[from the diary of William M. Blackford, bank officer and former diplomat with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Wednesday 3.    Rain in the morning
for a short time.  About 10 recd
dispatch from Kean announcing
that Charles had been appointed
judge advocate of the military court
attached to Longstreets corps, provided
for by the late act of congress.  this
will be a very agreeable surprize
to him as he had long given up the
hope–Kean had not given him
any reason to expect success–quite
the contrary.  His pay and rank will
be the same.  This is every respect a
most desirable post and the appoint
ment considering the great number
of applicants, is very honorable.
It will enable him to have his wife
with him frequently.  I feel regret how
ever at his leaving the Regiment &
his company–just [?] as to all appearances
he was about to be made major.
The belief is that Munford had
come home with the intention of not
returning.  Heard of William’s ex
ploit in Richd in capturing a thief
who relieved him of his bundle at
the depot.  I am told he figures in
the police report in the Examiner
As it has done lately so often the
weather cleared up in the evening
and the moon came out with great
brilliancy.

MSS 4763

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

Friday
Dec 2
Drilled this forenoon in skirmishing
George is on guard.  Have been doing
some company writing this afternoon, Capt.
Denny went home to day.  Have been reading
the Adventures of Girard the Lion Killer. and I
also amused myself with a bug, putting him
on a piece of glass and observing his efforts
to get off, but why dont we get a mail.

MSS 11293

[the following printed sheet was found enclosed in a letter from Mrs. James L. Cabell to General John Hartwell Cocke]

TO THE CITIZENS OF ALBEMARLE.

LADIES’ RELIEF SOCIETY.

————————————————

  The Ladies of Albemarle County, in view of the wants of our
soldiers amidst the dangers and sufferings of the field and the
rigors of approaching winter, desire to do all in their power to’
render our army efficient, by relieving the necessities of the des-
titute.
  To this end they have organized “THE LADIES’ RELIEF
SOCIETY OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY.’
  The Managers of this Society will spare no pains to see that
all contributions are promptly, faithfully and judiciously dispens-
ed.  As far as they are able, they will afford relief not only to
the needy of our own county, but to any other destitute soldiers,
whether on the field or in the hospital, and especially to those
coming from portions of the country in the hands of the enemy.
  They earnestly appeal, therefore, to the citizens of Albemarle
to come forward at once, and by their contributions of Money,
Cloth, Wool, Leather, and other materials, prove to the gallant
defenders of our soil, that, while we enjoy the comforts of home,
their uncomplaining endurance of  privation and peril in the
hospital and on the field can never be forgotten.
  Meetings for organization were held on the 10th of November,
at the house of Dr. Cabell, University of Virginia, and on the
day following at the house of Mr. C. Hornsey, in Charlottesville,
when it was resolved
  That while the Society shall be one and undivided, there shall,
for more effectual operation, be two branches, one at the Unvier-[sic]
sity and one in Charlottesville.
  That the Society shall meet every Thursday morning, at eleven
o’clock, the University branch at Dr. J.L. Cabell’s, and the
Charlottesville branch at Mr. C. Hornsey’s.

[page 2]
  That there shall also be a meeting of the whole Society on the
last Saturday of every month, at eleven A.M. in the Lecture-
room of one of the Churches in Charlottesville.
  That the articles of Clothing made by the ladies shall be dis=
posed of, to such soldiers as are able to purchase, at the price of
the material, and gratuitously to those who bring proofs of real
destitution; and finally
  That a portion of the sewing may be put out, at a reasonable
price, among the poor women of the neighborhood.
   The following officers were appointed:
        PRESIDENT, MRS. JESSE L. MAURY,
        VICE PRESIDENT, MISS MARY RANDOLPH,
         SECRETARY, MRS. ALBERT T. BLEDSOE,
         TREASURER, MRS. WILLIAM J. HOGE,
          BOOK KEEPER, MRS. CHARLES TOMPKINS,
MRS. DR. J.L. CABELL, at the University, and MRS. C.L. HORNSEY
in Charlottesville, were appointed to receive and distribute the articles made
and contributed.
  MRS. Dr. CHARLES CARTER, of Charlottesville, was appointed to re-
ceive and distribute Socks and Yarn.
             
                                             MANAGERS
MRS. DR. S. MAUPIN,                                    MRS. JOHN T. RANDOLPH,
 ”       M. SCHELE DE VERE,                               ”    ELIZABETH GARTH,
 ”       SUSAN MATTHEWS,                            MISS ELIZABETH DAVIS,
 ”       SHELTON F. LEAKE,                                 ”    MARY L. MINOR,
 ”       GREEN PEYTON,                                      ”    BETTY PRICE,
 ”       FANNIE B. CUTLER
MRS. WM. C. RIVES, Castle Hill,                     MRS. WM. S. DABNEY, Dunlora
 ”       ANNA PAGE,     Cobham,                       MISS MARTHA WOOD, Mecham Rivr[sic]
MISS LIZZIE LEWIS           ”                           MRS ZACH. LEWIS, Howardsville,
 ”       CHARLOTTE MERIWETHER ”                 ”   RALEIGH COLSTON, Ivy Creek,
MRS. SUSAN BAXTER, Keswick,                        ”   GEORGE RIVES, Carter’s B’dge
 ”       MARY EVERETT     ”                                 ”   JAMES M. MASON, Scottsville,
MISS CARRIE RANDOLPH, Edge Hill                  ”   THOMAS MARTIN, Covesville,
MRS. WM. D. HART, North Garden,                     ”   NANNIE GARRETT, Greenw’d,
 ”        BENJ. JOHNSON,    ”                            MISS ELLEN FICKLIN,          “
MISS  MORE,                     ”                            MRS. DR. AUSTIN, Stony Point,
MRS. PEYTON S. COLES, Green Mtn.                 ”    DAVID CARR,     “
 ”       MARY ANN HARPER, Farmington,

MSS 640

                University of Va
                   Dec 2nd 1862

My dear Sir,  [General John Hartwell Cocke]
            From the enclosed
paper you will see that
the ladies of this county
are engaged in an im=
portant work.  Living
in the midst of Hospitals,
and in constant com-
-munication with the
soldiers of our armies

[page 2]
we learn much of their
painful sufferings for
the want of clothing.
The appeal we have made
to our citizens has been
generously responded to,
but we greatly need
a larger aid.  a noble
testimony has been paid
to you well known
munificence by the
constant and repeated

[page 3]
enquiry, “Does Genl
Cocke know of this,”
and finding that your
assistance had not
been already solicited,
I have been requested
to enclose you the
accompanying card.
Our funds have been
almost exhausted by
the enormous prices
we have to pay for
materials.  We are anxious

[page 4]
to buy a large amount
of clothing of deceased
soldiers, which the author-
ities of the Hospitals here
are about to sell for the
benefit of the surviving
relatives.  Any aid you
can give us from your-
-self or friends to whom
you may make our
wants known, will be
most gratefully acknowledged
and appreciated
Dr. Cabell unites with me

[crosshatched on page 1]
in warm and affectionate regards to you.
                 With high respect
                 I am very truly
                   your friend
                      M.N. Cabell

MSS 640

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

Demr 2 Tuesday
Fair & cool.  Weather good
to sale of bros estate– Lias
to Town with wagon load flour
and horses to bring down Lucy
& Pa to superintend packing
our pork

MSS 3315

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

December                  Tuesday 2                                          
     Started at 9 ½ A.M.
traveled about 6 miles
left of Guinei’s Depot and
stopped for the night

[Transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

            Head Quarters 61st Regiment N.Y.V
                       Camp near Falmouth Va Dec [illegible #] 1862
My old friend Dimmack
                      Again kind providence has permitted me address
you and to begin how are you old boy you old Hospital
Beat are you ever agoing to throw another Pontoon Bridge accross
some stream in Old Virginia or not If so you are wanting here
the Rappahannock is to be crossed and pontoons must be
used and the United State Engineers must do it a course
on MacDuff by the by how are the beats in general around
and about Portsmouth Grove are you in the “Barracks” yet
have you been paid off yet If you have you beat me only to
think of man having to wait 9 months for his money
well here we are on the banks of the Rappahannock looking
down the contempt upon the miserable City old Burnsides
says to the Rebbs now you fire a gun at me and down goes
your town Rebb Genl Lee says now you come any further
and down goes your house and so on but we dont see any  house
to do In the mean time the rebbs are bringing numerous
Siege Guns countless field artillery and throwing up huge
Breast works and we, well we are here and of course every
thing looks delightful we are building log huts and cutting
down trees and God Knows what all you must give my love
to all old friends and be shure to answer soon
and dot forget to send me a bottle of Shnapps for Christmas

Respectfully
                         Geo. D. Elmore
                                         2nd Lieut Co K 61st Regt nyv

Stafford Court House Va Dec 2d 1862
Dear Father—It gives me great pleasure to sit down & pen you A few lines to
let you know that I am enjoying good health which I hope that you & Mother are enjoying the same
My Thanksgiving passed off in A very good way such as can be expected by A Soldier but I did not
have the luxuries that I always had at Home nor do I expect any such foot but make the most
of what we do get is the best that the Government affords there is only thing that I blame the Gover
nment for & that is the removal of Genl McClellan & there is no one that can change my opinion
of him as A commander he was A General who always had A good word for his soldiers nor was
he afraid to speak to A Private & when he ever went to review his troops he had A smile
on I received A letter from William the other night dated the 19th in which he said that
he thought that the removal of McClellan was A good thing now I want you to unders
tand that I went through A Peninsular campaign & he was in command of the Army
& I can say that I had A chance to see some of his Generalship & I do not care to have any
other General but as the Government has chosen General Burnside & I have about eighteen
months to serve I shall try through these eighteen months to do my duty no matter who
is in command so you need not worry about me on that account I have not received
any letter from you I think now for some three weeks which I think is kind of strange but
I hope this will find you all well, I will now close this by saying what I did in
Williams letter & that is that I did not come out here to fight for Niggers, I came for
the purpose of restoring the Southern States to this Union not for Niggers I will
now close this by saying give my love to Mother & all enquiring Friends, write soon &
tell Mother to from your Truely & affectionate 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 after the war as a remembrance of his sons, both of whom were mortally wounded in combat, George at 2nd Bull Run and Joseph at Spotsylvania.

MSS 66

[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts as assembled by his at a later date from his diaries and letters]

 In camp near Fredericksburg.
                                                                Dec’r. 2nd 1862.
I am hourly expecting the papers necessary for my
departure for Washington, where, from all the com-
missions entrusted to me, I shall have to tarry
four or five days.        I wish I could extend my
trip to Boston, and think I should, were only a
little risk of life (that is, legitimate risk) involved,
but have too wholesome a dread of a dishonorable
discharge to try it.        Besides we are now rather
close to the enemy – though how long we are to
stare in his face, before flying at it, is beyond
my knowledge.        Certain it is, however, that
no movement is contemplated under from
seven to ten days.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130

[letter of Captain Henry S. Spaulding, 38th New Jersey volunteers, to his wife Anna “Birdie” Spaulding, begun on November 30, continues]

                    Dec 2  Two miles south
                     of Washington, Maryland
Dearest Birdie
                           You will be surprised
at the change of localities in so short
a time. Night before last we received
immediate marching orders, & it was
impossible for me to write any more

[page 2]
on this letter.  I snatch a few minutes
before the drum beats to day march
this morning, but don’t expect to finish
Where we are going, or what we are
going to do

[letter will continue on December 5]

MSS 38-156