[from the diary of Samuel S. Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
Feb 8th [date a bit unclear]
The past week has been very quiet. The ninth
corps, “Gen Smith’s” has been withdrawn from
this army, and sent to East Kentucky. On the
6th had a cold and severe snow storm, which
lasted until the night of the 7th when it turned
to rain. The weather has been very cold and quite
stormy.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson]
MSS 8493
[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter,Co.. B., 97th Ohio]
Feb. 8th,’63.
Cloudy & cool to-day.
Feel much better to-
day.
Firing of musketry, & can-
nonading, heard on our
right again to-day.
An attack was appre-
hended this morning.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 10547-bm
[from the “War Journal” of Captain George Hazen Dana, of the 32nd Massachusetts as he lateer compiled it from his wartime letters and diaries]
Camp near Falmouth Va.
Feb’y 8th 1863. 10 P.M.
. . . ——— you must allow me to retire, for
I am off tomorrow for five days on ‘fatigue
duty’ – men to carry arms and equipments,
however – the division general only knows where,
and I am put in command of the regiment too,
quite an honor, I assure you, for so young a
Captain. What in the world put it into
Maj. S____’s head to send me off with all
the regiment in charge, – except the sick men,
who remain in camp – is more than I can
understand. It has caused considerable fault-
finding, I hear, among the older Captains, but that
doesn’t hurt me any. So I shall probably
have no opportunity to write again, for five days.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 5130
[from the diary of Captain Zachariah Heed, 91st Ohio]
8.
Widow H. Larkins, Sunday morning. Start in an ambulance for Camp Piatt, arive[sic] at Piatt, between three and four oclock. Meet Major B. R. Cowan Paymaster, on his road to pay of troops at Fayettesville, 12th -30th [inst?]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS13406
[from the diary of Sgt. Robert Larimer, Co. C., 62nd Ohio]
Sunday 8
Landed on St Helena island
pitched tents detailed & relieved
–very warm
MSS 38-129
[from the diary of George W. Dabney, clerk of Campbell County, Va.]
Sunday 8″
Pleasant & fair above – thaw & slushy –
Lucy Ann up again – Ro. nearly well
Jesse do-
MSS 3315
Sunday 8th We all went to church today – Mr
M[ountjoy] sat in our pew & tried to go through the
service, but was rather embarrassed by not
being able to find the places – He behaved
beautifully in church – Robert Sims is at
home & he dined with us today – He was more
agreeable than I ever saw him – He always speaks
of religion with great reverence, & I hope is not
far from the Kingdom of God – I tried to find an
opportunity to speak to him of the all important
matter – & succeeded in saying a few words – In
the Evening we had sacred music – & then Mr M
conversed very agreeably – All his apparent amia=
=ability & goodness may be hypocritical – but I
dont, can’t, & won’t believe it – His face contradicts
that, & all about him gives it the lie. He says
he has had a very pleasant day, & I think he is
glad he stayed – but he goes tomorrow – I have
tried this day to keep a holy Sabbath; but I
could not be very devotional – May God have
mercy!
MSS 4288
[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee from Wilmington, N.C.]
Sunday 8th It is bright & clear again – I have just received a letter
from James telling me the Government has seized my house
as well as Alford’s next door to use for hospitals – it is what I feared
would be done some time or other – tho’ I had no idea it would be
demanded so soon – we have to put up with a great deal these
War times. I am now feeling badly at not being able to get an Es –
cort to Georgia – James though at one time he could go-
But in his letter to day he says urgent business will not let him
at least for 3 or 4 weeks to come – I dont know what I shall do-
We all went to church to day – tho’ it was so very wet underfoot.
Christian was kept at home with Neuralgia –
MSS 6960
[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]
Saturday
Feb 7
It was quite a cold night so I did not
sleep very comfortably, but it has been a nice
pleasant day. I changed clothing some this forenoon and
talked with Luther Clark. Had soup for dinner. This
afternoon cleaned my gun and played gammon with
Hall and Adams, and wrote a letter home. I have felt
very uneasy to-day and did not know hardly what to
do with myself. May I be enabled to cast all my care
on Jesus and strive to do his will. It is just a year
ago today since we landed on Roanoke Island and how
may strange scenes have we been through since that
time. Geo.Proctor climed[sic] a flagstaff to-night to get a flag
down after several others had tried and failed.
MSS 11293
Camp near
Guinea Station
Feby 7th 1863
Dear Bell
I recd a letter
[next two lines cut out of letter]
not know when if ever – my
furlough will get through
probably I will hear some
thing about it in a few days
I am not coming at once to
Lynchburg – I wish to get
clothing in Richmond first
I sent money to West – who
turned it over to Triplett for
Latouche to get me the cloth
for I imagine I will have it
all to myself, so dont
expect me very soon & dont
get nervous when anyone knocks
[page 2]
at the door, even if I do not
get to see you, we will man=
age to survive, I hope, to get
back to old Alexa this
Summer
[next lines cut out of letter]
like it – or I would not
be here, a far more uncom=
fortable place than my little
office where I could smoke
my pipe in peace, & never be
told at midnight – as I was
a few days ago= to pack up
all my earthly possessions
& be ready to move at daylight
— I wish you would send
me Mags address should
I get to Richmond I wish to
see her. – No news from
home, I suppose, – I shall
[page 3]
be please to see Dr H – should
he call, I should call on him
& thank him for his attention
to you did I know his were=
abouts – you seem to be anti=
matrimonial, certainly no hus=
band or wife is better than
a bad one, I have almost
made up my mind to remain
an old bachelor, I’ll be thirty
=four in about a month, I ought
to have married ten years ago.
dont you think so? some poor
girl I fear has missed a good
husband, I know you’ll agree
with me in that, Love to all
-Write soon & send Mag’s
address
Affectionately
Your Brother
William
William B. Gregory, surgeon with the 2nd Georgia Volunteers
MSS 4777
