Confederate Personal Accounts
The following excerpt is from Thomas D. Gold, History of Clarke County, Virginia and Its Connections with the War Between the States (Berryvillee, Va.: G.R. Hughes, 1914). Gold served in Co. I, 2nd Virginia Infantry and this excerpt pertains to the 1863 Battle of Payne's Farm (Mine Run).
pp. 187-188

"Then Meade tried his hand at advancing, and at Mine Run our division suddenly found itself very close to the enemy. The 2nd Regiment was thrown forward as skirmishers and got into one of the hottest fights of the war. Here Co. I lost in a short time fourteen men out of twenty-two. We sometimes called it the 'Battle of the Georges'. Geo. Patterson, Geo. Riggle and Geo. Doll were killed and Geo. Wheeler was badly wounded and died shortly after reaching the hospital. Ben. Thompson, Nat Sowers, and others were wounded."

The following excerpt is from the wartime diary of Chaplain Abner C. Hopkins - 2nd Virginia Infantry. This excerpt pertains to his involvement in the 1863 Battle of Payne's Farm (Mine Run). The original diary is owned by the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Va.

"Nov. 26 -- Weather very cold. Troops march down to the breastworks in morning, returning to camp, & at night we move again to the threnches to arrest reported advance of the enemy from Germanna Ford, lie in threnches all night &

Nov. 27 -- in morning of friday proceed down the river. On the march our Division is attacked by the enemy. A Regt. from Stewart's Brigade & our Stonewall Brigade thrown out to hold the enemy in check most of the day, my own Regt. being the one. Early in morn. at Col. Colston's request I attend him upon the field & soon he was wounded in the left leg, below the kneee so as to require amputation. I remain all day upon the field, many of our best men are wounded. In the afternoon all the Division become engaged very seriously and learn that we were fighting a Corps of the enemy ( Genl. French's) & a Division! Lt. Strother Barton wounded late in the afternoon, in the right kneee so as to make amputation necessary. All that night I was up at Hospital & at

Nov. 28 -- daybreak next morning I start with wounded of the Division to Orange C.H. where they were compelled by the emergency of the times to remain in the ambulances till trains could be had from Gordonsville to take them off. The last of them get away about midnight & about 1 o'clock I lay my wearied body donw. to sleep."

The following letter was written by Alexander S. Baird (Beard in his CSR) - Co. G, 2nd Va. The letter pertains to his involvement in the 1863 Battle of Payne's Farm (Mine Run). Original typescript is owned by Henry W. Baird of Seattle, Wash. Photocopy in manuscript collection of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Camp on the Rapidan
December 13, 1863
Dear Ma,

As I have an opportunity of writing to you I will do so, though I hardly expect my letter to reach you. I received your letter dated October 31st and was very sorry to hear that the Yankees are behaving so badly. We had another fight on the 27th of November. Our Division was the only one engaged but we whipped a whole corps of Yankees. Dan Moler, Nute Sadler, Horace Gallaher and Tom and Billy Timberlake were wounded. Dan Moler has a right severe wound in his neck but Cousin John says it is not dangerous. The others have slight wounds and will soon be well.

When the fight began we were marching down the river and did not know that the Yankees were near us when their skirmishers advanced and fired into our ambulance train. Gen. Walker immediately sent our regiment out as skirmishers and put us along a fence and told us that we must hold that ground at all hazards. We fought them from twelve o'clock until night when the fighting ceased and a part of Rode's Division relieved us.

Cousin John was at our Hospital and attended to our boys. The men in our Brigade would rather have him than any other Surgeon in the Army. I was in some right hot places but was not touched.

Colonel Colston lost a leg. Capt. Stewart had his hat knocked off by a bullet but was not hurt. I suppose that you have heard before this that Bragg was defeated at Chattanooga and that Longstreet has been compelled to fall back from Knoxville. Bragg has been thrown out and Hardee put in command and it is thought that he will do much better than Bragg. Tim Baylor was killed the other day in a cavalry skirmish. His mother came out and took his body home. I expect to get back into my old place in a day or two. Tom Hunter told me yesterday that Gen. Walker intended to have me detailed.

I am very glad that you did not send me any flannel drawers for I have two pair that I got last winter. I have plenty of clothes to last me all winter and in the spring I expect to come home again.

We get tolerable good rations now and I do not think there is any danger of our starving.

I would like to send you some papers but nobody will take them as they take up so much room. All the boys here are well and want to get home very badly. I expect we will go into Winter Quarters before long though I do not know where they will be. I have not heard from Oscar Lucas lately, but I expect he is with Longstreet. Give my love to Grandma and the boys and write to me as often as you can and tell me all that is going on.

Your affectionate son,
Bub

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