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

Wed 10.  Fine cold Morng.  Our mess tent is pitched in midst
of troops bivouacked in Shelter tents all around us

It is sd. our batteries are to open on enemy today
& we are now within eight miles of front.
Marched at 9 A.M. our regt. leading – roads rough with
frozen mud – overtook & pass numerous camps – closed in
Mess[?] for dinner   Col & Major off   I took command, broke
into column & marched on – to tune of coming thru. the rye
As we neared river   Col Wright – Comdg. gave us orders to report
to Col Hawkins – Gen. we are now under his command.  Gen. Gettys
division (& Sumners grand division of Burnsides Army I
suppose) – encamped about 3 – on south side of a
wooded slope about 1 mile No. East of Fredericksburg – while
mess tent was pitching – I rode over hill to river – saw Gen.
Sumner & &c. making a reconnaissance of rebels – went myself
to river bank.  Saw city across river, which is partly frozen –
& about size of Passaic at Paterson – high banks & all bridges
destroyed.  Saw rebel pickets distinctly & full view of city
All was as still as Sunday – under the warm
sun of this Dec. afternoon – Perhaps tonight or tomorrow
the earth will shake to roar of 300 000 men in battle.
Caught cold yesterday – felt dull & heavy – & sick on march –
We hope for fresh meat now – hard tack & bacon are getting
th tiresome.  Heard Gen. Banks has landed at Harrison’s
landing with 75000 men – Burnsides’ headquarters is about
half mile So. of us –   We are ordered to have 3 days rations
ready to march at 7. AM tomorrow, taking nothing
but what can carry on horse – or back – Move wagons
in two hours – so as to be away fr. enemy’s fire –
if shell us tonight.
     Col. called Officers to tent   told them we were to
open our batteries at daylight – in order to divert the
enemy while our troops cross – we our brigade to cross the
the second one.  All last orders were given
I read 91 Psalm – spoke few word & prayed

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Dec. 10th, ’62.
Clear & cold.
Did not move,
as ordered.
reported that 3
reg’ts. of our men
taken prisoners
at Hartsville, Tenn.

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

None [noon] and have
not march yet

Dec Wensday 10th
and a verey find
Day

[from the diary of Mary S. Boydon of “Hopedale,” Albemarle County, Va.]

Wednesday 10th–  Father got off today–& will return
on Friday–Raleigh got back–He brought me
a note from Mrs C saying that R could remain
here till the close of this year & then go to Mr
Nelson if he desired it-May God protect him
wherever he is!  I feel too feeble to know what
is right & cannot of course, tell what would
be best for him–I want to cast this “burden
on the Lord,” as I have cast so many others &
found relief–I am sure the Judge & Creator
of all the earth will do right

MSS 4208

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

10″ Wedn-

Frosty, clear pleasant
sent for Prayer book to [?]
-to Mrs Ds p.m.  & all night
C.H.L. & Susan down  Killd pork
there-lost dye-Halpin at work
-to Halls with J.P.L.

MSS 3315

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

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

Wednesday 10th  Received a letter from Kate Kennedy & Mrs Kahn
weiler-telling me the Box they started from Charlotte on the 26th
of last month is lying at Durham.  I have written several times
to the Express agent there but nothing came done with heard of it.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat of Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Wednesday 10.  Weather staid moderating
went last evening to call on Mrs
Stuart & to invite her to spend a few
days with us–Learned from her that
Wm had been detained a week in
Richd in order to appear as a witness
against the fellow who stole his [boy?]
[George?]–day spent quietly and at
[hard?] work–In the evening Isaac
Hite, son of Major Hite of Belgrove
Fredk. called.  He ha brought some
servants to hire out–assisted him
and then brought him back to
supper–He was in the enemies lines
for weeks last summer.  His account
of their ill usages of the people was
enough to fire the heart of the most
phlegmatic.  He is a heavy sufferer
himself.  He says he saw but one
of their officers whom he consi
dered a gentleman–Lanty went to
Depot to receive Mrs. Colston  He did
not return but staid all night at
Sue’s–Little worth mentioning today
except the news that Morgan has
killed wounded & captured almost
2000 of the enemy near Franklin

MSS 4763 

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

Tuesday
Dec 9
This forenoon as usual.  This afternoon
I wrote to Mrs Brown.  We were informed
that we should probably go on an expedition
to-morrow.

MSS 11293

Mount Laurel Dec 9th

Dear Grandpa [General John Hartwell Cocke]

I have been so much occupied in
preparing for my school, that I have neglected
writing to you before this time.  Alan & I went
into our cabins about a week ago & like it the idea
of house-keeping very well. The boys have to me
a new amusement which is skating.  I tried to skate
a little while on the pond, but did not succeed the first
two or three time.  I am getting so now that I can
skate pretty well.  tomorrow morning I am going to
get up & try the sport again & see if I cant do a
little better.  Mr Towers has prayers every morning
in the school-house & then after breakfast school takes
in & we study until twelve or half past & have an
hour’s recess, then go in school & study until three
Every Sunday morning the boys walk a mile to church
& back & in the evening he has a Bible class for the
boys.  Jimmy has been very sick with the Typhoid
fever but I am glad to say is getting better.  It seems
that this part of Virginia is pretty healthy, for only
two of the boys are sick, one with the sore-throat &
the other with the rheumatism.  All the boys are going
away Christmas except one of two & I hope Father will let

[page 2]
me come up & pay you a short visit.   I forgot to tell
you that I saw Johny Cocke at church last
Sunday and he was very well.  If you please tell
sister to write as often as possible.  As I have to write
another letter I will have to close, so good-bye-
                                  Yours affectionately
                                    Peyton H. Skipwith, Jr

MSS 640