East New York
                       Dec 14th 1862

Dear Father
                Your note was
received last evening with
the $5.00 inclosed, I did not
need quite so much but
perhaps It will come handy by & by.
You wish me to writ oftener
but I declare I dont know
what I should write about.  This is a
remarkably dull hole nothing
going on of any interest.
only once and a while a
man shot in some drunken
row, as occurred the other day
across the way from this Hospital
  You have probably seen the
account of it.
  Yesterday I went over to the
Hospital of the 28th Regt. saw

[page 2]
Jennings he has been unwell
for some little time and you
can imagin how he would
talk under those circumstances.
The measles are just makeing
makeing[sic] their appearance in the
Regt. (28th) and of course they have
enough to do.
    The health of our Regt. is improving
have had no new cases of
measles for a week or more
  I tell you I am thankful that
I have had them-
  the deaths that have occurred
mostly resulted from measles.
  I have just returned
from the Barracks saw Cyrus
& the rest of the boys they are
all well.
   Capt. Vaughan has just com
into the room he looks well
  I understand that the

[page 3]
Col. yesterday was presented
with a paper containing
the names of all the commissioned
officers of eight companies
requesting him to resign
whether he will or not remains
to be seen. he is not liked by
officers or men, incapacity is the
reason.
  There is a rumor that we
leave here int he course of a week
or ten days.
  If all things work well
perhaps I can write you some
news next week.
  The rumors we hear from
Burnside to day are very
contradictory how I hope he will
be successful.
  The weather the past week has been
pleasant and warm, rather muddy
under foot.  I have not received

[page 4]
the chronicle but once since
I have been here.
I received the Star you sent
should like to have you send the
Star as often as you can
inclose it in a light colored
wrapper and direct plain the
same as you do the letters
  I think some of going to
hear Beecher this evening    Shall
if I can get away.
       Your affectionate Son
C. P. Morrill

[in right margin]
I can get the Independence here.

Charles P. Morrill,  24th Maine

MSS 11031

[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk of Campbell County]

14″ Sunday
Clear-sunny, warm Th. 67
gathd sumach & lost Marco
news of Fredkb battle–
letter from Pa, to send up wagon

MSS 3315

[from the message book of Lt. Thomas S. Seabury, 3rd New York Infantry]

Dec. 14th
to Genl. Viele
A lighter has just
come up with salt for
Mr. Wallace South Mills: Shall
it proceed?
        (Signed) Lt. Kelly Provost Marshall
Ans immediately

Dec. 14th
To Lt. Kelly
  If Mr. Wallace has a permit–all right. If not he
must obtain one.
      (Signed) A. Seeley
Capt & A.D.C.

MSS 10781

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

.
Sun. Dec. 14 – Slept till daylight – went to Col. Hawkins for orders for Col.
D. ordered
[-] 8 ½ P. M.  Made list of sick & slightly wounded to be sent over river
[In line above, in the margin beside the time is written in pencil,  “A.M.?”]
at 10½ buried Rich.Moseley in garden of house on S.W. cor. of Caroline and
Princess Elizabeth St. rear of Mrs. Widow Philips house head foot of locust
tree close to P. E. St. (Enquire of Mr. Geo. Alex.) visited wounded. Col. just made                                                                                             
list of killed  4. wounded 55 – miss [-] 47 + 106 – killed Andrew Keef  Co. A-John                                                                            
K. Frank – Co. A – Richd. Moseley Co. H   Lewis Kates Co. D.  attended funeral
of John K. Frank buried (beside Andrew Keef) in N.E. corner of garden back                                                                                                 
Keef). The battle was so in dark that doubtless some of wounded and
dead are on field & can’t be reached now.  A quiet Sabbath thus far no
fighting – batteries & skirmishers fired a little in morng –Troops in City with
stacked arms. Our regt. came under a front & enfilading fire – very hot
talked with Capt. Hernance [?] Gen. Wilcox’s aid an[d] Commander of the Gen. body guard.                    
Poor Sergt.Townsend died this Eveg. So grateful for everything I did for him.
Visited wounded had prayers – 9 P.M. all quiet today – But we know not
what may be on the morrow or even this night.  Let the Lord direct. it shall be well.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwrds]

MSS 12935

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

December 14

the fight comince
this mornig at about
5 oclock on the
left   the was not
verey reapped   it
aperes that the Rebs
is goone Back
the Rebls have not
gone back   the armeys
hold the same ground
to Day as yesterday
the firig to Day Was
nothing but [-]
the fring seese this
after none  and the
fighting dose  not a
amount to much
to Day the Northan
Littes verey Butfoull
to Night for thre[e]
houres

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

     Dec. 14th, ’62.
Quite pleasant this
morning.
My knee no better:
Owing to my lame-
ness, I was detail-
ed to take charge
of the Camp in
the absence of the
reg’t.
     The reg’t., with
others, as an es-
cort for a for-
age train, marched
across to the N. &
Lebanon pike, & out

               
W about 6 miles, &
returned about 5
P.M. with the wagons
well loaded.
     Appearance of
rain this evening.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-m

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

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1862

Went to Church
drove the wagon to
day as Math was
not well. was  [?]
late.  Heard part of
sermon by John Dinsmore
after meeting he asked
me to be present at
a party given at his
fathers house  Christmas
Hetty [Kerr?] here
After Lis Mc & Harriet
started home  Em [?]
took offense at her conduct
thus rather implicating me
I was much hurt- Math
wished me to take no note of
it.  Em also made some acknowle
degements.  Came down to Hunts
mostly cloudy very pleasant

MSS 10317

[from the diary of Mary S. Boyden]

Sunday 14th  Communion day–I was not so power
-fully moved by a sense of my own unworthiness as so
desirous to grow better, as I ought–Will Jesus accept
the treacherous, faithless heart I want to give Him?
Lord, take it & make it pure & full of thy holiness.
My heart full of Raleigh today- & prayers perpet-
-ually going up to God for him-He is so careless
& thoughtless.  Lord, save him, for Jesus’ sake!  A
collection taken up for the soldiers amounting to
about $10–Saw Mr John Page & family for the
first time–He is very like Bishop Meade though
he says there is no relationship-
MSS 4208

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

Sunday 14th  when I went out to breakfast I found Mr Wm Wright
had arrived to see about purchasing the house.  He looks very old
his hair & long beard perfectly white–Grief & trouble has caused
this, not age–at night Judge Battle & Judge Parson called
around to sit with him & Sarah Eliza & myself were in
the parlour we remained so as to enjoy their chat-  Tis reported
and apparently on reliable authority that Kinston is taken
by the Yankees-& if so Goldsboro’ will go as it is only 30 miles
from there-& no force there to oppose them & what is worse
a plenty of cotton for them to steal- a daily attack is expected
at Wilmington-& there they have but 3000men-Governor
Vance has sent down his drilled conscripts to Goldsboro-
6 or 8 hundred in number-Perhaps more-Everybody feels
sad in this house to day-Sarah has not heard from Fred in se
-veral weeks-neither has she received her weekly “Mississippian”
Other ladies have near relatives at all the places where they
are fighting-Mrs Guthrie’s husband is at Wilmington on
the Artic-& my Tom is at Fredericksburg where that battle
is going on-May God give us victory at the last- & be with
us in this great time of War & affliction-& spare our fathers
brothers sons & husbands to return to us in safety-I have
written two long letters to night-&am now very sleepy
Eliza went to bed with Ear ache–

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

To day the sun is shining as brightly & it is
as warm as a may day.  Tom & Daisy played
out of doors almost all the morning &
I had a nice quiet hour to read, but
contrary to my usual habit & inclination
I was so sleepy that I laid down &
took a short nap–last night Jacky kept
me awake til almost one o clock & I
could not keep my eyes open.  My nap
refreshed me & I read with pleasure
several chapters in Bickersteth on the
Lords supper; I hope that I was profited
by them & will remember these lessons
if it should soon be my privilege
to partake of the Holly Sacrament
again.   I miss that privilege very much
now & also that of hearing the Gospel
preached.  I hope my long fasting may
teach me to prize these things &c & if
I am ever situated so as to go regularly
will always keep my feet in the
right path–Poor dear Peachy so often
spoke of her great enjoyment of the
Sabbath in Memphis- “just put my
bonnet on & walk to church no long rides
& sick headaches when I get  home”
She has gone where she has everlasting communion
with her Savior & is free from all pains-
washed in His blood & without sin.

MSS 15406