November 13, 1863, The New York Herald             The Richmond papers of Wednesday have telegrams from Charleston to the day previous. Slow firing had been going on all day at Sumter. The two Monitors was then in action firing about thirty shots. Altogether, during the day, sixty rifle shots and twenty-five shells were fired, only [...]

12th. Late in the morning sent June and squad out for more cattle. Killed three beeves for 2nd Ohio. Went to town and saw Div. coming. Lot of clothing came. Got some horse shoes. George very bad face. Powder exploded and burned his face badly. Letter from Fannie. How anxious I have been and still [...]

Thursday, 12th–The two brigades of General Crocker’s Division were at his request ordered back to Natchez today, because of a threatened attack of the rebels at that place.

NOVEMBER 12th.—No accounts of any fighting, but plenty of battles looked for. A. A. Little writes to the Secretary of War from Fredericksburg, that the attempt to remove the iron from the Aquia Railroad by the government having failed, now is the time for private enterprise to effect it. If the Secretary “will say the [...]

(excerpts) MERIDIAN, NOV. 12th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall, “I received your letter of the 2nd yesterday and tried in vain to find the person who brought it. It was left with Col. B. S. Ewell A. A. G. by a contractor on his way to the Trans-Mississippi Country. . . . I congratulate you with [...]

November 12, 1863, The New York Herald             There is no change in the position of the Army of the Potomac. A reconnoissance of General Buford through Culpepper and towards the Rapidan resulted in the discovery that no large force of the enemy are now north of that river, although guerillas constantly harass our troops. [...]

Winchester, Tenn., November 11, 1863. We arrived here at 9 this a.m., our brigade making the distance from Salem, 11 miles, in three hours. That, we call fast walking. I wrote you last from Florence., Ala., on the 1st inst. From there we marched to Rodgersville and thence up the right bank of Elk river [...]

11th. Sent out June for cattle. Brought in several nice ones. About noon drew rations and issued them to the 2nd and 7th Ohio. Did the work myself with the help of Mose. The detail for the boys was received. They reported. Mail came. Nothing for me. Oh!

Wednesday, 11th–It is very pleasant after four or five days of quite warm weather. I was on picket again, the first time for a week. Two brigades of General Crocker’s Division arrived from Natchez to reinforce the troops here at Vicksburg. Two negroes entering an old vacant Confederate magazine today were blown to pieces. They [...]

11th.—Just received a visit from my nephew, W. N., who is on his way to Fauquier to be married. I had not seen him since he lost his leg. He is still on crutches, and it made my heart bleed to see him walk with such difficulty. I believe that neither war, pestilence, nor famine [...]

CAMP NEAR MORTON’S FORD, VA., November 11th, 1863. My Dear Mother: We are once more in our same camp on the Rapidan, which we left just a month ago. We had just begun to be comfortable in our winter quarters on the Rappahannock when the Yankees run us out. Last Saturday, about ten o’clock, the [...]

NOVEMBER 11th.—NO news. I saw, to-day, Gen. Lee’s letter of the 7th instant, simply announcing the capture of Hoke’s and Haye’s brigades. They were on the north side of the river, guarding the pont de tete. There is no excuse, no palliation. He said it was likely Meade’s entire army would cross. This had been [...]

November 11, 1863, The New York Herald             The latest news from General Meade’s army reports no fighting on yesterday. Between six and seven hundred of the enemy were captured near Culpepper. Our pickets near Warrenton Junction were in sight of Mosby’s pickets all day yesterday, but no collision took place.             General Buford’s cavalry [...]

10th. Had little or nothing to do. Went up to see Commissary on business. Absent. Went out to Mr. Lynch’s to see a horse. Learned he had sold it and returned to camp. Left detail for Thede, June, Lewis Emmons and Dan Coats. Night before received letter from Lucy Randall–married.

Tuesday, 10th–I was on a detail of two hundred men with one hundred teams to haul the commissary supplies and ammunition from the transports to the storehouses and magazines constructed near the new forts. It is heavy work, and as to handling the ammunition, quite dangerous. General Grant has given orders that Vicksburg must be [...]

NOVEMBER 10th.—It is supposed our loss in the surprise on Saturday did not exceed 1500, killed, wounded, and taken. It is thought that a battle will occur immediately, if it be not already in progress. There is no news of moment from any quarter, except the loss of our steamer Cornubia, taken by the blockaders [...]

November 10, 1863, The New York Herald             Heavy firing was heard on Sunday and yesterday in the direction of Culpepper, towards the junction of the Rapidan and Rappahannock. It was thought that it might have proceeded from the light artillery of General Buford’s corps in collision with the enemy.             The Third army corps, [...]

9th. Up before sunrise. Got breakfast and was off before sunrise. Reached Morristown by 7 A. M. Reported for duty as Commissary. Saw Lt. S., then went back to Russelville and got rations for 2nd and 7th of Lt. Leavitt, Div. Com’ry. 2nd and 7th went into camp north of town in the woods. Cold [...]

Monday, 9th–An order was read at dress parade today announcing that ten men from each regiment would be detailed to go home to their respective states to solicit recruits for their regiments. Lieutenant Alfred Carey has been selected to represent Company E of the Eleventh Iowa.

November 9.—We are now quite comfortably fixed, in what was once my mother’s chamber, and most unexpectedly we have a carpet. The other day, while entertaining some friends, in this chamber by night, dining-room by day, and parlour ever and anon, Mrs. Secretary Mallory walked in, who, like ourselves, has had many ups-and-downs during the [...]

Monday, November 9th. Another odd link of the old, stale story has come to me, all the way from New York. A friend of mine, who went on the same boat with the prisoners, wrote to her mother to tell her that she had formed the acquaintance of the most charming, fascinating gentleman among them, [...]

November 9.–No. 68 E. 19th Street, New York City. Grandfather and I came from Canandaigua yesterday. He is at Gramercy Park Hotel. We were met by a military escort of “one” at Albany and consequently came through more safely, I suppose. James met us at 42d Street Grand Central Station. He lives at Uncle Edward’s; [...]

NOVEMBER 9th.—The President returned Saturday evening, looking pretty well. Yesterday, Sunday, he was under the necestity of reading a dispatch from Gen. Lee, announcing the surprise and capture of two brigades on the Rappahannock! This is a dark and gloomy day, spitting snow; while not a few are despondent from the recent disasters to our [...]

November 9, 1863, The New York Herald             The Army of the Potomac, after a long period of ease, has commenced a forward movement, and its advance has been heralded with victory. The divisions of Generals French and Sedgwick met the enemy on the banks of the Rappahannock — the former at Kelly’s Ford and [...]