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

Moday 1st of December–No box again from Charlotte–One letter from
Mary Wilson–Eliza & Mrs Campbell have gone to Raleigh to shop &

have Eliza’s dresses made–this has been a singular day–one hour
bright sunshine–the next as dark as night–Now & then a heavy
shower–Sarah doesn’t feel well–William as lively as a bird–The scarlet
fever is prevailing which worries Sarah very much–No letter from Liz
I cant account for her silence.

MSS 6960

[from the diary of Anne Madison Willis Ambler]

Monday, December 1, 1862

Accomplished as little as I usually
do on Monday, though I rose very early &
kindled my own fire & had all
my little ones dressed in time to read
a little before breakfast–

Was washing Mr. Amblers inkstand &
broke the tube.  Am so sorry–I have enjoyed
using it so much & loved to have it
for his sake=It is ever thus . – . .

——–
 Feel low spirited: There are many
many reasons for it.

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

MSS 15406

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

Wednesday Dec 1–Weather threatening-but
it cleared up at night & the moon
came out beautifully–Find our
nett earning for the half year 7.65
exclusive of Int on investments, which
would add 3 1/2 or 4 more.  This is the
best we have ever done–Irby told me
he could realise ten cent  on my
tobacco but advises me not to sell yet
-I shall wait a while–Very impor
-tant news–France has proposed to Russia
& England to intervene–the former
gives a milk & water  answer–Ld
John Russell thinks it is not yet
time.  But Napoleon never gives up
an idea and he will compel England
to act with him–The plan is to in
sist on an armistice 6 mos. during
which all operations to cease—and
of course the blockade to be raised–
I nearly believe the war can be ended
only in this way–Burnsides still
at Fredg-and fortifying.  They are
a queer people to invade a country
and fortify–Eugene is preparing
t start Wednesday.  His servant
Pleas arrived to day.  I think of
going with him as far as the uni
versity.

MSS 4763

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

Sunday
Nov 30
a nice pleasant day.  We had no inspection
this morning as we had the monthly review
and inspection this afternoon.  This evening George
and I went down to Phineas’ tent and staid most
of the evening.  How much we miss the New England
Sabbath out here in the army.

MSS 11293

     Concord, Nov 30th 1862

My dear General Hitchcock,
    When, in that golden noon
I bade you farewell so long
ago at my door, I thought I
should not be able to
wait until you had left
town before expressing to you
my sense of infinite gain
from your presence.  Una,
Rose and I all stood for
a moment silent in the
hall, where you left us, and
then Una said “Mamma,
you look perfectly transfigured”!
and I replied “I am”- and
Rose ran to my arms to
show her ardent sympathy
with my entire content.  I
thought I would tell you
of it immediately–not because
you would feel any self-
gratulatory emotion from it,
but because it was a kind
of poetical justice to her
                        rendered

[page 2]
The “anglico riso” softens both
my inner and outer face
whenever I recal[l] you–The
peace that passes all understanding
broods like a dove over the
waters of life at the memory
of your words and being-
I am sure that for all Eternity
I hold your hand, and that
wherever you are I can never
lose you, and so language-
seemed futile more and more
as time went on.  I was
convinced that you already
knew all I could say-and
that while I could communicate
every thing to you, that after
all silence was the most
effectual expression of the
unspeakable.  I liked to
plunge deeper and deeper
into the abysses of Light
without a sign, while it
seemed so near the open
visions that I was conscious
of your spiritual apprrehension.

[page 3]

Richmond  Nov 30th
My Dear Friend
I am generally so
prompt at writing to you that I expect you
think I have forgotten you by this time.
If I did not have a good reason for
not writing I should be ashamed of my-
self but the truth of the matter is I have
not had time,  Sidney Strother agreeably
surprised me on Saturday last with a visit
and he and I had a most agreeable chat
for an hour or so–and I regret very much
I did not see him more.  Sidney gave
me a most excellent account of you and
pleased me very much by telling me you
were the most studious and promising young
man in school.  How you have changed
since you used to catch hold of the back
of my chair at [Volgar and Saltons?] and

[page 2]
almost break my neck by pulling me over-
Yes my boy you were truly a studious
fellow then–My Duck has been away from
here for three or four weeks and if ever you
did see a poor disconsolate, lonesome young
man I am that very same individual–
as Sam Weller says–I have received only
one letter from her and that too on business–
While I would take great pleasure in attend-
ing to any business for you her I think
she might also give an account of her-
self, but her letter was strictly speaking
a real business epistle.
I wish you had been here to the hauling
up of the Old General–I do not expect
he has travelled so fast before for some
time, for he certainly came from the Dock
to the Capital Square in double quick time-
We are to have a gay time of it during

[page 3]
the 22nd of February when he will be uncov-
ered and left exposed to the weather all during
the winter upon the summit of that icy rock
called the monument.  the Lexington Cadets
are coming down to the Celebration on that
day-and I suppose you will come too–
If my company can uniform themselves
and be perfectly drilled by that time I’ll
turn out to receive them but I’m afraid
the hard times have thrown our company
back upon our oars and there we’ll
have to rest until the times get easier
Give my best love to all the Boys I
am acquainted with and tell Phil
Haxall I’ll write to him soon.
Answer this as soon as you get it
as I am very anxious to hear from you
                   Your Sincere Friend
                     Jas W. Pegram

Major James W. Pegram, later known for his efforts to assemble an African American Confederate Brigade

MSS 2516

 [camp near Fredericksburg]

Sunday 30^th

My Dear Father

Night caught me last

night before I could finish it writing.

Mr. Bradly starts immediately so I can

write no more. The mail came

just now, but no letter for me from

home. Our cook is sick, & I

am cook to day. We bought a

turkey yesterday for 2 dollars

& I must devise some way of

cooking it. None of our

cooking utensils are large enough

except a camp boiler & it has

been suggested to boil it.

Farewell Dear Father

W. H. Perry, Jr.

[page 4]

There is nothing new this mor-

ning. Give my best love to Mother, George & all.

Does Lan’s health improve?

William H. Perry, Jr., of the Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

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

                             Sunday 30
Started at day light
stopped at 3 oclock P.M.
within 10 miles of
Fredericksburg.
at Chancellors

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 4448

              Camp Cumberland
                   Nov. 30th, / 62
My Darling Pet Birdie
                                         Your
beautiful favor, & letter contain-
ing father’s are received, & I am
cut down to a few minutes
amid the confusion of getting
extra grub.

[Letter of Captain Henry S. Spaulding, of the 38th New Jersey to his wife Anna “Birdie” Spaulding will continue on December 2]

MSS 38-156

[letter of Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, Co. M., 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, continues]

                     Sunday afternoon Nov 30
I thought I would wait untill I heard from
you, before sending this, I have received no letter
from you since last Saturday (Nov 22) there
is I hear some detention of the Mail, somewhere
Last night night[sic] I sat up with Earp, he has
had a relaspe[sic], caused by his going out to
soon, and taking cold, he is very sick,
and out of his head most of the time.
It will be a long time before he recovers
if he ever does,  I have my doubts of his
recovery, I was quite dissappointed in not
receiving a letter from you last night.  I
began to think that perhaps you or the
children might be sick, God grant that
such may not be the case

[page 4]
I must tell you again what a big feast we
have had through thanksgiven week, We
have had seven boxes during the week, con-
taining, Turkeys, Chickens, Fresh Pork, Mince
and Apple Pies, Sausages, Pickles & Preserves,
Apples, Plum Puddings, Cake, and a great
many other goodies, to numerous to men-
tion,  we have two more boxes coming
this next week, You would’nt think we
were Grahamites if you could see how
fast such things disappear about these
times.  I dont think of anything more
of importance to write to you now,
I shall anxiously await a letter from
you,  I think I shall get one tomorrow
night,  I will write and let you know
if I do, the middle of next week,
Please send me some postage stamps,
I have to borrow now,  Give my love
to all inquiring friends, Kiss the darlings
for me, accept a thousand for your-
self, and ever believe me the same in love
now and ever,  Your truly–Robert

MSS 1242