1861 November 24

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, musician and private in the 23rd Ohio]

no Dress parade
Did nothing to day
snowed all day still
snowing quite hard
meeting in our room tonight
to pass resolution on the death
of Seaman

[the following letter was written by Templeton on the 24th of November]

Camp Union in Fayetteville, Va.

Dear Parents
It is sabbath
morning not the Sabbath
of Home but a Camp Sabbath
around me are the Boys some
reading some writing others
singing. We have a very
comfortable house to stay in
we occupy two rooms one
with a large fireplace
as a kitchen the other with
a coal-grate as a sitting room
we sleep up stairs
I wrote to you a few days
since quite hastily shall
now write a little more
particularly. The morning we
left Camp Ewing we were
called out quite early and
and ordered to prepare rations

[page 2]
for two days soon after
daylight we were on the
way. The road from here
I mean from Camp Ewing to
the Gauley is very interesting
The scenery is the wildest
and most picturesque I have
ever seen a short distance
below Camp is Hawks Nest a
perpendiculier ledge of rocks
said to be 1100 ft high
it is indeed a wild spot
standing on that terrible
precipice with the dull
roar of the water far below
as it finds its way among
the huge rocks that fill
its chanel, some five miles
farther is the Head Quarters
of Rosecrans, on the Farm of
Col. Tompkins (now in the Rebel
army)This is the best improved
Farm I have seen in the state

[page 3]
it is beautifully situated three
miles above Gauley overlooking
the junction of the rivers
The road now descends quite
rapidly to the river. flanked
on the upper side by ledges
of rocks several hundreds of
ft high and here and there
through some steep ravines
are seen beautiful waterfalls
After crossing the river and
marching some five miles
we camped for the night n
a deep ravine. We here
found three stacks of wheat
which were speedily demolished
I managed to secure several
sheaves with which I made
a comfor[t]able bed in the
corner of a fence. something
similar to a pigs nest
I then prepared my supper
perhaps you would like the

[page 4]
Bill of fare. a cup of coffe
(I always cary a small parcel
of Coffe in my Haversack) and
one or two hard crackers
Our Haversacks are large pockets
made of drilling wh[i]ch we cary
over our shoulders mine is a
rebel one which I picked up
on the battle ground at Gauley
monday morning.

We have now been in
the place over a week
did not receive our knapsacks
and cooking utensils until Friday
last. This place is about as
large as Savanah there are
some very fine houses all
of which are filled with
soldiers. Out buildings and
fences are torn down for
fuel and for boards with
which to make bunks to
sleep in. I have just seen

[page 5]
some of the money which
was paid to the Rebel troops
it is engraved on the poorest
quality of paper and is
payable in Two years

We will probably know
in a few days Whether we
will remain here all
winter or not

I have just been handed two
letters one from you and
one from Aunty Hays
you ask me if I need
another pair of Boots. I can
get shoes but they are not
very good and although
my old boots ar good yet
they are not large enough
I would like very much
if I had a pair of military
Boots with high wide legs

[page 6]
so that I can wear my
pants inside and very
heavy soles. I saw a pair
this morning that pleased
me they extend up to
the knees, do not send
any unless you have a
good opportunity.

Tell mother she may send
me a pair of socks if she
can the kind[?] we get here
are partly coton and do
not last long.

I have not fallen away
much since I came into the
service I was weighed a
few days since weighed
172 lbs my weight used to
be about 175. The boys are
constantly teasing[?] me
about my eating so much

Write soon and often
Yours truly J.D. Templeton

[upside down on top margin of page 5]
Tell Tome that I want him to
write and Eliz The Boys are generaly
well Bill Creps is well. Fred dont seem

[down left margin of page 5]
to be very well do not know what is the matter with him seems

[across bottom margin of page 5]
to have the Blues.

MSS 10317