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

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

Thursday
Jan 1, 1863
Did not sleep very well last night on
account of my cough, but have felt very
well to-day.  May I do better this year than I have
done the past year, and may I be enabled to
trust more fully in my Saviors love.  Frank
Adams and I had a good walk on the
parade ground, and talked over various
matters.  This afternoon I have been making out
new requisitions in place of the old ones for the
quartermaster, and have also read some in
a volume of sermons.  It is said that reinforce-
ments are coming in here.  There have been no
drills today for the regiment.  As I look at my
conduct during the past year, I hope by Gods
help to reform in many things, and one is
to speak evil of none, and try and have
charity for all, and I hope also to have more
of that faith in the Lord Jesus, which is said
to make wist unto salvation.  O God help me in
They way for Jesus sake and may I grown[sic] in grace
and truth.

MSS 11293

Jany 1 1863 –
My darling – I have just written my application
for 30 days leave of absence and expect to
be able to start from here on Friday next
just one week from now, will arrive in
Staunton by 6 P.M. and want you to
send up for me provided you can get
Nates carriage or a top buggy.  Billy can
start at 6 in the morning get to Staunton
by 11 A.M. have his horse well fed & atten
ded to & be ready to start as soon as the
cars arrive provided you will send by him
a snack for me to eat.  I cant think of
remaining all night in Staunton and
have little doubt of being able to start
from here on friday [sic].  The Band has
also applied for a furlough & I will be
able to write more definitely by one of
them.  I think they will reach town
by thursday [sic].  I have just recd your
letter of the 26” and recd yours of the
23” while on picket where I was for
5 days four of which it rained all
the time.  I could not write during
the time which accounts for your not re
ceiving any letters  I arrived last night
about dark in my new camp in
rain & mud enough to kill us,

[page 2]
but am now safe & sound, and as the
sun is shining bright this morning we are
all in good spirits.  I had heard of your
fathers sale.  I was at college with a
Mr Lucas from Jefferson County a very
good fellow, not very smart.  He is a son
of the old member of congress from that
district who at one time was reported
very wealthy.  I am glad to hear
of the safe arrival of the girls and
am delighted to hear that you had a
nice XMass dinner although I was
not there to help you enjoy it.  I am
particularly pleased to hear of the childrens
pleasure in their present & the letters I
wrote them.  Give my love to all the
girls & all at home.  Kiss the little
ones for me.  I cant write any more
as I am invited to a big dinner to
day & must be ready to start  I
send you a letter writen [sic] befoe I
started on picket but not finished
     Most affectionately
     ETHW

“My darling”, salutation – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.

“ETHW”, page 2, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.

[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g

                                                Carysbrook  New Years day 63
My dear Sir –            Carter got to Palmyra before my servants
had started from there with the carriage & baggage wagon.  I am glad
you were so prompt in correcting the error into which I had fallen
from want of distinctness on my dear Georgias part.  I have seen
 neither of the two letters to which she refers, addressed to De & Fan, in
which she says she told them she could not come.  The girls both
say there was no such message or purpose expressed in either
of Georgias letters — I am sorry to be deprived of the pleasure
of seeing her & would have been very glad to have had a visit from
Ella — My plan of gong to the South is embarrassed by the
enemys movement upon Vicksburg & by my seeing it stated
to day in the papers that the Yankees have broke up the
Vicksburg & Shreveport  r rd as far as Delhi 28 miles.  I shall
await further progress in events before I set off for the South
  Braxton has had an intermittent fever this Xmas which
has kept him confined to the house all the time – he is now
better I hope. We have no diptheria on the place at present.
Your plans about renting land are so unsettled that I
do not know how to reppy to your proposition about
hiring some of my negroes — I suppose you will settle
down at Brampton & take the chances there — Negroes hire
very high even here, in Ricd they bring unheard of prices
  I wanted to consult you about Hannah, if you want her
why have you not mentioned it.  She can be hired for a high
price in Richmond — I think I will sell Katy.  Hannah
has given satisfaction to Mrs Brooke, but of course she cannot
stay there at the present rate.  Write at once what you want

[page 2]
done about her —  I am progressing vigorously ploughing
& will have over 100 acres taken up very soon.  My wheat looks
quite well – My plan is to put in a large crop of cor this
year, if Providence permits, as I feel sure the demand for it
will keep up for more than another year — So fearfull have
been the inroads of the enemy upon all Eastern  Va that I
feel sure corn will be scarce when it has hitherto been
most abundant — Indeed the provision supply for our
people is the question, or difficulty about which I feel the
most uneasiness.  My part is to raise all the grain & can & if
permitted to do so undisturbed can raise a good deal —
I find corn is getting scarce even in this country where the people
had comparatively good seasons, & perfect security from the enemy
    Ran as you have learned has gone to join the army
& has a position in the ordinance department under Major
McLaws, & with Capt Edwin Taliaferro, in Genl. McLaws
division — Ran left his horse here intending to send up
for him by a free man in whom he has great confidence.
As yet the man or boy Jim has not turned up & it occurs
to me that I had better turn the horse over to you
in the hope that you may be able to find some one to
take the horse down to Ran.  I would not trouble you
in this matter if I were not really at my wits end about
it.  Carter says that persons are constantly going down
from your neighbourhood to the army,  & I trust you
will without much difficulty find some trusty person who
can continue the horse to Ran–
  One of the girls will add something to this letter Kiss Georgia &
the boys for me. give my love to you sister: & believe

[page 3]
me yours very truly, & affectionately
                                      J[ohn] R[andolph] Bryan
I hear with deep regret of the death of Mrs Lile
Mrs Sayre dined hear Wednesday & communicated to us
the sad news —- I have concluded to send Major Lacys man Peter
on with the horse to Elwood & hear from the [?] there & Mr Tucker Lacy [?]
send Major Lacys negroes back—

My dear Georgia
     We are all much disappointed
at your not coming & though I had given
up all idea of seeing you, still when
Dr Grinnan’s letter to Pap came I again
thought you would certainly come tho’ not
at as early a day as Papa imagined.
 Tuck will certainly leave on Tuesday
Dr Carmichael says he will take no
excuse.  As to my having anyone with
me that is all very uncertain.  We have
invited Betty Conway & Netty but Betty
is trying to get some employment from
the Government by which she can support
herself & child & Netty does not say that
she will come.  I hoped to G get Mary
[Gate?] but she is afraid of the diphtheria
& will not come.  Papa cannot go
to Louisiana now though as the track
near Vicksburg is torn up & Pap will
wait the result of things out there.  I am
glad he cannot go, as this place needs
his attention I believe as much as L[?]
what we hear is  is going on smoothly

[page 4]
we have a new overseer here who Pap
does not like & that is one reason I hate
him to go–I heard the joyful news
yesterday of the birth of Ada’s little
baby it is a boy they are both doing
well & Dr. Moore said she behaved
bravely — God has been good to her.
Aunt Georgia is delighted & communed
for the first time Christmas day–
Have you heard the news from dear old
Gloucester, & how the Yankees served
Mr Kemp & Mr Smith, & dear old Mr Mann
& many others. They took all their cattle
& horses & mules, & lived off of Mr Kemps
for 3 or 4 days.  He has left Gloucester & will
not return until after the war. The vile
men threatened to shoot Mr Mann because
he called them thieves & robbers, Mr Manns
servants all behaved well especially Geo.
Mrs. Kemp has left Enfield & my things are
scattered about the neighbourhood.  If
Dr Grinnan will let Hannah stay at Cousin
D’s I know they will be glad as they all
like her very much & he must just ask
what hire he wants & it will be paid  I am
sure.  Gen. Cocke has sent a box of Sorgum
seed or millet seed here for Dr G & Mr John
Patton.  How are you to get it.  Love to all–
Tom Tucker is better – I send the children
some candy – God bless you all Let me hear
from you when you can – Your devoted D. B. Page

MSS 49

                               Washington City
                                    Jany 1, 1863

J. w. Paxton Esq.
            Dear Sir,  The “agony is over”
at last; as you will have learned
by Telegram to Gov. Pierpoint.  The
President has signed the Bill admit-
ting West Virginia, after long hesita-
tion, and much importunity.  At his
request Messrs Brown, Blair & myself
again waited on him last night &
were with him several hours.  His
cabinet (excepting Mr. Smith) had
filed written opinions, being re-
quired to do so by the President.
To add to the embarrasment of the
President, three of these opinions
were for admission & three against
it.  He read these opinions to us,
withholding the names of the authors;
but from previous interviews etc,
I know that, Seward, Stanton & Chase

[page 2]
were for us, and Wells, Bates &
Blair against us–You see we
had the brains on our side.
 I suppose the Commissioners will
instantly proceed to convince the
convention — not, I trust, without
as far as possible, having elections
in the counties where delegates
were not heretofore appointed, in
delegates therein.
  I feel a great relief that
our work in Congress is done.
Only those who preformed it, are
prepared to appreciate the diffi-
culties we have encountered, &
the amount of labor, forbearance,
and discretion that were requi-
site to accomplish the end.
   Wishing you a happy New
Year, with many returns of
the season, I am
Yours Truly,
                       W. T. Willey

Waitman T. Willey, 1811-1900, 1st Senator from West Virginia

MSS 15234

  Fort Gaines   Jay 1st 1863                       

 My Dear Wife –
                             I wrote you to day by
Kendall and as I now have a
chance to write you again by Tom
Sylvester I have concluded to send
you a line –  Bob Worthington
has just arrived and informs   
me that a black Negro Girl was
sold at public outcry to Brag
for nearly $1300 – from the discription
I am certain it is Blk Henrietta    
If so I am certainley well satisfied. 
     I hope you got Esteridges
girl   be sure and let me know.
                     I am having a good
time at Camp Jackson – We
have about 80 Negros here
and from 1 OClock till
9 they fiddle and dance
pray and sing much –
                        I understand that a
Ware House and 6000 Bales
Cotton was burned up in
Columbus Geo day before yesterday
Our Eufaula Home Insurance
office lost $15000 – I think my
Morrals will be improved if I
stay here long – I read my bible
every day – Love to all the Children
                   Your affectionate Husband
                                           W. H. Locke

William H. Locke, Eufaula Minutemen

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13485

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

Thurs 1st. Jany 1863. bright cold, lovely day. Vist. hos – & tents – compared
Muster rolls. funny letter fr. Henry, with extracts fr. papers,
Col. unwell – Men arrived fr. Fairfax Serv.  Still under orders –
but no movement.  What will this year bring forth. Oh God
let it bring peace – liberty & prosperity & Union to this
Country, success to thy cause in the earth & glory to thy
name thro. Jesus our Lord.  Adjt. Murphy came.
Compared muster rolls – met an interestg. case of enquiry.
Wm. Gray, Co. D – deep & thoro. conviction – was in action – will read
in bible – prays – cant appropriate X – prayed & counseled him.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

[from the diary of Robert Larimer, Sgt. Co. C, 62nd Ohio]

On the 31st Dec 1862 the 62d
Ohio of the 1st Brigade Pecks
Division commanded by Brig-
Gen O. S. Ferry were mustered for
pay it being six months then due
& on the same day received orders to
move at 6 P.M. we were on the train
& arrived at Norfolk at 10 P.M. got off
the cars and were quartered in the Station
house at Wills Wharf & this the 1st day of
Jany we passed in the self same
house waiting for the boat during
the day the negroes of Norfolk num
bering about 5000 celebrated their freedom
as per proclamation of A. Lincoln – a great
many of the boys drank to freely on account of Whis.
being illegally furnished them wrote to C. M Morris
[&?] Louis M. Larimer 174 P.V. started with ten
days rations

MSS 38-129

                                              U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                                             off Windmill Point Station
                                                              January 1st 1863

Sir
                            In compliance with the request of
Samuel Magan Exc Lieut Comdr. &c &c I have
Examined the Log Book of the U.S. Str. Currituck
and find on the 28th of Oct. 1862 there were (10)
ten tons of Coal received on board the Currituck
from Steamer Union of Philadelphia.  I also find
by the Currituck Log on the 28th Octr. that the
Dragon received a Small quantity from the Same
Steamer, weight unknown.  Inclosed please find
receipt from Senior Engineer Mr A Chuse
                                              Very Respectfully
                                                 Your obt Servant
                                                    T. J. Linnekin
                                       Acting Master Comdg.
                                             U.S. S. Currituck

Commodore
     Andrew A. Harwood
     Comanding Potomac Flotilla
                Navy Yard
               Washington

MSS 15134

                                   U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                                             off Windmill Point Station
                                                              January 1st 1863

Sir
                    I Respectfully beg leave to call
your attention to those Requisitions made
out last November for (1) one Marine Glass
and (1) one Spy Glass, for we need them
very much.  Enclosed please find a Requisition
for (1) one Spy glass.
                                              Very Respectfully
                                                 Your obt Servant
                                                    T. J. Linnekin
                                       Acting Master Comdg.
                                             U.S. S. Currituck

Commodore
     Andrew A. Harwood
     Comanding Potomac Flotilla
                Navy Yard
               Washington

MSS 15134