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

June 12  Another hot day.  Just heard of the removal of
McClellan’s head quarters to the other side of the
Chickahominy. Our orders are to be in readiness
to move at a moment’s notice.  Beginning to feel
homesick.  Would give a good deal for a short
leave, but the ever of a more active campaign
is approaching, & every man is expected to be at
his post.

MSS 9044

                                                           Augusta Co. Va.
                                                           June 12th 1862
My dear Ma:
                        Eight days have elapsed since I
wrote this first letter and I have had no oppor-
tunity of sending it if I had desired to do so
in its unfinished and incompleted state.  With
very dirty hands and weary limbs natural conse-
quences of continued marches without much sleep.
Jackson is the greatest General of the Age & his brilliant
achievements with a hand full of men badly
equipped and poorly fed and clothed carry us
back to the chivalric days of yore when men
fought for Liberty and Home and remind us
forcibly of the warrior Napoleon.  But I must
resume my sketch of our manouvres & transactions
which must be meager & imperfect.
On Monday 26th, we followed up the enemy hotly &
our cavalry chased them from Martinsburg;
this was their General Receiving depot for this
Dept. of their Army and the stores captured
were of innumerable variety and of exceed-
in great value to the needy Rebels – Such as salt,
leather, coffee, ordnance, clothing &c.&c.  Next
day our Brigade moved to this side of Win-
chester and the weary worn soldiers con-
gratulated themselves upon the apparent
prospects of rest and quiet; we remained
here however only one night and next
evening we were pitching tents while the
rain poured down as marching orders were
received.  “Twas with no reluctance, however,
that the men prepared to follow the gal-
lant “Stonewall” and marched through
the hardest rain & deep mud fifteen miles

[page 2]
after dark, in the direction of Charlestown.
Wednesday 28th we reached Charlestown
early in the day and met with unbounded
& enthusiastic welcome from the citizens.
The Federals fled before us and stores fell into
out hands and many prisoners.  We had
camped in a lovely spot and somewhat
rested when there was an alarm and
our regiment went off at “doublequick”
in direction of Harper’s Ferry, eight miles
distant.  Our regiment was delighted at the
idea of once more visiting the spot where
they spent their military childhood; we got in
sight of the surrounding hills and a few cannon
shots were exchanged between the belliger-
ents and nothing more; no damage to
either party I suppose.  We occupied our
same encampment and early next
morning were again called out &
our cavalry pursued the enemy into
poor Maryland.  But all at once orders
were received to march back; the rain
poured down in torrents, the roads were already
heavy with mud; our Brigade marched
twenty six miles through all this & camped
near Winchester – it rained hard all night
long and the men were poorly fed if in-
deed they had anything that night.  I can remem-
ber nothing of special interest to you from
that day until Sunday ^ ‘(1st June)’ – the great battle day of
ancient & modern days; yet the hardships, heavy
rains and fast days made a lasting impression
upon me and if we mounted individuals

[page 3]
suffered you can imagine how men on
foot fared.  The cause of this retreat as you
are doubtless aware was the design of the
Federals to entrap and overwhelm Jackson
with numbers;  Shields with a large column
advanced towards Swift Run Gap from Manassaa
and Fremont came down on the left from
Romney while Banks reinforcements were to meet
him in front.  But Jackson can never be caught &
with his usual skill he has extricated himself from
this trap while the enemy has been completely baffled.
Sunday 1st. inst. he engaged Fremont near Strasburg
and routed him with a small force; he continued his
retreat while the men were worn out completely & his army
showed great degree of demoralization.  For one week more
we moved back slowly while the cavalry kept up daily
engagements with the cautiously pursueing enemy.
Saturday 7th inst. in the afternoon we had a considera-
ble Cavalry engagement near Harrisonburg killing
and capturing many of the enemy & putting them to flight;
yet in this victory where he was about to commence
a career of fame unequalled by anything heretofore
recorded on historic page fell the brave, chivalric,
daring, generous Ashby – a man who has beside
all others been able to inspspire most confi-
dence in his own troops & greatest terror
among the enemy he so much hated; his splendid
horse had just been shot from under him &
he was gallantly leading on foot a brave
band of infantry when a bullet pierced his
heart, and horse and rider lay breathless
upon the same bloody battle fields.  Sunday
(8th) early Jackson engaged Shields who had
possession of Port Republic & the bridge and

[page 4]
dislodged him and about midday Ewell’s
Division met and successfully routed
Fremont’s column; this was across the river
from Port Republic which you [-] – would make
Shields in Ewell’s rear while Jackson was upon
road D. of my rough map.  The thirteenth was in
the thickest of the fight and suffered some; it
behaved most gallantly – the Blues were not
with the Regiment but detailed to support Capt.
Courtney’s Battery which guarded another
position of the field and was not in action.
On Monday next day (9th) we crossed the
river early and burnt the bridge (F) – then
attacked Shields on road E and routed
him; captured many prisoners, killed many,
and took a battery; the casualties on our
side were heavy but I do not know to which
extent.  In the evening as we pursued Shields
on E towards Gap A and were capturing
many prisoners, Fremont having again
rallied approaches from Harrisonburg &
appeared with large force in front of Port
Republic; he could not cross and busied
himself with shelling our Hospitals & Ambu-
lance trains of which I was an eyewitness.
We retreat to the mountain hollow by
road G[?] and remained there from
Monday night until Wednesday when
we started back by road H. We were
surprised & delighted to see pa yesterday – he
had just fixed to retire when we recd. marching
orders – I put him in a wagon which any of us
would consider a splendid place for sleeping even
when ‘twas in motion; but he could not sleep;
we traveled nearly all night and started
again early this morning; we reached the
camp near Mt. Sidney a small village
on the river, about two o’clock.  Of the details
of this march, the condition of our men &c

[The rest of this unsigned letter in the handwriting of Pendleton Jones is missing.]

The three Jones brothers, John William, Francis Pendleton, and Philip Edloe served in the Louisa Blues, 13th Virginia Infantry. John W. was later famous as the author of Christ in the Camp.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13407

[from the diary of Dr. Brodie Strachan Herndon]

                                              & Mrs. Loring’s
12th Luc & I ride to Mr Dornmans [?] ^   Luc
repeats Cowper’s lines on his mother’s picture, and
sings “Brother won’t you meet me” greatly to
my pleasure & delight.  We do have such
sweet rides into the Country!  At dinner
we have soup & green pease–our first dish
After dinner I read a Chapter in Allison’s
History to Mother & girls, and just then a
ring at the bell and a lot of Yankees
come.  Mother & girls startled like
partridges  They came for chairs &
mirrors left by Capt Lewis belonging to
the C S Steamer S. Nicholas.  The Captn
& I have a brief talk about the War
in which I tell him his People are
mistaken in supposing that it will all
be over when Richmond falls: that
we are contending for the same rights
our fathers fought for in the Revolution
and that our Policy will be like that
of Gen Washington–retiring into
the hill country and striking when
we can.  The idea of a protracted war
was any thing but pleasant to him.

MSS 2563-b

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

Thursday 12–I was busy sewing on my dress all morning–& went
in the afternoon to see Mrs D Mallett & baby–
at night the two Mr Renshers & Mr VanDyke came around &
played cards & chatted with the girls until Eleven Oclock at
night when they left for Raleigh–Katy still sick–

MSS 6960

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

Thursday 12  Fine day–Had negative assu-
rances that Lanty & Berkeley were
not hurt in the actions of Sunday

and Monday. Heard with deep re-
gret that John Didlake–Lt in the
6 Louisiana was killed  Monday.  The
news is brought by Col. Hays of that
Regt. who was wounded and is now
here.  He had many fine traits of char
acter. No mail yesterday or today.
Everything gives way to the transpor
tation of troops. great numbers passed
last night & to day on their way to
join Jackson.  Ten thousand in all
are on the rail bound to him. These
troops are principally from Georgia
–are not raw, but were drilled and
armed.  Jackson stands in great
need of troops .  Has situation I think
critical at Browns Gap.  He showed
great generalship Sunday & Monday
and the defeat of Shields on the last
day was complete–very bad head
ache.  Went after dinner to the
[?] bridge with Mr. Kinckle &
Capt Page of the 21 Regt to see the
prisoners.  The captain being of the
guard we entered the lines.  They
were bivouacking on the hill to the
right of the road, between the fair
grounds & the river–1700 of them–

They are on the whole good looking
-but very rough–I did not see a
face which indicated the owner to
be in the better walk of life–were
of course not any gentlemen. One of
the number told us he was sure
two thirds were foreigners.  They
were roughly clad–a blue  [?]
or rather [?]–  The guard consisted
of about 400 men under Lt. Col
Cunningham–After tea Jno Maury
Forbes & his wife called to see us.
They are on their way to visit
Dr. Harris in Bedford.  He is now
staying in Charlottesville–I learn
that Gen Stewart, of the Maryland
Brigade, wounded Monday is with
his father at Staige’s house–He
is nephew of Dr. Stewart-

MSS 4763 

[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 12th 1862
Spent today in the office paying off
officers – Capt Harrison & I walked out
in the morning in search of another house
for board & lodging – Rode two miles
down the Mechanicsville road in the
Evening for the same purpose but unsuccessfully –
I went into town tonight in the Ambulance
to get horsefeed from the mill – Spent the
Even night at Mr Harveys with Mullie &
Brother Geo.  Rec’d a letter tonight from Sallie
in Charleston informing me of the death of Ben
Flucker at Cornith on the 17th  ult of measles.        
This is indeed a sad loss.  Bud too has been        
sick two months with typhoid fever – To die in Camp 
of disease! Great God – this is a hard blow to the family
God grant them fortitude & resignation – I must get Smith – Glover            
Also rec’d a letter from My sweet little Trude – she  
shows her weeping heart in it, with some too of
the native mischief – How I would like to be with them tonight!

The following lines are cross-written over the above page.]
Spent the night with Mullie & Bro
at Mr Harveys – Didn’t retire
until twelve o’clock – I met Robt
Fishburn today who recognized me for my likeness
to “the family”- I did not Know him.

Sallie: Sister Sarah Septima Logan.
Ben Flucker: Cap. Benjamin K. Fluker, Co. D, 25th La. Infantry, died may 13, 1862, possibly the brother in law of Joseph Logan, Daniel’s brother.
Mullie & Bro: Thomas Muldrup Logan and George William Logan, Jr.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards; family notes by Sally Rice Forsyth Donnelly]

MSS 6154

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

June 12th

Were turned out at four A. M. harnessed
and packed up, and by seven were on the
road for M. at which place we arrived
at  9. A. M, and went immediately into
position.  At six P. M. the rebs opened on us with
a thirty two pdr. and an old fashion eighteen
pdr. to get the range, and exact distance
between the lines.  they having just completed
mounting these guns in some heavy fortifica
-tions, just in front of us.  They kept up a
pretty brisk fire for about ½ hour, when
we opened on them, and in one half hour
more had silenced them, dismounting one
of their guns.. Warm and pleasant.


[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493

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

Thursday, June 12, ’62

Remained up last
night until after mid-
night to see the total eclipse of
the moon.  went with
Frank Grimes into the
country for baths went
to Mrs Harris but could
not get any baths to
day returned to Camp
Played several pieces
after which at Gardner’s
invitation we went
over and played for
Gen Cox a serenade
composed of the Ellend
waltzes Garibaldi &
Marselles Hymn
Recd letters from
John Cook & one from
Jennie L[?] a good
and welcome letter
Clear beautiful day
                               Milroy
Jackson defeated by General ^

MSS  10317

From the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts

Wednesday
June 11
Have been too lazy to write any
in this diary since the first
of the month.  Meantime I have been
on guard once but by the blessing of
God, had a chance to go to sleep in my
quarters and sleep from 8 till 4.  John
Richard has been here,and I sent home
all my old letters and also my money
which we were paid last week, by him.
I have received two or three letters from
home and answered them. Also sent a
package by Ed Brown (and also a letter)
as he has got a furlough and gone home
They have battalion drills here now but
I have not been out on account of getting
my foot poisoned last week.  Reviewed last
week by Gen. Foster and Gov. Stanley.
Yesterday we received news of the complete
demolition of Beauregards army.  George Lowe
came up from the hospital to-day. I lay
round in the tent the biggest part of the
time-reading and playing backgammon-
and occasionally euchre.  But I feel that
if the Lord is with me I shall be prospered
and I pray that He will be with us all
and grant that peace may be once more
restored to our land so that we may return
to our homes once more.

MSS 11293