Cumberland C.H. Dec. 26th
My Dear Father
                      On Thursday last young
Fitzgerald of the riflemen (who formerly
lived in E O Hunton’s Apothecary Store)
and myself reached this place,
which is to be our head quarters
for the next thirty days at least.
We had intended if possible to
get board at some gentleman’s
private house, at a convenient
distance from this place but
first putting up at the hotel we
soon persuaded our selves that
we cold not well find than here
better accommodations and better
society than with our old land-
lord, who has a very nice fam-
ily consisting in part of two daughters
who sing and play very prettily

[page 2]
on the piano & with whom board
two or three ladies from Washing
ton, refugees, among them a Miss
Selden whose acquaintance I had
made last Spring, in Petersburg at
Alexr Dunman”s.  Last night
Figzgerald having returned to Peters
burg for instructions, the young ladies
insisted on my going with them to
a frolic at a neighbors house.
Having nothing else to do I was
not at all loth to go. So I went &
had a very pleasant time.
  We have not yet commenced
our operations as enrolling officers,
except so far as to post up a few
of our notices. We expect to begin
as soon as Fitzgerald returns.  From
what I can learn we will not
have much to do, as there are

[page 3]
comparatively only a few conscripts
in the county and the county is a
small one.  Our work will probably be
at an end by the middle of February.
  My leg continues to improve.  It is
only occasionally that it feels at all
uncomfortable.  when my Present detail
is out I have no doubt I will be in
proper condition to return to my regi
ment.  But I can but indulge
hope from present prospects that
our difficulties will be in some way
of settlement & there will be no
need for those of us not now in
the field to return to our commands.
The Yankees seem more depressed at
their recent defeat than at any
other they have before suffered & admitted.
they admit too officially a larger
loss than in any other, 15,000

[page 4]
U suppose you have received your
rifle & other articles sent by Col C[?]
ford.  If the wagons return again
I will be obliged to you to ask Mother
to send [word lined through] Uncle Jno for me my
velvet vest left at Rockwood when
I was last there.  However this does not
make very much difference as I hope
to be able to come up myself soon.
With love to all, Mother the girls
& the little boys and hoping this will
find you well
                I remain your Aff Son
                               Geo. S. Bernard
P.S.  P.O. Cumberland C.H.  Tell Mary Ann
to write to me. G.S.B.

George Smith Bernard, 12thVirginia Infantry; survived the war, later a member of the Virginia House of Delegates

MSS 7745

Camp in Buckners Neck
 December 26” 1862.
My own dear Jennie
In the absence of something better to do
I commence a letter to you.  Yesterday James
paid me a visit and remained all night
with me and has just gone.  He is well &
in good spirits but like all the rest very
tired of the war, and like the rest thinks
we have some prospect of peace.  I cant see
exactly on what ground the opinion is based
but it is some how very generally believed that
the Lincoln party has played out & cant make
another campaign either this winter or next
summer and I believe the opinion is univer-
sal in the army that we will not have
another fight this winter and yet night
and day I hear artilery [sic] firing in the
direction of Fredericksburg.  This however
might be kept up for twelve months and
neither do harm or bring on an engagement
The Rappahannock River is a great institution
just now in keeping the peace between the
two Armies.  One of the Yankey pickets hollowed
across the river to me yesterday morning
“Burnsides has resigned and McClelland is again
in the field – Look out for yourselves” I who
we replied Yes!  But I have stoped [sic] all
talking across the river at least I have
taken steps to do it as far as I can.  I
am buisy [sic] fortifying this position and
am inclined to think we will never have
to use them.  We had yesterday a grand
XMass dinner & some company to help us

[page 2]
eat it.  I expect to return to my old camp to-
morrow having been on duty 7 days and I think
more pleasantly situated than if in camp.
  Oh Jennie You dont know how home sick I get.  I
cant help sometimes when alone, sitting down and think
ing how happy we will all be when the war is over
and making plans as to what we will all do, at
our little house, and then I cant help feeling very
unsatisfied when I think of our present situation
the uncertain duration of the war and that we
may not be spared to see the end of it.  If Mr
Lincoln could be put in the field for a few months
& compelled to take chances for his life & live on
camp diet I am inclined to think he would feel
more like stoping [sic] this unholy war.  as it is, his
political life seems to depend on his carrying on the war
and so I suppose we will have to stick to him as long
as he has the means or power to do anything against us
and probably that will be as long as he is president
but I dont think so.  I think he is very near his ropes
end and almost in despair.  Now is the time for France
If Napoleon will now step forth and say that he
in the name of humanity demands a cessation of the
war – he will succeed and for himself win more in-
fluence & power than five years of successful war
could gain for.  In the first place it would make
us his friend – the act would commend him to the
peace party at the North which at the next election will
compose a large majority of that section.  it will com-
mend him to all the people of the world who are now
suffering for the want of our cotton and who are
crying out against the war & praying for peace
in this continent.  Will he be smart enough to
see it and bold enough to act in the matter – I
fear not, and yet hope he may be up to the occasion

[letter abruptly ends]

“Jennie”, salutation; page 2, line 4 – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.

“James”, line 2 – Jennie’s brother James W. Magruder, 1st Lieutenant, Company K, 2nd VA Cavalry.

“Burnsides”, line 23 – Ambrose E. Burnside, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.

“McClelland”, line 23 – George B. McClellan, Union general, commanded the Army of the Potomac until relieved in November 1862 when Burnside was appointed.

“Napoleon”, page 2, line 22 – a Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon III, was Emperor of France.

This letter is without a signature; it was written by Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.

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

MSS 7786-g

             Dumfries, Va.
           Dec. 26, 1862
   The Misses Redman
              Dear Sisters
                                   I im
prove this present morning in
writing you a few lines
You first desire to learn
that I am well and I
can assure you that I nev-
er had better health in
my life.  We sleep out of
doors and enjoy all the
blessings of fresh air
which are many you know
However our tents will
be here to-day and then
we will fare better  The
weather here is very much

[page 2]
like October weather
in Ills.  We have no
snow and the ground
is barely frozen so as
to form a crust on the
surface.  All the ex-
citement caused by
Burnside’s defeat has
nearly subsided and
a universal quiet now
prevails among the
soldiers here.  I can
not see that the troops
which I have been privileged
to pass through since
the defeat are less en-
thusiastic than before
Fredburg all wish for
this war to close gut
we desire an entire
surrender of the enemy.

[page 3]
I should like very
much to be at home
with Mother and you
but I cannot, and I
shall have to be content
ed with staying where
I am. I will write
often so that you may
know that I am nev
er sick as the case may
be. When another battle
will occur I am not
advised Perhaps you had
heard of something being
done before long.  I do
hope there will be and
I want a chance too
I hope next time that
we may march on to
victory and an entire
annihilation of the enemy

[page 4]
Well Girls I  hope
you may fare well
and get along finely
Remember that your
[characters?] depend
upon the habits you
cultivate I hope to
find you enjoying
as good standing in
society as when I left
you to come to the war
Do all you can to pro
mote Mother’s comfort
Em it is best for you
to teach school and Jane
you help Mother at  home.
I want you to tell me
more about Father’s death
Write Soon  With much
love I am very Truly
Your Brother
                    Hank
Jane Redman
Em Redman

William Henry Redman, Co. C., 13th Illinois Cavalry

MSS 7415

                         U.S. Steamer “Currituck”
                     off Windmill Point Station &c
                                          Dec. 26  1862

Sir
            I have to report the death of Pedro
Guillermo, Ord Seaman of this Vessel, who
accidently Shot himself, while on boat duty
at the mouth of Milford haven Creed of
Piankatank River
                                       Very Respectfully
                                           Your obt. Servt.
                                (Signed) T.J. Linnekin
                                  Acting Master Comdg
                                             U.S.S. Currituck
E.R. McCrea Esqr.
Lieut Comdg & Adjutant
Potomac Flotilla

MSS 15134

Camp of the Fifth Maine near the Rappahannock River Va Dec 26th 1862

Dear father   I received yours & Williams letter Boath[sic] of them was dated
the 20th which I was verry glad to receive there is A report going round that this Bri
gade is going to Washington to do Guard duty which I hope is so because I think if
there is A Regiment  or Brigade in the Army that ought to have a resting spell
this ought to be the one, I am well & enjoying the same good health I will now try & answer your ques
tions.  About General McLellan, why he did not cross the River I think it was because the
mens clothing is poor, I know that there was not A Man in the whole Brigade that had A
pair of shoes fit for anything I know that I never see the time since I have been in the Poto
mac Army that I was so poor of for[sic] clothing as I was in Maryland, what I mean by being
under fire of the Enemy is this we was drawing upon A line of battle in the centre & their Artil
ery Fire was over us by their having A crossfire on the left & right you say that the Fighting
was mostly done by Artilery there was as much Infantry as Artiley A fighting & I am glad to
that the 15th & 17th Maine Regiments done well & out of one company in the 16th there
twenty one killed & wounded besides the Captain & first Lieutenant I will close this
by saying give my love  to Mother & all enquiring friends I have not seen Daniel Shaw
since I wrote last From you son Joseph Leavitt
P.S. I have no postage stamps & cannot get them, as I have not been paid
off yet, but expect to soon Yours Joseph Leavitt
                                                      I shall send as soon as paid
Call at Fred R Harrisses Hat Store & you will find A letter for
you that Captain Harris carried there he was out here the other day
& started for Home again

Letters of Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied in a ledger by their father in the fall of 1865 as a remembrance of his boys both of whom died in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania

MSS 66

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

Dec 26. cloudy – & wind – Pres. thanks Army of Potomac.
makg. arrangements to cross under flag of truce for Townsends
and Moseleys bodies – In hospitals – writing letters to dead, missg.
&c Soldiers friends – Paterson Paper finds fault with Col. & me
for not writing details &c – Col. sent full list abt. week
ago –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

Dec 26th Friday
all right along
the lines this
moringin
E R Brontus the
present of the
Santy Cemater of
Alleghney Couty
Arrived of
Camp to Day
and Same Was here
to Day

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

     Dec. 26th, ’62.
Struck tents & march-
ed about 8 A.M. to-
day, – had to ride in
ambulance; moved
out the Murfreesboro
pike; rained nearly
all A.M. Rosecrans
passed on ahead of
us about 2 P.M.
Heavy cannonading
off to the right, skirmish-
ing in front.
Camped 2 1 m. from La-
vergne; rained all night;
slept in the mud.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

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

Friday, Dec. 26, 1862

Did nothing this
forenoon  Raining
this afternoon helped
a little at the
sheep shed down
by the woods
Rained all forenoon
breaking away some
this afternoon

MSS 10317