Camp near Butlers Mill Caroline Cty Va

Sunday January the 4th 1863
Dear Susan
  I have the pleasure of saying to you I am still in good health also
all of the boys from our neighbourhood and the company generally
I promised I would let you know in my next whether I could put in
a substitute for a short time, but we have bin so bussily engaged
in fixing up that that[sic] I have not said any thing about it to our
major yet, and that is the only diffaculty, that of geting his consent
(he is a strange old creature) application has bin made to him
some time ago and he refused, the capt is willing and the Genl
has sanctioned the like last summer, but I intend to try the
Major myself as soon as I think it practable.
   We have put up shelters out of pine brush for the Horses
to stand under in cold and windy weather and of nights
and all of the men have bin building chimneys to their
tents some have put up small cabbins and all seem to be very
well fixed as for myself we have a firstrate tent and we have
put in a chimney to it with an excellent fireplace made of
stone which makes the ten vary comfortable mutch more
so than any one would imagine their is six of us in the mess
just enough to have good room we have put up a kind of
bunk or burth with two  places to sleep on one alone the other
and three sleep together and we rest firstrate our bed is composed
of small pine poles and straw put on them then spread our Bla=
=nkets and we are ready for a good nights rest
we cook by turns too cook one day and so on til
it goes round I and Gentry cooks together
Tom & Harry: David and Gack[sic]

[sideways in bottom right corner of page 1]
Names of mess
King D J
”   ”   E H
”   ”   T W
”  ”    G W
Gentry A J
Gillespie A J

[page 2]
I have recd too letters from you since we have bin at this camp
one dated Decr the 23 the other the 25 the last one seemes to have bin
concluded on Sunday in the Christmas you say in your last that your
mother never come to see you unless sent for that sound vary strange
to me What have I done that she wont come to my house, even in
my absence I did hope she would stay with yo the most
of her time if I have done anyt thing to insult her let me know
what it is and I will ask her pardon.
you want my advice about matters I dont know what to say
unless I was their to see what was going on so I take it for granted
you all will doo the best you can and try and get on agreeable with
every boddy as for my dictateing what Nathan ought to doo I have
nothing to say unless he should ask my opinion on any particular
subject then I would feel free to advise.
you say you will try and doo without Tom H. I think that will be
a good plan his bourd would bee worth fair more than you can
posably get him to doo you had better hire someone to cut wood
by the cord or day than keep him as that is all he will agree to
doo my last I gave you my opinion in regard to the land you ought
to cultivate provided you can get it done.
  you say you have only one sow and th too shoats left I would
like to know whitch one it is and whitch one Mr C  dogs killed
and if he has ever said anything about paying you for it:
surely if he knows his dogs killed the sow he will pay you
for her you have no Idea how it frets me to think what a fine
stock of hogs I lef at home and now to think they are near
nearly all gonn  it is a shame a scandle to Humanity
but I try to console myself in hopes of out living all of our
diffacultys and again enjoy the bliss of home and peace

[page 3]
   Some men talk lie they thaught their would bee Furloes granted
this winter but no one can tel as it will depend on the move=
=ments of the enamy if they go into winter quarters then their
will bee some chance of our gating Furloes but if I fail to
get a chance to come home I think I can get a place for
you to stay at in this neighbourhood if you can arrange
your matter so as to come down and see me you and Duck
King can come together it would bee mutch better come=
=ing here than it would bee to go to Richmond and you
said you would go their to see me But I mutch rather
come home so I could see all of the children as it would
bee imposable to bring them all with you
Tel Brother Gid to get on the cars some of these days and come
down here git up and start that is all
   I am afraid you started my bitter before you got my letter
informing you of our move I wrote you word to direct
your letters to chesterfield Station but I understand
the name of the postffis Ruther Glen Caroline Co, Va
so direct your next to the last named place
I am in hearing of the central cars even can hear the
Roar of the wheels if I gust had the privalige how soon
I could come home and it looks foolish to me to
keep us here all the winter and not give no Furloes
but if the safety of our country demands that we
shall stay, I shall quietly submit without a murmer
all we are doing after fixing up is three men a dat to gard
the horses and men to go with the wagons after feed and
dont have doo either  how did Luellen like his studs

[page 4]
at night by fire light about 8 oclock
  the Boys have all quited up and I thaught I would finish
my letter did you ever see stutch good weather for the
time of year the vary time to bee plowing I recon Nathan
is gust roleing the land over I tel you evry man that is
not in the servis augh to bee doing their best to try to make
something to eat doo you reccollect my warnings to you last spring
that bread would bee bread an other year and if I had bin at home
last fall I would of sowed some wheat or split a ham cross ways if this
war lasts another year where will you all get Flour.  I shuder at the thaught
It was thaught by some that I was not mutch account but I recon
sad experience teaches you that I am missed
write as soon as you get this and tell me all the news give me a
history of all the children doo they run off of days doo they mind
you dos they talk polite to strangers how I would like to see sis
and manny todling about over the Floor and hear them talk some
they would not know me if ware to come home I recon bless their little
Soles how I would Kiss them tell me if Lu & [Ted?] can spell their
names how many Rabbits have they caught this fall can Lu make
a trap and  metus[sic] does he want to see papa I would lik to
har him say Luella have you made him any britches yet has
he got an shoes I must close by hopeing when this comes to hand
it may find you all in good health – give my respects to the
neighbours and a Kiss to all the children and believe me stil
your devoted Husband Andrew J. Gillespie
I wrote a letter to Elizabeth Roberts I wonder if she got it
it was wrote before the fight at Fredericksburg
Thomas King is as fat as a pig harvys health is very good and Davy has
fatened up vaary mutch and is looking well I wonder that none of

[right hand margin of page 4]
his nieghbours dont write to him he say the are not able

[top margin of page 4]
to pay postage if they will let him know he will send them some stamps

Andrew J. Gillespie  Ancell’s Co., Virginia Light Artillery
MSS 9564

Camp Winder, Jan 4th 1863
Dear Sister
                     I received your letter
yesterday dated the thirty first & now
hasten to answer it.  I am well
with the exception of a cold which
is nothing new.  There is no news
of importance except that there was
a slight stir in camp yesterday
in consequence of a rumored
advance of the enemy but it
appears to have subsided now
General Stuart has made another
dash around the enemy &
returned without the loss of
a man.  He captured five  hundred

[page 2]
prisoners, two hundred wagons, and
destroyed five days rations for the
Yankees.  Christmas & New Years day
passed off quietly with us. We
had a great variety on the table
for our christmas dinners the
breakfast consisted of beef steak
& bread, dinner was bread &
Roast Beef, & supper out of what
was left for at breakfast. To give
you an idea of what we have
to pay for little extras I will
mention the price of a few
articles – Apples are selling at from
$1.50 to two dollars a dozen, Ginger
Bread 3 cakes for a dollar.  Butter
two dollars a pound, sausage 1.50
per pound, dried apple pies that
are baked in camp bring 75 cts
and a dollar & every thing else
is in proportion.  There was
but few of the men that
could afford to get drunk this

[page 3]
Christmas as Whiskey is selling at
fifteen dollars a quart.  During the
last year we lost out of our
brigade 1220 men in killed & wounded
no mention being made of those
that died from disease.  the loss
in our regiment was 400 almost
one third of the whole amount
We marched over 1500 miles
encountering the snows & ice of Winter
in the mountains of Morgan and
hampshire. The miasma of summer
in the swamps of Henrico & Hanover
Our brigade numbers but 1200 muskets
at the beginning of the present
year.  If I can obtain a copy of
the order I will send it to you
which contains a history of the
past years campaign in few
words.  We are now fixed upp prety
well having a little tent fixed
uppp & a chimney in it in
which we do our cooking.

[page 4]
But I will now draw my
letter to a close by asking
you to excuse all mistakes &
write soon to your brother
                                         Tom

Thomas M. Smiley, Co. D., 5th Virginia Infantry

MSS 1807-a

                                 New York
                                             January 4th 1863
Dear Parents
                                  I will write a few lines so
that you may not be d[i]sappointed Wednesday
evening in not receiving a letter.
   I recd. your letter last evening inclosing
the $1.00. I suppose you intended it
for postage stamps, – at least I think it
will be used as such.
  My available fund now amounts to $6.00
a U.S. five & the one, you sent.
   I tell you that is quite a fortune to
what some have here, officers as well as men.
   Yesterday I bot. a frock coat which
I was obliged to have.
    Surgeon Harlow & myself went to the city
yesterday, after walking about all afternoon
we finally concluded to take a coat for
which I paid 420.00 it is rather high
price I know but the best I could do.
    I thought it was best, to borrow the
money and not run the risk of sending it,
for no knowing when we shall leave
here.  The Quartermaster Seargt. just told me
that the ship would be ready for us tomorrow
night.  Hope we shall not leave till that
bundle arrives.
    Received a letter from Dora last week.
Have not received any papers for six
weeks, it is just so int he other Regts
papers sent from home are rarely if ever recd.
so you better not bother to send any.

[in left margin]
  It has been very pleasant over head to day, but O, such walking
you never saw, mud up to your ankles. There has been no services
in the Regts. to day there seems to be but little attention paid to the
sabbath in the army.  O, that I may be more watchful & prayeful [sic]
      Your affectionate Son
                       C. P. Morrill

Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine

MSS 11031
  

[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]

     Jan. 4th, ’63.
     It is Sabbath, &
the rain ceasing, we are
now trying to dry our
wet & muddy clothes.
All quiet during the day.
Report current that
Murfreesboro is evacua-
ted. About sun set
heard the firing of one or
two cannons in front.
Our forces again cross the river.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-g

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]

Sun 4. A review of 9th Army Corps was ordered for today
I felt it was a desecration of the day, & sat down &
wrote a respectful appeal to Gen. Burnside to postpone                       
it.  & sent it by Jacob.  The Gen was in bed, ordered Jacob
to wait – wrote me an autograph letter.  Asked Jacob
if he belongs to same regt. with me – sd. yes – you
are sure – yes sir – then give him this –

[Here follows a copy of a letter from General Ambrose E. Burnside to Chaplain Francis E. Butler dated January 4th, 1863.]

“Rev. F. E. Butler
             “My dear Sir
                                 “I have just received your
“kind note, and most cheerfully grant your request.
“The order postponing the review has been sent.
“You have my most sincere thanks for giving me
“so timely, and necessary a check.  You are quite
“right in saying that nothing should be done
“to interfere with the religious exercises which
“which it is our duty at all times to observe –
                                         Yours very sincerely
                                              Signed – A.E. Burnside.”

The order soon came countermanding the review,
& the regts. had a day of rest.  I preached in P.M.
on Rejoice in the Lord Phil 4:4.  In his character, providence
& Promises – to Xs. & Service – &c.  Prayer meetg. in Eveg. there
[-] prayers – lovely day & night – but high wind.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Sgt. Robert Larimer, Co. C., 67th Ohio Volunteers]

Sunday, January 4, 1863
At 12 were on the boat and at 1 PM
were under way passed Ft Monroe
at 2 P.M. at 3 PM. cleared the land
sailed all night

MSS 38-129

[from the signal message book of Lt. Thomas S. Shepard, 3rd New York Infantry]

Jan. 4th
  To 22
     Keep strict watch
     all night.
                        2222

MSS 10781

[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk of Campbell County]

from then [Dec 26] to 4″ Jany was
in one grand spree all about
had two falls from steeds
borrowed $14 from Dr Lem”
$4 from Hazld & $5 from We
$5 from Lias $1.50 from Jim.
finally hauled up at Olivers
(Dan) on Sunday 4″ Jany

Jany 4″ Sunday
Clear & pleasant during
day — windy & cold at night
at Olivers laid up.

MSS 3315

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, former newspaper publisher and civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Reverend Ebenzer Boyden, rector of Walker’s Church, Cismont]

Sunday 4th  Father got a present of about
$300 from his parishioners at the Green Spring
besides two barrels of flour.  He has bought
three Confederate bonds of $500 each which he
gives to Lilla & Fanny & myself.  How very
gracious God is to us!  May we be suitably
thankful!

MSS 4288