Office of Surgeon C. S. A. Station
Mobile, Alabama June 15, 1863
General Order No. 1
When Surgeons’ Stewards come into this
Office, they will not speak in loud tones or in
familiar language, & will not be seated unless
invited to do so.
The Surgeons’ Stewards of this office will see
the above order executed.
Signed, L. W. [Lewis Willis] Minor
Surgeon C. S. A. Station

General Order No. 2
Office Surgeon of Station
Mobile, Alabama, [Tuesday] June 16/63
The Surgeons Steward of this Station Office will copy immediately
on Receipt thereof, all letters, Circulars, Requisitions, Bill, etc.
into the Books provided for those purposes.
Signed, L. W. Minor
Surgeon C. S. N. [Confederate States Naval] Station

General Order No. 3
Office Surgeon of Station
Mobile, Alabama, [Friday] June 19, 1863
The Surgeons Steward of this office will not leave it between
the hours of 8.30 A. M. & 2 P. M. without permission of the
Surgeon and then for a Specified period. When sent out on
duty, he will return when that duty shall have been performed.
L. W. Minor
Surgeon C. S. N. S. [Confederate States Naval Station]

[Editor: Confederate general (military) hospitals were administered by “surgeons in charge.” Hospital stewards were appointed by the Confederate Secretary of War at the rank of sergeant and required to be honest, intelligent, reliable and sober. They were responsible for the cleanliness of wards, patients, staff and equipment, distributed rations, and maintained hospitals’ supplies and records. Lewis Willis Minor (1808-1872), a fleet surgeon it the antebellum United States and Confederate navies, was stationed at the Confederate naval station, Mobile, Alabama, as of June 10, 1861.There were at least four other Confederate hospitals in Mobile.]

MSS 3988-C

[Diary of Confederate civilian William M. Blackford]

Monday 11. Mary and myself walked out to breakfast
with Charles. As the latter and myself
were with Dr. Rind (?) descending the Hill by
Ammunitions factory, we were talking of Gen. Jackson’s wound
and the [??] the Dr. [granted?] as his
opinion that Pneumonia suppuration after such
surgical cases was very dangerous and the dangers
chances of injury very slight. Whilst discoursing
this part Dr. Randolph heard us and told
us the news which had just arrived that the
illustrious form was no more! We were shocked
and I felt as if the victory was dearly purchased.
[Editor: Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1-4, 1863.]

[entry continued on next unnumbered page
No man’s death could send Such [?] of
sorrow throughout the [?]—No man, in any
age or country, was, in this year, with fame
so pure and [?] or required such a hold
upon the populace. Every one mourns his
loss as a personal bereavement and a national
calamity. The enemy will, like the French when
Nelson was killed, think his removal compensation
for defeat. [Editor: British Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805),
was killed at the Battle of Trafalgar.] Lee’s right arm is taken from
[him]. God, I trust, will raise up another to
take his place. But as the President will find the
same in others now, whomever may command
the troops, the Spirit of Jackson will lead
it. His body arrived in Richmond today about
10 o’clock & was taken to the Governor—it
Will be removed to the Capitol tomorrow, he [will]
lie in state there & be conveyed to Lexington
for internment. News of riots in Dayton,
Ohio caused by the arrest of [Clement Laird] Vallandigham for
violating [Ambrose P.] Burnside’s atrocious order
[General Order Number 38, Department of Ohio]
threatening with death any one who criticizes the
plan of this campaign or the [actions] of the
[Dept. commander] in carrying on the war.

[Editor: Handwritten note slip inserted between these pages]:
“Stonewall Jackson is dead. When
he entered the land of departed
Spirits, Caesar, Hannibal,
Marlborough and Napoleon arose to
Salute his mighty Shade.
Richmond Examiner’s
announcement of Jackson’s Death.”

[William M. Blackford (1801-1864), a Lynchburg, Virginia, editor, postmaster and bank cashier, had five sons in the Confederate States Army. Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson (1824–1863) commanded the 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.]

MSS 4763

Vienna, April 9th, 1863
Dear Aunt:
I received your kind
letter last night and was glad
to hear from you. We have moved
at last and are drawing near the
enemy every time. We are situated
in a very fine little village in Va.,
and it is a pretty place. It is on
the Washington and Leesburg railroad
and it was a flourishing little place.
There is about 10 houses around in
the place, and if this war had not
broken out there would [have] been as
many as 50 houses here now, as
they would have been about 500 inhabitants.
The man who kept the tavern was
taken prisoner and was in a
prison in Richmond about 8
months, and was robbed of all
of his money which was about

[page 2]
1,000 thousand in gold and
silver and all of his personal
property was all Destroyed and
while we was their he came their
and said that he was glad to see
the union troops in his house
but when we was ordered out and
to go in shelter tents he said
that if their was ever anything that
would make us comfortable to
take it, and we took some of his
boards and made a floor so it makes
us more comfortable than to go
and take them without leave.
We have the poorest tents now
that we ever had, we have hardly
chance to sit up in them, but by
getting right in the middle of
the tent we have a chance. We made
about as quick a march as we
ever made when we came here.

[page 3]
We was ordered out about 10
O’clock, Monday night and marched
About 15 miles and got their at
4 O’clock the next morning, and
we had to go in a snow storm
and when we got their the snow
was about 6 inches deep, and the
mud was up to our knees and
we brought nothing in our
knapsacks but our blanket and
shelter tent, as we have go no
change of clothing with us; we
had to go out on picket the next
day and took two rebels prisoner
and they was the dirtest looking
that I have seen since I came
into the army. We captured the
rebel mail carrier yesterday
and he had about 70 letters
with him and now he has
got stop his fun on that it
is probable that he will be
hung. He was about 25 years old.

[page 4]
I should think but you could
not tell how old any of these
Virginian are without asking them.
And our cavalry captured the
whole of Mosby gurilers [guerillas] which
numbered about 80 but my sheet
is getting small. We have not
been paid off for about 3 months
now and the government owes us
5 months pay and we don’t
know when we shall get any of it
pretty soon. Our sutler  says that
the paymaster has been in camp
but I don’t think we shall get
any until May. Now, I think that
I have received every paper that
has been sent to me. I meant to
tell when I received a paper but
sometimes I forget it.

[page 5]
this is from your friend
Edwin A. Lane
Please write soon

I have not seen a great many
Contraband [Editor: escaped African-American slaves], but what I have
seen is a very fine-looking lot of
fellows. When we was to hunters chapel
[Editor: Hunter’s Chapel and Hunter’s Chapel Methodist Church,  Arlington, Virginia.]
I went off over to a hill which has
been called a contraband village and
they seem to understand themselves
quite well. The most of them do
not know how to read and write.
They used come into our camp and
get clothing to wash and one old
man got so attached to the business
that he could get any body clothing
to wash and trust us for it. We expect
to go back to camp today as tomorrow
but I don’t think that we shall
go back to the hunters’ chapel [Hunter’s Chapel] again.
We have two or three contraband in
our regt. that come from North Carolina
and they are pretty smart
fellow. We get them to sing and we

[page 6]
got a banjo and a tamborn [tambourine]
for them and you had ought to
heard them sing and dance they
are the brightest negro that I
have ever seen, but I guess that I have
said enough about them in this
letter. It may be by the next time
I shall see more of them. What
is the mind of the people of the city
about the close. I think that it
will be at close before this
year has closed, and the most
of us will be to home when
[General] Joe Hooker go at them he
will make them go toward their
burial place. We have a very
good plase to camp now in
Virginia. I have inquired for them
Washburne boys in town or their
Company and can’t get one
trace of them but I must close.
Give my love to you and
sister and receive this from a true friend.

[Editor: cross-written on page 1]
Write soon and tell me all of the news.
Write soon.
Write soon.

[Editor: There were at least two Union infantry privates named “Edwin A. Lane”; this letter’s internal clues suggests this Lane may have been a member of the 40th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment which was stationed in Vienna during April 1863. This letter was written two years to the day of Lee’s Appomattox surrender.]

MSS 11027

Headquarters of the Upper Potomac
Harpers Ferry Va.
March 28, 1863
A. Spates, Esq.
President Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company
Dear Sir:
I received yesterday your
two communications of dates 25th & 26th instant, with enclosed printed
circular of Gen. McClellan’s Order No. 44 dated Washington
April 21of 1863. On entering upon my duties at this Post and
before I issued my General Orders No. 2 I was informed by
many reliable persons that a large contraband trade
was carried on between Maryland and Virginia and in-
formation constantly passing to the Confederate Army, by
means of small boats and skiffs along the river and canal
on the lines where trade with Virginia is forbidden by a
recent law of Congress. In order to carry into effect that
law, and the regulations of the Treasury and War Dept.
intended for that purpose; I deemed it a Military necessity
to seize the boats and other watercraft as designated in
Part IV of that order. It had been stated to me that many
Boats used in the contraband trade belonged to the Chesa-
peake & Ohio Canal Co. and were hidden away under
Culverts and bridges along the canal and river, and
rented by the Captains, and Agents of the Company to spec-
ulate in this atrocious traffic and to give encouragement

[page 2]
and carry supplies to Disloyalists and Rebels in Virginia.
It was my first duty, under the state of things as
this represented, to seize all and every kind of skiff
or boat that could be taken by secessionists from their place
of concealment by night or day by force, or that could be
rendered of unfaithful employees of the Company without
its knowledge.
It was not of course my intention in any
manner to interfere with proper commerce and trade
along the canal, or to embarrass in any degree its
lawful business, known to me to be of great importance
to the Federal Government. But if the company has in
its employment Agents or persons who disregard the laws
of Congress and the regulations of the Treasury Depart-
ment and the army, It must suffer the consequen-
ces; as I cannot permit boats or skiffs to be kept with-
in the lines of my command that can be used in
any manner, with or without the assent of the com-
pany or its agents, to aid the enemies of the Federal
Government.
Whenever the Boats that have been seized
at Dam No. 5 are wanted by the Company for rebuild-
ing the stone abutment you refer to, and for other
repairs there, I will give such directions to the Military
Commandant at North Mountain, as shall place
them at your disposal, if it is his opinion it can be
done with safety. It is hoped that the Company
will consent willingly to any laws Sent and slight
inconveniences the emergencies of the crisis may

[page 3]
impose on them. All truly loyal and good citizens are
expected to make such sacrifices, and the more willingly,
as they are intended for the permanent and great good
of the public.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully,
Your obt. Servt.
B. S. Roberts
Brig. Genl. Comdg.

[Brigadier General Benjamin Stone Roberts, commander of the upper defenses of Washington, D. C.]

MSS 554

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]

Friday
Feb 13
Did not drill to-day.  Have felt very un-
easy and want to be at  home.  Made
out Thompsons descriptive list as he is going to the
hospital.   Phineas has been putting up a cookhouse
It has been pleasant to-day.  this evening Frank
Adams has been in here and we have been talking
of home

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Captain Jonathan B. Hager, 14th U. S. Regulars, returning from mustering duty]

Feby 13  I was glad to see the officers nearly all of
               whom I had not seen since last summer.
               I found myself the senior officer & of course will
               assume the command of the regiment.

MSS 9044

                                   Dumfries, Virginia
                                      Feb. 13th 1863
Dear Mother
                             Your kind and wel-
come letter came safely to hand yester
day and I thank you for it.  I was
truly glad to learn that you were well
and prospering at home.  My health
remains good and I do not think it
will change as camp life seems to
agree with me.  I wrote you a letter
but a few days ago and I have not
much news to write you now none
of importance only we received our
pay yesterday for two months $28 for
me. – I  have nearly Six months due
me but could only get two of them
We are promised pay again some time
in March.  I have nearly fifty dollars
that I can send you, and you can
get it by going to Lanark and pay-
ing Expressage.  Perhaps I shall buy
some Boots and clothes so that I cannot
send you more than fi forty dollars
I shall send you all I can.  I want
you to pay Shimer and Gregory some
if you can possibly spare it.——–

[page 2]
The Col. says that we will
go to Washington soon to do
Provo – guard duty If we do
then I shall get my mail
regularly and perhaps we will
have easier times  I hope so
any how.  Our Company has
been detailed to go to Alexandria
or Washington to get some extra
horses for our Regiment.  We start
to-morrow morning at 8 oclock
and will go up the Potomac on a boat
and probably will be gone for sever-
al days.  After we return I will
write you again.  The Postage Currency
is taken in place of silver in all
cases and for any thing   We use
it as change.  Believe me Mother
Your Affectionate Son
W. H. Redman
Mrs. Catarine Redman
Please Write Soon
No Sale Mother- – No Sae  It will be
the beginning of a separation of the family
                               W.H.R

[In right hand margin of page 2]
Mother I want to know whether you ever received a likeness
that I sent you from Wmsport?
dont forget to write me

William Henry Redman, Co. C., 12th Illinois Cavalry

MSS 7415

               Mississippi river
                   Feby 13th 1863
My Dear Parents
                    We have at last
reached the River of rivers
Last Monday afternoon
took on board Pilot about
forty five miles from the south
West Pass and about mid=
night anchored out side the
bar.
    Providence has favored us
wonderfully.   we only had one
severe gale.  The bunks on the
Starboard side of the ship were
broken down, but fortunately no
one was hurt very bad.
The vessel shipped several seas.
I was in the Second mate’s
State-room in the lower berth
the water came in but did

[page 2]
not not wet me.  I thought
however that it was best to
make tracks & I crawled
into the main cabin and
lay upon the floor until
day light & then after the
sun had risen the scene
was grand beyond description.
The saddest part of our
voyage was after we had passed
great Abaco Island when we
had to bury one of our comrades
at sea, and after we got
into the Gulf we had to bury an
other. one has died since we
started up the river and was
carried ashore this morning
about five (5) miles above fort
Philip. we have none very
sick now.
  Now for our voyage up the
river.  Tuesday at sundown a

[page 3]
tug took us over the bar and
we anchored about two miles
up the channel of the river.
Wednesday morning cool and
pleasant a boat came along
side and I was glad to
see Geo. Smith, he had come
down from Ft. Philip 35 miles
up river, to get Birney, they
had heard that we were on
the bar and could not get
off.  Thursday morning very
pleasant and warm, the
tug fastened to us an
we steamed slowly up the
river. got to Ft. Philip last
night about dark, five miles
above the Forts, we came to
anchor in quarantine this
morning the medical officer
came on board ad about
8 oclock we again got under

[page 4]
way, the day has been pleasant
but rather cool.  we have seen
the remains of five fats &
wrecks of steamers used &
destroyed at the taking of the
Forts.  we have passed former
plantations to-day, could see
them at work gathering the
came have passed some splendid
orange orchards could see the
oranges on the trees we go
so close to the bank that
we can smell their fragrance-
a boat came alongside
loaded with oranges. they were
the best I ever tasted.
this evening we have anchored
close in shore as it is very
foggy.  the tug has a ship
on each side & a schooner
behind so you see we do

[page 5]
not make very rapid progress.
the other ship has part of a
Regt. that were wrecked on
Florada Reefs. no lives were lost
I believe.
   Saturday Feby 14 1863
We started this morning again
and have been slowly making
our way up river, expect if
nothing happens to reach the
city about nine o’clock
this evening. we have passed
some very large plantations
today, the negroes appear to
be loyal & glad to see us
They jump up & down clap
their hands, & roll over.
We ran so close to them to-day
that a negro threw some
oranges on board.
It will be thirty five days
to morrow that we have

[page 6]
been aboard this craft.
I have got enough of the
sea. hoe we shall go
home by land.
 Sunday 15th inst
   This has been a pleasant
day, we are anchored opposite
the lower part of the city, the
Col. has gone ashore Y we
shall probably know our destination
to night or n the morning.
This afternoon Elder Blokes came
on Board.  he came up the
river with B[?] & two or
three officers that went ashore at
the Forts.
Evening it rains quite hard, the
Col. has come on board.  we go
ashore in the morning and go
into U.S. Barracks to recruit a
while & then go up river
this Regt. is assigned to

[page 7]
Nickerson’s Brigade which is
this side of Baton Rouge the
Col. did not remember the
name of the place.
The mail leaves  here to
morrow at 4 o’clock P.M.
and one is expected to arrive
You must write every week.
for the mail comes quite
regular.
  I will write you a letter
George soon, you must consider
this as partly your own
You can write often & it will
be a good exercise for you
   You direct to
       New Orleans
24th Regt
                   Banks Expedition
                  Yours Truly
                    C.P.M.

Charles Plummer Morrill,  24th Maine

MSS 11031

             Camp 7th New York Battery
                   Norfolk, Va. F 13th 1863

                         My Dear Wife
Yours of the 8th received and perused
And as there is not time like the
present for improveing opportunity
I have embraced it And although
there is not much News to write
to you in regards to the war Yet I
think I can make out a Letter
of City doings For the last 3 or 4 weeks
more or less every Night we are startled
from our slumber by the ringing of
Bells and the whole firmament lit up
as if in one Blaze of Fire This of
course accounts for the Bells ringing
soon we told that a large Fire
is raging in the City – and that it
is the work of the Incendiary
Night before last 10 Buildings where[sic]

[page 2]
laid in ashes  Last night again another
the particulars I have not yet heard
This is what the Secesh call Lincoln
work  But my idea is that this
property is owned by the Secesh
and heavily insured at the North
for ever and above its value they
then set fire to it to obtain the
insurance  Two of our Boys have
Deserted us and gone over to the
Rebs their names are Caleb Bush
of Dutchess County and one S Kelley
one we have heard from He is in
Fredericksburgh in the secesh army
In a few Days Rufus H King will
be in power then may we expect
something new The Weather is
again growing Cold  Alas what
changes we have seen one Day very
warm the next more than cold
well never mind warm weather

[page 3]
for us will come soon enough
and some how or other I dread
it  All is Quiet at Suffolk as far
as we can learn But the most of
our expedition are [centered?] now
on Savannah & Charleston if they
fall then may we expect something
else soon Keep me posted if Jim
goes to the C[?] let me know
the full particulars As yet I
know have had no opportunity
of getting my picture taken when I
do you shall know Remember me
to mother Father and the rest of
my friends  My Love to you and
my boy take good care of yourself
and him  Your Loving Husband
‘                         Edward Shepard
when the 19 regt get
to Fortress Monroe I
intend visiting them

[letter written for the barely literate Sheppard of the 7th New York Light Artillery by another soldier]

MSS 12631

     Feb. 14th’’63.
Early this morning
the sun shone out bright-
ly, but before long it
was obscured by clouds, –
shortly after noon
it commenced rain-
ing & has rained all
afternoon & continues
unabated, (9 P.M.)
Although to-day is
St. Valentine’s day, I
have rec’d “niver a
letter.”
Feel quite well to-day.

                        [23]
     Feb. 15th,’63.
The rain fell in torrents
all night, but ceased
at day break.
It is cloudy & cool.
Walked over to Camp to-
day, & remained a short
time; rode back on our
kind Chaplain’s horse.
Not so well to-day as
yesterday.
Seven months in the
service to-day.

     Feb. 16th,’63.
Railroad communication
between Murfreesboro &
Nashville ^ ‘was completed’ on last Thurs-
day, (that by telegraph be-
ing previously perfected.)
Suffering to-day with
weakness & pain in my
back; symptoms of

[24]
Rheumatism in my legs
& arms.
Cold & cloudy in the
morning; commenced
raining about 11 A.M.
& has continued all
day.
This morning Capt.
Nicholas, (Co. H.) oc-
cupies the bed in
this room, vacated
recently by Lt. Rose-
man, (Co. A.) who has
recovered, & who was
here sick on my
arrival.
I’m informed that
the reg’t. was called
into line at 4 A.M.
to-day, & remained there
until daylight, – an
attack by the forces
under John Morgan being feared.

                        [25]
     Feb. 17th,’63.
Rained all night;
cloudy but no rain
during the day; – be-
gun raining at dark.
Our brigade is order-
ed to strike tents &
be ready to move at
7 A.M. to-morrow.

     Feb. 18th,’63.
Rained all night &
still raining this morn-
ing. At about 8 A.M. the
brigade marched out to
the pike & up toward
town, – tents still stand-
ing & men detailed to
guard Co. quarters.
Passed through town,
crossed the river on
the R.R. Bridge, & were
variously employed

[26]
during the day, I’m
informed, in gather-
ing timber adrift in
the stream, repairing
the R.R. bridge, & re-
moving the pontoon
bridge into more
shallow water.
This evening they re-
turned to the old
camp to sleep in
the tents.
Rain ceased about
9 or 10 A.M. since
which time it has
been cloudy & cool, ap-
parently prepared to
renew the drenching
process on the slight-
est provocation & at
a moment’s notice.
Pain in my head less
severe to-day.

                        [27]
     Feb. 19th,’63.
Cloudy with little
rain to-day.
Did not fall asleep
until 5 A.M. this morn-
ing.
Walked over to camp to-
day.
     Feb. 20th,’63.
Quite pleasant to-day, –
sun shining.
Signing pay rolls
this evening. Over to
camp again to-day.

     Feb. 21st’63.
Cloudy & cool this morn-
ing; begun raining at
11 A.M.
Reg’t. out foraging to-
day. Over to camp to-
day.

[28]
     Feb. 22d, ’63.
Ceased raining at
dark & did not rain
during the night; cloudy
& cold to-day.
Today being the anni-
versary of Washington’s
birth day, a salute
of 34 guns was fired
by one battery in
each division.

     Feb. 23d,’63.
Clear & quite pleas-
ant to-day.
I ate my dinner &
supper in Camp.
My back quite pain-
ful. This morn-
ing the firing of
cannon at Nash-
ville was heard in
Camp.

                        [29]
     Feb. 24th, ’63.
Light clouds par-
tially obscure the
sun, yet it is a
beautiful morning.
Not so well to-day.
Clear in the afternoon.

     Feb. 25th,’63.
Cloudy this morning;
began to rain about
noon, & has rained all
afternoon.
Our reg’t. was paid to-
day up to the 31st of
Oct. ’62. I was paid
only from the 9th of
Aug. ’62, at which
time I reported a full
Company instead of
the 15th of July, when I
was appointed; & muster-
ed in by Capt. Dodi.

[30]
     Feb. 26th, ’63.
Rained all night fu-
riously; rained all day.
Sent $250.00 home by
“State Pay Agent;” Williams,
to order of Father.
Paid, to-day, to Foerster
& Bailey, Sutlers 97th
Ohio, $56.67, my ac-
count in full up to
this date.
John M. Archer died
to-day.

     Feb. 27th, ’63.
Warm & clear to-day;
moved over to camp
to my tent.
Men for the “Roll of
Honor” elected to-night.
Brady & I hired “Jim” from
to-morrow, at $10 per month, –
“’alf & ‘alf.”

                        [31]
     Feb. 28th, ’63.
Cloudy this morning.
Pay rolls to be made
out to-day; inspection
& muster for pay, also.

     F March 1st, ’63.
Clear & warm.
Quite sick in the
morning.
Reg’t. gone on foraging
expedition, with three
days rations.

     March 2d, ’63.
Cloudy & cool most
of the day. I walked
to town & back to-day.
Part of the reg’t.
returned to-day with
some of the wagons
loaded & sent back.

[32]
     March 3d, ’63.
Cloudy & cool.

     April 20th, ’63.
     We were yesterday or-
dered to have three
day’s cooked rations
in haversacks, & three to
put in wagons, to be
ready to march when-
ever called upon.
Started this morn-
ing at 8 ½ O’Clock, and
marched out the Mc
Minnville pike to Crip-
ple Creek, where a bri-
gade of our army is
encamped, guarding
a very high hill, used
as a post of observation
by our signal corps, &
                        [33]
which gives a view of
the Country for more
than 20 ms. from Mur-
freesboro, & which can
be seen from the Court
House in that town; here
we halted & ate our din-
ners. This afternoon we
marched to a little
town, the name of which
is said to be spelled Rea-
dyville, & pronounced Res-
dyville, where another
brigade, performing like
duty with the one before
mentioned is stationed.

     April 21st, ’63.
Started before sun-
rise this morning.
Passed through Wood-
bury about noon; a-

[34]
bout 3 P.M. we halted
to rest & await orders; &
having marched about
25 ms. Rested over an
hour when we started
again, turning to the left
off the pike on a dirt
road, & marching a-
bout 5 ms. we encamp-
ed for the night.
Our mounted infant-              [“A strong Federal expedition patrolled from
ry, & cavalry, in advance,      Murfreesboro to McMinnville, Tenn.,
entered McMinnville to-         April 20-30.” Long, Civil War Day by Day.]
day, capturing over 100
of John Morgan’s men
& burned two R.R. bridges
& a cotton factory.

     April 22nd, ’63.
Started early this
morning, & marched
all day through a

                        [35]
well wooded – for this
country, – & sparsely pop-
ulated country.

     April 23d, ’63.
Started at 3 o’clock
this morning, at about
9 A.M. came upon the
pike, & started in the
direction of Liberty, which
place we reached a-
bout 2 ½ P.M. A flour-
ing mill, much used
by the rebels, was burn-
ed this afternoon. En-
camped about 1 mile
West of town.

     April 24th, ’63.
Remained in Camp

[36]
to-day; about 3 P.M. our
reg’t. went on picket
two miles East of town.

     April 25th, ’63.
Returned to camp a-
bout 9 A.M., when we
all started to Alex-
andria; which place,
we reached about
12 M., & encamped.
Today we destroyed
the machinery of a
flouring mill, & also,
a carding machine.

     April 26th, ’63.
Remained in camp
to-day. Heard Rev.
McFarland preach
in the Campbellite
Church.

                        [37]
     April 27th, ’63.
Up every morning since
out at 3 o’clock.
At 2 P.M. we started
back toward Liberty, &
encamped within 2 ½
miles of that place &
1 ½ miles our former
camp.
A number of refugees
are with us on their
way north. The peo-
ple all along our line
of march say they are
in a very destitute, & some
in almost a starving
condition.
A shoemaker in Al-
exandria told me, –
showing a pair of shoes,
just such as are issued
by our Government for
$1.48, – that he had

[38]
been offered $25 for
his shoes, & had re-fused it.
Most of Stokes’
cavalry was recruit-
ed in this part of
the Country.

     April 28th, ’63.
Up at 3 ½ A.M.
Rained some during
the night, & very slight-
ly this morning.

                        [39]
[The next page is blank.]

[40] [Written upside down from previous pages.]
Rec’d. of Capt. W. F. Hunter,
Co. B, 97 Ohio, the follow-
ing orduance, Aug. 14, ’63:
52 Enfield complete –
54 sets of accouterments.
1600 r’ds. cartridges

     1st Lieut J. F. Brady

Rec’d. of Capt. Wm. F. Hunter,
Co. B, 97th Ohio, the following
Camp & Garrison equipage, Aug.
14, 1863: –
     9 Mess pans –
     5 Camp kettles –
     4 Hatchets, & H.
     3 Axes –          “
     1 Pick –           “
     1 Spade –        “
     26 S. tents –
     48 Knapsacks –
     68 Haversacks –
     68 Canteens –
          1st Lieut J. F. Brady.

                        [42]
     July 14th, 1863.
Bought tobacco for
the following men of
the Co. of Sut. 57th Ind.,
at 30 cts. a piece, to be
paid next pay day.
[See Xerox of this page.]

[43] This diary page is written upside down to the above pages.]
     Dec. 26th, 1863.
Started to rejoin the
brigade at Blanes X
Roads, 18 ms. from
Knoxville. Got aboard
the Steam boat “Chatta-
noga”, which got under
way about 9 P.M.
Cabin (?) consists of
a light frame work
of pine, over which
is thrown some pieces
of old tent[-]. No
stove in our part
of the aforesaid Cabin!
Unpleasantly cool.
Rained all day & night.
Fare: “Hard tack & coffee”,
& “do your own Cooking”.
     Dec. 27, 1863.
Sunday. Still rain-
ing. The boat goes

[44]
at the rate of –
well, I don’t know
just how much, –
but she goes, or the
trees on the bank
have all started down
the river. Rained all
day & night. The rain
comes into our “Cabin”
without being invited.
The boat had to “lay to”
for several hours
during the night owing
to the fog.

     Dec. 28th, 1863.
Reached London about
8 A.M. Landed opposite
the town. The rebel
works there as seen
from this side of
the river are insig-

                        [45]
nificant. The bridge
here is burned.
Rain has ceased but
it is cloudy & cold.
Made a fire near the
Rail road, & trying to make
ourselves “at home” until
2 P.M. when, it is said,
the Cars will arrive.
35. Ky. encamped here.
Cars arrived about 12 M.
Started about 3 ½ P.M.
“Stauled” once on up       
grade. Reached Knoxville
about 8 P.M. – 4 ½ hours
going 35 ms. A. P. M. per-
mitted us to sleep on
the floor of his room
in the Court House.
     Dec. 29, 1863.
Started for Strawberry
plains on cars about 10 A.M.

[46]
& reached there about 11 ½ P.M.
Brig. G. S. S. being there for
bread, I came out with
him, arriving at Camp,
which is on the bank
of the river, 6 ms. from
the station.
So ends the Chapter.

[Transcription Notes: The rest of Capt. W. F. Hunter’s diary is used as a record book. See Xerox pages following. For explanation of transcription style, see page 47.

                               -Mary Roy Dawson Edwards, Transcriber
                                 July 2008.]