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

Dec 27.  Mild – We lost poor Post today   Typhoid fever – talked &
prayed in hosps – wrote letters about sick   dead  &c.  Corrected list
of casualties & sent to guardian – “One of my letters abt. killed appeared
in is. of 23d –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Dec. 27th, ’62.
Up at day light; cloudy
& very foggy. Ours & reb-
el pickets in sight.
half of our regt. on
picket at once.
Started about 10 A.M.,
fighting & driving the
rebels before us as
we advanced, un-
til about 4 P.M., when
we encamped, in an
old rebel camp, about
9 ms. from Murfreesboro.

The rain has poured down
upon us in torrents, all day.
A delightful day!!

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Saturday, Dec. 27, 1862

Went this morning
to Ashland.  Settled up
with Greenewald.  Paid
him $62.50. Went
with Arthurs boys &
had dinner
Went with Alf
up to Mr Smiths
[Met?]  Mrs Smith came
down   [staid?] with
her called at his
office Saw Miss Bell
Bought new diary
Saw Johnson about
crop matter
Saw Will Deshong
& Walt Selby
[illegible line]
the Custers
Cleared off this
afternoon but [?]

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]

Saturday 27 – Mrs Campbell & Hester arrived to day – & we made Mrs Campbell
come in & dine as it was raining very hard & we wanted to hear all the
Wilmington news – She succeeded well in disposing of my two parlors
furniture – & brought Hester up with her in the Fayetteville boat
& they remained there five days & then came thro’ Pittsboro to this place.
Mrs Campbell appeared frightened when she heard neither basket
or trunk had reached here – Hester looks wretchedly – & had but
little time to remain here – as Mr Davis the overseer arrived
the same after noon to take them all to Georgia – He left all
well amongst the whites but several negroes were sick & Elizas
boy Prince had died & Richds maid Jane – the things Mrs Campbell
brought from Fayetteville to dispose of were only tolerably pretty
 & Mrs Whitings dress was a great disappointment to Eliza – Being entirely
different from what she had heard it was  & had been worn –
so she will return it – One set of Collar & sleeve she has kept
they are very handsome.  The others not pretty – I am undecided whether
to buy a bonnet for Ellen or not – Jessie & all the negroes went off willing
ly

MSS 6960

Saturday 27–The girls returned & said they were
invited to Mr Sampson’s tonight, but I dont
think they can go-for there is no one to drive
them – Thornton Roger is now at home, & is going
on as absendly[sic] as usual – Edward Mead is
a father.  His son was born about a fortnight ago –
Emily is doing well – They propose to call the
babe Henry Zachariah after both its grandfathers-

MSS 4288

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

Saturday,December 27th–We were invited to dine at Upper Longwood but shortly before the time for starting Fez drove up in haste saying the Yankees were in Berryville so he had to pack up and be off directly. He and Powell went in the buggy, John on horseback.  Oh, when will one rest in peace, when no wars or rumours of wars shall be heard. I was sitting here all alone when Cousin Frank Meade came to the door.  I knew immediately something had occurred.  He begged me not to be alarmed but Dr. H had had a fall from his horse.  He soon appeared.  He walked into the house by himself and laid down.  Was delirious all night.  Oh God, last Saturday Thou dids’t bring me out of great trouble and again today.  Oh in Thy great mercy take away this heart of stone and make me truly thankful for Thy many great mercies.

MSS 9759

      (No. 7)

                                      Va.
Camp Near Fredericksburg
              Friday Dec 26th
Mrs E.B. J. Riley
   Dear & Affectionate Wife
I wrote to you last mon-
day but I again seat
myself to drop you a
few lines as it seems
impossible to me to let
but few days pass with
out holding conversation
with my only true
friend xxxxI am still
in good health, anx-
ious that this may has-
ten its way to the object
that absorbs my whole
thoughs, finding her
as she was when I was
restrained to leave

[page 2]
here p. 2. i nthe best
of health but on the
other hand, not afflicted
with grief as was the
case when we parted.
last monday (Dec. 22) while
writing to you, I had
the pleasure of Receiving
your first favor, written
Dec 5, which I partially
Ans’d on  at the day of rece=
ption; & which I hope
to do more justice by
in this.  I want you to
write to me as often as
possible. this is the seven
th letter I have written
you since we parted.
In order that you may
know whether you get
all my letters or not, I
will number each one

[page 3]
from this on, at the
head of the letter, please
No. yours likewise as you
write them.  I am going
to run a big risk by in-
closing some money
in this. the am’t that
I inclose is $50 I see
no other chance to send
it; & it is only in my
way here, therefore here
it goes, “Sink or Swim”
If you need anything
that my present situation
will allow me to accom-
modate you do let me
know it, & I will take a
delight in supplying your
wants, so far as my
ability extends, though
I do not consider you
cruel enough to ask

[page 4]
for more than I am cap-
able of furnishing, which,
on my part never has
nor never will be ask-
ed of you.  I have not
drawn any money yet
from the fact that our
Quarter Master is not
in Camp, nor has
not been since I arriv-
ed here, when he comes
I will draw 8 months
wages (qt $11 per mo.) & $50
Bounty.  I wrote you
in a previous letter
that D.D. Benson had
paid the note ($50 & in-
terest) that you hold
against him, but fearing
that you have not nor
will not & the letter, I
introduce it again
(see page 5)

[Page 5]
Page 5, asking you,
            according to Dorch’s
request, to hand the note
immediately to Mrs. Nancy
Benson.  We have not
got our knapsacks yet,
they are at Gordonsville.
I could have gotten
mine as I came through
there, but the cars did
not stop long enough.
My Mess is composed
of the following good look-
ing beef-eaters, Viz. Capt.
Smith, Lt. Walker, Sergt.
Dampeer (& waiting boy Sam)
Sergt. Bishop, Rob. Morris
& Mr. F. L. Riley.  I believe
the boys all called yesterday
Christmas, but the mere title
is all that distinguished it
in camp from any other
day, we are putting up very
temporary winter quarters
I & Bob Morris (we sleep together)

[page 6]
completed our Winter’s habita-
tion yesterday with a bout
one hour’s work. we built a
pen about 8 ft. long & five ft.
wide, 5 poles high, leaving it
open at one end, & covering
it with a blankets.  I am
now sitting in our tremen-
dous building writing & my
head reaches to the top of it.
but it is very comfortable to
sleep in, i.e. when compar-
ed with our former fare.
we have no chimneys yet.
we do not know how
long we will stay here,
consequently we consider
it useless to make great
preparations unless we
knew how long we
will be allowed to stay here.
Direct your letters as before
until other wise informed.
With sentiments of the highest
esteem I remain yours forever.
F. L. Riley to Mrs. E. B. J. Riley

MSS 7786-f

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

Friday
Dec 26

Have been at work on the pay-rolls most
of the day, and they are, thank God about done
Got a check on the sutler today, the first one I have ever
had, and got some butter and candy and dates to nights
as my cough is very troublesome.  Have had a hard
days work, but I feel that god will keep me and all will be well.

MSS 11293

[from the diary of Milton W. Humphreys of King’s Artillery, as copied and annotated by him in 1893]

26  For
Some time after “Camp Thorn Spring” was established nothing of special
importance occurred.  I will simply mention some disturbances &
some changes of noncommissioned officers.–About Christmas a great
many men became intoxicated.  by order of Lt. Fowlkes, Capt. Bryan
having gone to Richmond, I arrested Mess No. 1 [the Union boys], and Frank
Robertson and James Dooley. Nothing was done with them.–A day or two
before Bryan went to Richmond, I asked him if he still looked to me for
the $34.50 that he said I must pay back to him when I reported at
camp McCausland.  He was astonished seemed not to know what I was talking
about. After an explanation was given he had some faint recollection of what
was transacted at Camp Mc.C.  But instead of my paying him 434.50 he
said that he must pay me $15.50.

MSS 1578

[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]

December                  Friday 26                                          
     I went near P. Royal to shuck
corn.  on detail   shucked
two wagon loads.  retd. to
camp late & found that the
Battery had moved to Brigade
Wash & I walked up.  5 miles.