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

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Saw no company! Staid at home
all day.  Read & sewed.

Heard the Yankees were coming around
by Smithfield & were going in to the Ferry.

Encamped on Mr. Aldridges land &
destroyed all of his fences, & pulled
down two stacks of wheat to sleep
on, & when they left set fire to it &
burnt it all up: O, it is sad to
think of the waste & destruction.

[as transcribed in 1972 by her granddaughter Anne Madison Wright Baylor]

MSS 15406

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

Friday 5  Last night was stormy-some
snow fell and it rained and snow
ed all the day–called in the mor
ning on Mrs. Gen. Rodes.  Left the
University at 2 1/2 PM and took
the cars for Lynchburg where I arri
ved at home at qr past 7 and found
all well as usual, with no at event
of any consequence since I started

MSS 4763 

                              U. S. Steamer Currituck
                 Three miles below Port Conway
            Rappahannock River Dec 10th 1862
Sir
    I have the honor to make the followering[sic]
Statement, On our return from the mouth of the
Rappahannock River when abreast of Brandy Wine
Hill at 2=25 OM the Rebels opened fire on us frm
the Hill, fireing some thirty shell at us before we
arrived at this anchorage,  None of them taking
effect, We beat to quarters and returned the fire
with our rifled gun, At 2=40 PM came to anchor
The rebels opened fire on the fleet from another
Battery about a mile north of the first.  At  3=20
P.M. Received orders to open fire with much
elevation.  At 4 P.M. 1 (30) thirty Pdr Parrott
percussion shell struck our ship on the starboard
side twenty inches under water and as soon as
possible we got a shot plug in the hole without
cease of fireing, At 4=30 P.M. received orders to cease
fireing.  At 4=35 PM a (20) twenty pdr Parrott
percussion shell struck our ship on the starboard side
aft the main rigging, going through in to the
Fire room and exploded wounded three men
Jeremiah Daley Compound fracture of Radius of
right fore arm & compound fracture of right foot
with partial loss of 1st, 2d &3rd toes Henry F. Smith
Coal Heaver Compound fracture of left Femur at
junction of middle & upper [?] & inside wound
of face laying bare left side of lower jaw
bone, John McCluskey 1st Class Fireman slite
contusion of back in lumbar region
also brake Blower and Blower Engine as Steam
gage and Pipe. I also state during the engagement
my officers and men behaved nobly at 7 PM
                                                 Very Respectfully
                                              Your Obt. Servant
                                           T. J. Linnekin
                                         Acting Master Comdg
U.S. Steamer Currituck
    Lieut Commander
        Samuel Magan
           Commanding Potomac
               Flotilla &c &c

ship still leaking badly

MSS 15134

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

Tuesday
4
[Spaulding’s dating is still off.  The 4th was a Thursday in 1862]

I am twenty five today and I thank
God that He has spared me with health
and strength for so many years.  I had hoped to
have been at home to day but God saw fit
to have me here.  Drilled in skirmishing through
the woods and had a good drill.  I then washed
my clothes before dinner. In the afternoon
did some company writing and read some
Am anxious to get a mail as I have had none
for nearly a month now.  Played chess with George
this evening, and beat him every time=six times.
I wonder what my dear father and mother are
doing to-night in my far off New England home.

MSSS 11293

Camp Winder, Caroline County, Va.

Feby March 1^st 1863

My Darling Wife

Your very welcome letter of Feby 23 reached

me day before yesterday and I am very happy to hear that you are all

well at home. Very happy too my dear wife to know that I am missed and that

even little Frank remembers me if no other way as associated with the

candy which coaxed him into my lap. You have had bad weather

for farm work and we have had quite as bad for our comfort.

But it must come to an end. The war may last but winter

cannot. We will soon have weather when you farmers can get to

ploughing and we soldiers to fighting. I do not wish you to buy

orchard grass seed at anything like the price which Clarkson asks

for it. Do not give more than a dollar and a half a bushel

for it. Tell Jack to go on and sow the wheat land which

I directed to be sown in clover, as soon as the proper time

comes without any orchard grass, putting an additional quantity

of ashes to make up for the orchard grass. Tell him to take the

chaff from the clover seed and scatter it over the poorest part

of the wheat land so as to have that part very well set in clover.

Tell him to get all the ashes which can be had in Lexington &

bring them home at once so as to make sure of them. After

sowing the orchard grass seed on the lot by the garden, there will

still be enough left, I think to sow the land which I directed to

be sown in oats on the other side of the plank road. It is not

so important that the other land should be sown in orchard

grass, I mean the land which Miss Imboden puts in oats & the orchard

[page 2]

The land I wished sown in clover – that is the wheat land opposite side

of plank road about 25 acres, the land to be sown in oats there which lies

by the side of wheat about 15 acres. The orchard about 8 acres, and land

which Miss Imboden puts in oats about 20 acres will make in all about

68 acres to be sown in clover. Sowing at the rate of one gallon to the acre

which is one bushel to 8 acres this will require 8 ½ bushels of clover

seed. You have 4 ½ bushels and will have to buy 4 bushels more. This

you had better get as soon as practicable. Mrs Imboden I believe would

not agree certainly to put the land in oats as she thought she might not

be able to get the seed. I wish you to get her to determine at once, so that

if she does not take it, it may be rented to some one else.

We had snow about a week ago and since than frequent rains.

This is a drizzly, cloudy day, and well calculated to give one the blues

But I feel sure it cant last much longer.

Since writing this much of my letter, I have been to church. We have a chap-

el built of logs not so comfortable as some churches I have seen, but

still much better than the open air in winter weather. I was

much pleased with the appearance of my men. They looked clean

and comfortably dressed, and were attentive to the sermon. We have

it is true, many bad men in the army but as a whole I would

not expect to find better men in any community than I have in

my brigade. I never saw them in better health or spirits. And

what is so gratifying to me, Love, they give me every evidence

of their affection and good will. Winning this I feel is the proud-

est and happiest achievement of my life. May God give me

strength, in sharing their dangers and providing for their comfort

to merit it. And now Darling Goodbye. Write often

and believe me Ever Yours

E.F. Paxton

[The following letter is a fragment, two pages that may have been a four page letter.

It is included in Civil War Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton, beginning with

“We had a snow here….” The editor, John Gallatin Paxton, states that it is the last letter

General Paxton wrote to his wife and was probably written April 27, 1863.]

you now that you had better have the fodder

pulled from the corn this year. It is done

Spotsylvania C H Dec 4 1862

My Darling Wife –

We have reached what I suppose to be our destination after eleven

days march, stopping but one one the route. The roads were good, the troops

in good spirits, and with moderate marching reached here but little exhaust-

ted. I really don’t know what we came for, as everything here is in a

most profound state of quiet. The enemy is on the other side of the Rappahannock,

showing but little if any signs of an intention to cross.

I heard my trunk was in Gordonsville and sent for it but found that McCoron

had gone up to Charlottesville and had the key with him. So I have gotten the trunk

but have not yet been able to get in it. If you have anything to eat

in it I expect it will be in bad condition by the time I get it open.

I am getting use to my new position, and whilst I prefer that

which I left, I can be contented here. I have no reason to com-

plain now of a want of employment, but feel that I have

more than I can do. I have found much that I would like

but have not the means to remedy it. Our soldiers [Paxton comments on the troops no longer being

are not now clothed or fed as they used to be. We are furnished with adequate food and clothing.]

short of everything, I hope this winter that much may be supplied

and next spring we may be able to begin the campaign in fair

condition.

I passed through New Market and heard that Martha was

at home but I could ^ ‘not’ leave my brigade to stop and see

her. Mr. Wilkinson had been thrown from his horse

and hurt, but I hope not very seriously.

We have right clear weather right now but it is the season when

we may expect it will not last. Soon we shall have snow, bad

roads, cold weather & the ususal attendants of the season. I wish now we had

the order to prepare for it, and build such cheap huts as would shelter

Now very few of them have tents and many are thinly clad: some

are barefooted, and a few without blankets. I wish I had the power

to supply their wants, but I can do but little.

[page 2]

Have you made up your mind, Love, when the war will be over?

I am heartily sick and tired of it. If any one had told me when it began

that I should pass through two years of it and reach the rank of brigadier

with pay of $300 per month, it would have been a flattering prospect. But

I feel now as if no rank or pay could induce me to be a soldier.

Nothing but necessity – a feeling that I am no true man if I leave

our cause for the comforts of home. I sometimes have been

severely tempted to follow the example of many whom I thought

good men have set in staying at home. But other and better im-

pulses have controlled my conduct. When we were separated in

times past, I could feel with some certainty, that we should

soon be together again. Not so now. When will it be if ever? This

is the question shrouded in impenetrable gloom. I would like to

see through it. I would like to know when I should be home

again to spend my life with loved wife and children. God in his

mercy grant that the hope so fondly cherished may someday be realized.

It may never be, still it is a sweet hope which I cherish while life

lasts.

Write to me often Love and let me know what you are thinking and

what you are doing. Nothing gives me so much happiness as to receive and

read your letters. Let me know what you are doing on the farm. What

do you want to do next year. I should like to have a good

crop planted next spring and think you had better hire

another good hand. Do as much plowing as you can this

winter, but do not use the subsoil plow. If plowed with

one plow it will be as much as you can have done. Draw

some money from Wm White and give John Fitzgerald as a present

from me $30 to buy some winter clothes. His wages are hardly sufficient

to support him _ Now Darling goodbye. Give my love to Mathew

and Gala and a kiss to little Frank _ Ever Yours,

E. F. Paxton

[The above letter is included in Civil War Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton,

except the last paragraph beginning with “Write to me often Love….” It was signed

as above and not, “Love, Frank” as appeared in the book.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 2165

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

                                  Thursday 4
   Started out at 9.A.M.
traveled four miles
and camped within
nine miles of Port-
Royal

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

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

Dec. 4.  Thurs.  Marched at nine – five columns   clear frosty
morng.  The band playing – soldiers winding thru the hedge
rows & woods of oak & holly advance wearing holly
in hats – The blue coats – & knapsacks – white on top with
Shelter tents.  The woods echoed to shots for squirrels
The boys sang – Dixie – Marchalong[?] – &c. as we passed
down a broad well cultivated valley skirted by
Steep round hills – reached Port Tobacco at 12.
delayed in passing stream – rode into town    went into
Court room – Court sitting – good lookg. men   an officer
brot. an old curious trumpet to door & called out   Gentlemen
of petit jury attend &c.   Yesterday boys made cigars
of tobacco – which is raised in this region.
We could buy nothing in town – every place was
closed – The colors flying looked beautiful from heights –
wrote & mailed a letter to Henry, at Port tobacco.
Asked if we were going to Dixie – A Planter sd. he never
saw so many persons before.  Another knowing I was
a Chaplain asked as I entered room if I “was going
to give prayers” – I led regt. into a field – & we encamp halted
for dinner – Cols. horse rolled while we ate a sandwich.
15th Conn very nearly burnt a barn by setting grass
afire – Marched a foot about 3 miles with same Mr. K
on my horse – encamped about 4 – at a run[?] near
Bumpass – He called for guard – I had some words with Brigade
Q.Master about our staff wagons – Mr. Hamilton called
       
for Guard – We sent Lt. & 8 men to house, bot two turkeys
for Mess @ 2.00 – Walked up to his house – he recd. us
cordially – Brigade before us killed   shot   turkies &
two oxen – our brigade kil shot one ox.  I saw it
lying dead in yard – One of his slaves followed us
to Camp to hear band – Thot. it fine – finely said he
liked it better ‘n religion, loved it better ‘n a gal –
[-] No, wld. [-] Came in & sang plantation songs –
one very plaintive – then changed to a merry jingle –
As I went up market St, I met a yaller gal –
Bot.  a cent a pie & gave to her – & off she went.  She didn’t
go slow.  Never mind dinner   Sd. weather dont blow Could make letters –
tho. he could’nt tell names.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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

     Dec. 4th,’62.
Clear but cool to-
day.
At 9 A.M. form-
ed the line for
review by Gen’l
                   
Rosecrans; moved
out to the W. of the
Camp about a mile;
review continued
until 3 P.M.
Our whole division
was reviewed.
It was the grand-
est military dis-
play I ever witnessed.
Genl’ Rosecrans a            
man of medium
size, dark hair, beard
& mustache. Apparently,
of a pleasant, affable
disposition.

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm