August 5th. At twelve thirty A. M. took in all fore and aft sails; at five thirty braced around the yards; made a sail off port quarter, and one off port beam; at eight forty made Tortugas light house, bearing, per compass, northeast; at five thirty P. M. Sand Key light reported two points on port bow; at six thirty made Key West light off port bow–strong breezes from the eastward; at eight fifteen spoke ship Mayflower, from New York, bound to New Orleans; at eleven o’clock made Sombrero light.

5th. Went to Cleveland in morning on train. Did some shopping and then went to Uncle’s. Mrs. Col. Webb, cousin of Ma’s, there. Had a splendid visit with her. Very plain but rich and intelligent. Went home on the P. M. train. Attended Young Ladies’ Literary. Miss Everson did well, natural. In the evening had pleasant visit at Fannie’s.

Wednesday, 5th–The heat continues as yesterday. The Eleventh Iowa signed their payrolls today, and the Fifteenth Iowa received their pay. I was on fatigue duty all day. We had dress parade this evening for the first time since May 19th. The boys came out in fine style. Troops are leaving every day to reinforce different commands of the army of the West.

AUGUST 5th.—A letter from Hon. W. Porcher Miles to the Secretary of War, received the 15th July, urging the government to send some long-range Brooke guns for the salvation of Charleston, and saying that the President had once promised him that they should be sent thither, being sent by the Secretary to the President, was, to-day, August 5th, returned by the President, with a paper from the Secretary of the Navy, showing that, at the time Mr. Miles says he was promised the Brooke guns, there were really none on hand. Thus Mr. Miles has been caught by the President, after the lapse of twenty days! It is not denied, even by the Secretary of the Navy, that long-range guns were on hand at the time—but there were no Brooke guns, simply. Thus, while Charleston’s fate hangs trembling in the balance, and the guns are idle here, twenty days are fruitlessly spent. Mr. Miles appears to be a friend of Beauregard. Every letter that general sends to the department is sure to put twenty clerks at work in the effort to pick flaws in his accuracy of statement.

A report of the ordnance officers of Bragg’s army shows that in the late retreat (without a battle) from Shelbyville to Chattanooga, the army lost some 6000 arms and between 200,000 and 300,000 cartridges!

Our naval commanders are writing that they cannot get seamen—and at Mobile half are on the sick list.

Lee writes that his men are in good fighting condition—if he only had enough of them. Of the three corps, one is near Fredericksburg (this side the river), one at Orange C. H., and one at Gordonsville. I doubt if there will be another battle for a month.

Meantime the Treasury notes continue to depreciate, and all the necessaries of life advance in price—but they do not rise in proportion.

The Examiner had a famous attack on the President to-day (from the pen, I think, of a military man, on Gen. Scott’s staff, when Mr. Davis was Secretary of War), for alleged stubbornness and disregard of the popular voice ; for appointing Pemberton, Holmes, Mallory, etc., with a side fling at Memminger.

Georgeanna Muirson Woolsey to her Mother.

Fishkill, August 5.

Dear Mother: Thank you for your nice note which came last night. . . . No wonder you regret Gettysburg. You will be gladder all the time that you went there and did what you did; and you will be ready to give me great praise, I hope, when I tell you that I have given up all idea of going back there, and have accepted in place of it Mrs. Gibbons’ offer of the position she is giving up at Point Lookout Hospital; securing, before I go, the month you want me to have in the country, as we need not go to the Point before September. After the intense satisfaction you have experienced at Gettysburg, you cannot, my dear and patriotic Mamma, be otherwise than delighted at the prospect before us, while you must regret that I cannot also pull the special diet of Gettysburg through. Mrs. Gibbons will, I suppose, have got all things about straight at the Point, so that with little effort we can keep them going. It will be an easy and pleasant position; better, “till this cruel war is over,” than sitting at home thinking what we might be doing. The surgeon in charge is “delighted” to think that we will come. . . . I shall hanker for our old life at Gettysburg and wish you and I were going back to run the new concern. However, there will be the satisfaction of taking the wind out of the “sisters'” sails. I dare say they will have made headway during this interval, and when I arrive with three feathers stuck in my head, “O won’t I make those ladies stare.” . . . We shall collect at home once more, Charley and all, before the winter, as you will not of course go to Brattleboro now till he arrives. . . .

August 4th. At twelve midnight stood off to west-southwest in chase of a sail; at twelve fifteen A. M. discovered her to be a brig, standing to northward and eastward, closehauled; stood on our course again; braced yards up by port braces, and then again by starboard braces; at three fifteen set mizzen-topmast stay-sail, and at three thirty fore-topmast stay-sail, jib, and main trysail; also set the spanker; at five o’clock hoisted our colors to an American barque standing to northward and westward.

August, 1863.–The U. S. Sanitary Commission has been organised. Canandaigua sent Dr W. Fitch Cheney to Gettysburg with supplies for the sick and wounded and he took seven assistants with him. Home bounty was brought to the tents and put into the hands of the wounded soldiers. A blessed work.

4th. Right after breakfast got a livery team and Thede and I were on our way to Amherst. Called at Helen’s (Helen Rood), then Grandpa’s. He seemed affected to see us. Growing old or rather young again (in mind). Stopped at Mr. Lysell’s for dinner. Uncle Milo there. Stayed at Elyria three hours. Good visits with Floy, and Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Back, and in evening at Mr. Haynes’–good time.

Tuesday, 4th–The heat is intense today. We finished putting up the brush shades and also completed our bunks. It seems like home once more. Our regimental payrolls were made out today, while the Thirteenth Iowa received their pay. Major Foster is now in command of our regiment.

August 4th

       Vicksburg has fallen, Port Hudson followed of course, the Mississippi is in possession of our foe, Charleston is beseiged with a large force, Naval and land. Lees advance was not a success, he has returned after a direful battle at Gettysburg Pennsylvania, in which we lost 15 thousand & retreated. There have been riots in New York opposing the draft. And now we are to have a fast day on the 30th and in the mean time Charleston holds out. Lee is ready to fight, Johnston is some where in the West with his Army, and people generally feel very much depressed. This in the public state of affairs.—

       In our private matters things are equally adverse. Papa has had all his negroes carried off in a recent raid on Pon Pon Heyward Manigault’s too; Papa’s house was sacked by his own negroes his Mill burnt and he lies ill at Adams Run. Charlotte is there attending him, and very much tried by her losses, & charge of Papa: he refuses to move. Mr Grimball is in Charleston and yesterday’s letter from him fills us with distress, it gives the account of the death of his sister Mrs Wilkins a truly good woman, a deplorable loss to her daughters. She died on the 3d August of Dysentary after an illness of some days.

       Charleston closely beseeged and Morris’s Island partly in posession of the enemy is now considered the key to Charleston harbour & it is said there was culpable neglect all through the winter, when the Military, & belles, were dancing & flirting, balls lasting until day light, dancing the German waltze. It is said the officers from New Orleans expressed themselves struck with the fast style of the young ladies. At a Christmas party at Col. Fergusons, where a gay collection of young people were assembled, Miss Helen Singleton was dressed as a bride in Mrs Sam F’s wedding dress, Captain Tom Ferguson acting as groom, and the bridesmaids all in order, with groomsmen to match. A Magistrate reading out the Episcopal Marriage service & the old Col. giving the bride away. This in the consideration of many people was a real wedding, and Col. F. is greatly to be blamed. In the biography of Miss Edgerton’s father he is said at a gay party in Ireland to have jumped over a broomstick with one of the young ladies, and they were pronounced man & wife, her friends were very much incensed and had a divorce procured so that he was divorced before he was married. In this State divorce is not allowed.—

       We are now in the midst of severe disasters and the losses so terrible Gen. Johnston Petigrew was shot retreating in the rear guard of Lees army into Virginia & died at Bunker Hill: the Lord’s hand is laid heavily on us may we cry mightily unto him (& be heard);—as the simple Ninivites did in their threatened destruction.—

       William & Arthur have been at Battery Wagner exposed to the fierce fire of the foe as yet unhurt. W. says the smell from the imperfectly buried Yankees is dreadful. Why did they not throw them to the sharks waiting outside, the water in the wells is tainted with their wretched carcases.—

       Berkley is on Johns Island with a part of his Artillery Lewis at the out posts on Johns Island & Arthur on Johns Island eaten up by Muskeetoes & calling wildly for a net & a servant.—

AUGUST 4th.—The partial gloom continues. It is now ascertained that Gen. Morgan is a prisoner; only some 250 of his men, out of 3000, having escaped.

Lee is falling back on this side of the Rappahannock. His army has been diminished by desertions; but he has been reinforced pretty considerably since leaving Pennsylvania. The President’s address may reinforce him still more; and then it may be possible a portion of Bragg’s and Johnston’s armies may be ordered hither. If this should be done, the next battle may be fatal to Meade. Our people are thirsting for another victory; and may expect too much.

Confederate notes are now given for gold at the rate of $12 or $15 for $1. Flour is $40 per barrel; bacon, $1.75 per pound; coal, $25 per cart-load; and good wood, $30 per cord. Butter is selling at $3 per pound, etc. etc.

Nevertheless, most men look for relief in the foreign complications the United States are falling into. England will not prohibit the selling of steamers to the Confederate States, and the United States say it shall not be done; and France has taken possession of Mexico, erecting it into an Empire, upon the throne of which will be seated some European ruler. We think recognition of our government is not far behind these events; when we shall have powerful navies to open the blockade. We are used to wounds and death; but can hardly bear starvation and nakedness.

August 3d. At sea; at eleven in the morning light rain squall passed over; at eleven thirty set all fore and aft sails; at eleven forty-five took them in; at three fifteen P. M. light rain-squall passed over; at four ten made a sail to the southward, and bore down for her, called all hands make sail, and at four thirty fired a gun in direction of strange sail, which hoisted the French colors. Furled sail and hauled up to course again. Unbent and sent down foretopsail for repairs, and sent up and bent a new one. At six ten inspected crew at quarters. From eight o’clock to midnight slight wind from southward and eastward, and clear; at eleven fifty a sail reported on starboard beam.

3rd. Spent the forenoon at home and doing chores. Spent a little time reading. After dinner called on Fannie. Found her the same lovely creature as of old. One may well feel rich in the possession of such a friend. I do. In the evening attended Young People’s Meeting. Did me good.

Monday, 3d–I was on camp guard today. We got our tents and pitched them today, and also, because of the intense heat, built shades in front of them by setting up forks and poles covered with brush. It is the report that we are to remain here on garrison duty. Our work is very light, however, as we have no picket duty.

AUGUST 3d.—The President issued a proclamation to-day, calling upon all absentees to return to the ranks without delay, etc.

Hon. D. M. Barringer writes from Raleigh, N. C., that the State is in a ferment of rage against the administration for appointing Marylanders and Virginians, if not Pennsylvanians, quartermasters, to collect the war tax within its limits, instead of native citizens.

Mr. W. H. Locke, living on the James River, at the Cement and Lime Works, writes that more than a thousand deserters from Lee’s army have crossed at that place within the last fortnight. This is awful; and they are mainly North Carolinians.

August 2d. Steaming down the river; at two ten o’clock in the morning a shot fired across our bow from Fort St. Philip, to heave us to; stopped the ship, and was boarded by an officer; at two fifteen started ahead again; at three forty S. W. Pass light in sight; at six thirty A. M. crossed the bar, and pilot left the ship; at nine o’clock made a sail off the starboard bow, bore down to her and spoke her. She proved to be the U. S. mail steamer Locust Point, from New York, bound for New Orleans. At ten o’clock ship and crew inspected by the Commodore, after which performed Divine service on the quarter-deck.

2nd. Didn’t rise till quite late. Thede went to Sabbath School. I remained at home, resting and visiting with Ma. Minnie came down after S. School. Good visit with Ma and the girls. Thede and I went to the Second Church in the evening. Saw Delos. John’s after meeting.

Sunday, 2d–The teams went to the wharf down in Vicksburg for our tents. The three boys from our company drawing furloughs were Sylvester Daniels, Daniel E. Sweet and Major Christmas, and they left for home today on a thirty-day furlough.^[1] I sent $1.00 with Sweet to buy postage stamps for me and $2.00 to buy me a gold pen.^[2] I also sent $5.00 to father by Daniels.

[1] In drawing lots for furlough, our diarist tells me, the of?cers favored the married men. Mr. Downing himself did not care about a furlough—Ed.
[2] I am using this pen in re-writing the manuscript of my war diary fifty years later, and in my seventy-second year.—A. G. D.

CAMP NEAR ORANGE C. H., August 2nd, 1863.

My Dear Mother:
I received your letter day before yesterday, just as we received orders to march. We marched about fifteen miles yesterday through the hottest sun that I ever felt. The men were constantly dropping out from overheat, and one or two died from the effects. We are in camp to-day, but have orders to hold ourselves in readiness to move at a moment’s notice. The report is the Yankees are advancing on Culpepper. I guess we will leave here tonight or before day in the morning. This army is seeing a very hard time at present. Nothing to eat but beef and flour and the hardest marching that this army has ever done. At the time we crossed the mountains at Fort Royal, we marched from 4 o’clock one morning until day break next morning. We were drawn up in line of battle twice during the time, once we had a very sharp fight between our sharpshooters and the Yankees. Our Brigade was in line on an edge of a mountain overlooking the whole scene. I don’t think it will be long before we shall have a fight, from our present movements. I thought I told you in the letter I wrote from near Hargerstown, while in line, that I was with the Regiment. You must have missed getting that letter. This makes the fifth I have written since I left home. When I got with the regiment everything had so much changed at headquarters, new men detailed, and my not knowing any of them, I concluded to go back with the company. I have been doing duty with the Company ever since I got back and I believe I feel better satisfied. Jim Gay got back to the regiment this morning, left Wilson last Wednesday. He has told us all about the Yankee raid.

I have been suffering some little from pain in the feet, caused by hard marching. The doctor told me yesterday that I might put my things in the ambulance. At night when I went after them, some one had stolen my knapsack with all my clothes, except what I have on, and my shawl. I’ll try and make out with what I have until cold weather comes on. You may send me two pair cotton and two pair woolen socks the first opportunity you have. That will be the first thing that I will need. Dossey came over to see me this morning and read a letter to me that he got from Cousin Claudia yesterday.

There is some little talk sometimes of our Brigade being ordered to North Carolina. I wish to gracious we could be. I’ll bet the Yankees wouldn’t cut up there like they have been. To-day is Sunday and one of the hottest that I ever felt. We are in a piece of woods where there isn’t one breath of air stirring. If we do have to march to-day, half of the men will give out from overheat. I would much rather march two nights than one day. You may send me that homespun shirt in my trunk, at the same time you do the socks—that checked one. I hope the authorities will send some troops home to prevent the Yankees from making a raid through there. Write whenever there is anything to tell me about home and you all.

Your affectionate son,
WALTER.

Letters from two brothers who served in the 4th North Carolina Infantry during the Civil War are available in a number of sources online.  Unfortunately, the brothers are misidentified in some places as Walter Lee and George Lee when their names were actually Walter Battle and George Battle. See The Battle Brothers for more information on the misidentification.

AUGUST 2d.—We have warm, fair weather now ; but the momentary gloom, hanging like the pall of death over our affairs, cannot be dispelled without a decisive victory somewhere, or news of speedy foreign intervention. The letters which I read at the department this morning, contain no news whatever. I have suggested to the government to prohibit the exchange of newspapers in the flag of truce boat; but I doubt if they will act upon it. It is a manifest injury to us.

The exchange of prisoners is practically resumed; the Federal boat delivering yesterday 750 of our sick and wounded; and we returned 600 of their sick and wounded.

August 2, 1862, San Antonio Herald

                It is astonishing how cheap dry goods and provisions are getting in this city.  Flour is only 20 dollars per sack; corn meal only 2 1/2 dollars per bushel whilst sugar, molasses, salt and all other edibles are in proportion.  Calico is only from 75 Cents to one dollar a yard, shoes from eight to ten dollars, and boots 20 dollars a pair, with everything necessary to the subsistence of a family at similar prices.  How such cheap rates can be afforded is a mystery.  These cheap prices afford the families of poor soldiers, who are fighting for the country, excellent facilities for sumptuous living; and the poor widow, with numerous little ones, dependent upon her daily labor for their bread, by earning two dollars per week with her needle, when she can find time from her domestic duties to devote her whole energies to sewing, will thus be enabled to make her household joyous with good living.

               There is an abundance of provisions in the country, and there is but one reason why the prices of the present season should vary materially from those of former years.  That reason must in some way be connected with Confederate money.  If Confederate notes may not be depreciated, the same effect may be produced by tripling the prices.

August 1st. Commences with pleasant weather. At nine thirty A. M. the U. S. gunboat Black Hawk, with Admiral D. D. Porter on board, came down the river, accompanied by the gunboat Conestoga. As they passed they fired a salute of fourteen guns, which the U. S. S. Portsmouth returned, and we cheered ship. Admiral Porter visited the ship, and was received by the marine guard. At six thirty P. M. called all hands up anchor, got under way and steamed up the river and turned round. Was cheered as we passed the fleet, which we returned. The church bells in the city also were rung. Stood down the river in charge of pilot.

Aug. 1st. Reached Columbus about 3 A. M. Went to Niel House and rested two or three hours and breakfasted. Did business. Receipted for property. Left horse and equipments at Q. M. Burrs. All very pleasant. Left C. at 3:40. Took dinner at Mrs. Crarey’s. Pleasant time. From Wellington rode across in carriage. Colored man company. Oberlin about 10:30. Happy boys. Saw Minnie and John.

A Field Day.

August 1. We had been drilling and going through the motions of artillery firing every day for a month, and a few days ago it was thought best to test our theory by a little practice. Each gun was to fire eight rounds. The targets, about the size of a large barn, were set up 500 yards in front of the guns.

At noon the pickets were called in from out the woods and soon after the firing commenced. I ordered a blank to commence with to see if the old gun would shoot. It spoke out splendidly; I was pleased with it; I then ordered a solid shot. It was fired and went somewhere, I don’t know where; but it didn’t hit the target. Calculating that a shell will travel a mile in seven seconds and the target was about a third of a mile away, I thought I would try one with the fuse at three seconds. It was fired and burst at the muzzle of the gun. That was not satisfactory. I then ordered another with the fuse at five seconds. This exploded when about half way to the target. I began to think those shell were all intended for short range anyway, and ordered one at one second. It was fired, and I heard it whizzing off through the woods a mile away. I was disgusted with shell practice and thought I would try canister. We fired one and I could see the bushes cut away at about 200 yards. Those shots had been fired at two degrees elevation. I ordered the corporal to sight the gun at the tops of the trees out in the woods, and tried another canister. This was better, the shot scattering about the target. We had now only one more shot, I thought I would try a solid one, and ordered the gun sighted at the top of the target. This was an excellent shot and I know it must have gone very near the target as I saw the top of a tree shake out in the woods in a direct line of the target.

On the whole, the firing was not entirely satisfactory, but the gunnery was all that could be desired and I am inclined to think the fault was in the ammunition. I think it must have been shopworn or second-hand. But perhaps I ought not to find too much fault, as this was our first practice. I am now impatient for an attack, for I know we can hold this post against any force that would be likely to be brought against it, and demonstrate to the country that we are heroes descended from heroes.