[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]

Dec 28th Sunday
I left the Regt
this moringin
got to aquiere
crick Landng

this affternon
left for Washigton
City at [hour not discernable] colack [o’clock]
G[et] to Washigton
City on the
moringin of
the 29 and Was
Paid of on the
30th Day of
December and
left  Washington
City for home
and got home
on the Night
of the 30th
at 2 colack in
the moringin
I Red my Pay
of Weagirs [wages] up
to the time
of my Discharge
$72.85 but no
Bounty or
Pansian  Recd
I was in seperes [service]
16 month and
2 day   Was
Dis Charge at
Camp nere
Falmouth Via

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

Sunday, Dec. 28, 1862

Walked to church
Heard [Gidons?] preach
Promised Hett [Chitechs?]
to call & see her
Hagel went to his
brothers at Wellington
yesterday
Went this afternoon
with [Lowell?] over to
Mr. Burns to preaching
by Bruce
Clear fine day
but very mudy

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden, daughter of the Reverend Ebenzer Boyden, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church]

Sunday 28,  Lovely day–the roads are excellent
& we walked to church.  On the way Mr Frederick
Page met us & told us of the death of Mrs Richard
Meade – She died last night of jaundice which
attacked the brain – O what a mourning house
hold her’s is now! It was a great shock, for we
had not heard that she was even sick – What
a loss she will be to her family – How God has
blessed us the past year, blessed be His name!
I want to serve him more faithfully for the year
to come.

MSS 4288

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

Saturday
Dec 27
A dull rainy day. Laid in my tent
reading and cleaned my gun and
equipments ready for inspection.  Hall was pro-
moted to orderly, Graham to Sergeant and Ball to
Corporal.  Commenced a letter home to the folks this
evening with an account of the expedition
Have felt pretty well to-day

MSS 11293

Camp near Petersburg December the 27th 1862
Dear Parents Brothers & Sisters
                                       It is with pleasure I
seat myself to write you all a few lines to inform
you that me and Cummings are well hopeing when
these few lines comes to hand they will find
you all well..we are now in camp in a pine
bottom about too miles below petersburg. we
left drewrys bluff christmas eave and marched
to Petersburg about 20 miles. We took our christmas
at Petersburg. Cummings myself & several fo the
boys went to a show in Petersburg Christmas night
it was right smart amusement to us. we got as
many cake & pies as we could eat. Though I would much
rather been at home where I could of enjoyed myself
in any way I would wish to. between hear and
Ptersburg their is a long string of Brestworks &
between Petersburg and Ricmond their is another string
of brest works well put up and extend both ways
as far & farther than you can see I[t] looks to
me like we was just makeing a commencement
towards fighting.  It looks strange to be marching
along the rod and see fine plantations all
ditche & throwed for brest works it looks like
ruining a plantation but it is of great profit
our army it dont look to me like the enemy

[page 2]
from could ever rout us from behind such
brest works as these are.   I dont know but I
dont think their is much expectation of a fight
down hear shortly though the enemy isent a
a[sic] great ways off  The[y] are at what they call the
blackwater.  We have a new general. we have lost
our old favorite general Martial. Our new
General is Colston I dont know where he is from
nor any thing about him more than he is a small
spairmaid spritely loking man he is middleaged
brave looking fellow.  I dont think he has got
any more sense than to fight.  he isent as pleas-
ant & mild  a looking as our old general we used
to have. we haven had our tents since we left
Richmond it is driseling rain to day my paper
is getting so wet I can heardly write I dont
know when we will get our tent.  Thoug I expect
we will get them before long.  The weather
has been very mild every since we have been
down hear,  The boys are all cuting pines
trying to fix them a shelter. their is nothing
hear but pine. oak timber is very near a scarse
hear as pine is their.  Ma I am very sorry that
I dident get to send you and Pa them pipes
I got them as I went through witheville
but never had any chance to send them
to you.  we have very good beds down hear

[page 3]
we make up pine leaves and fix us a bed
equal to a feather bed.  I havent heard
from Rieves since I left home want you
to write and let me know wher he is
the reason I headed my letter all of you
none of you has ever written.  I thought it would
be better to hear all of you then their wouldent be any
of you slited and I would s[t]and a better cance
of getting an answer. we have all been
vacinated it is said the small pox are very
bad in Richmond, Charles M Browing is
as well as common and seems very well
satisfyed Martha you and Sarah must\
write it has been too weeks since I left
home. & I have never heard from their since
this is fine time for shucking cut up corn
I feel like I ought to be at home helping
get the corn up.   It is droping rain so on
my paper I will have to bring my letter
to a close write soon and let me know whether
James has got well or not more at present
to Pa, Ma & all the rest  Charles H Gilmer
                                         & Cummings

Charles H. Gilmer, 29th Virginia, Co. G

MSS 5194

Hd Qurs Taliaferros Brig
 Camp Near Skinkers Neck
My dear Jennie             Dec 27” 1862
    It passes belief that I am actually in
a house and have as comfortable quarters as
any one could desire.  I was relieved to day
& located my brigade in the woods about one
mile from my picket camp – having first rate
ground for the men and a good house for
myself  I am now in winter quarters but
dont know how long I will be permitted to
keep them  I hope all winter, for it will be
difficult for me to fix up any better – why my
darling I actually have a better house than
you have – at least I have a larger room and
a better fireplace.  Some of the troops I understand
in Genl Longstreets Corps are fixing up Winter
quarters – and our Reserve Artilery [sic] have all
gone into quarters.  I will in the morning issue
an order directing my men to construct such Huts
as their tools &c will justify.
  Sunday Morning.  I am hungry & while waiting
for my breakfast will in order to keep in a good
humor try my hand at writing to you.  A
budget of orders received late last night compelled
me to stop writing & go to work.  I had a first
rate bed last night.  It is now made up, the floor
swept up & the mantel brushed off & a good fire on
the hearth, so that every thing presents a neat appear
ance.  The only fear I now have is that I may not

[page 2]
be permited [sic] to remain here as long as I would
like – I am fixed first rate & want to remain
just as I am.  But my darling I get no
letters from you  Jos Rice came yesterday  he
said he saw you on the street last tuesday [sic]
but did not speak to you  Jeddy Effinger also
recd a letter in which his wife spoke of Lizzies
children being sick & the death of little Jennie
but said nothing about you.  So I take it for
granted you are all well, but I do want to
hear from you so much – and that is not
all  I want to see you too and indeed I must
try & pay you a visit in February any how
but dont make any great calculations on it.
I cant myself know that I will be able to get
off but I intend to try any way.  I want to spend
a few days in that month planting trees and
helping you prepare for summer, for I am
afraid you will not be able to prepare for
yourself.  Now dont you think that a very
impudent speech.  I have no doubt you do
but I am at a safe distance & as I get
no letters I am safe & can be as impudent
as I like.  After breakfast – I really enjoyed
my breakfast though it was nothing extra – but
good.  Corn bread – middling & gravy – molasses & coffee
with sugar – this with a good apetite [sic] made
all right.  Oh darling if I was only at home
this morning you & I & the children would all go
to church in the wagon.  It would be so very
nice.

[letter abruptly ends]

“Hd Qurs Taliaferros Brig”, heading – Head Quarters Taliaferro’s Brigade.

“little Jennie”, page 2, line 8 – Unable to determine exactly to whom this refers, but it was not Warren’s ten month old daughter – Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.

“the children”, page 2, line 29 – Warren had three at the time: seven year old Lizzie, six year old James M., and ten month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.

The letter was unsigned but was written by Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.

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

MSS7786-g

      Head Qtr Confederate Volunteer
     Corps
                     Spring field Mo
                            Dec 27th
Dear Chum
                     Damn your eyes if
you deserve one life from me. Not-
-withstanding Ive written you two
letter since I came out here not
one have I ever received from you
Still I find myself trying to draw
you out.  Again I have changed
my occupation or rather position
I have given up my Lt. Coloncy
in the State Guard for a Cap-
-taincy in the Provisional confederate
army, there are now in Cap 3000
men who have sworn in for the
war & for 12 months in the Confed.
Army & I am adjutant General
with rank of Capt over them

[page 2]
We are camped here with the
Feds all round us on the west
& north & north west and within
about 40 or 50 miles & the damned
cowards are afraid to attack us
I think they are willing to let us
alone if we will let them alone
until spring & if the rest of
the Army are like me there
wont be any more battles this
winter for God knows I aint any
[?] after a fight – damned
sight rather go fishing.  There aint
any one out here you ever heard
of and you get most of the news
in the papers so I will stop
Give my love to Every one (Specialy
the ladies) that I know in Virginia
Write to me frequently, if only a line
to let me know you are living, & direct
to the care of Bernard Gayos[?]
House Memphis & he will send
them up. Good bye old boy

[page 3]
take care of yourself
     your devoted friend & chum
                Wright Schaumburg

[envelope]
Paul de Clouet
Care of Hon. Alexander de Clouet
                        Richmond
                                 Va

Politeness of
Brig. Gen. Stee[?]

MSS 9564

               Camp near Fredericksburg
                          December 27 1862
My Dear Brother
                                I have received your letter of the 3rd
Dec relative to Robert.  I am allowed upon my staff an Adjt
and an Aid-de-camp neither of whom I have yet been able to get.
From my experience upon the staff of Genl Jackson, I felt
when I was assigned to duty here that my own reputation and the
efficiency of my command would depend in a great measure
upon the officers of my staff, and I wish to get officers of the
best talent and experience that can be had.  I have not yet suc
ceeded in getting either of the places filled, but have not yet aband
oned the  hope of getting officers such as I would like to have.
I fear that Robert is too young to command obedience and res
pect from the officers with whom he would have to deal as
a staff officer.  If you will send him to me I will be glad
to share my tent and mess chest with him, and to see that
he is well cared for.
I went a few days to see Mrs Ellis and her daughters, I found
her near Fredericksburg.  She seemed to be in very feeble health.
They spoke of going back to their house in town.  The house
was but little injured by the bombardment and most of the
furniture had been saved.
I hear from home frequently.  They are all well.
Give my love to sister Mary –
                                  Your Aff Bro
                                         E F Paxton

General Elisha F. Paxton

MSS 38-328-a

                                  Dec. 27th 1862
My Dear Father                                
                     I have time before the car-
rier leaves for the office to write
only a line, to say I am well.
I did not write last week to you but
did to Lee, & told her to send you
word that I was well.
     I received your letter of the 14th Nov
from you & mother of a previous
date. These are all I have received
from you since here.
     We have orders to go into
winter quarters 15 miles from here
the day after tomorrow. The locality
I am told is 12 miles from the
railroad. I intended writing for
a box of clothes by this letter to
be sent to McHenry & Duprey
but as I don’t [know] what opportunities
I will have for getting it I

[page 2]
will wait until we get into our
new quarters. I have no means
of knowing what the fate of the
enemy is across the river – But
as afar as the eye can judge
they have certainly diminished
consi a great deal. I will
try & send you a sketch of the
battle field if I can make one.
I had done so before but have
not had an opportunity. I send
mother a piece of arbor vitae
taken from the yard of a Mr.
Bernard on the battle field – His
house & garden is a splendid one.
His library not a very full one
but splendidly selected. Every thing
was torn to pieces however
by the enemy. He is said to be
taken off by them, under arrest.

[page 3]
     Do you augur good or bad
from the attempted resignation
of Seward. The carrier wants my letter. my best love dear
father to all.
                   Most affly yr. son
                               W. H. Perry, Jr.

William H. Perry, Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Philadelphia]

Dec 27 Satarday
all quity along
the Lines
Recd my Descharge
this affternon

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913