[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
December Monday 1
Started at day light
left the plank road
soon after starting turned
to the right and went
within 2 ½ miles of
Guinie’s Depot
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk in Campbell County, Va.]
December 1st Mon
Fair & cool. Capt Fox
died Saturday night last.
Ro Johnson around listing
slaves
MSS 3315
[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co.. E., 42nd Virginia “Dixie Greys”]
Decr. 1st. –
Monday – Reading – Tuesday 2nd. – read
most of the day. Wednesday 3rd. –
Received a letter from Sis Sue. Contain
a letter from Miss M. B. A. Thursday 4th
Answer Sue’s Letter. Friday 5th Answer
Miss Mollie’s letter. Read balance
of day reading.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5526
Dec 1st 1862
Camp Sigel Germantown
Dear Phebe
Your letter
of the 26th has come to hand
and I take this opportunity to
answer it. We have been res
ting since our march to this
place and surely enough we
needed it. A march in winter
over Virginia roads is no boys
play be assured as the hundreds
that gave out can testify Even
German endurance was not
enough for it. Do you think
you have any idea of Virginia
roads in winter? Let me
enlighten you a little. The soil
is soft clay and when it rains
instead of soaking down through
it mixes with clay and forms
a kind of mush about as
thick as hasty pudding: when
you step on this beautiful
[page 2]
preparation your feet will
go down all the way from
6 inches to 3 feet according
to circumstances and when
you pull your feet out of
this mud it does not leave
you but sticks in thick
layers until you will
have albout 10 pounds of pure
clay mud sticking to your
feet and legs your troubles
are not ended here by
any means: this clay har
dens very quick and when
it is dry you cannot brush
it off. it must be scraped
off with a knife. You will
very readily percive[sic] that to
march through this mud
from morning till night
is somewhat exhausting: I
remmember when going
across Bull run Battle
[page 3]
field at one place my feet
settled down so that at every
step I would pull my boots
nearly off my feet. The skin
was all worn off my heels and
ancles but I got along much
better than many others: quite
a number were made lame
and some have not yet got
over it and yet others who
never will. This war is using
up men at a fearful rate
young men are made old
men: in a very short time
hard marches poor food wet
clothes to sleep in with the
cold damp ground beneath
draws hard upon the constitu
tion of the strongest I have got
up 3 times in a night to warm
myself by the camp fire being
so cold that I could not
sleep and if I could it would
not be well as it is very
dangerous to lay on the ground
when one is so cold. I am
[page 4]
sorry I have written any
thing about this and I have
a good mind not to send
it to you. I suppose you will
worry and cry about it
now don’t be foolish or
weak in this matter we
have great hardships to
endure; let us endure
them as becomes men
and christians in the
full faith that he who
rules all things will
carry us safely through
and finally bring us out
conquerors through him
who is able to save us all
Let us not indulge in
unmanly repineings
about the hardships which
have to endure but let us
rather remmember our
country for which we
[page 5]
suffer let us remmember
that it is for the oppressed
of this land and all lands
for which we fight let
us remmember to that it
is for unborn millions
also for which we fight
whose destiny for time is
to be settled by this war
It is enough I think to
lead anyone to forget him
self and exclaim let me
suffer but let the cause
of freedom prevail. The
question of our leaving
the regiment is settled
by taking another com
pany so we shall not
go this time: We have
got another trouble
however which is worse
yet. Capt Rogers is
going to leave us and
[page 6]
we feel blue enough
he has been promoted to
the rank of Major and
is going into the 73 Ohio
which is in this Brigade
I am glad for his good
fortune but am sory to
part with him his equal
is not easily to be found
Col Maggi is feeling badly
about as has always depend
ed upon for battallion drill
at which he is probaly the
Cols superior: You write
me that Henry Parks has
got home we heard that
he had started I have
no opunion[sic] to offer about
him some think he was
not very sick but I do not
know. he was homesick
thats certain and perhaps
it was as well for him
[page 7]
to go home Joseph Blake
is I think a sick man
and will I think get
his di[s]charge he cannot
stand the hardships of
a campaign and it is of
no use for him to try
I think James Glover
will have to give it up
he does not stand the
climate at all well
and he is now on the
sick list. I have written
a good deal and must
stop You were very
thoughtful in sending
me some paper envelopes
&c they come very handy
as I am about out I could
not carry the paper that
Sanfor sent me and it
had to go with the rest
of my things. I carry
[page 8]
nothing now but my
clothes and my Bible with
the exception of a towel
and a little piece of soap
every ounce tells when you
are marching It is roll
call good by Josiah
Send me some
journals
Josiah Perry, Co. K, 33 Massachusetts
MSS 2215
[from the diary of the Rev. Francis Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Dec 1. Mon. rose early bathed, settled mess & mail
[-] reduced baggage – struck tent & about noon
marched 5. Regts. back to long bridge thro. Washington
across Eastern branch of Potomac to Maryland, en
route it is sd. to Burnside’s Army Fredericksburg
Marched about 13 miles. the 15th. Conn. men threw away
thr. hats, & many straggled, one man sd. As th seeing
them line the road as we came up – “Are you guard
ing the road, one fell down in fit raved & tossed–
he was put in ambulance Encamped about
8. PM in field by roadside – got up Mess tent
Col. Major. Dr. B. Adjutant. & [–] attacking & myself
occupy it. eat toast & coffee for Supper.
Fine moonlight night as I write the camp is
still. Men in shelter tents. mules fastened to
baggage train. a little cat at my feet which
followed us here – how picturesque. near 11 ½ P.M.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12935
Post Hospital Dec 1st/62
Dear Mother
I received your letter containing a
Thanksgiving day at about 11 1/2 o’clock so off to
get my oysters, ham & eggs, &c for dinner so
I had a good Thanksgiving after all the same
day I received a letter from Wm Mansfield
Yesterday I received another from home
I cant conceive what is the reason my letters
did not go better. As Frank Perkins said I have
not heard but one sermon since the campaign
began I had just got to where a man
was going to preach but was called away
to see a friend. Day before yesterday I saw
Dr Lyon gain he had been down to Aquia
Creek. Tell James Morse I hope I shall see
him at Uncles some of these odd days
when the war is over which I hope will
be soon. Tell Ann it was decidedly too
bad Frank did not see Laura Simonds
and it was bully good in her to give
you that stove I wish I could do something
for you but under the present
circumstances I dont see what I can do
I am glad you had so much for
Thanksgiving should have liked to have
[page 2]
helped to eat it but my arm was not quite
long enough to reach though it will stretch
pretty well at times. Did you suppose I would
tell the doctor that I had no clothes not a
bit of it. the Sanitary Commission coming
over here with great load of clothing but
it was all given out to those worse off
than I was some were without any shirt
at all. Tell Jona. to be content if I dont
get that little brush as it is doing some
poor fellow some good it is ridiculous
& shameful that we cant get a cent of
pay & $65 due me now if I had it I
could buy clothing by paying 3 times
it worth here but doubt Johnny Harlow
is happy at the idea of going South but
he will wish himself back again soon
There is nothing of importance here for news
all looking to see what Burnside will
do hope he will give them a good
welting if he does then on to Richmond
with the army
With much love
From you aff son
Wm Wallace
William Wallace Smith, Co. B., 22nd Massachusetts
MSS 15360
[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]
Dec. 1st., ’62.
A most violent
thunder storm last
night; the rain fell in
torrents.
Cloudy this morn-
ing, but not rain-
ing. Quite cool.
This afternoon we
were reviewed, pre-
paratory, it is said,
to a general review
by General Rosecrans.
Col. Wagoner’s quar-
ters are now on
the very same ground
that the[y] were last
winter!
Cannonading heard
this P.M. of[f] to the
W.S.W., in the direc-
tion of McCook’s di-
vision.
[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Dec 1st Monday
Left aquce crick
Landing this
Moring at 8 oclok
around at camp
2 ½ mile from
Stafford C House
and in Camp there
[Written in margin: “march 10 miles to Day”]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Monday, Dec. 1, 1862
Left Maths
this forenoon went
down to Johns [?]
some had dinner
with Kate & Hunt
& Mrs Hanna
Went up to Maths
remained there
clearing thought to
go to Uncle Maxwells
but did not
remained at Maths
Cloudy like snow
MSS 10317
[from the diary of Mary S. Boydon of “Hopedale,” Albemarle County, Va.]
Monday Dec 1st About dusk a soldier asked to
stay all night–On being asked to show his pass-
he said he had none-that the colonel had told
him to go on without one, nobody would take
him up-He talked very pitifully, said his
feet were sore &c-& Ma said he might stay
at least till father came home–On hearing
this he said he had a friend at the road
he wished to speak to -& went off, & we have
not seen him since. He was without doubt
a deserter. Raleigh sick with a bad cold & could
not attend school. Celestine still sick also-A
very mild case of jaundice, however–How good
God is! He makes all our illnesses so mild!
News today that France has proposed to England
& Russia to intervene in American affairs, and
stop this effusion of blood. Russia & England
both decline, however- & it is doubted whether
the United States would accept intervention–
Perhaps an armistice would not be for our real
good as the treacherous enemy would doubtless
use the interval to provide yet greater force to
break our spirit, & overcome us. The Lord
will bring all things right in His own good
time–This is the day appointed to pray for
peace–I prayed, &, though very feeble, as I
trust int he name of Jesus alone, God will
hear my prayer I believe.
Precept-“What God has cleansed, call not thou
common”–Acts.11:9
Prayer– “Thou, O Lord art my defender”- Ps. 3:3
Promise-“Blessed are all they that put their trust
in him.” Ps. 146:0.
MSS 4208
