1862 April 3 Hampton, Va.

Camp near Hampton Virginia April 3d 1862

My Dear Father my last to you was dated at Baltimore
we received Marching orders on the twenty eighth march we
left Baltimore Sunday 30th although it was A stormy day there was
A tremendous Crowd of People to witness departure, as we
entered Warren street we found it lined with People, & all along
the line of march we were cheered but the grandest sight was at the
dock at which the Steamer P.R. Spalding was waiting for us it was
along all the docks in the vacinety, we left the dock among the cheers of
the vast Crowd i tell you it was something to be proud of there never
was A Regiment so popular with the citizens of Baltimore even there
own Regiments never attracted one quarter of the attention, we arrived
at Fortress Monroe about nine oclock Monday 31st March but did
not debark until twelve as we were obliged to waite our turn there
being some eight or ten Transports landing troops there is A tremendious
Fleet of Transports in Hampton Rhoades. I shall have to make this letter
short as we move again to day, we are now encamped about four miles
from Hampton the town of Hampton is completely destroyed not
one House was left standing, you will be surprised when I tell you
that our Regiment is in the grand Army under Gen. McL4llan the
Army of the Potomac has been transfered to this quarter we are in
Genl Sykes Brigade (Regulars) we are the reserve, it is nothing by\ut
one vast camp from Fort Munroe to Big Bethel, I wish you to write
as soon as you receive this & let me know what division Y Brigade
Joseph is in he is here somewhere, there is nothing but Soldiers here
Virginia is paying dear for her sin such A scene of desolation I
never saw before since we have been encamped here there has passed
about fifteen batteries of Artilery & they are continually arriving you
can guess what all this means, I shall have to bring this to A close as
I must get my things ready for A move I will write you at every encamp
ment hoping this will find you in good health I remain your son
George W. Leavitt
direct to fifth New York Volunteers Genl. Sykes Brigade
Fortress Monroe.


Letters from George Leavitt and his brother Joseph Leavitt were copied into a ledger by their father John Leavitt in October 1865: "because they are of value to me and I was fearful that they might get mislaid." Both boys were mortally wounded in the war, George at Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and Joseph at Spotsylvania, May 18, 1864.

MSS 66

1862 April 3 Camp Hayes, Raleigh, Va.

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

Thursday, Apr. 3, 1862
Played and practiced
as usual
Citizens had an
election to vote on the
constitution and for
senator. Gen Beckley
with some ladies
was present at
Guard mounting
have written letters
to Jennie Sangar and
Father
Very Beautiful
day clear warm

MSS 10317

1862 April 3

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts]
Thursday
April 3
Went in swimming after coming
off guard. The weather is quite
warm and pleasant. Wrote a letter home this
afternoon. Washed my clothes this forenoon.

MSS 11293

1862 April 3 Lynchburg, Va.

[from the diary of William M. Blackford, former diplomat,editor, and bank officer, Lynchburg, Va., with five sons in the Confederate Army]

Thursday Bright mild day. Martins have
made their appearance. the day has
passed without any exciting rumor
or telegram. It is the calm which
precedes the storm and is even por=
tentious--Chas. & Sue dined with us
but in consequence of the expected arri
-val of Richd Davis children with
their Uncle Eugene, went home. The
children however did not come
arranged finally the pictures in the
Parlor, in, I think, the best possible
manner. The effect is very good.

MSS 4763

1862 April 2 Camp Rappahannock, Va.

Camp Rappahannock

April 2” 1862

My own darling Jennie

   I recd yours by Billy on Monday.  thanks for your letter

& prompt return of Billy with horse & something to eat &

my clothes.  I am still at the same place – out post.  I have

one rifle cannon added to my strength since I wrote &

had a visit from the yankeys but they offered no offence.

mostly exhibited themselves in the distance & then retired.  I

received a high compliment yesterday evening.  By order

of Genl Ewel a battalion of sharp shooters & skirmishers

is to be organized, consisting of 4 companies 2 from

10” & 1 each from 13” & Md, and I have been appoin

ted to the command of them.  Thus in all fights & marches

I will have a seperate [sic] command.  My position as

an commander here has been very pleasant & comfortable

  Julia may be right about our army going to

Richmond but I dont think it will be for some

time yet & I hope not at all.  We will I am

almost certain resist the enimys [sic] march all the

time & all the way & I hope be able to form a

line of strong defence between this & Richmond.  I un-

derstand the tone of your letter.  You dont want to be

[page 2]

left behind and are willing to retreat with the

army & want me to say you may do it.  Now I am

so uncertain about what you ought to do that

I have fully determined to let you do as you

please & think best.  It will be impossible for

me to give you any attention or help in your

backwards march.  you will have to make your

own arrangements & be your own master in

all things.  And I think if I was in your

place & once make up my mind to go South

I would send Stephen word to sell out all

his stock except the two mos Toss & fly,

buy a carriage & travel in it with Stephen

for a driver & Fanny for a nurse & do what

you please with Martha Ann.  You cant get South

except in your own conveyance at least you

cant get to Richmond.  I dont like the idea of

your trying to leave Virginia.  I know you would

be more exposed, suffer more & see very little more

of me than if you remained behind our lines.  This

war will not last long.  If Virginia is given up it

will be only for a short time & if it is for a long time

you can with more ease get a pass & go through the en-

imys [sic] lines than you can now go ahead of our army –

but I say I leave it to your own judgement [sic] & wisdom

try & decide wisely.  I am very much pleased with my

horse & was offered 200 & then 250 for him.  Genl Elzey says

he is [a] very fine horse the best he has seen for a long time

Write to me darling when you can.  Affectionately

ETH Warren

[The following was written upside-down on the top of page 1

above the heading.]

Billy says Jennie Watson is not black a bit but is very white.  I wish

I could just see for a little bit the little monkey & my big pets.

"Camp Rappahannock", heading - 'Camp was located near Rapphannock Station, present-day Remington, Fauquier Co.'

"Billy", line 1 & 2; note page 1, line 1 - 'William Rolston, private, Company H, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"Genl Ewel", line 8 - 'Richard S. Ewell, Confederate general, commanded the division in which the 10th Virginia served.

    This battalion to which Warren referred was not formed due to the reassignment of the 10th Virginia which occurred some two weeks later.

    If General Ewell had been successful in organizing this battalion it would have been the first of such battalions formed in the army.  It was not until almost a year later when sharpshooter organizations were formed and not until 1864 when they became the norm in the army.  This gives some indication of the forward-thinking of General Ewell.'

"10"", line 10 - '10th Virginia Infantry.'

"13"", line 10 - '13th Virginia Infantry.'

"Md", line 10 - '1st Maryland Infantry.'

"Genl Elzey", page 2, line 27 - 'Arnold Elzey, Confederate general, commanded the brigade in which all of the aforementioned organizations served.'

"ETH Warren", page 2, signature - 'Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"Jennie Watson", note page 1, line 1 -

"little monkey", note page 1, line 2 - 'Both referred to Warren's youngest daughter Virginia 'Jennie' Watson, born 26 February 1862.'

"my big pets", note page 1, line 2 - 'Warren made reference to his other daughter Lizzie (7 years) and son James M. (5 years).'

[Transcription and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g

1862 April 2 Chapel Hill, N.C.

[from the diary of Eliza Oswald Hill, refugee for Wilmington, N.C.]

Wednesday 2d --Liz spent the day out--I was busy making tom a
shirt all morning--[unidentifed name] called. No news from home.

MSS 6960

1862 April 2 Camp Franklin, Va.

[letter begun by Hiram Cash on March 31st continues]

April 2end I have just signed
the pay roll for two months pay the allotment is the same as it was the
last payment and $16.00 will come to Portland as it did before and
you can get the money the same as you did the other I shall try to get
some gold dollars and send you the next time I write for you to
keep. I want you to write about the mney as soon as you get it
I saw the pretiest sight yesterday I have seen since I came out here it
was a Regt of lancers drilling with their long lances with a red flag attached
about two feet from the point the[sic] were armed with cutlass and pistols besides the lance these were the first I ever saw. I do not think of any thing more this time so I will close.From your son H. M. Cash. Do not forget to send me
an extra paper we with the state laws if you have not sent itHiram

Hiram M. Cash, Private, Co. K, 5th Maine Infantry

MSS 12196