Camp Near Richmond Va
                                           June 10th 1862
My Dear Creek
                    I received your welcome letter of
the 4th by Mr Stone.  I am very sorry t hear
of Maggie’s sickness.  I hope by this time she
has got well, but it gives me a great deal of
uneasiness as there seems to be so much
sickness among children at home.  You
must be very careful about her just now
when green fruit is so plenty, and so
injurious to health. probably it may be
Measles she is taking.  Are they not raging
about Anderson at present? It is the best
time for anyone to have them young, but
it will require great care on your part but I
need not tell you this for I know you will do
all in your poser if not to much, which is
sometimes worse than too little.
Everything has been quiet since the Battle,
on our part of the lines.  Sometimes our

[page 2]
pickets kill one or two of the enemy’s Scouts
or takes them prisoner, but have never seen them
in force since 1st. Dont know how long it
may be before we will have another fight.
Our Regt has not done any duty since the
Battle, and no talk of our having to do any.  We
are about three mile from our front lines
and have got tents &c for our men again and
are very comfortably encamped n a large
clover field about two miles from Richmond
on the Williamsburg road, and things look
as if we were going to rest awhile from our
labors wh[ich] we all need ve[r]y much, and
their[sic]  is plenty of fresh troops now to take
our places in doing picket duty &c.
Most of our wounded men are doing well.
Very few if any of them will die and a great
many of them have already returned to
duty their wounds being slight.  I am sorry
to say that fears are entertained that J.B.
Carpenter and Elijah M. Holland are both
in the hands of the enemy.  Carpenter
has not been seen since nearly the close of

[page 3]
the Battle.  I recollect seeing him myself about
seven o’clock P.M. and he was then fighting
Bravely in the ranks of his company and unhurt
but nothing has been seen or heard of him since.
he could not have been Killed or we would have
found his body.  he may have got wounded and
started back and taking the wrong way has fallen
into the hands of the enemy.  Holland was
wounded in the arm and started back to the
rear and has not been hear off [sic] since either
he must have taken the wrong direction and
been taken prisoner or something would have
been heard from him before this.  his wound
was not serious, only a flesh wound.
Tell Billy Smith Gambrell is getting along finely
and will soon be able to come home. he is one
of the Bravest soldiers in our Regiment.
William is well and getting along finely
still the old man yet.
this is Yankee paper I am writing to you on.  I have got
a pretty good supply of it and will send you some at
the first opportunity
I don’t know of anything else that would interest

[page 4]
you. I will write Jim and Jink this evening if
I have time.
Kiss dear little Maggie for me and take good
care of her

           Your affect. Husband
                  William

William B. Anderson, Major of the 4th South Carolina Volunteers


MSS 10366

          Warsaw Ind  June 10  1862
Dear Cousin & wife
                           With much
pleasure I embrace the
opportunity of answering a
very kind leter which I
recieved from you when
at Winchester Va. but could
not answer at that time on
acount of an order being
issued by the comander in
chief to the affect that no
leters should be sent
across the lines in the rear
of our Division.
We left We left Dam No 4 Md on
the 1st day of March, and crosed
the Potomac into Va.  We had
a great deal of hard marching
and some prety tough times
but I always took it cool

[page 2]
and got along first rate.
I had good health all
the time.
We had some Skirmising
with the rebels, but was
never in any general
engagement.
Ours was the firs Regt in
Winchester, and were ordered
to Manases junction just
the day before the Battle at
Winchester, so you see we just
missed it.
We came to Washington City
on the 5th of May and
were 17 days being disbanded
I had a fine time while
there, Seen enough to pay
me for all the hardships
I had seen while soldering
I had intended to stop
in Ohio and pay you a
visit, but they needed me

[page 3]
very much in the
Store and I had to
hurry home or loose
my place.  We arived hom
on the morning of the
24th and I went rite to work
and have hardly had time
to visit my Friends, in the
Country yet.
We are doing a fine trade
our cash receipts, is $1000,00
a week.  We are in our new
room, and very nice one
it is too.  I think selling
goods suits me much
beter than Soldiering.
but I never shall regret
that I went. and if I thought
it was really necessary for
me to go again, I should
not stay at home one day
-but I think the
Rebellion is fast being crushed.

[page 4]
I was very sory that I
could not stop and pay you
a visit, for I tshould like
very much to see all of you.
And if at anytime buisness
is so that I can leave the store
I will surely give you
a call, Ellen wants to go
to Ohio some time this
summer, and if posable
I will go with Her.
But I cannot see why
you cant come and see us
I know you would have
a pleasant time, and
nothing would give me
more pleasure, than to
spend a few days with you
Cousin Lucy try and
coax Dave to come, I
know you would have a good
                                time

[page 5]
Please give my kind
regard to Cin, I wrote
to Her last Winter but
presume she never got
my leter or she would
certainly have answered it.
She answered my first an
one very promptly.
My love to Aunt & Uncle
& Hank & Bety. tell them
all I wold like to see
them I wrote Henry one
leter and He dident answer
and I think it is not my
duty to write any morre till
He answers.
Please answer soon
Cous Lucy write a good deal
I always love to read your
leters.
no more this time
But Am Truly

Jo Baker

from a miscellaneous collection of Civil War letters


MSS 10694

Mechanicsville, Va., June 10th  1862  Dear Father–The last
letter that I received from you was dated the 26th of last month We
was Paid off last week & the Paymaster took a Package maide up by
the Company which amounted to fifteen hundred dollars which he takes
to Washington & from there he sends it to the care of Mr. Harris that keeps
on the corner of exchange and  Middle Street He is the Brother of the first
Lieutenant of this Company last Sunday I was over to the Fifth of New
York regiment & saw brother George & I found him well he said the last letter
that he received from you was dated the thirtyeth we came up from Picket this
Morning from the woods that line the banks of the Chickahominy and on the
other side which is no further than thirty yards Lays the Pickets of the enemy
We brought in this morning into camp A Man that belongs to A Virgi
nia Battery He said that the Enemy were evacuating Richmond
& that Jeff Davis had run away among the Prisoners is A North Carolinian
who said that he had his choice to enlist for three months service But after
he had served his three months he found that there was no way of  his
getting out & rather as he said than stay there he deserted & came into our
lines he said that he never was on their side but he was pressed into it
but he thought our side would win. P.S. there is no way that I can get
Postage stamps without paying six cents Apiece & rather than do that
I wish you would send one dollars worth of stamps & if you receive that
fifteen dollars send me word & I want to know whether 5142 is the number
of Mr Stevens box, George has not got paid off yet but expects to be in two
or three days & he said that he should send it to Lizzy give my love to all
I am well & hope this will find you & all the rest the same I want you
to know that I can keep my promise by sending you the fifteen dollars
I have not received but one paper from you for some time & I wish you would
send them to me, as soon as this month is out I shall have two months pay
belonging to me & I shall send the same amount that I have this time
but I hope that I shall be in Richmond before that time comes off Tell
Henry & William to write.

Letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865 “because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid.” Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864.


MSS 66

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

June 10  Today was rainy, disagreeable and cold.  No comfort
              to be found anywhere but in bed, where I enjoyed it
              nearly the entire day reading & sleeping. Retired
              about tattoo realising the momentous fact
              that an immense amount of sleep can be
              borne in Camp life.

MSS 9044

[a letter from Charles Ellet, Jr., to his wife as transcribed at a later date]

                                                                    Opposite Memphis
                                                                          June 10, 1862

My beloved Ellie

                      I write by Charles to-day, who is going up to Cairo to
meet you, merely to let you see by my hand writing that I am well and
doing well.
                    It is not two hours since Dr. Robarts extracted the ball from
near my knee, and since then I have eaten a hearty dinner with good
appetite.  Indeed, my appetite has never failed me since I was hurt.
                    I began to be somewhat anxious this morning–but I am satis-
fied now that the removal of this jagged piece of lead will bring
about an immediate improvement.
                     My anxiety is now for you, and Mary and our dear little ones.
Join me here my dear Wife and let us study out the future and talk
over the past.  Bet let me meet you in good health.
                                          Forever yours
                                           Charles Ellet Jr.

MSS 276

[letter of Charels Ellet, Jr., continues]

June 10 — morning–I have got through another
night, dear Ma, and without suffering, though
with a certain share of annoyance from my wound
and from the confinement.  My position, for a
man wounded in battle, is nearly a very comfortable
one.  My centre bed is in the centre of the [?]
cabin of one of my largest steamers–while
Charles sleeps on the floor by my bed–the Doctor
in the state room opposite–Alfred near by and my
clerk and Eddie at hand. I have every comfort that

[page 4]
I should reasonably expect to have while disabled.
One of the most troublesome parts of my condition
is the partial[?] paralysis of my foot.   The ball came
from a steamer that I did not see, for we were at
the time in the midst of the enemy’s fleet   and I
was struck about three inches above the knee joint on
the left side of the back of the left leg–and I
think has passed around and lodged in the right
hand side of the front of the leg  but still above
the joint.  It must have touched some larger
nerve to induce the pains I often feel in the
calf of the leg & the sole of the foot.  There
is very little sensation in my foot, though
more than there was.  My [?] to move my
let also increases.
Charles will leave in a few hours for Cairo
to met his Mother.  Alfred has written for Sarah
also to come. If Mary should come with her Mother
–which I think is not unlikely–we shall have
a family party on board the flagship.
I really do not know what I shall do with them
all.  Memphis is not a suitable place for them–
nor a safe place either.  I shall be obliged to keep
them on board of this flag ship.

You must remember me affectionately to Aunt
Hannah and William and Sarah–My great cause
of anxiety now is for Ellie and my little ones–But
your kind friends are so all kind that I feel more
that you will  have all the support that care
and attention can give.
I suffer more this morning from thrilling pains
in the sole of my foot than from any other
cause–which shows injury to some nerve,

                                  Adieu my dear Ma—
                              Your most affectionate Son
                                                   Charles Ellet Jr.

Ellet, in command of the Queen of the West, was wounded in the battle for Memphis


MSS 276

At Home June 10th 1862
W T Sutherlin Esqr

                   Dear Sir I Recd
yrs of the 28 May saying you
would like to cash yr acceptance
due in March next by my
takeing In[tere]st off.  I am very glad
it will suit you to do so. I will
try to bring it over or send it to you
the last of the month–or the first
of next.  As I have Bot $10.000
Dolls worth of cotton & shall be
hard run for money this Summer
& Winter.  I am also fearfull,
that I shall be compelled to burn
it to keep it from falling into
the hands of the Yankey Thieves
& Scoundrals & Unprincipal Rouges
&c  I am yr friend yr
Well wisher  A. Willis
PS
You missed a good & fine crop
of Tobco by not comening to see
mw which could be sold now
for a least 5 to 8 dols more then I
sold it for &c  AW

W.T. Sutherlin Esqr
         Danville
                 Virginia

               Fredericksburg, June 10th, 1862
My Dear Little Emma
                          I am sorry I’ve
tried your patience so but I have
done so to several could not
write before as I have been
quite buisy My boys keep me
thinking working & running
all the while.  Today it is
rainy things are verry quiet
about the quarters and I mean
to write a dozen letters.  I
dont know of anything verry
interesting to write about.
I have quite a number of
little sesesh acquaintances
who sing about the bonny
blue flag and the lone star
about Jeff & Beauregard but
still love the soldiers who
want to get a chance to hang
them.  One little girl the other

[page 2]
day scolded her brother for
chasing a little union boy to
get the stars and stripes away
from him well they’ll think
better of the old flag after a little
There are more niggers about
here than there were at Wash-
ington Ill give you a sketch
of one or rather a family of them
for there were        half a dozen just
alike perhaps           an inch difference
in heighth .        *       black and greasy
at that but                they have
souls and                 fealings.  I
feel sorry for them and
hope the day may come
when the negro may lay
claim to the sympathy
of the haughty silly southerns.
I was glad once more to
hear  from you write again
Emma love to mother
           Your Loving Brother
                                 Aaron

[*sketch of small African American boy in the middle of the page]

Captain Aaron Sager, Co. G, 76th New York Infantry, severely wounded at Gainesville and discharged.  Later the proprietor of a drug store in Cortland, N.Y.


MSS 15190

                          Fort Albany,  June 10th /62
                                              4 o’clk PM
         Dear Wife
                 I have just now received
a letter from you, and I like it very
much, I think you were in pretty good
spiritis when you wrote it,  It is just the
kind. We are now having a jollification over
a box of goodies sent to Richard Alley
from Lynn, he being the Capt’s servant, and
not being in any “Mess” and being better acqu-
ainted in the mess, and with me, than in
any other, he brought his box right into
my tent, it is a splendid box of goodies,
and the prospect is that now we shall have
a glorious supper, It was got up by a dozen
or more of Lynn, Yesterday, Sylvester Perkins
received a box from home, and in it I
had a Vest, Handk’s, Medicine, and a Note
from you, Perkins’s box had some very
nice fixings in it, so you see, that for
the last two days, we have had plenty of goodies
I hope they wo’nt  make any of us sick.  We shall risk it, at
any rate———–

[page 2]
One souvenir you have sent me in your
dear letter, which, you may be sure, I shall
preserve with the greatest care, and that
is the specimen of writing from Ernie
to Papa, I guess I have read it over about
a half dozen times allready. The idea of
a “four year old” writing a letter, I should
rather have had that, than anything you could
have sent me, except the originators of
it.  You speak about rainy weather, I guess
we have had rainy weather, and plenty of it
lately, it is raining now, and has been, all
day, but we, “within here snug and warm” do’nt
care a darn, if it does rain, so long as we
have got, plenty of goodies for supper.  It
is now about supper time.  I will try and write
again after that has come off.

[Letter from Robert, from Lynn, Mass., and unidentified soldier in the 14th Massacusetts Heavy Artillery, will continue on the 11th.]

MSS 1242

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Tuesday, June 10th

A dismal rainy day.  We heard yesterday from Winchester that Jackson was advancing, largely reinforced, towards that place.  Expect him daily.  It seems very certain, too, that McClellan has been defeated at Richmond.  Beauregard has evacuated Corinth, suppose on account of the cutting off of supplies.  The enemy acknowledge his retreat was the most masterly ever effected in war.  They posted sentries of straw outside the town.  On the advance of the enemy they fired at these sentries half a day, no shots being returned.  They advanced and found most of the army had been gone for a week, carrying everything except one house[?] of bacon.

MSS 9759