Camp Near Fredericksburg

Dec. 9^th 1862

My Dear Father

I received last night, a let-

ter from home – but almost as old as

the hills – it was dated the 18^th of last

month – written at Richmond & directed to

Culpeper Court House – a month ago

minus 10 days. I don’t know why

your letters are so long delayed –

You might be more particular in

your direction which would probably

expedite their coming – Say in your

direction ‘Gen. Barksdale’s Brigade’. And

Mr. Laws’ division might be added – this

latter is hardly necessary however.

I have no news to write – Not even a

rumor has disturbed our quiet since

we have been in this neighbourhood.

I only write to tell how often I think

of you all. I wish very much I could

spend a short time at home this

winter – But there is no prospect of a

furlough – we may after a while

go into winter quarters – but that

even is doubtful. It will probably

depend on the enemy’s movements.

[page 2]

I hardly think Burnside will attempt

to attack us in front of our present

position – A change of base would be

very tedious, if nothing more at this

time of the year. Jackson has been

in the neighbor hood nearly a week.

Our army was never in better if as

good fighting order – they are confi-

dent of success should Burnside

attempt to cross or to fight us on an

equal field – All express a desire to

fight now rather than delay till

spring.

What do you think of the

letter of the correspondent of the

London Times written from Rich-

mond – notwithstanding slight inaccu-

racies it will give the Europeans a

good idea of things over here.

Do you think Napoleon will

let the matter drop so quietly

after he has over taken it in

hand? What is the pay of the

office for which Lan is an

expectant? Give my very best

love to Mother, George & all – I hope

soon to get one of your letters which I know

is coming over here. Ever dear father – most

aff. yr. son W. H. Perry, Jr.

[Written in the top margin on page 1:

“Do you know where a good cook, a free negro,

could be had – we want one for our mess – A

good negro even if he were without experience

as a cook would answer – The mess is willing to give

15 or I reckon 20 dollars per month.”

William Hartwell Perry of the Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

                                        Moss Neck, Caroline Co Va
                                           Tuesday, Decr 9th 1862-

Dear Mother,
                       My promise to write as soon as I returned
to Camp, has not been fulfilled because the weather has
been so cold that writing has been out of the question.
Today–albeit the ground is covered with snow–is
bright and beautiful, and the temperature quite plea-
sant.
  After bidding you “good bye” last Wednesday morning I had
a pleasant trip to Hanover C.H. I attended to my business
there and then borrowed a horse and rode over to Dr
Price’s where a couple of hours were spent very pleasant
ly in the company of his interesting family-
Wed. night I spent at the Hotel at the C.H. & soon the
next morning I came on the cars to the Junction.  There
I had to wait several  hours: The wished for freight
train came at last and slowly transported me to
Guiney’s Depot.  Having seen my goods disembarked
and properly stored, I began to look around for a place
to spend the night, and soon bethought me of a place
where with Alf. I had stopped during the session of
the Goshen Sess several years since.  Shouldering

[page 2]
my saddlebags & was soon at the home of Mr. H. Buckner
White, where I was cordially received and hospi=
tably treated.  Like most of the people in this country
he is preparing to move further south. The negroes
“en masse” are being sent Dixieward.
Friday morning proved to be cold & rainy.  Happily I
found at Guiney’s a wagon (uncovered) belonging to
the brigade.  In this I came as far as this camp
and finding that the Regt was on picket, I spent the
night with Maj Waite.
The next morning the ground was covered with
snow & sleet yet I walked six miles to where
the Regt was encamped (near Port Royal).  I found
that Sam smith had gone to Hamiltons 2 days before
with my horse & I had missed him.
We came up from picket Sunday & will go again to=
morrow.  Tell Mary to write to Miss Fannie at
Hamilton-I see no prospect now for a fight here as
the Yanks are said to have retired toward the Potomac
Bet and myself are in fine order. Write to me soon,
and have my boots half soled.
                                             Your Loving Son
                                                   Charley

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, Co. F. 10th Virginia Cavalry, late a Baptist minister and President of Wake Forest

MSS 3091

                                 U of Va Dec 9th, 62-
Gen J.H. Cocke
                    Dear General
                                   Yesterday, at Mr F
Minor’s request, I sent by a servant direction
by which his messenger might find his way
to Bremo–Mr. M. proposes to sent to you, this
week, the articles contemplated–
                I send by Mr Minor’s man a bunch or
two of Paulonia seed and one root of the same-
 I have reserved another root (or two) for transporta-
tion in the spring to guard against accidents-
and because, (the ground being hard frozen) I
did not succeed in taking up the bush I sent
you as well as I wished–
                    Some of the seed might be planted
in the pods and some after being separated from them
                   The seed requires a moist place & I
have observed that they thrive best close to a wall &
in the curves of a brick pavement- (such as is
back of our chapel, and east of the Rotunda) only,
I suppose, because there the moisture is better
retained and the tiny seed better protected–The
tree is a “great drinker” (but only of water!?) and
the cultivator often lets the seed perish for
want of watering–In the pods sent there are
I reckon a million seeds–I trust many
of them will come to maturity under your culture-

[top half of address leaf]
We are all well at the University–My wife has had one
pretty severe attack of her old infirmity, neuralgia head-
ache-but got through it without taking medicine–Which
she considers a victory–We trust you and yours are all well
and that “your soul prospers”  How unimportant are all things
here below in comparison of our destiny beyond the grave!-
  Let us thank God for the word of his grace-and the influ-
ences of his spirit whereby we have been made alive from the dead–

[center half of address leaf]

docketed:
McGuffey, Dr Wm H
rec’d Decr.13.1862

Gen Jno H. Cocke
    Bremo Bluff.
      Fluv’a Co. Va-

[bottom half of address leaf]
  We hope the weather may not prevent you from visiting us
yet, before New year–Does Mr Skipwith still contemplate his
trip to Mr D. Smith’s-?  We are putting up ice (three inches thick) at
the U. Will not this cold snap block up the rivers against Yankee
gun boats? I hope the fighting is mainly over for the winter–time is
our greatest General, or rather it is our sword in the hand of God
                            yours truly–W. H. McGuffey
I saw your grand son yesterday–He and his roommate are well

[right side of address leaf]
P.S. My wife, (who thinks your kindness
has no limits) asks if you will please send
her a “hop root”–Hops must be raised in the
confederacy–as they can no longer be bought—

MSS 640

Near Falmouth, Va. Decr 9th 1862
Dear Miss Annie
I received your letter of the
14th November since our arrival  here &
some time after it was written, tho’ this
is a fault which we do not complain
of now, having become thankful if we
get them at all.  Our first mail
received while here, contained my
accumulated correspondence for four
weeks (excepting those which have
not come to hand yet) and I felt
very much as if I had “got out of
the wilderness.”  During that time
I had no news from Philada except
an occasional newspaper,and I
used to regularly look at the local
items and obituary column for fear
something might have happened to
some of my friends.  Latterly we
have received daily mails & hope

[page 2]
we shall continue to do so.  I received
a letter from Annie Duhring which
gave me full particulars of the
“Clark party.”  Of course I regretted
that circumstances prevented me from
enjoying it with the rest of the
bridal party.  She asks whether I
have lost my enjoyment of such light
pleasures as dancing.  Perhaps if
you or she could have seen Ned
Bowers & me on sundry occasions
attempting a galop on our parade
ground at our Poolesville Camp
to a splendid tune that our band
play for a quickstep, you would not
think so.  Perhaps more recently we
have not thought so much of such
things, but I think that when we
get home again we will take to
it quite naturally.  I am not
surprised at the pity you express
for the hardships soldiers undergo,

[page 3]
as it [is] very natural you should feel
so, but I think that very often people
in the army complain of things which
they have no right to make complaint
of.   I can truly say that until the
last five or six days I have not
suffered any real hardship.  We
have had many inconveniences it
is true but nothing more.  I have
never suffered from hunger, under-
gone any exposure which injured
my health, or privations of any kind
which I couldn’t forget in twenty four
hours.  The last few days have
been pretty hard upon us.  In a
near Brigade to ours, three men
froze to death the night of the snow
storm, and we all came a near
as would be pleasant.  I am off
duty to day for the first time since
I left home with a swollen ankle
the result of wearing wet shoes for

[page 4]
(snow and slush) (three days in the)
but I intend to be well by sunset
tomorrow, as we have just got our
orders since supper, to be ready
to move at that time with every
available man in line for a
ten miles march & plenty of ammu-
nition.  This probably means ” cross
the River”, and I must go with
Co F, even if I hobble on two canes
as I did to day.  Candidly I hope
something will turn up to pre-
vent the movement.  After spending
nearly three weeks here we have
got ourselves, by orders from the
proper sources, in some approach
to comfortable quarters.  To night,
for the first time, Captain & I sit
by a fire in our habitation.  Our
nondescript hut or tent consists of a
log hut ten feet square & three feet
high over which is pitched a
canvass roof, the ends closed with

[page 5]
the same and all the chinks filled
up with cedars and mud.  To cap
the climax we have a chimney place
built of sods in which is now burn-
ing a roaring fire and we are
really comfortable.  After weathering
the bitter storm of last week, are
we to yield all this with only
one days enjoyment of it?
Seriously speaking, these forward
movements tho’ such a favorite ones
with our friends at home are not
very popular with us.  Unless we
remain long enough in a place to
erect huts, our only shelter from the
cold is a small piece of ordinary
brown sheeting for each man.  Per-
haps our friends are not aware of
this.  I cannot think they are entirely
heartless.  Our camp at night resounds
with the worst “grave yard coughs”

[page 6]
I ever heard & not a day passes
without a dead march in our own
brigade. To night five men are
lying in the two adjoining regi-
ments awaiting burial, all deaths
resulting from disease caused by
exposure.  I predict that nine tenths
of the deaths this winter will not be
from rebel bullets.  But changing the
subject to a less gloomy one, I am glad
to hear that all our Germantown friends
are well.  When Ned Bowen & I
return & meet them again, if they
attempt to play the Blue stocking on
us, we shall probably withdraw our-
selves to some secluded corner and
discuss our experiences in Virginia together,
which I know will always be an
interesting topic to us.
                      Very truly yr Friend,
                           J. T. Lea
I have received
another belligerent message from Miss Bowen

Joseph Tatnall Lea, 1840-1916, Co. F., 114th Pennsylvania to his future wife Anna Anderson Cabeen

MSS 11412

                       Camp near the Narrows
                         Giles Co Va Dec 9th/62

My dear Sister
                   I have delayed my reply to
your last to rather a blameable period but
I suppose apology is unnecessary presuming
as I do upon your forgiving nature
   The box sent was received with many thanks
to the sender thereof but suffered considerably
from the contents of a broken crock of apple
butter  The pies were mashed into a complete
mush and I would advise you against
sending any more such soft natured things
  I met with quite a misfortune with regard
to part of my receipts Some thievish scoundrel
got into my trunk and stole my new pants
a pr of the drawers and the coffee and sugar
you sent me  This has become quite a common
occurrence in this command
  Capt Grahams fine pistol was also stolen
and several articles of minor importance
We have commenced putting up Winter
Quarters.  I expect to commence putting up my
cabin tomorrow  We expect to have one almost
suitable for the entertainment of our friends

[page 2]
furloughing is a subject of special interest
now Everybody most wants to go home
I can make no calculations with regard
to it until Capt Graham or Lieut Painter
comes up Lieut Allison is complaining very much
and has been for some time and in the event
of the appearance of one of the absent officers
will consider his claim prior to mine; So I am
to this side the calculation
  Col Forsberg is very anxious to go to Wythe this
Christmas but wishes me to go along with
him  We have held several consultations on
the subject but cant make things fit
right  We both want to be here the last day
of this month and we dont know whether
to go before or after Christmas The difficulty
is I cannot get off before Christmas probably
at all and if I could I could only remain
a day or two and be back by the last of
the month.  Two of the company officers
are required to be present Capt Graham has
had his furlough extendended [sic] to the 16th of
January  Lieut Painters appearance is quite
problematical.  Should Lieut painter come up
Lieut Allison will be furloughed and
probably not return before the 1st of January
so it is no use talking

[page 3]
Dr Carter who is so anxious to get his wife
to Va will start for Miss tomorrow
I made three fruitless attempts to secure him
a place–had quite a correspondence with
the old and young ladies of the county
through this means heard of you twice in
the neighborhood of Max Meadows
  I had a nice present of apples potatoes
sweet & Irish from the vicinity of the Salt
Pond–her didnt send them tho’ but
her Mamma did but I suppose she
like Paul stood consenting by
  I have had several pressing invitations
to locomote in that direction
  I received a severe reproval for harbouring
in that vicinity last Summer without
making a call I am going to redeem this if
I have to resert[sic] or design[sic] to get away
  I received a letter from Sid some time since
and she said that she expected to spend
her Christmas with you  I should like very
much to be with you and I think that
I will make a chassey and a flank
movement to that effect yet.

[page 4]
  I forgot to tell you that we were building
a Fort here to be called Fort Wharton another
prop to perpetuate his name
 The Ca[t has invited Col Wharton & staff
to eat a Christmas dinner with him
I dont know whether they contemplate
acceptance or not
  You have had enough of my foolishness
for this time and I will relieve you by
asking you not to show it to anybody and
to write to me soon for our correspondence
has grown much more slack than I would
like to have it  I wrote to you some three or
four times before I received an answer
                             Your brother
                                          W
PS Furlough or no furlough my kingdom
for a pair of britches

William Hansom Tate

MSS 9232-n

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

Tues 9.  Fine bright cold morng.  good wash & change of clothes,
refreshing after a week’s march – just ordered to go to Falmouth
opposite Fredericksburg at 1 P.M.   Sd. Rebels are evacuating
F – not so – Marched at 1 – about 76 miles   encamped at 5 –
in pine woods – near R.R. – roads muddy – teams up in good
time.  Marched afoot about 2 miles with a musket – felt
chilly & have a cold – Passed many encampments &
deserted camps – dead horses – &c   a fine old table monument
under a fine clump of old trees with gigantic grape vines over-
running them – it was to “Mrs. Margaret wife of Peter Hedgman
of Stafford Co.  gentleman – died 1754. aged 52 etc. Conjux Dolens
H.M.P”.  a pussy cat that has followed us all the way fr.
Fairfax sits on my lap while I write – Cavalry in large
bodies pass to front – & the road is ordered to be kept clean
by our camp – for Artillery to go to front.  We are now within
8 miles of the rebels – go to Falmouth at 9 – where Burnsides
Army lies.   The whole brigade is close together here – & woods
full of smoke fr. watch fires – trees crashing in all directions
the band played Annie Laurie tonight.

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

     Dec. 9th, ’62.
Nothing unusual oc-
curred along our
part of the lines
last night, or this
A.M. Clear & warm.
Van Cleve, on the              
left, moved out to
forage & was at-
tacked; McCook, on                
the right, was at-
tacked in his
camp. Ordered to
be ready to “fall
in” at any moment;
reveille at 4, & rea-
dy to move at 6
A.M. to-morrow
morning, on a for-
aging expedition.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm

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

Tuesday  Dec 9th
Recd orders to
march tomorow
moringen 12 Oclock

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12913

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

Tuesday 9th  Father was to have gone to Staunton
today to see my aunt’s about their future plans
but the cars left him. He will go tomorrow–Raleigh
has not come back yet though we expected him
yesterday–I sometimes have sad thoughts about
him–He may not have given father’s letter to
Mr Colston, & may have told them up there that
the Christmas holidays have already commenced
O, he has so much need of the purifying spirit
of God!  Lord, take away his vile heart and
make it new & clean!  News that the french
minister count Mercier has gone to Richmond
with sealed despatches from his government–We
trust that bright Peace is beginning to show
her wings once more again & that soon she will return
& brood over our land once more-Gen Stuart
is reported to have said to his men, “Oh, if you
knew what I can tell you, your hearts would
be joyful”-which may perhaps be taken as another
sign of peace

MSS 4208

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

9″  Tuesday
Frosty & pleasant day
to Miss Tucker’s to make [?]
Old Oxen put up to fatten for sale
put off Harriet to town by stage,
thence in evg to Vaucluse to burial
of Lieut Tho. Farrar, died in Albemarle
from wound at Sharpburg-corpse
brougt on by comrade Reinfranck-
family much affected-remained
till sundown at house with young
Lemmon, Sue, Cous Blair & Betsy
Young Reinfranck paid $25. for two
days hire of horse from Lynchburg.

MSS 3315