[from the diary of Sgt. Robert Larimer, Co. C., 67th Regiment Ohio Volunteers]
Wednesday, January 7, 1863
Loaded the baggage on the cars 58″
P.V. reshifted got aboard the train
and all together left Moorehead at
11 A.M. arrived at Newbern N.C. at
4 P.M. unloaded the baggage &c &c
captured two boxes
MSS 38-129
[page 2]
of the apples that are at home I would have
some fine dishes of saws and apple fliters I
have been very hungry since I have been here
by time but I think I will be able to see it
through as their is but about 3 & 1/2 months
[page 3]
tents which are some protection but the
weather has been fine I think I never
saw such good weather this time a year
Their was some talk that in camp that this Brigade
would be sent back but their has
been nothing said the last few days so I dont think
their is much in it I [wish?] whe would by Text-Enhance”>go back
a piece for their would be some chance
to By something to eat their is no chance to get
any thing here neathe paper nor postage by Text-Enhance”>stamps
as you will see this is ritten on an old piece
of copy by Text-Enhance”>book that was picked up [illegible word]
and if I have to maile this and leave you the
postage to pay you must excuse me or else
I [illegible word] [change our position?] Their
is several that I would like to write to if I had
the paper their is no sutlers supplies alowed
to be shiped as the armies is so large that it require
all the transportation the government can raise to
bring up supplys their is no much chance for
a forward move from here as the Rebels seam to
bee very well Situated on the other side of the
[page 4]
the Rappahanook is but a Small river some
paces it is so shalow that it is easely forded
the pickets talk to each other from the banks
of the stream their is no firing amonkst the
pickets but a few evenings they wer Driven in
which put the officers on their gard I think I will stop
writing about the armie and tell you that what part
of Virginia [I] have seen it looks offel hard it is
nothing but a lot of hill and the poorist land I have
most ever seen their is a great deal of this scruby
Pine and seder grows here most all the farms
are vacated the inhabitants gon south with the
exception of some few Negros that are scatered about
I wish I who could have been at home to have
tended singing the last three evenings as they have
been fine and I suppose you had a good time
I want you to write to me and give me all
the new and let me no how the singing is going
geting along I wrote to David Early some time ago
have not herd from him yet my paper is most full
my best Respects to your Parents and all that inquire
and I Remain
Farmington Jan 7th 1863
My darling precious Charlie
Will you
forgive me for allowing one whole week
to pass by without writing to thee when
I know how much pleasure it affords you?
Do not think darling, that I have been
voluntarily silent far from it Every
day I have thought that another should
not find you neglected, but the next
would come followed by its usual
work, which must be performed and
go, finding me, to all appearances
as far from writing to you as the
day proceeding. Today I have sat down
regardless of study etc determined that
I will neglect you no longer.
I have not heard from you since you
wrote me of your sever illness, from
which you had not recovered, and
[page 2]
naturally enough dread apprehensions
fill my mind, apprehensions that I
dare not breathe. I, in a manner
dispel them with the thought that if you
were worse you would get some one to
write me but I am fearful that you
are worse and dread to let me know of
it until you are better. If so darling one
let me entreat of you, as I often have
done before, and as you value my happi-
ness, that you will inform me all about
your health. I should so love to hear from
you daily, aye, even hourly if could [be?]
but I know the latter is impossible, and
the former nearly so. Nevertheless I would
try and be content with hearing from you
once a week if I could not hear from you
oftener.
Forgive me dearest, if my letter has the
appearance of being dictated by a complaining
heart; let me assure you that it is only
my love for you, that causes my anxiety
I can not conceal it if I try ever so
[page 3]
hard and I have tried earnestly and, –
as I expected I should – have failed.
I can not longer conceal from thee dear,
the suffering I have been compelled to
endure, since learning of you illness
Darling, let me urge you to speedily
come to me if possible, If I only was
permitted to fill the sacred office of
watching by you I should be happy,
but, even that is denied me, and I
must — (Addie what art thou writing,
has he not enough to suffer without
sharing thy grief? Hush you complaints)
The weather is cold and gloomy not
a bright spot to be seen in the sky.
A few snow flakes are straggling down
as if fearful to tarry with us in
this world of sorrow but then we need
some gloomy weather, in order to fully
appreciate the the[sic] fair weather. How
weary I do get looking and seeing what?
Nothing but leafless trees, ground covered
[page 4]
snow, and dark frowning clouds.
These all have a tendency to make me
“bluer” than I otherwise should be. But why
I should write so “bluish” to you is
more than I can tell. I can not send
this out till tomorrow, – so I will “lay
it by” till morning.
Good evening dearest. How art thou
this cold evening. I trust your[sic] are not
suffering from the cold even if we at
the North do, I think I never “saw
such sudden changes in the weather”
as we have this winter, Yesterday morning
when I arose, it seemed more like a real
refreshing spring morning, than like a
morning in midwinter, Every thing
seemed so exhilarating, nothing seemed
deficient except the joyous notes of’
the little birds, but towards night the
wind moved into the N.W. and today
it has been very cold, so cold that
as they breathe little frosty particles collect
[remainder of letter from Adelaide Case to her fiancee Charles N. Tenney of the 7th Ohio, missing]
MSS 11616
[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Wed 7. Fine but cold – In hosps. Q. M. is sick with typhoid – goes home –
are discharging soldiers – now for disability – It is sd. we have
taken Vic[k]sburg & defeated rebels at Murfresboro-
pleasant letters yesterday fr. Henry & Paterson –
Quartermaster Sergeant John S. Muschamp
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12935
[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]
Jan. 7th, ’63.
Ordered to be ready to
march at 7 A.M..
Marched at that time,
on the pike toward town,
crossed the river above
the R.R. bridge, passed
through the town & out
the pike about ¾ of
a mile toward
where we turned to the
right about ½ mile, when
we were making prepara-
tions to go into camp,
when we were ordered
to fall in. Marched
left in front back
across the pike & to
the left & toward town,
about a mile from it, when
we encamped in a beauty-
ful wood.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 10547-bm
[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk of Campbell County]
Jany 7″ ’63 Wedn
Clear & cold. – at Olivers
house much exposed –
left 3 pm & reachd home at
dark – cold ride – found Wm
Wiatt domiciled there –
found my leg in very
ugly inflamed condition
dressed it.
MSS 3315
[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]
Wednesday, January 7th – Intensely cold and bright. Went to prayer meeting at Linden. Carried sister Mary home, then went to Longwood. While there Cousins Mary and Evelyn came in from Winchester. Cousin William had been sent off to Martinsburg. Cousin Mary saw him a short time in the Provost office. She had been out in a hard rain and felt so uncomfortable she did not stay long, thinking he might get permission to come and spend the night with her. In the evening she was walking down there and met Cousin William and he told her he was to be sent off to Martinsburg. The waggons had already started. They had not given him time to get his clothes which were just across the street. They said he was to be sent to Richmond from Martinsburg, there to be exchange. The Monitor has been sunk, one of their boasted iron clads. A few days ago Imboden came down to Romney and took their waggon train and a good many stores and they have sent most of the cavalry up there. They have five fences built across our road.
MSS 9759
[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]
Wednesday night, January 7, 1863.
[clipping pasted in]
Alexander H. H. Stuart, 1807-1891, a leading Virginia politician, and alumnus of both William and Mary and the University of Virginia, had been Secretary of the Interior under Millard Filmore. He was a Virginia State Senator, a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention, and a member of the Commission that traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with Abraham Lincoln in a last effort to avoid war. After the war he was elected to Congress but not admitted, helped return Virginia to the Union in 1870 and again served in the General Assembly. In addition he was Rector of the University of Virgina from 1874-1882.
[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]
MSS 38-258
[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Rev. Ebenzer Boyden, Rector of Walker’s Church, Cismont, Va.]
Friday 7th Mr Nelson & Celia called – Mr Nelson
on business with Father
MSS 2488
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Tuesday
Jan 6
Read and wrote some. Have felt rather
better than yesterday. Nothing new.
MSS 11293
