July 23. 6 A. M.–This extra ¹ was handed me on our parade ground last evening about 6 P. M. by my brother-in-law, Dr. Joe Webb, who had just galloped out from the city on my sorrel. We had heard the first rumor of a great defeat, but this gave us the details. A routed [...]
July 22.–Just received news of a dreadful defeat at Manassas, or beyond Centreville. General McDowell’s column pushed on after some successes, were met apparently by fresh troops, checked, driven back, utterly routed! What a calamity! Will not the secession fever sweep over the border States, driving out Kentucky, Missouri, (Baltimore) Maryland, etc., etc.? Is not [...]
COLUMBUS, Sunday morning, July 21, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–I came in last evening to attend a little tea gathering at Mr. Andrews’; shall return this morning. We are now in condition to move on a few days’ notice, and expect to go soon–say a week or two. I constantly at camp am reminded of you. You [...]
CAMP CHASE, July 18, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–I have just read your letter of the 16th. I hope it is good proof that you are mending rapidly. It is pleasant to see your own handwriting again. Our men are uniformed and we are daily receiving our needful equipments. The indications are that we shall soon move. [...]
CAMP CHASE, July 11, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–I am now almost at home. Lucy is at Platt’s with Birch and Webb. Dr. Joe came yesterday bringing Webb with him. We shall have the boys out here a good deal. It is a good place for them. Birch was infinitely disgusted to meet me without my uniform [...]
CAMP CHASE, July 8, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–Lucy came up to Columbus with Birtie Saturday evening. They have both been out once, and Birch twice to see me in camp. It is very pleasant to see them about. We are jogging on in routine duties. The only variation is the advent of twenty-three Secessionists, held as [...]
CAMP CHASE, July 6, 1861. DEAREST:–I have written to John Herron to supply you with what money you need for the present, and I suppose it will be convenient for him to do so out of a loan I made him some time ago. It does not seem like Saturday. The Fourth was like Sunday [...]
CAMP CHASE, July 5, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–I have so little to write that I have, perhaps, neglected you. . . . . We are getting on very pleasantly here. It is a gentlemanly, social life, with just business and exercise enough to pass the time. I have probably engaged a horse for one hundred dollars–a [...]
CAMP CHASE, July 2, 1861. DEAREST:–The comet, or the storm, or something makes it cold as blazes this morning, but pleasant. Speaking of shirts, did I leave my shirts at home? I have but two or three here now. Have they been lost here, or how? You need not make me any if they are [...]
Flat Top Mountain, May 23, 1862. Friday. – Warm and dry; getting dusty!! Mr. French lies here wounded – his thigh bone shattered by a ball that passed clear through his leg. Dr. McCurdy thinks he will not survive more than three or four weeks. . . . Our regiment elected him chaplain a week [...]
Camp Flat Top Mountain, May 22, 1862. Dearest : – I have written you one or two letters which I suspect fell into the hands of the enemy, but ere this, I do not doubt, you have received dispatches and word by Thomas which relieves you of all trouble on my account. We have had [...]
Camp Flat Top, May 22, 1862. Thursday. – Today Colonel Scammon with a small escort went over to Packs Ferry to look after affairs with Major Comly and his boat-builders. A Captain Jenkins, of Kentucky, came from General Williams to negotiate as to exchange of prisoners. General Cox detailed Lieutenant-Colonel Hines and myself to meet [...]
Camp Flat Top, May 21, 1862. Wednesday.–A warm, windy, threatening day. Drilled the regiment this morning; marched to the summit of Flat Top, thence along the summit to the Raleigh Road, and so back to camp. Men looked well. Companies A, E, and K, under Major Comly, with a howitzer, marched to Packs Ferry to [...]
Camp On Flat Top Mountain, May 20, (Tuesday), 1862. Dearest : – Here we are “back again” – fifty or sixty miles in rear of the advanced position we had taken. The short of it is, since the Rebel disasters in eastern Virginia they have thrown by the railroad a heavy force into this region, [...]
Camp On Flat Top Mountain On Line Between Mercer And Raleigh Counties, May 20, 1862. Dear Uncle: – The last three weeks has been a period of great activity with us – severe marching, sharp fighting, and all sorts of strategy and manoeuvring. I had command of the advance southward and marched to within ten [...]
Camp on Flat Top Mountain, May 20, 1862. – Monday, 19th, marched from camp on Bluestone River to this point (yesterday) – a hot dry march – with knapsacks. I supposed we were to go only five miles; was disappointed to find we were retreating so far as this point. Being out of humor with [...]
Sunday!! Came again unawares upon me at Princeton. At 1 or 2 A. M. aroused to prepare to move. Moved off quietly; got off, again unmolested, to this point, viz., Bluestone River, Mercer County, Virginia. I hope this is the last of the retreat. We have [the] Thirty-fourth, Twenty-eight, Twelfth, Twenty-third, Thirtieth, Thirty-seventh O. V. [...]
Saturday, May 17. – A very hard day, – muddy, wet, and sultry. Ordered at 3 A. M. to abandon camp and hasten with whole force to General Cox at Princeton. He has had a fight with a greatly superior force under General Marshall. We lost tents, – we slit and tore them, – mess [...]
Camp, Mouth Of East River, Giles County, Virginia, May 15, 1862. Dear Mother: – We have marched a great many miles through this mountain region since I last wrote you. We have had some fighting, some excitement, and a great deal to do. We are now in a strong position. General Cox commands the army, [...]
Same Camp, Thursday, May 15, 1862. – Cloudy and threatening rain. Several warm showers during the day. Firing between pickets constantly going on two or three miles down the river. We send out two or three companies and a howitzer or six-pounder to bang away, wasting ammunition. If the enemy is enterprising he will capture [...]
Camp near Mouth East River, Giles County, May 14, 1862. Wednesday. – Rained violently last night; not a bad morning, however. Rumors of defeat of General Milroy up northeast by Stonewall Jackson. Don’t believe it. If true, it is not very important, if the taking of Norfolk holds out. We ought to catch the whole [...]
October 31. Tompkins Farm. – Smoky, foggy, and Indian-summery in the morning; clear, warm, and beautiful in the afternoon. I rode up to the regiment at Camp Ewing, gave some directions as to making out the new muster-rolls. Saw several of the officers sick with the camp fever. Poor “Bony” Seaman, it is said, will [...]
October 30. Tompkins Farm.– [I] walked with Captain Gaines two and one-half or three miles down to Gauley Bridge. Called on Major William H. Johnston and Swan, paymaster and clerk for our regiment [for] Cracraft, quartermaster sergeant, who wanted Dr. McCurdy’s pay. To get it, drew my own and sent him two hundred and sixty [...]
Camp Tompkins, Tuesday morning, October 29, 1861.—A bright, cold October morning, before breakfast. This month has been upon the whole a month of fine weather. The awful storm on Mount Sewell, and a mitigated repetition of it at Camp Lookout ten days afterward, October 7, are the only storms worth noting. The first was unprecedented [...]
Camp Tompkins, Virginia, October 29, 1861. Tuesday morning after breakfast. My Dear Boy : If I am not interrupted I mean to write you a long birthday letter. You will be eight years old on the 4th of November – next Monday, and perhaps this letter will get to Cincinnati in time for your [...]