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

     Dec. 13th, ’62.
Clear & quite warm
to-day.
My knee more
painful than it
was yesterday.
Ordered to be ready
to-march at 7 A.M.      
to-morrow.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

[Saturday, Dec. 13, 1862]

[written in another hand]
Your Cousin
    Jennie Dinsmore
        Buffalo Run
remember and get your
“Treasure” ha ha

This morning went
over to Smily Caldwell
Called on the way out-
Dinsmores [?]
short time. got Jennies
photoraph
Stopped only short time
at Caldwells came on
over to see Thom Montford
stoped there a while
ame on to Johns had
supper with Aunt went
up to Maths.  Lis Mc & Harriet
there. Mosty cloudy  rained some
this evening

MSS 10317

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

Decr 13″  Sat
Clear, Sunny & warm Th 65°
-to Mrs Ds-news of battle at
Fredkg–killed beef-

MSS 3315
 

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

Saturday 13th  Eliza received her dresses from Raleigh & just as I ex
-pected she is not satisfied with them–She has Mrs Young Chapel Hill
dressmaker altering them all evening–I have done very little work
to day tho’ I awoke expecting to do a great deal–Sarah & Eliza took
a long walk since dinner, the weather has moderated–We hear
there is a fight going on in Fredericksburg, & near Kinston
I am afraid Mrs Campbell will remain so long in Wilmington
that she cant get away again.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Joseph Addison Waddell, civilian employee of the Quartermaster Dept.]

[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow project]

MSS 38-258

 Recrost the River December 16th 1862- Dear Father  The whole army crossed the river
last night & it is reported that General Burnside crossed to draw the attention of Genl Lee whilst
Banks bangs away at Fort darling & Richmond abut the way that I look at it I think that it is now more than a Skedaddle it may be the way & I hope that it is although they have A strong position I think it can be taken by siege which there is A report going round that they are gong to siege I was with the
Regiment across the river & was under their fire ever since Friday up to last night when we recrost
this is the third letter that I have written to you within three days Just to keep you from worrying
when you knew that both Armies was Fronting each other the seventeenth was int he battle
& lost about twenty five men killed & wounded but I am Glad to write that Edward Cr[?]
was in the fight & came out safe & such is the case with James Safford they both think
now that they have seen the Elephant give my love to Mother & all enquiring Friends
From you Son Joseph Leavitt

[letters from Joseph Leavitt of the 5th Maine and his brother George of the 5th New York were copied into a ledger by their father John after the war as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom died in the war, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania]

MSS 66

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

Friday
Dec 12
We camped about half past eight in a
large field, and immediately got rails
for fires.  I slept but little on account of the cold
We started about half past ten and marched
til about half past ten at night.  It was awful
marching after dark, and George was rather despon-
dent but I tried to point him to the only source
of strength.  We found deep gully had been blockaded
by trees, but our pioneer corps cut them away
Our cavalry had a skirmish with the rebels
and took several prisoners this forenoon.
As we came along to-night, we saw the fires which
had been lit by our boys in the pines which had
been cut for turpentine.  we were thoroughly tired
out when we stopped for the night
God has kept us wonderfully to Him be all the
praise and glory forever.

MSS 11293

                             12th      1862
      Withville virginia Dember the
Dear sister
                I once more seat myself
to write you a few lines to let you
that we are as well as common hope
ng these few lines will find you
all well. we came from Abingdon
to this plase monday on the cars it is
the furthest we have travailed in one
day since we have been in the serivise
we com about 60 mls it was a much
as the old freight could pull us up
graid but when she started down
she would make up for lost time
Their is a talk that we will move
from hear to rocky gap but it
is uncertain when we will leave
for colonel more is agoing to try
to get to stay hear a while.  I like
to stay hear very well it is a very
pretty plase we are camped one half

[page 2]
of a mile from town witheville is
a very nice town of right smart
size, I would much rather stay
hear than to go to the rocky gap their
has been so many soldiers camped in
the gap. you have been writeing to me
to get my likeness taken I was up in
town today and had my likeness
taken but he hadent any cases to
out it in I will send it home the
next chance I have  Cummings talked
like haveing hisen taken they charge
very high for taking without the
case.  I got me a corse wool hat it
cost me $4.00 dollars their was some
cloth hats their at six dollars.  The
most of hour runaway boys have
come in their was eight of them
come to us at Abingdon Giles had
them put in the guard  house he
cursed them and toled them they

[page 3]
some of them had to be shot &
the ballance branded and whiped
he kep them in the guard house
until last night colonel more
went and released them.  He toled the
nex time they run off the law might
take its course with them, I sent
my old panse and [lams?] coat by [levee?]
I reckon you got them I drawed an
over coat but it is as white as any
sheeps back very good coats for
ten dollars & fifty cts. The captains
are makeing off the paroles I reckon
we will draw our money before
long, It has clouded up this eavening
and looks very much like bad
weather we have give up our
old flies & drawed tents we sleep
tolerable well in them we suffer
a little with cold Georg Littom
went to the houespital at the Colledge

[page 4]
a day or too before we left
Abingdon I dont think he was
very much the matter with
him when we left, I havent heard
from him since he left us
I wrote Rieves a letter a day or
too before we left Abingdon
Tell Charles M browning is well
Tell Granpa that I said for
him to save me some Apples I
think maby I will get to come
home this winter I would like
be their in back bone & spare rib time
Our fair is very scanty now we
get nothing but beef & flower &
heardly enough of that.  Tell Sarah
and virginia that I will write
them an answer before long,
nothing more at present but
remain your brother C. H. Gilmer

Martha J. Gilmer

Write soon

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

MSS 5194

                                           Friday Dec 12th 1862

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

                                  Friday 12

Started at light, went half a mile & retd.
to camp, went on picket on the river.
Started again late in the eve. and
marched until 12. P.M. within  four
miles of Frd.burg where we spent
the night.  Heavy cannonading
all day at F.burg.  Enemy crossed

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448