[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Saturday
Nov. 29
Battalion drill this forenoon and a great
time we had of it too. In the afternoon got
ready for inspection and fixed our bunks.
MSS 11293
2 miles of Fredericksburg
Nov. 29th 1862
My Dear Father
I have not received a letter from
you since we got to this place. And one of
the company, who has entered a substitute,
leaves tomorrow & I take the opportunity
to send a letter. Every thing is quiet. I never got
to Fredbg., not being allowed to go. But some
of our company muster up a sufficient
excuse to take them there occasionally – they
say the enemy’s pickets stand in full view
on the other side of the river, which is
here about two hundred yards & ours on
this side. The town looks almost as if
it was deserted. The citizens are returning
slowly to town. The shelling of the cars,
which I wrote to you of, scared one lady to
death. She was however sick before.
You inquired if the army was much
destitute. I can not give a satisfactory
answer. Longstreet’s whole corps is here – but
I have seen only a few save those who
are in our brigade. Of these a good
many are without shoes. They do not
appear to be much in need of other
clothes – unless they would like to wash
[page 2]
and change clothes; then I suppose they have
no change. Socks I fear are not used
much. Tents are not used – but flys –you
saw one fly around Richmond. Indeed
the infantry have none of these – I
suppose they could be procured, but
the infantry could not transport them
& would lose them on the first move. The
authorities seem to be more anxious than
heretofore to furnish them & are supply-
ing some – but not enough – hitherto she[?]
has[?] been very negligent in that de-
partment as well as in the commis-
sary – this latter does not improve – all
a soldier draws is meat, flower [flour] & a little
salt. A Colonel of a Mississippi regi-
ment said a few days since that
there were two hundred men in his reg-
iment without shoes – I did not believe
him. He also said they had subscribed
1500 dollars for purchasing them privately.
If mother has any homespun flannel
a very good over shirt could be made out
of it if she could dye it. Brown or a lead
culler [color] or any dark culler would do. Please
ask her to make such a shirt, for an
outer shirt, if it is convenient to dye
[page 3]
it. But do not let her give herself any
trouble – I will not probably want them for
some time but when convenient if she will
make those articles. I will call for them
when I want them.
There were two crops of wheat about
in Culpeper where I went along-
The farmers not having the means
to get it out of the straw – conse-
quently, I suppose, we could not
bring it & had to leave it behind.
[letter of William H. Perry of the Richmond Howitzers will continue on the 30th]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 7786-d
Camp Narrows Giles Cty Va Nov. The 29th 1862
Dear friend I take the opportunity
to write you a few lines to let you
know that these few lines will find
you all well. I have no news to write
you that will interest you, we have
made some peperations[sic] for winter here.
I think that we probaly will stay here
this winter, if nothing new takes place.
it is a snowing here now a looks
like there mite be a deep snow. there
was Three of our company ran away
last night. I will give you thier
names Reed Boyd, RollyK[?]
and Rubin P. Terry. I want to
come home verry bad but I dont
think I will runaway yet awile
for they get to punishing runaways
tolerable bad. I would like to
hear from Sanders write to me
when you hear from him
[page 2]
I will have to be very short now
for it is dark I sent you Twenty
Dollars by Asa Scott which
you can do with, as I have
before dirrected and I sent
you thirty Postage stamps
so I will have to close
for this time. I still remain
your friend H.A. Heffelfinger
To- Delilah P. Jessup
Henry A. Heffelfinger, Co. K, 50th Virginia
MSS 13257
[from the diary of Frank C. Fitzhugh of Cutshaw’s Battery]
Started at day and
camped at night at
Vedeersville 2 miles before
Orange C.H.
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 4448
[from the “War Journal” of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Masssachusetts as compiled by himself from wartime letters and diaries]
Near Fredericksburg.
Nov. 29th 1862.
– – – – I rode to Falmouth, yesterday, on
business, and then extended my ride along the
banks of the Potomac for about two miles; in
some parts the river not exceeding fifty feet in
width, our pickets reclining on the banks on this
side, the “grey backs” on the other. The pickets
have agreed not to fire upon each other, but I felt
very uncertain whether they would include me in
that category. I could hear them talk, dis-
tinctly – said one “How easy I could pick that
feller off his horse” – but I rode along without
a shot, and would not have missed the ride for
a farm, for one seldom has such a close look at
the “rebs.”
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5130
29.
Fort Tillinghast, Va, Nov 29/62
Friday, PM.
Dear Wife,
I have been expecting to hear from
you for the last two days. I have as yet,
received no letter from you this week I
expect to receive one from you to day.
I am enjoying first rate health, Yesterday
(Thanksgiven day) we had a very quiet
time, we had plenty to eat, Turkeys and
Plum Puddings in abundance. We have
had, in my mess, three boxes this week,
and there is four more coming to-day,
I think they will be about as much
as we can take care of this week.
Some of the Messes had six boxes
come yesterday, each one containing
a turkey. Next week, Capt Chandler’s
wife is coming out here to make him
a visit, she is to bring her oldest boy
with her, and Capt C. talks of keeping
him all winter. I dont think Capt
C. looks at things in the same light
[page 2]
that I do, if he did he would never
keep his boy here among soldiers all the
winter. I would’nt have Ernie (as
much as I would like to see him)
come here to stay this winter for
anything, he would be spoiled in a
month, such conversation as he
would hear from the soldiers would
ruin him, in my estimation, for-
ever, Yesterday, I think was the pleas-
at this time of year
antest day that I ever saw I had
a good mind to be homesick, but after
due consideration of the matter
I came to the wise conclusion that
it would do no good, to be homesick
so I gave it up, and ate my turkey
like a martyr, but still I wanted
to be with you and the children
very much, I’ll bet I will spend
next thanksgiven with you, if
we are all spared alive, untill
that time, I mailed a letter to you
on Monday last, (Nov 24th) We have
[page 3]
not untill yesterday, received our
mail regularly for the last week, there
was, I hear, some delay in Baltimore
Earp still continues to improve, and
if noting new of sickness, takes hold
of him, he will soon be well
enough to resume his duties
[letter of Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery will continue on the 30th]
MSS 1242
[from the diary of the Rev. Franics Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]
Sat 29. Our men have had fine weather for picket – two Soldiers
woke me up last night, to consult about sending home
or burying here, their deceased comrade – .
A package of 1000 temperance tracts for my SS. arrived last
night. We have suffered but very little thus far fr.
intemperance – God shield us in future.
Three or four men in 27”. Camp, are marching thro.
their streets with bricks in their Knapsacks – to tune of
rogues march – escort in front arms reversed, behind with
Charged bayonets – We raised our camp flag today
Wrote Mother of poor Harris, we bury him today with
military honors – in grave yd. nr. Camp – He had an
intemperate father & wretched home I hear – I hope the
poor fellow found Jesus even in his latest moments.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12935
[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]
Nov. 29th, ’62.
Still in camp;
nothing unusual
occurred to-day to
relieve the monot-
ony of camp life,
to me it is quite a-
greeable as it af-
fords me an op-
portunity of resting
my feet.
Battalion drill, &
dress parade this
afternoon.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 10547-bm
[from the diary of John Ward of the 102nd Pennsylvania]
Nov 29th Satardy
this is a verey
Nice Day for this
time of the year
Capt Mcgloring &
Luts W Day came to the
Regt to Day
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12913
[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, former musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]
Saturday, Nov. 29, 1862
Did not get home
until late hence slept
late this morning
went with John to
Maths for wagon &
helped haul wood
[at this point Templeton begins using a new ink which has faded almost to illegibility]
got horse ready
to take Aunt to
[?] Montfords but
as we were ready
[Uncle Charles?] came
along & we went
with them & remained
after they came back
I came over with
[?] & stayed all
night
Cloudy with little
snow
MSS 10317
