[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Friday 26th Like a Spring day – Received a letter from Liz she sends a
[band?] but says nothing of coming – Mrs Walters & Sarah went to
Church this morning – I never keep St days – Mrs Wingfield
sat the morning with us – Sam Morpus went for Mrs Campbell
to day & I hope she will be here to morrow – Mr Phillips has
been doing business for me to day – For which he charged me
$10-
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden]
Friday 25th Fanny & Father & I went to call on the
Pages at Cobham Park. Found them a charming
family. Miss Ellen & Miss Harriet Branham
came to spend the day – Maria took herself & child
off to Gordonsville this morning, so we have no
dependance but Sarah. But we did very well-
Mr John Lasley came to see father on business
this evening – We were much pleased with him.
Lilla & Fanny went to a little party at Mr
Rober Lewis’ & had to stay all night.
MSS 4288
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Thursday
Dec 25
Christmas day and it was with a
sad heart that I arose this morning
There was a regular old Camp Oliver fog
and as we have to get up at six, it was dark
and cold, but I know God will not forsake
His children, and I look to Him alone for help
This forenoon I have been making out pay rolls
most of the time, George is on guard. John
Simonds who was helping me make out the rolls
was taken with a chill so we gave it up for the
day. This afternoon I have been delivering clothing
to the boys, and it is a real source of annoy-
ance to me, it has been running so long, but I
got through it with Halls help.
MSS 11293
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh, Cutshaw’s battery]
Thursday 25
Spent the day quietly
in camp. I was quite
unwell all day.
Camp near Fredericksburg
Dec. 25, 1862
My Own Darling,
I wrote you that
time would assuage the poignancy of your dis-
tress at our separation, and that learning to
take interest in various employments, you would
think of me in other and more pleasing aspects
than as far removed. I trust that this is al-
ready your experience; but in my case another
lw has operated. The hurry of my departure,
the efforts to rally my spirits, the excitement of
travel and new companions, the greetings of
old friends in camp and the thrilling scenes of
our recent victory, relieved the pain of absence
from my beloved. But now that I have be-
come settled in a daily routine, I long for the
sight and voice and embrace of my dear wife,
and feel that it is too sad and desolate to be
without you. You must not think, however, that
I am discontented or gloomy. that would be too
ungrateful, when I have such abundant
cause for rejoicing and praise in the goodness of God
[page 2]
who has blessed me with as sweet and precious
a wife. Yet there are attacks of a wearisome born
of our separation and a painful longing to be with
you which I resist with difficulty now and then
I write this, although this morning completes only a
fortnight since I left you; but these two weeks
are nearly half of our wedded life. As this
day the preachers proclaim, “Peace on earth
and good-will toward men,” God send into the
hearts of our enemies that sincere and wise de-
sire of peace which will end the bloodshed
and ravages of war, and restore us to t hose we
love! You see by extracts from their papers how
sever and humiliating was the late defeat, and
the source of what dissensions. We should thank
God to-day for the bright prospects of our Confed-
racy.
I have been quite busy this week. Mon-
day Dr Thornhill and I visited Fredericksburg,
now a “finished town” in a new sense. It did
not, however, fill Dr. Lee’s description of a desolate
town. In addition to officers and soldiers, citizens
and females were in the houses and on the streets,
[page 3]
having returned to pack up and carry off their furni
ture. A few remained during the days of fighting
and found safety in their cellars. Some houses are
destroyed; many are injured, yet so that they
may easily be repaired. But great damage was
done to the furniture, and the food provided
by the families was destroyed by the Yankees. We
were entertained by a Mrs. Bradley who told us
much about the invaders, and hospitably treated
us to a pitcher of rich milk–about all she
had in the line of victuals. Gen. Longstreet has
requested all the commanders of his corps to open
subscription-lists for the many sufferers of the town
We succeeded in the main object of our trip, in
the purchase of a stove. Soon we expect new tents
and then we will have one for a chamber, and
a second for a sitting room; the latter warmed
by the stove. Will we not be stylish? I have
never been more comfortably situated in camp
A good tent, a stretcher with a straw-filled sack
and plenty of bed-clothes, wholesome food and a
number-one appetite, books, pen, ink and paper
and a pleasant mess-mates–what do these
[page 4]
leave to be desired save the society of my darling?
Oh! that is a lack nothing else can supply.
Tuesday, I wrote on my tract; and at night preached
to the regiment. The weather over mild; two large
fires were kindled, and logs for seats arranged
around them; many serious and eager faces were
turned to me. I enjoyed the services, and trust
that they were not without profit. Wednesday
I was under headway on the tract, when we
were ordered to move our camp about two miles
to more abundant woods. We are in a hollow, sur-
rounded by hills on all sides–a warm & good place.
Early this morning, hallows and firing of guns an-
nounced that Christmas had come. I hope that
the ardent is too scarce for much drunkenness
among the troops. The day is beautiful and mild.
It is now time for you to start to Trinity, there
you may glorify God for the gift of his own Son. I
try to do so in my heart. My merriment this morn
is in the hope of getting a letter from my precious
wife this evening–a Christmas-gift I will highly
prize. Stealing is the order of the day–
or of the night. Several weeks ago, it was ordered
[page 5]
that soldiers without shoes should make for them-
selves moccasins out of raw hides. A few nights
since, it is said, a pair of boots and shoes were
stolen from Gen. Kemper, and moccasins left in
in our regiment
their place. Last night ^ a rogue was grabbed
in the act; he escaped, but the boots were dropped
and his torn clothes remained in the hands of the
man he was attempting to rob.– Bro. Wag-
goner called to see me Monday while I was in
Fredericksburg. He left next day on a two months
leave of absence to get up clothing for his regiment.
Nearly all the companies in my regiment are well
clad, Bro. August[?] is now in this division; but
I have seen little of him. — I will cease wri-
ting now, and resume after I get your letter this
afternoon.
After Noon. The letters have been distributed
but my heart is not made glad by one from
my Ella. I put the blame on the mail, for my wife
must have written me since last Friday. Well,
I will try to be patient another day, and live on
ope. But it is sad to be disappointed; it
produces or increases the feeling of loneliness Be
[page 6]
sides, in these days of small pox I desire frequent
assurances of your health. God keep my darling
in safety and quiet of mind beneath his wings!
After writing this morning, I took a long and soli-
tary walk, and lay down on the bank of a little
stream, thinking of my wife with whom my heart
is always, and aiding memory (not that it needs
aids) by gazing on ear face as represented in
the ambrotype. On my return, read the papers of
the day, and ate a first-rate Christmas dinner:
boiled ham, dried peaches, pickles, baked apple
dumplings with sauce of butter and sugars. Tell
sister Crew she must try the baked dumplings:
all of us agree that they beat the boiled “all hollow”
as the boys say. Not having received permission from
my wife, I did not join in the eg-nog frolic, though
pressed to do so. Sending kind remembrances and
wishes to the family of bro. Crew, I close with yet
another assurance of devoted affection to my sweet
wife, the light of my eyes, the joy of my life.
Your husband
J.D. Granberry.
P.S. If you come across an
Advocate with list of appoint-
ments, cut it out and send me. If you prefer one chapter to
two in the New Testament, substitute it, and let that be your
lesson for the night.
[in top left margin of page 1]
Friday morning. Well ad
cheerful “Hoping that it will
find you enjoying the same.”
The Rev. John Cowper Granberry, formerly a chaplain at the University of Virginia, and later a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
MSS 4942
Peters Burg Va December 25th 1862
Dear friend I take pleasure in writing you a
few lines to let you know that I am well
greatly hoping that these few lines will find
you all well, and doing well. I received you[r] kind
letter, the 15th of this month, the Day before I left
camp Narrows I was very glad to hear from you all
I have had a rite smart travail since then which I
will relate to you, tho[u[gh I have wrote some to you since, but
you may not get it, so I will now write as I had not written
I left the narrows the 16th Dec, and marched within 5 miles of
Dublin the next morning I marched to Dublin and takened the cars
and landed at Richmond the 19th which is about 2.60 miles
and marched out about 5 miles from there the same day, and
stationed, and stayed there untill yesterday morning which
was the 24th we left here with three days rasions in our haversacks
and march threw Petersburg which is a bout 21 miles, we are now
waiting here for orders to go some where else, I think, but I do not
know where but it is thought we will go to N.C. Wilmington
or some other place, some thinks we will take winter quarters
near here but it is verry uncertain what we will do, or
where we will go, myself and Tom wrote a letter to Sanders
about a week before we left the narrows but have
never got an answer from him yet we may be within a
few miles of him and not know it, we also wrote one to him the
21st of this month we may get an answer from him to day, I cant tell
[page 2]
but it is uncertain we want you to write
where he is every time you write, for we want
to find him, and get him in our company
if there is any chance, but I fear it is a bad
chance but there is nothing like trying. I think
he would be better satisfied with us and I know
we would be better satisfied, you wanted me to
come home and bring you a bonnet and Janey a
cap. I would take great pleasure in doing so if I
could have the chance to buy them I must say this
is the dullest Christmast I ever saw here in an old broom
seg field and not a stick of no sort of timber but
pine, scarsely, nothing of any size we can hear the Town’s
bell, and cars continually almost, and water is
verry sorry here and no brandy to drink I tell you
it is a dull time all of us broke down and tired and
nothing to revive us I must soon close, you must
excuse my scatering letter for it is impossible to
write a good letter in camp, There is so ma[n]y things on
hand at onced, you must write as soon as you can
and give me all the news from old Patrick, for I like
to here from there. I still remain you friend H.A. Heffelfinger
to Delilah P. Jessup
P.S. give all old friends my best
respects especially the Pretty girls tell them I
hope to see them again and that before long H, A, H.
Henry A. Heffelfinger Co. K, 50th Virginia
MSS 13257
XMass gift to you all this morning –
The morning is so pleasant that I doubt not you
can all make a merry day of it. I enclose in this
a X Mass gift for you $20.
I want you to send me my cap by the first chance
you have. I want to save my hat as much as
possible for summer & the cap will do now
as well as a hat. Jennie Watson is 10 Mo old
tomorrow 26 and ought to be walking as smart
a little monkey as she is. How I do love that child
[page 2]
she is not my favorite but some how I love the dear
little thing very much indeed.
We have no news this morning our boys have
been firing X Mass guns nearly all night. I dont
mean my brigade, for I dont think they have fired one
but others above me. I thought at first it was skirmi
shers, but it is only X Mass. Thornton says he burnt his
cake last night, as I expected.
affectionately
E.T.HWarren
“Jennie Watson”, line 8 – Warren’s youngest daughter Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.
“my brigade”, page 2, line 5 – Warren was in temporary command of the 3rd Brigade, Taliaferro’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, which consisted of the 47th & 48th Alabama Infantry regiments, and the 10th, 23rd, & 37th VA Infantry regiments.
“E.T.HWarren”, page 2, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry. Even though this letter contains no salutation, it was written to Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.
[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g
East New York
Dec 25th 1862
A merry christmas to you all!
I suppose I must direct this
letter to George or I shall not
hear from the urchin again.
You must remember my sonny that
when I write a letter home it means
you as much as Father & Mother.
To day has been pleasant & mild.
this evening it looks as though it might
rain before long. I suppose you
have snow enough away down East and
have fine times sliding and skating
I should like to know what you are
doing this christmas evening?1 I am
sitting in the tent, and by the flickering
light of a poor tallow candle am talking
with loved ones far away.
Our tent is about fourteen feet long and
about twelve wide. Asst. Surgeon Morton
and myself sleep together in a bunk
on a tick in which there was once some
straw, but the virtue is nearly rolled out
of what little remains, I would not swap
[page 2]
it for a feather bed at any rate with a
plenty of blankets, and by laying spoon fashion
we manage to keep warm.
The waiter sleeps here also.
We have had no orders to move yet.
The 22st & 24th & 28th are all here together
in the same Barracks, the barracks are not
so well arranged here as they were at Augusta,
all huddled up together after this manner
[diagram in in the form of a parallelogram
left margin] no good chance for ventilation
except through the top of the
barracks. I see the boys quite often.
Now that Capt. Vaughan is in the city Berny dont
have much to do only to see that the capts tent
dont walk off. he was in here to day looks
well. Cyrus is well.
I understand that those officers who are
under arrest go with the expedition and are
to be tried on the field.
The Col. I guess will come out top of the
heap.
You will soon cease to be Rigisteer of
Deeds for Franklin co. do you feel sorry?
You ask me what I think of your
going to Washington, selfishness would seem
to say go, for I might hope for some assistance
in pursuing my studies if I should live
[page 3]
safe and sound: but to think of it
honestly and fairly I can but think it for
the best for you not to go.
I wouldn’t want any honest man to go
to Washington. I am fully convinced that
it is a sink of iniquity.
the men who have the lead in
public affairs, as a general thing, are
wicked, unprincipled, demagogues.
and when you look at the army
the leaders I mean, you can hardly
find an honest man. all they think
about is plunder, the rebellion is hardly
thought of, you hear officers talking
and it is about the chances of promotion
or to see if they can not draw forage
for two horses when they have got but one
To steal from Gov. is, they think so
much gained.
In what little I have seen I am
not astonished that our armies
don’t succeed.
As a nation we are being chastised
and how lightly in comparison with
our transgressions.
What do you think of our
present difficulties at HeadQuarters
I dont imagine Burnside will
[page 4]
ever do much more.
I hear that Belcher was killed in the
last fight is it so?
Your letter of Dec. 21 came
to hand Tuesday evening.
It is sad to hear of Nancy’s death.
I pity her little girl.
Mrs. Sampson must feel lonely.
Asst. Surgeon Libby of our Regt. is very
sick, doubtful if he recovers.
The Lieut. col. is sick also.
this is I think an unhealthy place,
low land.
I am well now, and hope I
may continue so.
Pray for me that I may live
and do my duty, and if I
die, that I may die like a man
and christian.
Your affectionate son,
C.P. Morrill
Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine
MSS 11031
Camp opposite Fredericksburg
Christmas Dec 25th [1862]
Dear Brother George
A merry Christmas to
you all, and oh how I wish I were there
to day, to wish it verbally and to have a
good time with you to day skating and
sliding as we were a year ago, but I shall
have to postpone my usual sport until
next winter. I suppose you have got
pleanty [sic] of snow and ice now and are
having some nice times. Do you use
Dr. Catlins little white horse as much as
usual & how does the little colt get
along I don’t mean Chas P. although
I should really like to know how he
prospers since the bust up is the
elder widow still staying with him?
George I want to have you write me
often and tell one all the news all
about what is going on in Meriden
you are the correspondent that I have
and I like to hear from you very much
are you still staying in the Bank?
I am getting along nicely with
the Col. don’t have hardly any thing
to do and have pleanty to eat now
for I board at the Staff Officer’s
Mess and we have things nice but
when we were on the march and
while fighting we had nothing to
eat except raw pork and hard tack
except what we foraged in the City
found a few hams and lots of flour
so the boys made ham cakes of it
but without any yeast or soda it
was rather tough food.. I wish
I had thought and got some little
thing there to have sent home to you
as a relic but we didn’t get into
the city until it was pretty well
cleaned of every thing by other
Regiments, they took every thing that
they could carry and things too that
would be of no use to them. I saw
one soldier with one of those very
large parlor mirrors about 6 feet
high and one soldier that got
there first went into a jewelers
shop and got 5 or 6 good watches
I did not think to look around
much and only got a good
towel that I needed. Oh we saw
some queer sights and some tight
places I assure you but I can’t
begin to write them all down
hope I shall live to get home
again and then I will tell you
all about them.. We are having
very pleasant weather yet have
had no snow or rain but the
nights are quite cold but in
another month it will be awful
rainy and muddy but with my
enormous boot[s] I gess [sic] I shall be
able to keep above ground. I
wish they were not so large
but they will answer I have been
offered 10$ for them. Please give
Father the enclosed 10$ bounty which
is the 2nd payment of the State 30$
I hope our Regiment will be payed
off soon as there is 4 months pay
due us.. Col Wright & Chaplain Miller
are both in Washington on leave
of absence for 20 days are both
sick and perhaps you will see
them in town before long. I am
all alone now and have the tent
all to my self wish you could
come in and stay with me but
[The rest of this letter is continued on page one in the top margin.]
board to home at the
same time for I don’t
wish you to have to stay
out here very long
I shall know how
to prize home,
after this It is
the best place no
matter how humble
Give my love to all
and wish them a
happier and more
peaceful year next
than this has been for
our country..
Write soon and
Often Your brother
Jim
James H. Howard, 15th Connecticut
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12668
[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Dec 25th tursday Crushmas Day
Whe are stil
in camp and a
verey find moringin
all is quitee along
the Lines
cristhonas Pass of all night
[written in margin:] I curyde [Perhaps this is “I cried.”]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
