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

Sir
      In Compliance with your request
I send you the draft of this vessel, which is
(8) Eight feet, with everything on board.  Coal,
Ammunition and Stores.
                                  Very Respectfully
                                      Your obt. Servt
                                            T. J.Linnekin
                                  Acting Master Comdg.
                                        U.S. S. Currituck       

E. R. McCrea Esqr.
  Lieut. Commanding & Adjutant
        Potomac Flotilla

MSS 15134             

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

Jan. 1st., 1863                               
This morning, the first of
the new year, finds me
still alive, by the mer-
cy of God,having yes-
terday passed through
one of the most terrific
and sanguinary conflicts
of the age, and which,
Heaven grant! may be
the last one in which
the peril of our coun-
try may require us
to participate, or even
witness. Our reg’t. is,
as it has been since
we arrived here, in
the advance, occupy-
ing a position in
a narrow point of
woods, about  600 yds

2
in rear of our position of
yesterday, where we were
ordered by Gen’l. Rose-    
crans, in person.
Our position a very ex-
posed one, being directly
under the fire of a reb
-el battery, which, to my
notion, is skillfully work-
ed; a battery of ours is
posted on an eminence
on our left which neces-
sarily [-] upon us the
fire of the enemy’s cannon.
Two brigades of our forces
crossed the river to-day on
the left. Constant firing a-
long both picket lines; near
noon, heavy firing of mus-
ketry & occasional firing of
cannon on the right.
About 4 o’clock, the reb-
el battery in front of

                        3
us opened & shelled us
furiously for an hour,
but without effect.
Quiet during the night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

[from the diary of Captain Zacariah Heed, 91st Ohio volunteers]

JANUARY 1.
Fayetteville, Va, Thursday morning, Weather rather cold, Evening, cold
took Dinner at Dr. J. B. Warwick’s Office, at the Hospital, first rate Dinner, and good Supper.  Splendid Oysters   Chicken   Peaches & Butter.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13406

[from the diary of Matthella Page Harrison as transcribed at a later date]

Thursday, January 1, 1863 – A damp, dismal, snowy day.  Cousin John was here in the morning.  Col. Rosser of Stuart’s Cavalry and thirty men are in Millwood.  They reported three brigades had crossed at Snigger’s Ferry so I  hoe the reign of the Yankees is short.]

MSS 9759

[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 Ebenzer Boyden, rector of Walker’s Church, later Grace Episcopal, Cismont, Va.]

Thursday Jany 1st 1863  Well the another year has
dawned on the earth – Who of us will see the end
of it?  May we all be prepared to leave at the
summons of God’s angel! – God grant it!
   Lilla & Fanny went to spend the day at Aunt
Frances’- Celia Nelson called & insisted on Celes=
=tine’s going back with her.  We have had lovely pleasant
weather during the holidays–

MSS 4288

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

Wednesday
Dec 31
The last day of the year and how
many blessings have been bestowed upon
me and mine during the past year.  I am I hope
truly thankful to God for all His mercies, for what
could I have done without His kind cares
Captain Foss came back to-day, and I also got a
letter from home by mail, bringing me good news
from the dear friends at home.  Have been writing
some making out the monthly report and so forth.
The regiment went over the river to brigade drill
this afternoon.  the non-coms had a great dinner o
roast pig, boiled potatoes and oysters, of which I was in-
vited to partake and did so with a good relish.  Wrote
home to night and sent my check (twenty dollars)

MSS 11293

Special Orders
No. 60

                                    deployed
1. The line of skirmishers ^ in front of the Division
will be consolidated, and The right wing
extending to the right from the centre of
the front of Jackson’s Brigade towards the
right will be under the command of
Major Austin, the left wing extending
from the same front towards the left
will be under command of Major Cox
of Jackson’s Brigade.  Major Nickols
is relieved, he will rejoin his Regiments.
                                advance with each
Majors Austin & Cox will ^ advise with
        other
act in  ^ accord & cooperate in all these
movements, at or and report promptly
to these Head quarters’ any movements of
the enemy.
                         By Command of
                           Maj Gen Breckinridge

[The order is accompanied by crude sketch of the area in question with Murfreesboro at the bottom of a “V” with the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad and the Nashville turnpike forming the left of the “V” and the Lebanon turnpike forming the right. The Stone river crosses at the top of the triangle and a ford is marked.

[The battle of Stones River / Murfreesboro, Tenn., occurred from Dec. 31, 1862-Jan. 3, 1863.  “Special Order No. 60” was dictated by Major General John Cabell Breckinridge to T. O’Hara.   Major Cox, referred to above, may be Major William Ruffin Cox.  Major Nickols may be Robert Carter Nicholas IV.  Major Austen has not been identified.  “Special Orders No. 60” was found in the papers of Theodore O’Hara, 1820-1867, a soldier, journalist and poet, noted for the poem “Bivouac of the Dead.”]

[Transcription and annotations by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 11918

            Farmington Dec 31, 1862

My own darling
                           Am I not prompt
in fulfilling my engagements?
I engaged myself to write to you
to day and I am going to.
How art thous to day love?  Are you
better than when you last wrote me
darling, and are you thinking of
Addie, wondering how long will be
the time before you will be permitted
to see her?  Similar thoughts are mine
as I am sitting in the cozy room
of Mr Hibbses. This is the last day in
the old year.  Pleasant has been the
year of 1862 to me because God has

[page 2]
has been very good to me, and your
 pure undying love has been so freely
given strengthening me for all the duties
which I have had to discharge, giving
me new life, and telling me that I
even I have very much for which to
live.  Sad has been the year of 1862,
for our loved country has been so
deeply involved in difficulties, causing
many a brave heart to falter when they
witness the great struggle ‘twixt
Freedom and Slavery, and because thou
my own darling hast been compelled
to remain far away from they Addie
And must the dawning of another year break forth
upon this scene of strife and bloodshed?
Must it be attended by the booming
of cannon, the shrieks of the dying and
wounded, the groans of the oppressed?
Oh horrible!  But thank God to morrow
slavery ceases  I trust. Truly, the name of
Abraham Lincoln will forever be blessed
by all true men and patriots.

[page 3]
But what a price has been paid for
the freedom of slaves and how forcibly
we are reminded that “the sins of
the father are transmitted to the children”
Had our fore[fa]thers never permitted the
introduction of slavery into this country,
never would we have been called to
witness such scenes as have been enacted
within the past two years.
But “no great amount of good can
be accomplished, without a great sac=
rifice” and we have paid the sacrifice
may the good be forthcoming.
  How very much I wish you to be
with me tomorrow. Would we not spend
a “happy new year”?  But thou darling
where art thou. Lying upon a bed of
suffering perhaps, surrounded by strangers
wearily watching the hours as they fly
fast bringing to us the “Happy New
Year” which shall be echoed far and
near through Europe Asia and America
by great and small rich and poor

[page 4]
Think you not the poor slaves will hail
the rising of the sun with joy? When they
feel that their chains are forever broken
that they are free what shouts and praises
will rend the air.  What a scene! Will
you feel fully paid for all the sacrifices
you have made?  But I am wandering.
I was wishing you could celebrate to-
morrow with me.  But darling you prob=
ably are wishing to be far away from
Harpers Ferry way here with – who?
Harpers Ferry!  The though of that word
brings tears to my eyes for it reminds
me so forcibly of the many miles which
intervene betwixt me and one – the
dearest of Gods creation, For the first
time in life, school duties are very
irksome to me, for I feel it my duty
to be by your side – Oh, how I wish
that I could be there – administering to
your wants and breathing words of love
and tenderness  to your weary heart.
            (Please turn to 1st paper)

[In left margin of page 1]
But, God by his strange Providence sees fit to try us a little
longer, and I will try to be resigned and cheerful trusting in

[cross hatched across top of page 1]
His strong arm and “loving kindness”
to a joyful happy meeting very
soon with my best beloved.
  I am not going to write
long letters you know until you
write me that you are quite
strong and able to read them
So I must very reluctantly close.
  Hoping to hear from you very
soon and learn that you are
much better and have obtained
a discharge, and Wishing you
a “happy new year” I remain
thine as ever
                         Addie

Adelaide Case to her fiancee Charles Tenney of the 7th Ohio, who is mortally ill, but has concealed the truth of  his condition from her.

MSS 11616

                   Camp opposite Fredericksburg
                                   No 1     Dec 31st ‘62
Dear Sister Helen,
                             It is raining this
afternoon and I shouldent wonder
if our rainy season had finally
commenced for it rained most
all of yesterday and our Regiment
is out on picket and a cold-
rainy time they will have but
I am very cosily quartered in
the Col’s tent  have got a nice
fire and 2 beds  2 camp stools &
a good writing desk so that I
can’t ask for anything better in
this God Forsaken country.  The –

Chaplain and Orderly Phil live in
the tent with me so that I have
pleanty of company and good
but D. Henry is going to Washington
soon on leave of absence as he is
sick and much reduced with a
diareah he went with Col Wright
to W – but only had a short pass
and had to come back although
hardly able and I guess Phillip
will go with him so that I shall
be left all alone..  Col  I hear is
home now and I fear will not
be able to return at the end of
20 days – if I were in his place
I should’ent be..  I got a letter
from Geo a day or two ago and
he said that Elbe was home
and I wish I were there too to
make out the number   hope you
will have some nice times – I
should like very much to hear
some of your rare music –

suppose you will have a nice
social time this evening, New
Years eve,
Geo of course will hang
up his stockings as he hasen’t
out grown that yet.  I hung up
mine Christmas night but there
was nothing but a hole in one
of them in the morning -..
     but my clothes are in pretty good
condition yet  I drew a pair of
knit shirts the other day of the
Q.M. and managed to confiscate
a pair of stockings so that I
am well supplied at present..
     Oh you don’t know how much
I have missed your pan cakes
this winter  but we had some
for the first time this morning
Our Mess cook is getting things
fixed so that we have a few
delicaces now..  Our Regt rec’d
quite a nice donation the other
evening just at dusk some –

wagons drove up to camp and
unloaded 23 barrels of apples –
turnips – potatoes etc which were
the best things that could have
been sent to us for the boys have
not seen a vegetable of any kind
since we left Fairfax and were
really suffering for the want of them
Of course Head Quarters took their
share so that we have pleanty of
apples now..   I am looking now every
day for my boxes for some have
arrived and if mine don’t come
before Chaplain goes to Washington
I shall try to have him see to them..
          We received marching orders
Monday evening and were quite
excited and busy getting ready but
fortunately they were countermanded
in about an hour after we got them
but I should not be at all surprised
if we did have to march very soon
will probably go back towards –
Aquia Creek and lay by for the
Winter – but whether or no – direct
your letters as usual to Washington

[This letter concludes in the top margin on page one.]
or if you want the thing
in full –
     15th Regt. C. V.
     2nd Brigade   3rd Division
     9th Army Corp
     Army of the Potomac
  Give my love to all
the folks – tell Geo
to be patient and
percevering [sic] and I
will write him soon
I have nothing to say
to Chas.  He is “played
out”
     Your brother
                 Jim

James H. Howard, 15th Connecticut

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12668