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

Monday 9  The telegrams announce
that Jackson, or rather Ewell, had
defeated Fremont & Milroy near
Harrisonburg, and that Jackson
would crush Shields to day at
or near Port Republic..The news
seems authentic–Nothing else
of any particular interest–called
with Mary & Fanny on Miss Clarke
and her father.  W L. Clarke of Win-
chester, my old teacher–Recd a
dispatch from Charles Minor

from Gordonsville, enquiring where
his wife was.  I answered immediately
I think it likely he will be here to
night or tomorrow.

MSS 4763 

                                June 8th
              Camp near Richmond
Dear Mother

                      It has been some
time since I had an opportunity
of writing to any of you.  My last
letter was to Nette from the other
camp nearer to Richmond than
the present. A few days after I wrote
the regiment received marching
orders and have been stationed
ever since a few miles below
here doing picket duty. We left
all our baggage behind and have
been leading a pretty rough life
Only last night we were relieved
from picket but the regiment
is still about two miles below
here.  I got permission to come
up here to-day in order to wash    ght
and get some clean clothes and thou^
that I would seize the opportunity
of writing home as I can’t always

[page 2]
keep my paper and baggage
with me.  I told Nette that I had
lost my knapsack I have since
recovered it.  It did not go to Lync
burg as I had supposed.  You have
heard ere this of the fight near
here.  I would have attem let you
know ere this that we were not
engaged but had no opportunity
We were drawn up in line of
battle insight and hearing of
the action in order to protect the
flank of that position of our
troops who were attacking the
enemy.  I said in sight of the battle
That was not strictly true for
the woods prevented our seeing
anything but we could distinctly
hear the roar of artillery and
musketry and the cheers of the
men.  a little before dark we were
ordered down to the scene of action
and after double quicking for about

[page 3]
a mile and a half were halted
behind a fence.  After a few
minutes pause somebody told Col
Humphreys to go in and charge  ed
a battery which was a few hundr^
yard in front.  The Col gave the
order and over the fence went into
a swamp filled with fallen timber
vines stumps and all sorts of
obstacles it was too dark to see
very well and the regiment was
soon thrown into confusion.  Just
then some general ordered us back
and we resumed our former position
where we slept in line until
a little before day,  when we were
marched back again to our the
former position we it had oc-
cupied the day before.  The enemy
made an attempt that morning
to drive our troops of the field
and we were ordered down to
support a battery but were

[page 4]
not calle[d] into action.  I think
we might be said to have
been in the fight for we went
on the field and had the
bombs and bullets flying over
our heads although we had
no chance of firing one man
in the regiment was slightly
wounded by a piece of shell
We hear all sorts of rumours of
the doings of the Yankees on the
river I hope they have not and
will not honour Woodville with
a visit Sam and Ned Burrus are
well Give much love to all
my friends and to the servants
and (I should have mentioned
them first) to Nell and Nette
Your two first letters directed
to Gordonsville and Yorktown reached
me at last.

                           I remain
                          Your affectionate son
                                  Horatio N. Smith

Horatio Smith, Co. D, 1st Mississippi


MSS 3372

                   Va.
White House  ^  June 8th/62

                                       Dear Mother
                         Here we are removed from
our old position but still over 30 miles from
Richmond.  Today I received 3 letters from
you and one from Asa all back letters
sent on by the regt. as they had a good
chance I was glad to hear you have got
over your sickness, so well.  Asa tells me you
was going thinking of applying to the State
for aid I will get a certificate of my
enlistment made out so that you can
draw money the amount give by law
The 29th Mass regt arrived here last night
and left today I saw W. Henry he looks
tough and hearty though he was surprised to
see me here he said he had forgot that
Asa told him I was out here  This White
House is a great place only one building
except nigger huts but it is a rushing
place for business I ma imagine a river
about twice as wide as it is at the Falls
and all full of steamers and schooners
for the distance of three miles and
hundreds waiting for a chance to get

[page 2]
up to unload It is fun to see them
unload cattles they come up as nigh to
the shore as they can and then pitch
them out and let them swim ashore
they come out sideways and everyway
I hope you will have good neighbors
in Mrs T’s house. A man has just come
in and says the whole army has all
crossed the Chickahominy and there
will probably be a big fight tomorrow
and if there is we shall go to Richmond
by railroad and save a long march
as we have got rid of 4 weeks of hard
work. Some of the boys of our company
are here sick in the hospital they tell
me what a hard time they have had
in the swamp and bushes I am tough
and hearty Give my respects to all inquiring
friends and take my love to yourself
                   From your aff son
                       Wm Wallace

envelope addressed to
Mrs. E. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass

William Wallace Smith, Private, Co. B, 22nd Massachusetts


MSS 15360

2 miles from portrepublic
                                  AM
Sunday  Thursday 8th 8 oclk^
                    June 8th 1862

Dear Mama

                               We are fighting
nearly every day, we met with heavy
loss day before yesterday. General
Ashby was killed will be burried
in Charlottesville. none in our
Co. was hurt. we took 41cavs
prisoners 1 Col. major & 3 or 4 capts.
Our Cav. did not loose a man
good many of the Yankee Cav
were killed, after we charged
the infantry on each side
were rushed in & it was a very
hot fight, our loss was 40 killed
I think & thirs is thought to be
more. I broke my horse down
& would not have been able to
get have gotten him off the field
had I not bled him in the

[page 2]
in the mouth, but I dont
want you to send Cricket
atall for those who have
not got horses don’t have any
thing to do, we don’t get any
grain for them, & Cricket is too
good a horse to be lost in
that way.  Co. Munford has
command of all of Gen
Ashbys forces.  I send this by
Frank Minor who is going home
for a horse, if they let me
come home for a horse I will
ride Cricket not without &
I dont want him sent to me
by any one.  Love to Papa

[the following lines are very faded and illegible:]

Dis & Jim Aunt Lu and friends
Grandmamma & all whom you
do see there.  [        ?       ]
I dont know where to tell
you to direct your letters

Your  [?]   son   W.H.B.

William Henry Burnley,  2nd Regiment, Virginia Cavalry
MSS 7871

[a post script to the June 7th letter of Robert, from Lynn Massachusetts, an unidentified soldier in the 14th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery]

                           Sunday June 8th 1862
The Hon John P Hale, has been
over to see us, this afternoon, he was
in company with Col Greene, and three
Ladies, he stayed to see Dress Parade and
Inspection of knapsacks which took
place at four o’clk, Good night I
must go to the Guard Tent,

                  Yours, as ever, in love
                                          Robert

MSS 1242

NATIONAL TELEGRAPH LINES
                         TO
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis
             Chicago, New Orleans,
            AND ALL INTERMEDIATE PLACES
OFFICE, NO. 105 SOUTH THIRD STREET, BELOW CHESNUT ST.
                 PHILADELHIA

Opposite Memphis 6th

Dated    via Cairo June 8   1862
To        Mrs Col Davenport
                 1207 Walnut St

My dear aunt.
                                I wish
you to let my dear
mother know that though I
was disabled by a gun
or pistol shot in the
naval engagement off Memphis this
morning it seems only to
be a flesh wound above
the knee I sank one
of the two (2) Rebel gunboats
I engaged & Alfred sank
two (2) & took another so
that we have her in
possession–Alfred behaved most
gallantly & is unhurt  I wish
William Wainwright to provide for
my wife to reach me
here or at Cairo if
I should go there–
                              Chas Ellet Jr
94/384  pd

Charles Ellet, Jr., noted engineer and Union colonel in command of the Queen of the West in the battle for Memphis.
Alfred Washington Ellet,  1820-1895, his brother, commanded the United States Ram Fleet.


MSS 276

Whit House Hospital Va June 8th 1862

Dear parents.  I recieved your letter this morning bearing date of
June 2end, I was very glad to hear from you although the news was not
very encouraging buy you mut must try to get along the best you can and
not try to do too much  I will send you all the money I can to help you
Our brigade has been paid, and I have managed to get two months pay up
to the last of april by the aide of our ward master who is a nice man
he spoke to a paymaster for me and he paid me 26 dollars I have been
quite smart untill the day I got paid the paymaster asked me to help
him carry his trunk to the cars it was heavy and lamed my back
again but I have been able to take care of the ware, that I am in with
a little help from some that are getting better I think I am getting
better now the Dr. gave me a lineament to put on and I know it does
me good and if I am carefull about lifting I think I shall soon
get well again I was not in the battle at West Point I had a
very lame back so I could not stand up streight and I had been in
the same condition for two weeks and the Dr. told Capt. Buckman not
to let me go for I was not able I do not know how you got the news
that you wrote me and it makes no difference to me I have always
tried to do my duty as a soldier when I was able and I have worked
many days when I was not able I have never had the least fear
of the battlefield I have always  thought I should be willing to put my
life against that of a rebbel at any time.  I think by your looking
over some of my letters you will find out when I was taken sick
on board the steamer John Brooks but I have not been entirely
well since the battle of Bull run when we were on the retreat I got
hurt y a knapsack fall over a bank of the run and it struck me across the

[page 2]
back and I have felt it by spells ever since it hurt me so at
the time I could not stand for a long time but I managed to
get along after a while and I have done all duties that has been
asked of me I have always kept with the Regt. an on the march and
on picket and always stood at my post wherever I was ordered, two
daysl only have I been away from the Regt. untill the present time
I should have been with the Regt. some time ago but they will
not let me go the[y] tell me I have been detailed here by Gen. McClelen
and must stay here I intend to do my whole duty so far as I am
able let it be where it will in the battle field field[sic] or in
the sick room  the Dr. gives me preventatives to keep off disease
that I keep in my pocket at all times I have not had any one
that was helpless to take care of yet and I get along first rate with
them.  I think if I had been able to have been in the battle at
West Point I should not have turned my back to the rebels and
returned to camp as I am sorry to say two men did do that belong
to Co. K. as soon or before the fight commenced their names are
known to the whole company one of the belonged to the
pioneers of the Regt. when it is convenient I will explain the
whole.  I have made up my mind to send 11 dollars in this
letter I want you to write as soon as you get it. Tell Walter
to do all he can to help you and I will remember him when I
come home my sheet is almost filled and I must close
Direct all letters to White House
Hospital in care of Dr Watson or the steward.

                                                                    From you son
                                                                Hiram M. Cash

Private Co. K, 5th Maine


MSS 12916

Camp Near new Bridge Va. Sunday June 8th 1862
My Dear Father yours of the 23rd & 30th have been receivd you of course wish
to know the reason I do not answer your letters the reason is this we are on the
move all the time we do not know when we go into Camp whether we shall stop
one hour or two days if I do get A chance to write, I of course write to my Wife as
I think she should have the first If I have time after writing to her then I
I[sic] take up the next in the list, we are now encamped near new bridge seven
miles from Richmond, the advance are within three miles of the City we are
now taking A little rest which we greatly need we have had hard work and
long marches for the last three weeks, & now we want A little rest you have
heard of the battle of last Sunday & Saturday & Monday before Richmond there
was more of A battle than we thought at first it has shown that our Troops
are equal to the task which is supposed to be before them–I say suppose because
I think we have had the heaviest we will have before Richmond.  Retreat
is the order of the day, McClellan will not  move an inch untill he has perfected
his plans & when he is ready he will not have any one to fight such is my opinion
of the matter I may be mistaken now if they should evacuate Richmond it would
not end the war true it would be giving up thier capital, now in my opinion the
Rebels are sick of the war as we are & would be glad to end it tomorrow & have the
Union the same old Union it was before but pride & stubbornness have A great deal
to do with the continuation of this war, they have made A great deal of noise
about their power & their strength & the ability on one southern man to
lick six Northern, now when they find they have been mistaken in all
of their calculations, refuse to own they are whipped, but will hold out as
long as they possibly can in hopes that something will turn up the
Evacuation of Richmond or the capture of it does no end the war,
as I have written many times before I expect to serve the full two years, you have asked in
A former letter for an explanation about the the two years  business as I was enlis
ted for three years, this Regiment enlisted for two years not all that enlisted in
June & July were enlisted of the [?] war Just enlisting for three years, now
this Regiment being A two years regiment will be discharged at the end of that
time the ninth of may next but if the order shall be to discharge two year men
instead of two years Regiments why the three years men in the two year

regiments will be transfered to other Regiments, you have had the particu
lars of the battle near Hannover Court House so I can tell you no news but
one thing I wish to tell you that is the stories about the Prisoners captured are
not true the five  hundred I saw were good looking men & inteligent they had
no uniforms but had on citizens clothes of a peculiar colour give our men the
same clothes & they would look no better I cant see of what use it is for the news
paper correspondents to make such statements if they told the truth one halfe
the time it would be different but the newspaper correspondents are continually
makeing such statements as these,  the Prisoners were dirty ragged halfe fed
& A miserable looking sett now this is not so when you see such statements as
these dont believe them, they had plenty of provisions not withstanding storeis
to the contrary & better than this Regiment has seen for A long time I shall tell
you nothing but facts we have fared poorly since we have been on the Pen
insula all the fault of our Quarter Master And Officers who care for no one
but themselves it was all verry well when it was impossible to move provisions
but for the past six weeks there has been no excuse for provisions are abund
ant neither would we make complaints if it was so with other Regiments
but when we see Regiments in our own Brigade have plenty of everything the

Government allows we of course complain but that is all the good it does
Our Brigade in [sic] now under the command of Col Warren it is composed of
the first of Connecticut 10th & 5th New York & 6th Pensylvania Cavelry our
Regiment is now under the command of Lieut Col Duryea you may have
heard of Him he is the proprietor of the celebrated Glen cornstarch
works hopeing I shall have the pleasure of seeing you in A short time
I remain your Son
                                                George

Letters from George Leavitt of the 5th New York and his brother Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine 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. George’s son, born shortly before his father enlisted, later became a noted whaling captain.

MSS 66

Mechanicsville June 85h 1862
Dear Mother  I will now sit down & pen you A few lines to
Let you know where I am & how I am getting along we have been
at t his place three weeks, day before yesterday as the regiment was returning
from Picket the Regiment was fired into by the Rebel battery but there
was none of the Regiment hurt where we went on Pickett was down
at the Chickahomany Bridge we was so nigh them that we could
speak to them yesterday we was detailed to go and build Cordary
Roads with one Hundred out of the sixteenth New York regiment
the seventh of Maine with the division that they belong to have crossed
the Chickahominy on the Richmond side  I see by the Portland
Advertiser that Edward Clarke has got Home if he has I wish you
tell any of the boys round to tell him that I send my love to
him & hope that I shall see him again with the Regiment & get
them to tell him that his brother dan is well and has been in one Fight at
West Point I have not received but one paper from Father I suppose that
you have heard What General Pope has done, the Regiment was paid off
last Thursday & I sent Father 15  dollars by the paymaster he will take
it to Washington & send it from there by express to him I was bound to
send some this time I am well & hope this will find you the same
I am going over to Georges Regiment to day to see him this will make forty
dollars that I have sent home & shall send ten to Father & five to you the
next time From you Son Joseph Leavitt

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 Frank Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]

June                          Sunday 8   1862                                
   Battle at Port Repub-
-lic.  Va. Battery engaged.
fired through the streets
of Port Republic.
enemy repulsed.  driven back 2 miles

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448