp   June 12th ‘62
My Dear Father –
                               I have just
written Grandmama a long
letter [.] I will not write any
of you at Rivermont but a
few lines till tomorrow.
All quiet – no particular
indications of a fight. We
remain in our old Camp,
& are doing nothing –
     Will let you hear from
me tomorrow. I enquired
concerning the saddle at
Mr. Hix’s [?] stable. It was
there: My Best love to
Ma, & Mrs. Cabell
             Your affect. Son
                John W. Daniel
I saw Stuart yesterday – He was
doing admirably – JWD.

[This next letter is written upside down on stationery pre-printed, “Muster Roll of the Field, Staff and
Band,]
                              Camp near Richmond
                                                June 13th 1862.
     My Dear Sarah –
                                It has been many days since I
had the pleasure of hearing from you by letter,
and as I am anxious to have our correspond-
dence resumed, I will attempt to invoke it by
by reminding you that one of the dearest
and greatest pleasures of an absent soldier
is to receive frequent intelligence from the
loved ones left at home – relatives from
whom a moment may separate from not
for a day or a year but forever!
     But enough of this – write me as often as
you can consistently with your other duties
and be assured I will always give your
letters prompt attention –
     I learn that you have recently been en-
gaged in your final examination, & I have
 been glad to know that you were devoting
yourself to your studies with praiseworthy diligence
and that you daily enjoyed the [-]
of advancement, & self improvement –
     I hope it needs no encouragement from me
to stimulate you in your laudable course –
but I assure you that I am highly satisfied, and
will always be by such evidences of
of your wisdom – May you continue with
the favor of heaven to grow wiser & better every
day –
     Papa I suppose has duly delivered
the momentoes of the Seven Pines which I sent  
you by him, and has given you all accounts
of his experience on the battle-fields.
     The spectacles which he witnessed were
horrible beyond description   – and presented
a terrible picture of the suffering, and disasters
of war. I will not attempt to rehearse the
events [of] the day again as I am
satisfied that he has given you much
better description of the scenes of the memorable

[page 2]
31st. than I would be able.
     We are just now lying quietly [rest of line torn off]
without excitement of any post to inter-
rupt its tediousness – The enemy it is re-
ported have fallen back many sev-
eral miles beyond his former positions
and is digging dirt lustily – I think there
will be no fight for several weeks.
     McClellan I have no doubt is convin-
ced of the impractiibility of over coming
even with his tremendous army the
gallant soldiers we have assembled for
the defense of the Capitol and has
retired to await the arrival of reinforce-
ments.
      I have heard nothing from Abram
for a long time but I suppose he is doing
well. remember me to him when you
write. Tell me what has become of
Olwiny [?] & Pat, & Willie Norvall, & remember me
to them all & also Uncle Sam & family.
Love to Aunt Ann, Annie, Uncle Davie, Aunt
Margaret & family – Mrs. Adams – &c –
     Write me at once – Tell Carrie
& Adele also to write –
                           Your affect. Brother
                                                    Jno. W. Daniel
By the first opportunity send me my
mahogany writing desk, & some station-
ery. Young Green I expect will be down
in a day or so –
                       J. W. D.

John Warwick Daniel, 1842-1910, disabled in the Battle of the Wilderness, later a University of Virginia law graduate, U. S. Senator and famous orator, known as the “Lame Lion of Lynchburg.”

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 158

[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]

                        Friday – June 13th 1862
We breakfasted before six this morning –
Mullie walked out to Mrs Taylors, & I took
him down to near his camp in our carry
all – Capt Harrison & I spent the morning
at Gen Magruders paying off the staff.
Returning we remained in the house for
the afternoon – but did no business – I wrote
a letter today to Julie – Maj Wray came
in to see us today – I have felt quite shaky
today but took so much quinine this
morning that is has Kept the fever off –
I can hardly realize that poor Ben’s
fate – A sad End of life but yester-
-day flowing so fresh & buoyant! –
Return tonight at ten o’clock – begin to
feel the Effects of sitting up the nights
till twelve & one o’clock –


[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154

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

Friday 13 Warm weather–Troops in
great numbers arrive from Richd
& Petersburg en route to join Jack
son. Johnston’s division are is here
taken from the swamps of the chick
ahominy–At least 14,000 men with
[?] from Jackson. It is believed the
enemy are withdrawing some of their
troops from the mountains of Rock

to send them, as is believed, to Wash-
ington & the Valley–Young Rutledge
who was here sick in the early spring
arrived this evening from the Rock
bridge Artillery–He is sick again
He brought letters from Lanty–Keep
ing up the thread of his interesting nar
-rative. His account of the fight at
Winchester & the subsequent scenes, is
very spirited–a fre wound has been
discovered in Rob. Berkeley which
was not known before and which
will render his [?] tedious.
-He is much more seriously hurt than
was supposed.  That the hurt was
not discovered before is rather  discred
itating to the Physician.  This is a buck
shot wound.  The shot entered the
perineum and made its exit through
the scrotum, wounding the scrotum
uretha.

MSS 4763

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

Friday, June 13, 1862
Went up on the
mountain to
practice this
morning. Had a bottle
of brandy which was
drunk after which
Gillet went and got
some more and the
result was that
several of the boys
got quite mellow
[to] was very drunk
this evening.  Some of
the boys went out &
picketed our Tent
Thad Alex & I made
a mess chart
Several of Co A boys
Drunk. Bathed &
changed my shirt
this evening after which
went over into the 30th Regt &
heard some singing. Wrote Letter
to Jennie L[?]  mostly clear

MSS  10317

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding of the 25th Massachusetts]

Thursday       Washed my shirt and three pairs
June 12          of socks. Very warm to day. Read
and played backgammon.

MSS 11293