J. Keith Jones

150 years ago on August 8, 1861, Daniel Boyd wrote his family from Vienna, Virginia. Measles was rampant in the camp. His brother Pressley Boyd and their best friend James Alewine were sick along with most of their messmates. Daniel had not had the measles yet, but he was anticipating his turn being sick as well. He reported that the Union army had retreated across the Potomac River and talks about price of various goods and foods in the area. Daniel reports that they are about 7 miles from the enemy and that most of the residents of the area have left.

To learn more click on the “Diamond Hill” link at the top. To buy the book you may go to any major online retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or you may buy it directly from McFarland Publishers. “The Boys of Diamond Hill” is also available for the Kindle.

Pressley Boyd wrote his sister — Mary Jane Hall — from Vienna, Virginia on Aug. 4, 1861. He briefly recounts some events from First Manassas. Pressley tells her about a shell exploding “fifteen steps” from him and cutting the limbs from the trees above his head. He reports that about half of his company (D, 7th SC) is sick with the measles. He feels that he will soon have it himself since all the men he sleeps among are infected. He laments not having enough to eat or a bed to sleep in.

To learn more click on the “Diamond Hill” link at the top. To buy the book you may go to any major online retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or you may buy it directly from McFarland Publishers. “The Boys of Diamond Hill” is also available for the Kindle.

On July 23, 1861 — 150 years ago — Daniel Boyd wrote his father to tell him about the actions at Mitchell’s Ford on July 18 and the Battle of First Manassas on the 21st. Of the horror and carnage inflicted on the Union army, Daniel has this to say: “… whilest there lay the poor wounded all amongst the dead and these spent the night amongst the dead and the groans of dying, many unable to move whilst others scramble and crall trying to comfort each other by each others presence. No friend to care for them, no one to give them a drink, no one to dress their wounds, all there friends have died and gone.”

Then he laments: “Oh civil war where will your lessons stop or have an end…”

He talks of the rain the day after battle and the wounded being left behind from their fleeing army: “The poor wounded; just think of them one whole day and night in the rain.”

Daniel further writes of the 7th South Carolina’s participation in the pursuit of the routed enemy following the battle and found himself in Vienna, Virginia where he wrote this letter.

To learn more click on the “Diamond Hill” link at the top. To buy the book you may go to any major online retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or you may buy it directly from McFarland Publishers. “The Boys of Diamond Hill” is also available for the Kindle.

On July 18 at 11 a.m., a Union reconnaissance force near Mitchell’s Ford and Blackburn’s Ford under Brig. Gen. Daniel Tyler encountered the brigade of Confederate Brig. Gen. James Longstreet while attempting to locate the left flank of the Confederate army. Longstreet was soon reinforced by the brigade under Col. Jubal Early. The combined forces of Longstreet and Early forced a federal retreat depriving Union commander Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell of the intelligence he sought in planning his attack against the Southern army.

Daniel and Pressley Boyd were a part of this action. Their 7th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, as part of the brigade of Brig. Gen. Milledge Luke Bonham first came in sight of the enemy near Fairfax Court House and the men fully expected to do battle there. Only the officers knew that Brig. General P. G. T. Beauregard had no intention of engaging the enemy on that ground, so when the federals approached, Bonham gave the order to retire.

They believed that Union General Irvin McDowell was trying to cut them off from Manassas, so they withdrew toward Centreville. There they formed a line of battle and waited on the enemy. They slept with their arms until midnight at which point they continued their withdrawal. Major Emmet Seibels of the Seventh had this to say: “Who in that retreat can forget the dark & chilly night at Centreville, where we remained wearied & unrefreshed by even a draught of water, in battle array until One o’clock at night?”

It took four hours to cover the final four miles on the road along Bull Run Creek arriving at their destination at daylight. The men were unhappy about the retreat, but Gen. Beauregard accomplished his goal of instilling a false confidence in his enemy, setting the stage for what would take place three days latter at First Manassas.

To learn more click on the “Diamond Hill” link at the top. To buy the book you may go to any major online retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or you may buy it directly from McFarland Publishers. “The Boys of Diamond Hill” is also available for the Kindle.

June 15, 1861 Pressley Boyd wrote his father from Camp Twigs in Virginia. There is no mention of their earlier reluctance to go up to Virginia. In this letter he describes their location as one hundred-thirty miles from Richmond and eighty miles from Washington, DC. They are nine miles from the enemy, but have yet to be engaged. The first engagement — the Battle of Big Bethel — has taken place and is mentioned. The 7th S.C. was not involved. Pressley talks of conditions in Virginia, particularly in their camp, and about the 7th’s trip up through North Carolina and into Virginia.

To learn more click on the “Diamond Hill” link at the top. To buy the book you may go to any major online retailer such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, or you may buy it directly from McFarland Publishers. “The Boys of Diamond Hill” is also available for the Kindle.