31st. Didn’t arise until nearly eight. Passed rather a restless night on account of rash. Went over to Covington and made arrangements for barracks for 2nd O. V. C. Only 30 allowed to go home now. Some disappointed. Called on A. B. in P. M. Took me to ice cream saloon and did the fair [...]

July 18—Ride by Mr. Silver’s at White Hall. Night in camp. Peter P. Scales, my class-mate at University, dies. Sunday, July 19—Bros. Stradley, Power and F. H. Wood, preach to our Brigade. I have prayers with my Regiment and with Dr. Sprunt, Chaplain of 20th Regiment sick. July 22—Carry many papers to Regiment. July 25—Heavy [...]

“HD. QRS. COV., DIV. A. of N. VA. “Dear General,          “I regret very much that a state of affairs, so different from what you expected, exists here. Instead of ‘no active operations’ you suppose, we are in a fight nearly every day and on the 4th especially Halsey’s1 gun was particularly engaged at Fleetwood and [...]

JULY 31st.—Hon. E. S. Dargan, member of Congress, writes from Mobile that Mississippi is nearly subdued, and Alabama is almost exhausted. He says our recent disasters, and Lee’s failure in Pennsylvania, have nearly ruined us, and the destruction must be complete unless France and England can be induced to interfere in our behalf. He never [...]

Friday, 31st–The weather continues hot. Our men are at work raising the gunboat “Cincinnati,” which was sunk during the siege of Vicksburg. She was a fine boat. A detail of men was sent to bring our tents today, but they failed to get them.

July 30th. At one thirty A. M. gunboat Albatross went down the river; at ten o’clock gunboat Katandin got under way and steamed down the river; at one P. M. received on board some of Admiral Farragut’s baggage. During the afternoon Mr. Van Denhougle, late Admiral Farragut’s Secretary, reported on board for passage to New [...]

30th. After some shopping and looking around went on street cars to Regt. Met it and came back. Found everything all right. Went around with Tod. Many boys congratulated me, did me good. Received two good letters from Fannie and one from home. What a contrast between today and yesterday. In the afternoon helped some [...]

30th.—Our good President has again appointed a day for fasting and prayer. The Florida and Alabama are performing wonderful feats, and are worrying the North excessively. Many a cargo has been lost to the Northern merchant princes by their skill, and I trust that the Government vessels feel their power. Several members of our household [...]

JULY 30th.—Raining still! Lee’s and Meade’s armies are manœuvring and facing each other still; but probably there will be no battle until the weather becomes fair, and the gushing waters in the vales of Culpepper subside. From Charleston we learn that a furious bombardment is going on, the enemy not having yet abandoned the purpose [...]

Montgomery, July 30th.–Coming on here from Portland there was no stateroom for me. My mother alone had one. My aunt and I sat nodding in armchairs, for the floors and sofas were covered with sleepers, too. On the floor that night, so hot that even a little covering of clothes could not be borne, lay [...]

Thursday, 30th–It is quite hot and sultry. There is no news of importance. Colonel Hall has again taken command of our brigade. I bought a two-pound can of butter, paying $1.25, and five loaves of bread for fifty cents.

29th. Friday. The Major went down to see friends in the 18th Corps. a failure. I thought of accompanying him but through a blunder didn’t go. My eyes have occasioned me much trouble of late. At 10 P. M. Thede and I made our way to 9th Corps Hdqrs. to see affair reported to come [...]

July 29th. At two thirty A. M. a propeller came up the river, and at two forty the gunboat Katandin. The latter anchored off our starboard bow. At six o’clock sent fourth cutter to Tennessee, and brought off spare main and topsail yard, and sent up a new one; stowed outboard damaged main topsail yard; [...]

29th. About 9 A. M. some coffee. Bought some cakes. Major A. B. N. called early and assured S. R. that all was right. Seemed good to see him. At noon went with A. B. and Mr. Hall to dinner at Gibson House. Got shaved and went at 3 to report to Gen. Cox. Released, [...]

July 29.—A letter of farewell from the Valley, written as the enemy’s lines were closing around our loved ones there. It is painful to think of their situation, but they are in God’s hands. It is said that Lee’s army and Meade’s are approaching each other. Oh, I trust that a battle is not at [...]

Wednesday, 29th.—Still not very well, but hope I will improve, as I am at home. We all got furloughs for thirty days. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

JULY 29th.—Still raining! The great fear is that the crops will be ruined, and famine, which we have long been verging upon, will be complete. Is Providence frowning upon us for our sins, or upon our cause? Another battle between Lee and Meade is looked for on the Upper Rappahannock. Gov. Harris, in response to [...]

Wednesday, 29th–We passed a miserable night, for we had no tents and the ground was wet from yesterday’s rain; besides, the ground is so rough and hilly that we can hardly find a place big enough to camp on. Things dragged on slowly this morning, so I had a chance to run around some to [...]

July 28th. Commences with pleasant weather and light westerly winds. The following is what has transpired this day:—At eight A. M. the U. S. steamer Virginia arrived; at three P. M. the Monongahela came down the river and anchored off the Richmond’s starboard quarter. Ship’s company engaged getting ship ready for sea.

28th. Passed the night very quietly in guard house. Deserters and drunken men filled the room. Novel place. Before noon went down to Provost and saw Mrs. Mills. At 3 P. M. we took the train under guard to Cincinnati. Lawyer Hall came with S. R. N. Pleasant ride down. Reached the city and after [...]

Tuesday, 28th.—At Atlanta, 1:30 A. M. Left Atlanta, at 7 A. M. At Tunnel Hill, 3 P. M., where Brother I. L. met me with buggy; found all well except brother; his wound doing very well. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

28th.—The girls are in Richmond, staying at Dr. G’s. They went in to attend a tournament to be given to-day by General Jenkins’s Brigade, stationed near Richmond; but this morning the brigade was ordered to go South, and great was the disappointment of the young people. They cannot feel as we do during these gloomy [...]

 JULY 28th.—The rumor that Gen. Lee had resigned was simply a fabrication. His headquarters, a few days ago, were at Culpepper C. H., and may be soon this side of the Rappahannock. A battle and a victory may take place there. Col. J. Gorgas, I presume, is no friend of Pemberton; it is not often [...]

Abby Howland Woolsey to Harriet Gilman. Fishkill, July, 1863. It took so long for letters to come from Gettysburg, and Mother and Georgy had so little time to write, that we didn’t hear often. They have come themselves at last; arrived Tuesday, midnight. . . . Georgy came up here this noon, and we have [...]