Jonathan Worth to Cyrus P. Mendenhall, May 6, 1861

ASHEBORO, May 6, 1861.

Reflection has at last brought me to this conclusion that peace will be preserved, if it can be by any honorable means—and that this is likelier to be attained by unity among ourselves—and determined, united military resistance.

In this view I shall take the stump to-morrow and urge our young men to volunteer.

The painful uncertainty in my mind as to the wisest course to pursue and a deep consciousness that I have not ability to the emergencies of the times, made me determine at one time to resign. I have reconsidered and in fact did so before I left Raleigh.

SOURCE: J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton, Editor, The Correspondence of Jonathan Worth, Volume 1, p. 140-1

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: February 22, 1862

Washington's Birthday. — Patriotic services were held in the Congregational Church this morning. Madame Anna Bishop sang, and National songs were sung. Hon. James. C. Smith read Washington's Farewell Address. In the afternoon a party of twenty-two, young and old, took a ride in the Seminary boat and went to Mr. Paton's on the lake shore road. We carried flags and made it a patriotic occasion. I sat next to Spencer F. Lincoln, a young man from Naples who is studying law in Mr. Henry Chesebro's office. I never met him before but he told me he had made up his mind to go to the war. It is wonderful that young men who have brilliant prospects before them at home, will offer themselves upon the altar of their country. I have some new patriotic stationery. There is a picture of the flag on the envelope and underneath, “If any one attempts to haul down the American flag shoot him on the spot. — JOHN A. DIX.”

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 138-9

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: Sunday, February 23, 1862

Everybody came out to church this morning, expecting to hear Madame Anna Bishop sing. She was not there, and an "agent" made a “statement.” The audience did not appear particularly edified.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 139

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: March 4, 1862

John B. Gough lectured in Bemis Hall last night and was entertained by Governor Clark. I told Grandfather that I had an invitation to the lecture and he asked me who from. I told him from Mr. Noah T. Clarke's brother. He did not make the least objection and I was awfully glad, because he has asked me to the whole course. Wendell Phillips and Horace Greeley, E. H. Chapin and John G. Saxe and Bayard Taylor are expected. John B. Gough's lecture was fine. He can make an audience laugh as much by wagging his coat tails as some men can by talking an hour.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 139-40

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: March 26, 1862

I have been up at Laura Chapin's from 10 o'clock in the morning until 10 at night, finishing Jennie Howell's bed quilt, as she is to be married very soon. Almost all of the girls were there. We finished it at 8 p. m. and when we took it off the frames we gave three cheers. Some of the youth of the village came up to inspect our handiwork and see us home. Before we went Julia Phelps sang and played on the guitar and Captain Barry also sang and we all sang together, “O! Columbia, the gem of the ocean, three cheers for the red, white and blue.”

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 140

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: June 19, 1862

Our cousin, Ann Eliza Field, was married to-day to George B. Bates at her home on Gibson Street. We went and had an elegant time. Charlie Wheeler made great fun and threw the final shower of rice as they drove away.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 140

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: June —, 1862

There was great excitement in prayer meeting last night, it seemed to Abbie Clark, Mary Field and me on the back seat where we always sit. Several people have asked us why we sit away back there by old Mrs. Kinney, but we tell them that she sits on the other side of the stove from us and we like the seat, because we have occupied it so long. I presume we would see less and hear more if we sat in front. To-night just after Mr. Walter Hubbell had made one of his most beautiful prayers and Mr. Cyrus Dixon was praying, a big June bug came zipping into the room and snapped against the wall and the lights and barely escaped several bald heads. Anna kept dodging around in a most startling manner and I expected every moment to see her walk out and take Emma Wheeler with her, for if she is afraid of anything more than dogs it is June bugs. At this crisis the bug flew out and a cat stealthily walked in. We knew that dear Mrs. Taylor was always unpleasantly affected by the sight of cats and we didn't know what would happen if the cat should go near her. The cat very innocently ascended the steps to the desk and as Judge and Mrs. Taylor always sit on the front seat, she couldn't help observing the ambitious animal as it started to assist Dr. Daggett in conducting the meeting. The result was that Mrs. Taylor just managed to reach the outside door before fainting away. We were glad when the benediction was pronounced.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 140-1

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 1, 1862

There is nothing new, only we can see the lines of battle over the river. They are still fighting around Richmond.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 8

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 4, 1862

This is the day the Yankee general, McClellan, promised to eat dinner in our capitol. He did not, but numbers of his command did—that is, in our prisons. But they did not get any turkey.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 8

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 6, 1862

We got orders to march this morning. Left here with two days’ rations of corn meal and bacon in our haversacks. We got to Petersburg in the evening—fifteen miles—after a hard march. It is very warm, and we did not rest on the way, as it was a forced march. We camped on Dunn's Hill.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 8

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 7, 1862

We return to our factory girls again—all O. K., you bet.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 8

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 27, 1862

Had a few friends visit us from home, and moved camp twice. To-night we were ordered to fall in line. Went to Petersburg, and there took the cars for Weldon. On the road a dreadful accident occurred. On the flat car that we were on, a captain of the navy with us had his leg cut off by a sheet of iron flying off the flat. Lieutenant McMatthews, Henry Wortheim and myself were knocked down, but not badly hurt. The captain died two days after.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 8-9

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 31, 1862

Up to this time there is nothing new. We are camped at Weldon.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier,

Diary of Private Louis Leon: August 1, 1862

From date to the 4th–nothing. We have a good camp.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 9

Diary of Private Louis Leon: August 5, 1862

We received marching orders to-day. We embarked on the train at Weldon, went down the Seaboard road a distance of twenty-five miles, and marched from there to Roberts' Chapel. Our company and Company D were the only ones that went. We got there at 10 o'clock at night and laid in the woods until morning.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 9

Diary of Private Louis Leon: August 6, 1862

We fell in line and returned. We marched to Boykins and took the cars to our regiment again. This expedition was to capture Yankees that are stealing negroes. When we got there they had left.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 9

Diary of Private Louis Leon: Up to August 19, 1862

Nothing new. We have a very good time here by ourselves—get plenty to eat from the ladies and visit them whenever we can get out of camp.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 9

Diary of Private Louis Leon: August 20, 1862

Left here at 6 P.M. and arrived at Petersburg at 3 o'clock in the morning. Took the same bed that I had the last time—the sidewalk—and the wall for my pillow. Katz, Hugh Sample, “Bat” Harry, Lieutenant Belk and some others were left behind, sick.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 9-10

Dr. Seth Rogers to his Daughter, January 20, 1863

January 20, 1863.

Gen. Hunter is in earnest about arming the blacks, so we may confidently expect the well-done to increase. The little opposition to our movement will fall to the ground so soon as we can prove our worthiness by marked success. Remember, it requires not only time but deeds, to undo the hateful lesson this Republic (!) has been so long teaching. The public heart has virus in it, and nothing but the flow of arterial blood can purify it. The innocent must suffer for the guilty.

I am beginning to find a little leisure for noting verbatim some of the individual histories of these soldiers and shall endeavor to forward them to you. The Colonel and young captain have transcribed many of their songs and hymns, but, without the music of their peculiar voices, I confess the words do not much interest me. Now and then a fine, poetical expression, but as a rule, somewhat dry, like the human skull Serg't Rivers brought me one day. Their autobiographies, on the contrary, if one has the time and patience to draw them out, are often so unique that I feel deeply interested in them.

At dress parade, tonight, the Colonel had some of my sanitary measures embodied in a general order and read by the Adjutant. One of the most important details was that each tent is hereafter to have a fire in it at evening. We have tried it long enough in James's company, to be satisfied of its utility. The men do not greatly mind the smoke and I have convinced the Colonel that it is one of the best purifiers and antiseptics we could have.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 346

Dr. Seth Rogers to his Daughter, January 21, 1863, Evening

January 21, Evening.

Great days seem natural to us now. General Hunter has reviewed our regiment with Gen. Saxton, and the Colonel's long mourned dress coat has come, and I no longer weep in secret silence the sacrifice of mine. But we will leave coats for arms and ask you to congratulate the 1st S. C. V. on the distinction conferred by the General in visiting us before any of those in Beaufort. And was it not refreshing to hear the General in command say to our soldiers, when formed in hollow square, “Men, I am glad to see you so well, I wish we had a hundred thousand soldiers like you. Before Spring I hope we shall have fifty thousand. You are fighting for your liberty and the liberty of your families and friends. The man who is not willing to fight for his liberty is not fit to have it.” Probably I have not the exact phraseology, but it cannot differ materially. It was very impressive to us all, while the cheers that followed were stunning to us all. Then the dear, noble General Saxton, so long thwarted by pro-slavery opposition, stepped forward and informed the regiment that Gen. Hunter had this afternoon told him that fifty thousand Springfield rifles are coming to this department for the black soldiers. Then the Colonel introduced the surgeons to Gen'l Hunter and while taking him to our little hospital, I called his attention to the refusal of the Purveyor to honor any requisitions; consequently, I take another requisition to Hilton Head, countersigned by General Hunter, and we shall see with what result. . . .

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 346-7