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Several land title records are also present.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"names_coll_ssim":["Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)"],"names_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)","Randolph family"],"corpname_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)"],"famname_ssim":["Randolph family"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":1011,"online_item_count_is":1004,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-09T07:08:45.006Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c924"}},{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c929","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c929#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c929","ref_ssm":["viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c929"],"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c929","ead_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","_root_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","_nest_parent_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","parent_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","parent_ssim":["viu_repositories_3_resources_1426"],"parent_ids_ssim":["viu_repositories_3_resources_1426"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"text":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill","George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War","box 11","folder 18"],"title_filing_ssi":"George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War","title_ssm":["George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War"],"title_tesim":["George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1862-11-25"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862"],"normalized_title_ssm":["George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"collection_ssim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":929,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["The collection is open for research use."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"George W. Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randloph; Sent from Richmond. Explains his resignation as Secretary of War, 1862-11-25\",\"href\":\"https://iiifman.lib.virginia.edu/pid/tsb:107027\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1862],"containers_ssim":["box 11","folder 18"],"_nest_path_":"/components#928","timestamp":"2026-06-09T07:08:45.006Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","ead_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","_root_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","_nest_parent_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1426","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/UVA/repositories_3_resources_1426.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/147344","title_ssm":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"title_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"unitdate_ssm":["1732-1860"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1732-1860"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MSS 1397","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1426"],"text":["MSS 1397","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1426","Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill","Slavery--United States -- Virginia","African Americans -- Virginia","The collection is open for research use.","The materials are arranged chronologically. Oversized items are listed at the end of the inventory.","The Randolph familiy of Virginia began with William Randolph, who emigrated from Warwickshire, England between 1669 and 1673. He was the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson. ","Martha Jefferson Randolph (eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson) married her third cousin, Thomas Mann Randolph in 1790. Together they had eleven children, whom Martha educated at home. Martha was known for her keen intellect and would often assist her father with his affairs. Thomas became a botanist and served as a Virginia delegate, senator, governor, and congressman.","Edgehill was Martha and Thomas' Virginia plantation, and later the chief residence of their eldest son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Martha and Thomas inherited the land from Thomas' father and built their first home there in 1799. A second, larger house was built in 1828. The family also operated a girls' school on the plantation, called \"Edgehill School\" from 1836 to 1896.","Source: Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. monticello.org. Accessed 13 January 2023.","This collection contains material which discusses enslavement and may contain racist language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials.","Funding for enhanced description and digitization of this collection was graciously provided by John C.R. Taylor, III.","The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library also holds the Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas (MS 5533).","The collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present.","Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.","Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)","Randolph family","English"],"unitid_tesim":["MSS 1397","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1426"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"collection_title_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"collection_ssim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"creator_ssm":["Randolph family"],"creator_ssim":["Randolph family"],"creator_famname_ssim":["Randolph family"],"creators_ssim":["Randolph family"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Slavery--United States -- Virginia","African Americans -- Virginia"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Slavery--United States -- Virginia","African Americans -- Virginia"],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"extent_ssm":["5.4 Cubic Feet 11 Hollinger document boxes and one oversize box"],"extent_tesim":["5.4 Cubic Feet 11 Hollinger document boxes and one oversize box"],"date_range_isim":[1732,1733,1734,1735,1736,1737,1738,1739,1740,1741,1742,1743,1744,1745,1746,1747,1748,1749,1750,1751,1752,1753,1754,1755,1756,1757,1758,1759,1760,1761,1762,1763,1764,1765,1766,1767,1768,1769,1770,1771,1772,1773,1774,1775,1776,1777,1778,1779,1780,1781,1782,1783,1784,1785,1786,1787,1788,1789,1790,1791,1792,1793,1794,1795,1796,1797,1798,1799,1800,1801,1802,1803,1804,1805,1806,1807,1808,1809,1810,1811,1812,1813,1814,1815,1816,1817,1818,1819,1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is open for research use.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The collection is open for research use."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe materials are arranged chronologically. Oversized items are listed at the end of the inventory.\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["The materials are arranged chronologically. Oversized items are listed at the end of the inventory."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Randolph familiy of Virginia began with William Randolph, who emigrated from Warwickshire, England between 1669 and 1673. He was the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMartha Jefferson Randolph (eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson) married her third cousin, Thomas Mann Randolph in 1790. Together they had eleven children, whom Martha educated at home. Martha was known for her keen intellect and would often assist her father with his affairs. Thomas became a botanist and served as a Virginia delegate, senator, governor, and congressman.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEdgehill was Martha and Thomas' Virginia plantation, and later the chief residence of their eldest son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Martha and Thomas inherited the land from Thomas' father and built their first home there in 1799. A second, larger house was built in 1828. The family also operated a girls' school on the plantation, called \"Edgehill School\" from 1836 to 1896.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSource: Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. monticello.org. Accessed 13 January 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Note"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Randolph familiy of Virginia began with William Randolph, who emigrated from Warwickshire, England between 1669 and 1673. He was the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson. ","Martha Jefferson Randolph (eldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson) married her third cousin, Thomas Mann Randolph in 1790. Together they had eleven children, whom Martha educated at home. Martha was known for her keen intellect and would often assist her father with his affairs. Thomas became a botanist and served as a Virginia delegate, senator, governor, and congressman.","Edgehill was Martha and Thomas' Virginia plantation, and later the chief residence of their eldest son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Martha and Thomas inherited the land from Thomas' father and built their first home there in 1799. A second, larger house was built in 1828. The family also operated a girls' school on the plantation, called \"Edgehill School\" from 1836 to 1896.","Source: Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia. monticello.org. Accessed 13 January 2023."],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains material which discusses enslavement and may contain racist language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFunding for enhanced description and digitization of this collection was graciously provided by John C.R. Taylor, III.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Content Warning","Funding"],"odd_tesim":["This collection contains material which discusses enslavement and may contain racist language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials.","Funding for enhanced description and digitization of this collection was graciously provided by John C.R. Taylor, III."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, MSS 1397, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, MSS 1397, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library also holds the Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas (MS 5533).\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Materials"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library also holds the Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas (MS 5533)."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1732-1860, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"names_coll_ssim":["Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)"],"names_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)","Randolph family"],"corpname_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)"],"famname_ssim":["Randolph family"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":1011,"online_item_count_is":1004,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-09T07:08:45.006Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1426_c929"}},{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02_c101","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War.","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02_c101#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02_c101","ref_ssm":["viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02_c101"],"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02_c101","ead_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","_root_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","_nest_parent_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02","parent_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02","parent_ssim":["viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02"],"parent_ids_ssim":["viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas","Series II: Randolph Papers"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas","Series II: Randolph Papers"],"text":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas","Series II: Randolph Papers","G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War.","16 pp.","box 5","folder 101"],"title_filing_ssi":"G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War.","title_ssm":["G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War."],"title_tesim":["G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War."],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1862 - 1865"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862/1865"],"normalized_title_ssm":["G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War."],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"collection_ssim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas"],"physdesc_tesim":["16 pp."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":542,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["The collection is open for research use."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1765-1869, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"G.W. Randolph to his wife, Mary [Elizabeth Adams] Randolph. Four letters and several news clippings concerning George W. Randolph's service to the Confederacy during the Civil War., 1862 - 1865\",\"href\":\"https://iiifman.lib.virginia.edu/pid/tsb:108036\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1862,1863,1864,1865],"containers_ssim":["box 5","folder 101"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#100","timestamp":"2026-06-09T07:08:45.006Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","ead_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","_root_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","_nest_parent_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1395","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/UVA/repositories_3_resources_1395.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/147346","title_filing_ssi":"Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas papers","title_ssm":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas"],"title_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas"],"unitdate_ssm":["1765-1869"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1765-1869"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MSS 5533","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1395"],"text":["MSS 5533","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1395","Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas","Slavery--United States -- Virginia","African Americans -- Virginia","The collection is open for research use.","The papers are arranged in three series:","Series: I) Wilson Cary Nicholas Papers\nSubseries A: Correspondence (Boxes 1-3)\nSubseries B: Financial, Legal, and Miscellaneous Papers (Boxes 3-4)\nSubseries C: Militia Papers (Box 4)","Series: II) Randolph Family Papers (Boxes 5-6)","Series: III) Drawings, Surveys, etc. (OS Edgehill-Randolph Box).","Wilson Cary Nicholas (January 31, 1761-October 10, 1820) was an American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the Governor of Virginia 1814 to 1816. Nicholas was born in Williamsburg, Virginia where he attended the College of William and Mary. According to Nicholas's entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress , he served in the American Revolutionary War as commander of George Washington's Life Guard until the unit disbanded in 1783. This appears to be an error: his entry in American National Biography states that \"he commanded Virginia volunteer units from the fall of 1780 until the following fall, but there is no evidence that he was actually involved in battlefield action.\" He married Margaret Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, and settled at \"Warren\" in Albemarle County where he became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1784-1789 and a delegate to the ratifying convention of 1788 which approved the Federal Constitution.","Robert Carter Nicholas (1728-1780) was the nephew of Wilson Cary Nicholas and the son of Dr. George Nicholas and Elizabeth Carter Burwell Nicholas (widow of Nathaniel Burwell) of Williamsburg, Virginia. His father migrated to Virginia; his mother was the daughter of wealthy Virginia landowner, Robert \"King\" Carter of Corotoman . Born January 28, 1728/9, both parents were dead by 1734. He studied law at the College of William and Mary and practiced in the general court under the royal government. He served in the House of Burgesses, 1755-61 as the representative from York County, and from 1766-1775 as the representative of James City County, and was Treasurer for the colony of Virginia, 1766-1775. He was a member of the Virginia General Assembly from 1776 to 1778 and in 1779 was appointed to the high court of chancery. Nicholas married Anne Cary, daughter of Wilson Cary of Warwick County in 1751 and the couple had four daughters and six sons.","George Nicholas, born in Williamsburg about 1754, was the son of Robert Carter Nicholas, treasurer of Virginia from 1766 to 1776, and a great grandson of Robert \"King\" Carter. He attended the College of William and Mary and became a noted attorney. Nicholas was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental army but spent much of his time in Baltimore and did not participate in any significant engagements. During service in the House of Delegates in 1778-1779, 1781-1782, 1783, and from 1786 to 1788, the last three terms representing Albemarle County, Nicholas became friendly with James Madison. Elected to the Virginia Ratification Convention of 1788, Nicholas followed Madison's lead and spoke in favor of ratification of the proposed new Constitution. Soon after the convention, he moved west to Kentucky, where he had a distinguished career as an attorney, as a leading member of the Kentucky Constitutional Convention of 1792, and as the first attorney general of the state and professor of law at Transylvania University. Nicholas wrote important letters on western affairs to Madison and to Thomas Jefferson, which George Washington also read, and tried to convince the federal government to increase its military presence in the West to protect settlers from Indian incursions and to secure westerners' access to the Mississippi River. George Nicholas died in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 25, 1799.","Sources:\nRobert Carter Nicholas, Sr. (2009, September 8) In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia . Retrieved 13:10, October 15, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Robert_Carter_Nicholas,_Sr.\u0026oldid=312497296","Library of Virginia website: http://www.virginiamemory.com/online_classroom/shaping_the_constitution/people/george_nicholas","This collection contains material which discusses enslavement and may contain racist language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials.","Funding for enhanced description and digitization of this collection was graciously provided by John C.R. Taylor, III.","This record is made available under a Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license. The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library of the University of Virginia makes its bibliographic records and the metadata contained therein available for public use under the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Designation.","The word \"slaves\" has been retained in this case because it is in the title of the document.","The word \"slave\" has been retained in this case because it is in the title of the document.","This collection consists of the papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, (commonly called the Edgehill-Randolph Papers) and the Wilson Cary Nicholas papers, ca. 787 items (6 Hollinger boxes, 2.5 linear shelf feet), ca. 1765-1869, and undated.","All items pertaining to Thomas Jefferson have been transferred to the Thomas Jefferson Papers and are described in the online Calendar of the Jefferson Papers of the University of Virginia: Multiple numbers. A search for \"5533\" should find all the Jefferson items formerly in this collection, almost 400 items.","Materials in this collection, which were created in 1765-1869, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.","Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)","Randolph family","Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826","English"],"unitid_tesim":["MSS 5533","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1395"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas"],"collection_title_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas"],"collection_ssim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"creator_ssm":["Randolph family"],"creator_ssim":["Randolph family"],"creator_famname_ssim":["Randolph family"],"creators_ssim":["Randolph family"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1765-1869, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"acqinfo_ssim":["This collection was originally loaned to the University of Virginia Library Special Collections Department by Mrs. Page Kirk, Miss Olivia Taylor, and Miss Margaret Taylor, \"Lochlyn,\" Charlottesville, Virginia, on January 29, 1957. Shares held by the Misses Margaret and Olivia Taylor were bequeathed to Special Collections on March 25, 1986. The share held by Mrs. Kirk's daughter, Mrs. Mary Mann Moyer, was given to Special Collections on January 5, 1987."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Slavery--United States -- Virginia","African Americans -- Virginia"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Slavery--United States -- Virginia","African Americans -- Virginia"],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"extent_ssm":["2.5 Cubic Feet 6 Hollinger document boxes and one oversize box"],"extent_tesim":["2.5 Cubic Feet 6 Hollinger document boxes and one oversize box"],"physfacet_tesim":["about 787 items"],"date_range_isim":[1765,1766,1767,1768,1769,1770,1771,1772,1773,1774,1775,1776,1777,1778,1779,1780,1781,1782,1783,1784,1785,1786,1787,1788,1789,1790,1791,1792,1793,1794,1795,1796,1797,1798,1799,1800,1801,1802,1803,1804,1805,1806,1807,1808,1809,1810,1811,1812,1813,1814,1815,1816,1817,1818,1819,1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is open for research use.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The collection is open for research use."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe papers are arranged in three series:\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries: I) Wilson Cary Nicholas Papers\nSubseries A: Correspondence (Boxes 1-3)\nSubseries B: Financial, Legal, and Miscellaneous Papers (Boxes 3-4)\nSubseries C: Militia Papers (Box 4)\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries: II) Randolph Family Papers (Boxes 5-6)\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries: III) Drawings, Surveys, etc. (OS Edgehill-Randolph Box).\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["The papers are arranged in three series:","Series: I) Wilson Cary Nicholas Papers\nSubseries A: Correspondence (Boxes 1-3)\nSubseries B: Financial, Legal, and Miscellaneous Papers (Boxes 3-4)\nSubseries C: Militia Papers (Box 4)","Series: II) Randolph Family Papers (Boxes 5-6)","Series: III) Drawings, Surveys, etc. (OS Edgehill-Randolph Box)."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWilson Cary Nicholas (January 31, 1761-October 10, 1820) was an American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the Governor of Virginia 1814 to 1816. Nicholas was born in Williamsburg, Virginia where he attended the College of William and Mary. According to Nicholas's entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress , he served in the American Revolutionary War as commander of George Washington's Life Guard until the unit disbanded in 1783. This appears to be an error: his entry in American National Biography states that \"he commanded Virginia volunteer units from the fall of 1780 until the following fall, but there is no evidence that he was actually involved in battlefield action.\" He married Margaret Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, and settled at \"Warren\" in Albemarle County where he became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1784-1789 and a delegate to the ratifying convention of 1788 which approved the Federal Constitution.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eRobert Carter Nicholas (1728-1780) was the nephew of Wilson Cary Nicholas and the son of Dr. George Nicholas and Elizabeth Carter Burwell Nicholas (widow of Nathaniel Burwell) of Williamsburg, Virginia. His father migrated to Virginia; his mother was the daughter of wealthy Virginia landowner, Robert \"King\" Carter of Corotoman . Born January 28, 1728/9, both parents were dead by 1734. He studied law at the College of William and Mary and practiced in the general court under the royal government. He served in the House of Burgesses, 1755-61 as the representative from York County, and from 1766-1775 as the representative of James City County, and was Treasurer for the colony of Virginia, 1766-1775. He was a member of the Virginia General Assembly from 1776 to 1778 and in 1779 was appointed to the high court of chancery. Nicholas married Anne Cary, daughter of Wilson Cary of Warwick County in 1751 and the couple had four daughters and six sons.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eGeorge Nicholas, born in Williamsburg about 1754, was the son of Robert Carter Nicholas, treasurer of Virginia from 1766 to 1776, and a great grandson of Robert \"King\" Carter. He attended the College of William and Mary and became a noted attorney. Nicholas was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental army but spent much of his time in Baltimore and did not participate in any significant engagements. During service in the House of Delegates in 1778-1779, 1781-1782, 1783, and from 1786 to 1788, the last three terms representing Albemarle County, Nicholas became friendly with James Madison. Elected to the Virginia Ratification Convention of 1788, Nicholas followed Madison's lead and spoke in favor of ratification of the proposed new Constitution. Soon after the convention, he moved west to Kentucky, where he had a distinguished career as an attorney, as a leading member of the Kentucky Constitutional Convention of 1792, and as the first attorney general of the state and professor of law at Transylvania University. Nicholas wrote important letters on western affairs to Madison and to Thomas Jefferson, which George Washington also read, and tried to convince the federal government to increase its military presence in the West to protect settlers from Indian incursions and to secure westerners' access to the Mississippi River. George Nicholas died in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 25, 1799.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSources:\nRobert Carter Nicholas, Sr. (2009, September 8) In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia . Retrieved 13:10, October 15, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Robert_Carter_Nicholas,_Sr.\u0026amp;oldid=312497296\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLibrary of Virginia website: http://www.virginiamemory.com/online_classroom/shaping_the_constitution/people/george_nicholas\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical Note"],"bioghist_tesim":["Wilson Cary Nicholas (January 31, 1761-October 10, 1820) was an American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the Governor of Virginia 1814 to 1816. Nicholas was born in Williamsburg, Virginia where he attended the College of William and Mary. According to Nicholas's entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress , he served in the American Revolutionary War as commander of George Washington's Life Guard until the unit disbanded in 1783. This appears to be an error: his entry in American National Biography states that \"he commanded Virginia volunteer units from the fall of 1780 until the following fall, but there is no evidence that he was actually involved in battlefield action.\" He married Margaret Smith of Baltimore, Maryland, and settled at \"Warren\" in Albemarle County where he became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1784-1789 and a delegate to the ratifying convention of 1788 which approved the Federal Constitution.","Robert Carter Nicholas (1728-1780) was the nephew of Wilson Cary Nicholas and the son of Dr. George Nicholas and Elizabeth Carter Burwell Nicholas (widow of Nathaniel Burwell) of Williamsburg, Virginia. His father migrated to Virginia; his mother was the daughter of wealthy Virginia landowner, Robert \"King\" Carter of Corotoman . Born January 28, 1728/9, both parents were dead by 1734. He studied law at the College of William and Mary and practiced in the general court under the royal government. He served in the House of Burgesses, 1755-61 as the representative from York County, and from 1766-1775 as the representative of James City County, and was Treasurer for the colony of Virginia, 1766-1775. He was a member of the Virginia General Assembly from 1776 to 1778 and in 1779 was appointed to the high court of chancery. Nicholas married Anne Cary, daughter of Wilson Cary of Warwick County in 1751 and the couple had four daughters and six sons.","George Nicholas, born in Williamsburg about 1754, was the son of Robert Carter Nicholas, treasurer of Virginia from 1766 to 1776, and a great grandson of Robert \"King\" Carter. He attended the College of William and Mary and became a noted attorney. Nicholas was a lieutenant colonel in the Continental army but spent much of his time in Baltimore and did not participate in any significant engagements. During service in the House of Delegates in 1778-1779, 1781-1782, 1783, and from 1786 to 1788, the last three terms representing Albemarle County, Nicholas became friendly with James Madison. Elected to the Virginia Ratification Convention of 1788, Nicholas followed Madison's lead and spoke in favor of ratification of the proposed new Constitution. Soon after the convention, he moved west to Kentucky, where he had a distinguished career as an attorney, as a leading member of the Kentucky Constitutional Convention of 1792, and as the first attorney general of the state and professor of law at Transylvania University. Nicholas wrote important letters on western affairs to Madison and to Thomas Jefferson, which George Washington also read, and tried to convince the federal government to increase its military presence in the West to protect settlers from Indian incursions and to secure westerners' access to the Mississippi River. George Nicholas died in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 25, 1799.","Sources:\nRobert Carter Nicholas, Sr. (2009, September 8) In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia . Retrieved 13:10, October 15, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Robert_Carter_Nicholas,_Sr.\u0026oldid=312497296","Library of Virginia website: http://www.virginiamemory.com/online_classroom/shaping_the_constitution/people/george_nicholas"],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains material which discusses enslavement and may contain racist language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFunding for enhanced description and digitization of this collection was graciously provided by John C.R. Taylor, III.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis record is made available under a Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license. The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library of the University of Virginia makes its bibliographic records and the metadata contained therein available for public use under the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Designation.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe word \"slaves\" has been retained in this case because it is in the title of the document.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe word \"slave\" has been retained in this case because it is in the title of the document.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Content Warning","Funding","Metadata Rights Declaration","Note:","Note:"],"odd_tesim":["This collection contains material which discusses enslavement and may contain racist language. The purpose of this note is to give users the opportunity to decide whether they need or want to view these materials, or at least, to mentally or emotionally prepare themselves to view the materials.","Funding for enhanced description and digitization of this collection was graciously provided by John C.R. Taylor, III.","This record is made available under a Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license. The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library of the University of Virginia makes its bibliographic records and the metadata contained therein available for public use under the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Designation.","The word \"slaves\" has been retained in this case because it is in the title of the document.","The word \"slave\" has been retained in this case because it is in the title of the document."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas, MSS 5533, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill and Wilson Cary Nicholas, MSS 5533, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of the papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, (commonly called the Edgehill-Randolph Papers) and the Wilson Cary Nicholas papers, ca. 787 items (6 Hollinger boxes, 2.5 linear shelf feet), ca. 1765-1869, and undated.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection consists of the papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, (commonly called the Edgehill-Randolph Papers) and the Wilson Cary Nicholas papers, ca. 787 items (6 Hollinger boxes, 2.5 linear shelf feet), ca. 1765-1869, and undated."],"separatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAll items pertaining to Thomas Jefferson have been transferred to the Thomas Jefferson Papers and are described in the online Calendar of the Jefferson Papers of the University of Virginia: Multiple numbers. A search for \"5533\" should find all the Jefferson items formerly in this collection, almost 400 items.\u003c/p\u003e"],"separatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Separated Materials"],"separatedmaterial_tesim":["All items pertaining to Thomas Jefferson have been transferred to the Thomas Jefferson Papers and are described in the online Calendar of the Jefferson Papers of the University of Virginia: Multiple numbers. A search for \"5533\" should find all the Jefferson items formerly in this collection, almost 400 items."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials in this collection, which were created in 1765-1869, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials in this collection, which were created in 1765-1869, are in the public domain. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required."],"names_coll_ssim":["Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)","Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826"],"names_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)","Randolph family","Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826"],"corpname_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","Edgehill (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate)"],"famname_ssim":["Randolph family"],"persname_ssim":["Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":653,"online_item_count_is":646,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-06-09T07:08:45.006Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1395_c02_c101"}},{"id":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01_c03","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"Harvey Baldwin","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01_c03#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01_c03","ref_ssm":["vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01_c03"],"id":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01_c03","ead_ssi":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","_root_":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","_nest_parent_":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01","parent_ssi":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01","parent_ssim":["vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Sarah Tracy Collection","People - Identified"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Sarah Tracy Collection","People - Identified"],"text":["Sarah Tracy Collection","People - Identified","Harvey Baldwin","Albumen print on carte de visite mount, head-and-shoulders portrait, of 'Harvey Baldwin,' dressed in Union uniform. Photographer's stamp on the reverse read: Henry Ulke, 278 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C.","Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910","Cartes de visite","Photographs","Card Photographs","Albumen prints","English .","box Cartes de visite - Box 1"],"title_filing_ssi":"Harvey Baldwin","title_ssm":["Harvey Baldwin"],"title_tesim":["Harvey Baldwin"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1860-1870"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1860/1870"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Harvey Baldwin"],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon"],"collection_ssim":["Sarah Tracy Collection"],"physdesc_tesim":["Albumen print on carte de visite mount, head-and-shoulders portrait, of 'Harvey Baldwin,' dressed in Union uniform. Photographer's stamp on the reverse read: Henry Ulke, 278 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C."],"dimensions_tesim":["2 1/2 in. x 4 1/4 in."],"creator_ssim":["Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910"],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":4,"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Material can be reproduced for study or personal use upon written approval from library staff."],"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"Harvey Baldwin\",\"href\":\"http://catalog.mountvernon.org/digital/collection/p16829coll40/id/69/rec/1\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870],"names_ssim":["Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910"],"persname_ssim":["Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Cartes de visite","Photographs","Card Photographs","Albumen prints"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Cartes de visite","Photographs","Card Photographs","Albumen prints"],"language_ssim":["English ."],"containers_ssim":["box Cartes de visite - Box 1"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#2","timestamp":"2026-05-21T05:53:35.669Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","ead_ssi":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","_root_":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","_nest_parent_":"vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/MV/repositories_4_resources_62.xml","title_ssm":["Sarah Tracy Collection"],"title_tesim":["Sarah Tracy Collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["1859-1868"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1859-1868"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["STC"],"text":["STC","Sarah Tracy Collection","Cartes de visite","The arrangement of the collection is divided between people (identified and unidentified) and places; and then arranged in alphabetical order.","Sarah Tracy was the secretary to the regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Ann Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina. As the Civil War was descending on the nation, Sarah Tracy (and her sister as chaperone) moved into Mount Vernon to protect the estate and ensure absolute neutrality. This was a troubling time on the estate and at one point, she braved barricades, destroyed roads, and a night in a commandeered house, for promises of neutrality and supplies from General McClellan. For eight years, she served as doctor and manager at Mount Vernon while selling flowers, produce, and jewelry which she made out of coffee beans in order to raise money. The Ladies Association also appointed a Superintendent to care for the estate, Upton Herbert, who was trapped at Mount Vernon through the war. After Miss Tracy resigned in 1868, she married Mr. Herbert and they passed on the care of George Washington's home to make their own home together in Burke, Virginia.","Biography extracted from: Mount Vernon Education Department,\n\"Love \u0026 War at Mount Vernon\" in George Washington Wired, June 30, 2009","2 copies","Collection of 80 photographs which belonged to Miss Sarah C. Tracy (later Mrs. Upton H. Herbert), resident secretary at Mount Vernon during the Civil War years. The pictures most of which are cartes de visite were collected by Miss Tracy; some were obviously presented to her, after the fashion of the day, and are inscribed. Besides the one of herself there are three of Mount Vernon which must date from the years of her residence. Others include Leeds Castle, the English seat of Thomas, Lord Fairfax; the President's House at the Soldiers' Home, Washington, D.C.; the Milwaukee residence of Mrs. Mitchell, Vice-Regent for Wisconsin; General Winfield Scott; General George B. McClellan; W. W. Corcoran of Washington, D.C.; George W. Riggs, Treasurer of the Association; Lord Fairfax; Prince Napoleon; Louis de Geofroy (of the French Legation, who accompanied Price Napoleon to Mount Vernon in August, 1861), inscribed; and Miss Nettie Chase, daughter of Hon. Salmon P. Chase of the Lincoln Cabinet. Also included are pictures of others, chiefly celebrated figures of the nineteenth century; these were probably acquired through gift or purchases, and not presented by the subjects themselves. ","Gift of Miss Tracy's great-niece, Miss Caro Arnold of Montclair, N. J., 1953","Traveled with Prince Napoleon during his visit to Mount Vernon on August 6, 1861.","Sister of Sarah Tracy, \"Aunty Caro\"","This collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library's Special Collections and Archives Registration From before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain material for preservation purposes.","Material can be reproduced for study or personal use upon written approval from library staff.","Photo Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association","C. R. Rees and Bro. (Richmond, Va.)","Charles Taber \u0026 Co.","Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union","E. \u0026 H.T. Anthony (Firm)","W. \u0026 D. Downey","Philip \u0026 Solomons","Charles D. Fredricks \u0026 Co.","Whitehurst Gallery (Washington, D.C.)","Silsbee, Case \u0026 Co. (Boston)","Franklin \u0026 Co. (Washington, D. C.)","Beniczky \u0026 Co. (New York)","The New York Photograph Co.","Anderson's Photographic Gallery","Bendann Bros.","Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896","Baldwin, Charles H., 1822-1888","Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910","Barnes, Joseph K., 1817-1883","Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896","Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893","Cavour, Camillo Benso, conte di, 1810-1861","Chase, Abby Wheaton Pearce, 1816-1892","Loeffler, J. (John Jacob), 1834-1901","Hoyt, Janet Ralston Chase, 1847-1925","Chase, Salmon P.  (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873","Chase, H. L., 1831-1901","Coan, Titus, 1801-1882","Levitsky, 1819-1898","Corcoran, W.W. (William Wilson), 1798-1888","Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889","Davis, Varina, 1826-1906","Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834","Glosser, Henry","Hunter, R. M. T. (Robert Mercer Taliaferro), 1809-1887","Lee, Robert E.  (Robert Edward), 1807-1870","Lee, George Washington Custis, 1832-1913","Taylor, Walter Herron, 1838-1916","Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882","Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865","Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882","Lincoln, Robert Todd, 1843-1926","Lincoln, Thomas, 1853-1871","Bowron, G. J.","de Geofroy, Louis","Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875","Keith, Clarence","McClellan, George B.  (George Brinton), 1826-1885","Napier, Francis, Baron Napier and Ettrick, 1819-1898","Napier, Anne Jane Charlotte Lockwood, 1823-1911","Napier, William John George, 1846-1913","Napier, John Scott, 1848-1938","Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864","Whitehurst, Jesse Harrison, 1819-1875","Riggs, George Washington, 1813-1881","Addis, R. W. (Robert W.), -1874","Riggs, Remus G.","Roszelle, Dulaney DeButts","Seward, William H.  (William Henry), 1801-1872","Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866","Stansbury, Edward Augustus, 1811-1873","Stanton, Edwin M.  (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Stephens, Alexander H.  (Alexander Hamilton), 1812-1883","Stevens, Thaddeus, 1792-1868","Stoeckl, Eduard de, Baron","Tracy, Mary Caroline","Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901","Bonaparte, Napoléon-Joseph-Charles-Paul, Prince, 1822-1891","Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873","Eugénie, Empress, consort of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1826-1920","Louis Napoléon, Prince Impérial of the French, 1856-1879","Washington, George, 1732-1799","Washington, Martha, 1731-1802","Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878","Winthrop, Theodore, 1828-1861","Hall, Augustus M.","Washburn, W. W.","Brown, Henry S.","Maucel, Henry","English \n.    "],"unitid_tesim":["STC"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Sarah Tracy Collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Sarah Tracy Collection"],"collection_ssim":["Sarah Tracy Collection"],"repository_ssm":["The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon"],"repository_ssim":["The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon"],"creator_ssm":["Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896"],"creator_ssim":["Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896"],"creators_ssim":["Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896"],"access_terms_ssm":["This collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library's Special Collections and Archives Registration From before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain material for preservation purposes.","Material can be reproduced for study or personal use upon written approval from library staff."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Cartes de visite"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Cartes de visite"],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"extent_ssm":["80 Photographic Prints"],"extent_tesim":["80 Photographic Prints"],"genreform_ssim":["Cartes de visite"],"date_range_isim":[1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe arrangement of the collection is divided between people (identified and unidentified) and places; and then arranged in alphabetical order.\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["The arrangement of the collection is divided between people (identified and unidentified) and places; and then arranged in alphabetical order."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSarah Tracy was the secretary to the regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Ann Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina. As the Civil War was descending on the nation, Sarah Tracy (and her sister as chaperone) moved into Mount Vernon to protect the estate and ensure absolute neutrality. This was a troubling time on the estate and at one point, she braved barricades, destroyed roads, and a night in a commandeered house, for promises of neutrality and supplies from General McClellan. For eight years, she served as doctor and manager at Mount Vernon while selling flowers, produce, and jewelry which she made out of coffee beans in order to raise money. The Ladies Association also appointed a Superintendent to care for the estate, Upton Herbert, who was trapped at Mount Vernon through the war. After Miss Tracy resigned in 1868, she married Mr. Herbert and they passed on the care of George Washington's home to make their own home together in Burke, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBiography extracted from: Mount Vernon Education Department,\n\"Love \u0026amp; War at Mount Vernon\" in George Washington Wired, June 30, 2009\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Sarah Tracy was the secretary to the regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Ann Pamela Cunningham of South Carolina. As the Civil War was descending on the nation, Sarah Tracy (and her sister as chaperone) moved into Mount Vernon to protect the estate and ensure absolute neutrality. This was a troubling time on the estate and at one point, she braved barricades, destroyed roads, and a night in a commandeered house, for promises of neutrality and supplies from General McClellan. For eight years, she served as doctor and manager at Mount Vernon while selling flowers, produce, and jewelry which she made out of coffee beans in order to raise money. The Ladies Association also appointed a Superintendent to care for the estate, Upton Herbert, who was trapped at Mount Vernon through the war. After Miss Tracy resigned in 1868, she married Mr. Herbert and they passed on the care of George Washington's home to make their own home together in Burke, Virginia.","Biography extracted from: Mount Vernon Education Department,\n\"Love \u0026 War at Mount Vernon\" in George Washington Wired, June 30, 2009"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Name and date of item], Sarah Tracy Collection, Photo Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, The George Washington Presidential Library [hereafter Washington Library], Mount Vernon, Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["[Name and date of item], Sarah Tracy Collection, Photo Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, The George Washington Presidential Library [hereafter Washington Library], Mount Vernon, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e2 copies\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["2 copies"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eCollection of 80 photographs which belonged to Miss Sarah C. Tracy (later Mrs. Upton H. Herbert), resident secretary at Mount Vernon during the Civil War years. The pictures most of which are cartes de visite were collected by Miss Tracy; some were obviously presented to her, after the fashion of the day, and are inscribed. Besides the one of herself there are three of Mount Vernon which must date from the years of her residence. Others include Leeds Castle, the English seat of Thomas, Lord Fairfax; the President's House at the Soldiers' Home, Washington, D.C.; the Milwaukee residence of Mrs. Mitchell, Vice-Regent for Wisconsin; General Winfield Scott; General George B. McClellan; W. W. Corcoran of Washington, D.C.; George W. Riggs, Treasurer of the Association; Lord Fairfax; Prince Napoleon; Louis de Geofroy (of the French Legation, who accompanied Price Napoleon to Mount Vernon in August, 1861), inscribed; and Miss Nettie Chase, daughter of Hon. Salmon P. Chase of the Lincoln Cabinet. Also included are pictures of others, chiefly celebrated figures of the nineteenth century; these were probably acquired through gift or purchases, and not presented by the subjects themselves. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eGift of Miss Tracy's great-niece, Miss Caro Arnold of Montclair, N. J., 1953\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTraveled with Prince Napoleon during his visit to Mount Vernon on August 6, 1861.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSister of Sarah Tracy, \"Aunty Caro\"\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents","Scope and Contents","Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Collection of 80 photographs which belonged to Miss Sarah C. Tracy (later Mrs. Upton H. Herbert), resident secretary at Mount Vernon during the Civil War years. The pictures most of which are cartes de visite were collected by Miss Tracy; some were obviously presented to her, after the fashion of the day, and are inscribed. Besides the one of herself there are three of Mount Vernon which must date from the years of her residence. Others include Leeds Castle, the English seat of Thomas, Lord Fairfax; the President's House at the Soldiers' Home, Washington, D.C.; the Milwaukee residence of Mrs. Mitchell, Vice-Regent for Wisconsin; General Winfield Scott; General George B. McClellan; W. W. Corcoran of Washington, D.C.; George W. Riggs, Treasurer of the Association; Lord Fairfax; Prince Napoleon; Louis de Geofroy (of the French Legation, who accompanied Price Napoleon to Mount Vernon in August, 1861), inscribed; and Miss Nettie Chase, daughter of Hon. Salmon P. Chase of the Lincoln Cabinet. Also included are pictures of others, chiefly celebrated figures of the nineteenth century; these were probably acquired through gift or purchases, and not presented by the subjects themselves. ","Gift of Miss Tracy's great-niece, Miss Caro Arnold of Montclair, N. J., 1953","Traveled with Prince Napoleon during his visit to Mount Vernon on August 6, 1861.","Sister of Sarah Tracy, \"Aunty Caro\""],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library's Special Collections and Archives Registration From before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain material for preservation purposes.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterial can be reproduced for study or personal use upon written approval from library staff.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use","Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["This collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library's Special Collections and Archives Registration From before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain material for preservation purposes.","Material can be reproduced for study or personal use upon written approval from library staff."],"names_ssim":["Photo Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association","C. R. Rees and Bro. (Richmond, Va.)","Charles Taber \u0026 Co.","Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union","E. \u0026 H.T. Anthony (Firm)","W. \u0026 D. Downey","Philip \u0026 Solomons","Charles D. Fredricks \u0026 Co.","Whitehurst Gallery (Washington, D.C.)","Silsbee, Case \u0026 Co. (Boston)","Franklin \u0026 Co. (Washington, D. C.)","Beniczky \u0026 Co. (New York)","The New York Photograph Co.","Anderson's Photographic Gallery","Bendann Bros.","Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896","Baldwin, Charles H., 1822-1888","Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910","Barnes, Joseph K., 1817-1883","Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896","Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893","Cavour, Camillo Benso, conte di, 1810-1861","Chase, Abby Wheaton Pearce, 1816-1892","Loeffler, J. (John Jacob), 1834-1901","Hoyt, Janet Ralston Chase, 1847-1925","Chase, Salmon P.  (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873","Chase, H. L., 1831-1901","Coan, Titus, 1801-1882","Levitsky, 1819-1898","Corcoran, W.W. (William Wilson), 1798-1888","Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889","Davis, Varina, 1826-1906","Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834","Glosser, Henry","Hunter, R. M. T. (Robert Mercer Taliaferro), 1809-1887","Lee, Robert E.  (Robert Edward), 1807-1870","Lee, George Washington Custis, 1832-1913","Taylor, Walter Herron, 1838-1916","Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882","Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865","Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882","Lincoln, Robert Todd, 1843-1926","Lincoln, Thomas, 1853-1871","Bowron, G. J.","de Geofroy, Louis","Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875","Keith, Clarence","McClellan, George B.  (George Brinton), 1826-1885","Napier, Francis, Baron Napier and Ettrick, 1819-1898","Napier, Anne Jane Charlotte Lockwood, 1823-1911","Napier, William John George, 1846-1913","Napier, John Scott, 1848-1938","Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864","Whitehurst, Jesse Harrison, 1819-1875","Riggs, George Washington, 1813-1881","Addis, R. W. (Robert W.), -1874","Riggs, Remus G.","Roszelle, Dulaney DeButts","Seward, William H.  (William Henry), 1801-1872","Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866","Stansbury, Edward Augustus, 1811-1873","Stanton, Edwin M.  (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Stephens, Alexander H.  (Alexander Hamilton), 1812-1883","Stevens, Thaddeus, 1792-1868","Stoeckl, Eduard de, Baron","Tracy, Mary Caroline","Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901","Bonaparte, Napoléon-Joseph-Charles-Paul, Prince, 1822-1891","Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873","Eugénie, Empress, consort of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1826-1920","Louis Napoléon, Prince Impérial of the French, 1856-1879","Washington, George, 1732-1799","Washington, Martha, 1731-1802","Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878","Winthrop, Theodore, 1828-1861","Hall, Augustus M.","Washburn, W. W.","Brown, Henry S.","Maucel, Henry"],"corpname_ssim":["Photo Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association","C. R. Rees and Bro. (Richmond, Va.)","Charles Taber \u0026 Co.","Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union","E. \u0026 H.T. Anthony (Firm)","W. \u0026 D. Downey","Philip \u0026 Solomons","Charles D. Fredricks \u0026 Co.","Whitehurst Gallery (Washington, D.C.)","Silsbee, Case \u0026 Co. (Boston)","Franklin \u0026 Co. (Washington, D. C.)","Beniczky \u0026 Co. (New York)","The New York Photograph Co.","Anderson's Photographic Gallery","Bendann Bros."],"persname_ssim":["Tracy, Sarah, 1820-1896","Baldwin, Charles H., 1822-1888","Ulke, Henry, 1821-1910","Barnes, Joseph K., 1817-1883","Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896","Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893","Cavour, Camillo Benso, conte di, 1810-1861","Chase, Abby Wheaton Pearce, 1816-1892","Loeffler, J. (John Jacob), 1834-1901","Hoyt, Janet Ralston Chase, 1847-1925","Chase, Salmon P.  (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873","Chase, H. L., 1831-1901","Coan, Titus, 1801-1882","Levitsky, 1819-1898","Corcoran, W.W. (William Wilson), 1798-1888","Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889","Davis, Varina, 1826-1906","Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834","Glosser, Henry","Hunter, R. M. T. (Robert Mercer Taliaferro), 1809-1887","Lee, Robert E.  (Robert Edward), 1807-1870","Lee, George Washington Custis, 1832-1913","Taylor, Walter Herron, 1838-1916","Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882","Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865","Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882","Lincoln, Robert Todd, 1843-1926","Lincoln, Thomas, 1853-1871","Bowron, G. J.","de Geofroy, Louis","Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875","Keith, Clarence","McClellan, George B.  (George Brinton), 1826-1885","Napier, Francis, Baron Napier and Ettrick, 1819-1898","Napier, Anne Jane Charlotte Lockwood, 1823-1911","Napier, William John George, 1846-1913","Napier, John Scott, 1848-1938","Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864","Whitehurst, Jesse Harrison, 1819-1875","Riggs, George Washington, 1813-1881","Addis, R. W. (Robert W.), -1874","Riggs, Remus G.","Roszelle, Dulaney DeButts","Seward, William H.  (William Henry), 1801-1872","Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866","Stansbury, Edward Augustus, 1811-1873","Stanton, Edwin M.  (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Stephens, Alexander H.  (Alexander Hamilton), 1812-1883","Stevens, Thaddeus, 1792-1868","Stoeckl, Eduard de, Baron","Tracy, Mary Caroline","Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901","Bonaparte, Napoléon-Joseph-Charles-Paul, Prince, 1822-1891","Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873","Eugénie, Empress, consort of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1826-1920","Louis Napoléon, Prince Impérial of the French, 1856-1879","Washington, George, 1732-1799","Washington, Martha, 1731-1802","Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878","Winthrop, Theodore, 1828-1861","Hall, Augustus M.","Washburn, W. W.","Brown, Henry S.","Maucel, Henry"],"language_ssim":["English \n.    "],"total_component_count_is":82,"online_item_count_is":62,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T05:53:35.669Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vimtvl_repositories_4_resources_62_c01_c03"}},{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1446#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_repositories_3_resources_1446#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","ead_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","_root_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","_nest_parent_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/UVA/repositories_3_resources_1446.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/147972","title_filing_ssi":"Hugh Carr family and River View Farm ","title_ssm":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"title_tesim":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"unitdate_ssm":["1843-1978"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1843-1978"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MSS 10176","Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1446"],"text":["MSS 10176","Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1446","Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm","Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century","Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)","African American families","Dwellings -- Virginia -- Albemarle County.","The collection is open for research use.","During the Reconstruction period of Virginia history, Hugh Carr (1843-1914), who was formerly enslaved by Richard Wingfield, began the long process of purchasing various tracts of land that eventually made up the model farm along Ivy Creek known as \"River View\" in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community.","He and his wife, Texie Mae Hawkins,(1865-1899) raised seven children at River View Farm: Mary Louise Carr Greer, (1884-1973), Fannie Carr Washington (1887-?), Peachie Carr Jackson (1889-1977), Emma Clorinda Carr (1892-1974), Virginia Carr Brown (1893-1935), Ann Hazel Carr (1895-?), and one son Marshall Hubert Carr (1886-1916).The farm continued to grow and by 1890 it was over 125 acres making Carr among the largest African American landowner in Albemarle County. ","\nAs Hugh Carr was deprived of any formal education, he placed an emphasis on education for his daughters and son, all of whom went to school. Many of his children earned college degrees, becoming teachers and community leaders. ","His oldest, Mary Louise Carr became principal of Albemarle Training School and was an influential educator in the local community. Later, she was honored for her commitment to education with the naming of Greer Elementary School after her. In 1916, Mary Carr married Conly Greer, the first African American extension agent for Albemarle County and the last family member to farm at Riverview Farm. After his death in 1957, Mary Carr Greer continued to live there but the land was rented to local farmers to farm. When she died in 1973, she left the estate to her only child, Evangeline Greer Jones, who in turn sold it.","Following its sale, the farm was slated to become one of Charlottesville's newest subdivisions with a projected 200 homes. Elizabeth Conant, a biology teacher at the University of Virginia, realized that the land was ideal for a nature preserve. She contacted the Nature Conservancy who bought the farm and held it until the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were able to buy the land. The Ivy Creek Foundation was incorporated on May 23, 1979, and the future management of the land lies with them. Paul Saunier, former University of Virginia administrator, was the first president of the Foundation.","The Ivy Creek Natural Area, which currently borders the South Rivanna Reservoir of the City of Charlottesville and consists of 215 acres of forest, field, and stream, was formed from several tracts of land. These include the original tract from the Mary Carr Greer Estate of eighty acres in 1975, a thirty-eight-acre tract from the City of Charlottesville in 1979, the James Fleming tract of eighty-acres in 1981, the Flamenco tract of sixteen acres in 1981, and four tenths of an acre from Bedford Moore in 1981. The Greer property was named the Rann Preserve when purchased by the Nature Conservancy and was renamed the Ivy Creek Natural Area. The organizers of the Ivy Creek Natural Area recognized the history of the Carr family and worked to save and preserve the land as well as the family documents that were found in the farmhouse. ","Sources: Ivy Creek Foundation, Accessed 1/27/2023 https://ivycreekfoundation.org/cultural-history ","Some items in this collection sustained damage from pests and/or mold prior to coming to the Library. Preservation staff has frozen and stabilized the items to prevent further damage from pests or mold and cleaned the items to facilitate handling.","This collection MSS 10176 is related to the Ivy Creek Natural Area MSS 10770, about the history of River View farm and Hugh Carr family which is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. MSS 10770 is a deposit. It also contains the history of Ivy Creek Natural Area and how it was purchased by the local government to preserve the land and history.","This collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.","The papers show that Carr highly valued education for his daughters as well as his son. His eldest daughter, Mary Louise Carr Greer became a well-known educator and principal of Albemarle Training School. Her family continued to live on the farm until 1978 when it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area with the support of the Nature Conservancy. ","There are documents, newspaper clippings, photographs pertaining to the history of this prominent African American family. ","Included is the original receipt for the purchase of land for the farm by Hugh Carr in 1870 in the amount of $100 and contracts for when Carr worked as a farm manager for Richard Wingfield and A. A. Southerland. ","There are legal and financial papers of Conly Greer (1883-1956) and correspondence of Mary Carr Greer and her husband, Conly Greer.  Included is a letter written for Hugh Carr giving Conly approval to marry his daughter. (Hugh Carr could not read and write but he would sign his name with an X). There is also correspondence of their daughter, Evangeline Greer Jones while courting her husband, Hinton C. Jones.","Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","English"],"unitid_tesim":["MSS 10176","Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1446"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"collection_title_tesim":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"collection_ssim":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"geogname_ssm":["Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century"],"geogname_ssim":["Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century"],"places_ssim":["Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century"],"acqinfo_ssim":["MSS 10176,The Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm  was a gift from Evangeline Greer Jones to the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library 25 October, 1976."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)","African American families","Dwellings -- Virginia -- Albemarle County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)","African American families","Dwellings -- Virginia -- Albemarle County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"extent_ssm":["1 Cubic Feet"],"extent_tesim":["1 Cubic Feet"],"date_range_isim":[1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is open for research use.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The collection is open for research use."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDuring the Reconstruction period of Virginia history, Hugh Carr (1843-1914), who was formerly enslaved by Richard Wingfield, began the long process of purchasing various tracts of land that eventually made up the model farm along Ivy Creek known as \"River View\" in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHe and his wife, Texie Mae Hawkins,(1865-1899) raised seven children at River View Farm: Mary Louise Carr Greer, (1884-1973), Fannie Carr Washington (1887-?), Peachie Carr Jackson (1889-1977), Emma Clorinda Carr (1892-1974), Virginia Carr Brown (1893-1935), Ann Hazel Carr (1895-?), and one son Marshall Hubert Carr (1886-1916).The farm continued to grow and by 1890 it was over 125 acres making Carr among the largest African American landowner in Albemarle County. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nAs Hugh Carr was deprived of any formal education, he placed an emphasis on education for his daughters and son, all of whom went to school. Many of his children earned college degrees, becoming teachers and community leaders. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHis oldest, Mary Louise Carr became principal of Albemarle Training School and was an influential educator in the local community. Later, she was honored for her commitment to education with the naming of Greer Elementary School after her. In 1916, Mary Carr married Conly Greer, the first African American extension agent for Albemarle County and the last family member to farm at Riverview Farm. After his death in 1957, Mary Carr Greer continued to live there but the land was rented to local farmers to farm. When she died in 1973, she left the estate to her only child, Evangeline Greer Jones, who in turn sold it.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFollowing its sale, the farm was slated to become one of Charlottesville's newest subdivisions with a projected 200 homes. Elizabeth Conant, a biology teacher at the University of Virginia, realized that the land was ideal for a nature preserve. She contacted the Nature Conservancy who bought the farm and held it until the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were able to buy the land. The Ivy Creek Foundation was incorporated on May 23, 1979, and the future management of the land lies with them. Paul Saunier, former University of Virginia administrator, was the first president of the Foundation.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Ivy Creek Natural Area, which currently borders the South Rivanna Reservoir of the City of Charlottesville and consists of 215 acres of forest, field, and stream, was formed from several tracts of land. These include the original tract from the Mary Carr Greer Estate of eighty acres in 1975, a thirty-eight-acre tract from the City of Charlottesville in 1979, the James Fleming tract of eighty-acres in 1981, the Flamenco tract of sixteen acres in 1981, and four tenths of an acre from Bedford Moore in 1981. The Greer property was named the Rann Preserve when purchased by the Nature Conservancy and was renamed the Ivy Creek Natural Area. The organizers of the Ivy Creek Natural Area recognized the history of the Carr family and worked to save and preserve the land as well as the family documents that were found in the farmhouse. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSources: Ivy Creek Foundation, Accessed 1/27/2023 https://ivycreekfoundation.org/cultural-history \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["During the Reconstruction period of Virginia history, Hugh Carr (1843-1914), who was formerly enslaved by Richard Wingfield, began the long process of purchasing various tracts of land that eventually made up the model farm along Ivy Creek known as \"River View\" in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community.","He and his wife, Texie Mae Hawkins,(1865-1899) raised seven children at River View Farm: Mary Louise Carr Greer, (1884-1973), Fannie Carr Washington (1887-?), Peachie Carr Jackson (1889-1977), Emma Clorinda Carr (1892-1974), Virginia Carr Brown (1893-1935), Ann Hazel Carr (1895-?), and one son Marshall Hubert Carr (1886-1916).The farm continued to grow and by 1890 it was over 125 acres making Carr among the largest African American landowner in Albemarle County. ","\nAs Hugh Carr was deprived of any formal education, he placed an emphasis on education for his daughters and son, all of whom went to school. Many of his children earned college degrees, becoming teachers and community leaders. ","His oldest, Mary Louise Carr became principal of Albemarle Training School and was an influential educator in the local community. Later, she was honored for her commitment to education with the naming of Greer Elementary School after her. In 1916, Mary Carr married Conly Greer, the first African American extension agent for Albemarle County and the last family member to farm at Riverview Farm. After his death in 1957, Mary Carr Greer continued to live there but the land was rented to local farmers to farm. When she died in 1973, she left the estate to her only child, Evangeline Greer Jones, who in turn sold it.","Following its sale, the farm was slated to become one of Charlottesville's newest subdivisions with a projected 200 homes. Elizabeth Conant, a biology teacher at the University of Virginia, realized that the land was ideal for a nature preserve. She contacted the Nature Conservancy who bought the farm and held it until the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were able to buy the land. The Ivy Creek Foundation was incorporated on May 23, 1979, and the future management of the land lies with them. Paul Saunier, former University of Virginia administrator, was the first president of the Foundation.","The Ivy Creek Natural Area, which currently borders the South Rivanna Reservoir of the City of Charlottesville and consists of 215 acres of forest, field, and stream, was formed from several tracts of land. These include the original tract from the Mary Carr Greer Estate of eighty acres in 1975, a thirty-eight-acre tract from the City of Charlottesville in 1979, the James Fleming tract of eighty-acres in 1981, the Flamenco tract of sixteen acres in 1981, and four tenths of an acre from Bedford Moore in 1981. The Greer property was named the Rann Preserve when purchased by the Nature Conservancy and was renamed the Ivy Creek Natural Area. The organizers of the Ivy Creek Natural Area recognized the history of the Carr family and worked to save and preserve the land as well as the family documents that were found in the farmhouse. ","Sources: Ivy Creek Foundation, Accessed 1/27/2023 https://ivycreekfoundation.org/cultural-history "],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSome items in this collection sustained damage from pests and/or mold prior to coming to the Library. Preservation staff has frozen and stabilized the items to prevent further damage from pests or mold and cleaned the items to facilitate handling.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Conservation"],"odd_tesim":["Some items in this collection sustained damage from pests and/or mold prior to coming to the Library. Preservation staff has frozen and stabilized the items to prevent further damage from pests or mold and cleaned the items to facilitate handling."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMSS 10176, Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["MSS 10176, Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection MSS 10176 is related to the Ivy Creek Natural Area MSS 10770, about the history of River View farm and Hugh Carr family which is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. MSS 10770 is a deposit. It also contains the history of Ivy Creek Natural Area and how it was purchased by the local government to preserve the land and history.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Materials"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["This collection MSS 10176 is related to the Ivy Creek Natural Area MSS 10770, about the history of River View farm and Hugh Carr family which is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. MSS 10770 is a deposit. It also contains the history of Ivy Creek Natural Area and how it was purchased by the local government to preserve the land and history."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe papers show that Carr highly valued education for his daughters as well as his son. His eldest daughter, Mary Louise Carr Greer became a well-known educator and principal of Albemarle Training School. Her family continued to live on the farm until 1978 when it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area with the support of the Nature Conservancy. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere are documents, newspaper clippings, photographs pertaining to the history of this prominent African American family. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eIncluded is the original receipt for the purchase of land for the farm by Hugh Carr in 1870 in the amount of $100 and contracts for when Carr worked as a farm manager for Richard Wingfield and A. A. Southerland. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere are legal and financial papers of Conly Greer (1883-1956) and correspondence of Mary Carr Greer and her husband, Conly Greer.  Included is a letter written for Hugh Carr giving Conly approval to marry his daughter. (Hugh Carr could not read and write but he would sign his name with an X). There is also correspondence of their daughter, Evangeline Greer Jones while courting her husband, Hinton C. Jones.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.","The papers show that Carr highly valued education for his daughters as well as his son. His eldest daughter, Mary Louise Carr Greer became a well-known educator and principal of Albemarle Training School. Her family continued to live on the farm until 1978 when it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area with the support of the Nature Conservancy. ","There are documents, newspaper clippings, photographs pertaining to the history of this prominent African American family. ","Included is the original receipt for the purchase of land for the farm by Hugh Carr in 1870 in the amount of $100 and contracts for when Carr worked as a farm manager for Richard Wingfield and A. A. Southerland. ","There are legal and financial papers of Conly Greer (1883-1956) and correspondence of Mary Carr Greer and her husband, Conly Greer.  Included is a letter written for Hugh Carr giving Conly approval to marry his daughter. (Hugh Carr could not read and write but he would sign his name with an X). There is also correspondence of their daughter, Evangeline Greer Jones while courting her husband, Hinton C. Jones."],"names_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library"],"corpname_ssim":["Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":29,"online_item_count_is":21,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-20T23:45:23.850Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","ead_ssi":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","_root_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","_nest_parent_":"viu_repositories_3_resources_1446","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/UVA/repositories_3_resources_1446.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/147972","title_filing_ssi":"Hugh Carr family and River View Farm ","title_ssm":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"title_tesim":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"unitdate_ssm":["1843-1978"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1843-1978"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["MSS 10176","Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1446"],"text":["MSS 10176","Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1446","Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm","Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century","Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)","African American families","Dwellings -- Virginia -- Albemarle County.","The collection is open for research use.","During the Reconstruction period of Virginia history, Hugh Carr (1843-1914), who was formerly enslaved by Richard Wingfield, began the long process of purchasing various tracts of land that eventually made up the model farm along Ivy Creek known as \"River View\" in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community.","He and his wife, Texie Mae Hawkins,(1865-1899) raised seven children at River View Farm: Mary Louise Carr Greer, (1884-1973), Fannie Carr Washington (1887-?), Peachie Carr Jackson (1889-1977), Emma Clorinda Carr (1892-1974), Virginia Carr Brown (1893-1935), Ann Hazel Carr (1895-?), and one son Marshall Hubert Carr (1886-1916).The farm continued to grow and by 1890 it was over 125 acres making Carr among the largest African American landowner in Albemarle County. ","\nAs Hugh Carr was deprived of any formal education, he placed an emphasis on education for his daughters and son, all of whom went to school. Many of his children earned college degrees, becoming teachers and community leaders. ","His oldest, Mary Louise Carr became principal of Albemarle Training School and was an influential educator in the local community. Later, she was honored for her commitment to education with the naming of Greer Elementary School after her. In 1916, Mary Carr married Conly Greer, the first African American extension agent for Albemarle County and the last family member to farm at Riverview Farm. After his death in 1957, Mary Carr Greer continued to live there but the land was rented to local farmers to farm. When she died in 1973, she left the estate to her only child, Evangeline Greer Jones, who in turn sold it.","Following its sale, the farm was slated to become one of Charlottesville's newest subdivisions with a projected 200 homes. Elizabeth Conant, a biology teacher at the University of Virginia, realized that the land was ideal for a nature preserve. She contacted the Nature Conservancy who bought the farm and held it until the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were able to buy the land. The Ivy Creek Foundation was incorporated on May 23, 1979, and the future management of the land lies with them. Paul Saunier, former University of Virginia administrator, was the first president of the Foundation.","The Ivy Creek Natural Area, which currently borders the South Rivanna Reservoir of the City of Charlottesville and consists of 215 acres of forest, field, and stream, was formed from several tracts of land. These include the original tract from the Mary Carr Greer Estate of eighty acres in 1975, a thirty-eight-acre tract from the City of Charlottesville in 1979, the James Fleming tract of eighty-acres in 1981, the Flamenco tract of sixteen acres in 1981, and four tenths of an acre from Bedford Moore in 1981. The Greer property was named the Rann Preserve when purchased by the Nature Conservancy and was renamed the Ivy Creek Natural Area. The organizers of the Ivy Creek Natural Area recognized the history of the Carr family and worked to save and preserve the land as well as the family documents that were found in the farmhouse. ","Sources: Ivy Creek Foundation, Accessed 1/27/2023 https://ivycreekfoundation.org/cultural-history ","Some items in this collection sustained damage from pests and/or mold prior to coming to the Library. Preservation staff has frozen and stabilized the items to prevent further damage from pests or mold and cleaned the items to facilitate handling.","This collection MSS 10176 is related to the Ivy Creek Natural Area MSS 10770, about the history of River View farm and Hugh Carr family which is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. MSS 10770 is a deposit. It also contains the history of Ivy Creek Natural Area and how it was purchased by the local government to preserve the land and history.","This collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.","The papers show that Carr highly valued education for his daughters as well as his son. His eldest daughter, Mary Louise Carr Greer became a well-known educator and principal of Albemarle Training School. Her family continued to live on the farm until 1978 when it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area with the support of the Nature Conservancy. ","There are documents, newspaper clippings, photographs pertaining to the history of this prominent African American family. ","Included is the original receipt for the purchase of land for the farm by Hugh Carr in 1870 in the amount of $100 and contracts for when Carr worked as a farm manager for Richard Wingfield and A. A. Southerland. ","There are legal and financial papers of Conly Greer (1883-1956) and correspondence of Mary Carr Greer and her husband, Conly Greer.  Included is a letter written for Hugh Carr giving Conly approval to marry his daughter. (Hugh Carr could not read and write but he would sign his name with an X). There is also correspondence of their daughter, Evangeline Greer Jones while courting her husband, Hinton C. Jones.","Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library","English"],"unitid_tesim":["MSS 10176","Archival Resource Key","/repositories/3/resources/1446"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"collection_title_tesim":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"collection_ssim":["Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"geogname_ssm":["Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century"],"geogname_ssim":["Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century"],"places_ssim":["Charlottesville (Va.) -- History -- 19th Century"],"acqinfo_ssim":["MSS 10176,The Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm  was a gift from Evangeline Greer Jones to the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library 25 October, 1976."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)","African American families","Dwellings -- Virginia -- Albemarle County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)","African American families","Dwellings -- Virginia -- Albemarle County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"extent_ssm":["1 Cubic Feet"],"extent_tesim":["1 Cubic Feet"],"date_range_isim":[1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe collection is open for research use.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The collection is open for research use."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDuring the Reconstruction period of Virginia history, Hugh Carr (1843-1914), who was formerly enslaved by Richard Wingfield, began the long process of purchasing various tracts of land that eventually made up the model farm along Ivy Creek known as \"River View\" in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHe and his wife, Texie Mae Hawkins,(1865-1899) raised seven children at River View Farm: Mary Louise Carr Greer, (1884-1973), Fannie Carr Washington (1887-?), Peachie Carr Jackson (1889-1977), Emma Clorinda Carr (1892-1974), Virginia Carr Brown (1893-1935), Ann Hazel Carr (1895-?), and one son Marshall Hubert Carr (1886-1916).The farm continued to grow and by 1890 it was over 125 acres making Carr among the largest African American landowner in Albemarle County. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\nAs Hugh Carr was deprived of any formal education, he placed an emphasis on education for his daughters and son, all of whom went to school. Many of his children earned college degrees, becoming teachers and community leaders. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHis oldest, Mary Louise Carr became principal of Albemarle Training School and was an influential educator in the local community. Later, she was honored for her commitment to education with the naming of Greer Elementary School after her. In 1916, Mary Carr married Conly Greer, the first African American extension agent for Albemarle County and the last family member to farm at Riverview Farm. After his death in 1957, Mary Carr Greer continued to live there but the land was rented to local farmers to farm. When she died in 1973, she left the estate to her only child, Evangeline Greer Jones, who in turn sold it.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFollowing its sale, the farm was slated to become one of Charlottesville's newest subdivisions with a projected 200 homes. Elizabeth Conant, a biology teacher at the University of Virginia, realized that the land was ideal for a nature preserve. She contacted the Nature Conservancy who bought the farm and held it until the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were able to buy the land. The Ivy Creek Foundation was incorporated on May 23, 1979, and the future management of the land lies with them. Paul Saunier, former University of Virginia administrator, was the first president of the Foundation.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Ivy Creek Natural Area, which currently borders the South Rivanna Reservoir of the City of Charlottesville and consists of 215 acres of forest, field, and stream, was formed from several tracts of land. These include the original tract from the Mary Carr Greer Estate of eighty acres in 1975, a thirty-eight-acre tract from the City of Charlottesville in 1979, the James Fleming tract of eighty-acres in 1981, the Flamenco tract of sixteen acres in 1981, and four tenths of an acre from Bedford Moore in 1981. The Greer property was named the Rann Preserve when purchased by the Nature Conservancy and was renamed the Ivy Creek Natural Area. The organizers of the Ivy Creek Natural Area recognized the history of the Carr family and worked to save and preserve the land as well as the family documents that were found in the farmhouse. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSources: Ivy Creek Foundation, Accessed 1/27/2023 https://ivycreekfoundation.org/cultural-history \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["During the Reconstruction period of Virginia history, Hugh Carr (1843-1914), who was formerly enslaved by Richard Wingfield, began the long process of purchasing various tracts of land that eventually made up the model farm along Ivy Creek known as \"River View\" in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community.","He and his wife, Texie Mae Hawkins,(1865-1899) raised seven children at River View Farm: Mary Louise Carr Greer, (1884-1973), Fannie Carr Washington (1887-?), Peachie Carr Jackson (1889-1977), Emma Clorinda Carr (1892-1974), Virginia Carr Brown (1893-1935), Ann Hazel Carr (1895-?), and one son Marshall Hubert Carr (1886-1916).The farm continued to grow and by 1890 it was over 125 acres making Carr among the largest African American landowner in Albemarle County. ","\nAs Hugh Carr was deprived of any formal education, he placed an emphasis on education for his daughters and son, all of whom went to school. Many of his children earned college degrees, becoming teachers and community leaders. ","His oldest, Mary Louise Carr became principal of Albemarle Training School and was an influential educator in the local community. Later, she was honored for her commitment to education with the naming of Greer Elementary School after her. In 1916, Mary Carr married Conly Greer, the first African American extension agent for Albemarle County and the last family member to farm at Riverview Farm. After his death in 1957, Mary Carr Greer continued to live there but the land was rented to local farmers to farm. When she died in 1973, she left the estate to her only child, Evangeline Greer Jones, who in turn sold it.","Following its sale, the farm was slated to become one of Charlottesville's newest subdivisions with a projected 200 homes. Elizabeth Conant, a biology teacher at the University of Virginia, realized that the land was ideal for a nature preserve. She contacted the Nature Conservancy who bought the farm and held it until the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County were able to buy the land. The Ivy Creek Foundation was incorporated on May 23, 1979, and the future management of the land lies with them. Paul Saunier, former University of Virginia administrator, was the first president of the Foundation.","The Ivy Creek Natural Area, which currently borders the South Rivanna Reservoir of the City of Charlottesville and consists of 215 acres of forest, field, and stream, was formed from several tracts of land. These include the original tract from the Mary Carr Greer Estate of eighty acres in 1975, a thirty-eight-acre tract from the City of Charlottesville in 1979, the James Fleming tract of eighty-acres in 1981, the Flamenco tract of sixteen acres in 1981, and four tenths of an acre from Bedford Moore in 1981. The Greer property was named the Rann Preserve when purchased by the Nature Conservancy and was renamed the Ivy Creek Natural Area. The organizers of the Ivy Creek Natural Area recognized the history of the Carr family and worked to save and preserve the land as well as the family documents that were found in the farmhouse. ","Sources: Ivy Creek Foundation, Accessed 1/27/2023 https://ivycreekfoundation.org/cultural-history "],"odd_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSome items in this collection sustained damage from pests and/or mold prior to coming to the Library. Preservation staff has frozen and stabilized the items to prevent further damage from pests or mold and cleaned the items to facilitate handling.\u003c/p\u003e"],"odd_heading_ssm":["Conservation"],"odd_tesim":["Some items in this collection sustained damage from pests and/or mold prior to coming to the Library. Preservation staff has frozen and stabilized the items to prevent further damage from pests or mold and cleaned the items to facilitate handling."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMSS 10176, Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["MSS 10176, Hugh Carr family papers and River View Farm, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection MSS 10176 is related to the Ivy Creek Natural Area MSS 10770, about the history of River View farm and Hugh Carr family which is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. MSS 10770 is a deposit. It also contains the history of Ivy Creek Natural Area and how it was purchased by the local government to preserve the land and history.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Materials"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["This collection MSS 10176 is related to the Ivy Creek Natural Area MSS 10770, about the history of River View farm and Hugh Carr family which is now the Ivy Creek Natural Area. MSS 10770 is a deposit. It also contains the history of Ivy Creek Natural Area and how it was purchased by the local government to preserve the land and history."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe papers show that Carr highly valued education for his daughters as well as his son. His eldest daughter, Mary Louise Carr Greer became a well-known educator and principal of Albemarle Training School. Her family continued to live on the farm until 1978 when it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area with the support of the Nature Conservancy. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere are documents, newspaper clippings, photographs pertaining to the history of this prominent African American family. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eIncluded is the original receipt for the purchase of land for the farm by Hugh Carr in 1870 in the amount of $100 and contracts for when Carr worked as a farm manager for Richard Wingfield and A. A. Southerland. \u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere are legal and financial papers of Conly Greer (1883-1956) and correspondence of Mary Carr Greer and her husband, Conly Greer.  Included is a letter written for Hugh Carr giving Conly approval to marry his daughter. (Hugh Carr could not read and write but he would sign his name with an X). There is also correspondence of their daughter, Evangeline Greer Jones while courting her husband, Hinton C. Jones.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This collection consists of the history of Hugh Carr, an African American born in enslavement in 1843 and his family who lived on a tract of land (River View Farm) that Carr and his wife Texie Mae Hawkins bought in 1870 after emancipation. He became one of the largest African American landowners in Albemarle County, where he raised several generations of his family in the Union Ridge Hydraulic Mills community, until his death in 1914.","The papers show that Carr highly valued education for his daughters as well as his son. His eldest daughter, Mary Louise Carr Greer became a well-known educator and principal of Albemarle Training School. Her family continued to live on the farm until 1978 when it became the Ivy Creek Natural Area with the support of the Nature Conservancy. ","There are documents, newspaper clippings, photographs pertaining to the history of this prominent African American family. ","Included is the original receipt for the purchase of land for the farm by Hugh Carr in 1870 in the amount of $100 and contracts for when Carr worked as a farm manager for Richard Wingfield and A. A. Southerland. ","There are legal and financial papers of Conly Greer (1883-1956) and correspondence of Mary Carr Greer and her husband, Conly Greer.  Included is a letter written for Hugh Carr giving Conly approval to marry his daughter. (Hugh Carr could not read and write but he would sign his name with an X). There is also correspondence of their daughter, Evangeline Greer Jones while courting her husband, Hinton C. 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He then discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for a replacement in the army), concluding that it is having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also discusses his work assignment and his health. In a separate letter on the same paper, John tells his cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c09#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01_c09","ref_ssm":["viu_viu01838_c01_c09"],"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c09","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"text":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts","James and John Booker, [n.p.],\n                  letter to Chloe Unity Blair","ALS","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\""],"title_filing_ssi":"James and John Booker, [n.p.],\n                  letter to Chloe Unity Blair","title_ssm":["James and John Booker, [n.p.],\n                  letter to Chloe Unity Blair"],"title_tesim":["James and John Booker, [n.p.],\n                  letter to Chloe Unity Blair"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1862 August 3"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James and John Booker, [n.p.],\n                  letter to Chloe Unity Blair"],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"physdesc_tesim":["ALS"],"extent_ssm":["4 p."],"extent_tesim":["4 p."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":10,"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"Text transcription\",\"href\":\"http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=legacy_mss/uvaBook/tei/booker_letters/Boo2h03.xml\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1862],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\""],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#8","timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_viu01838","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/uva-sc/viu01838.xml","title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["11237"],"text":["11237","James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","26 items","There are no restrictions.","Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities","Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.","See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.","","University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["11237"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"creator_ssm":[""],"creator_ssim":[""],"acqinfo_ssim":["This collection was given to the University of Virginia\n            Library on May 20, 1996, by Mrs. Mary H. Payne, Danville,\n            Virginia, through P. L. Anderson, Jr., Danville,\n            Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"physdesc_tesim":["26 items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"bibliography_html_tesm":["\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003ePrint Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eElectronic Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eOther Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e"],"bibliography_heading_ssm":["Bibliography","Print Sources","Electronic Sources","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web"],"bibliography_tesim":["Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eJames Booker and John Booker\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eChloe Unity Blair\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eThe 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information","James Booker and John Booker","Chloe Unity Blair","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment"],"bioghist_tesim":["James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["James and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFunded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Funding Note"],"processinfo_tesim":["Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information","Scope and Content","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters","Preparing for Battle","Health","Food and Supplies","Interactions with Civilians","Morale","Religion"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSee the \n            \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.library.virginia.edu/policies/use-of-materials\"\u003e\n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.\u003c/extref\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc/\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":[""],"names_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"corpname_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital"],"persname_ssim":["John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":23,"online_item_count_is":22,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eScope and Content\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eOverview of Themes Discussed in the Letters\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003ePreparing for Battle\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eHealth\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eFood and Supplies\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eInteractions with Civilians\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eMorale\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eReligion\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOptimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eClaiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eApparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBooker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e1 John\u003c/emph\u003e. The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.\u003c/p\u003e"]}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c09"}},{"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c10","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"James Booker, camp near\n                  Hopewell Church, near Winchester, Virginia, letter to\n                  Chloe Unity Blair","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c10#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes that he and his brother John are in good health. They have been marching hard but usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports that the general feeling in the camp is that peace will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived (and are named). James complains of having to march in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams. He also notes that the sick and wounded have been ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James looks forward to going there since he has not heard from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other family members and mentions that John will write soon.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c10#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01_c10","ref_ssm":["viu_viu01838_c01_c10"],"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c10","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"text":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts","James Booker, camp near\n                  Hopewell Church, near Winchester, Virginia, letter to\n                  Chloe Unity Blair","ALS","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon."],"title_filing_ssi":"James Booker, camp near\n                  Hopewell Church, near Winchester, Virginia, letter to\n                  Chloe Unity Blair","title_ssm":["James Booker, camp near\n                  Hopewell Church, near Winchester, Virginia, letter to\n                  Chloe Unity Blair"],"title_tesim":["James Booker, camp near\n                  Hopewell Church, near Winchester, Virginia, letter to\n                  Chloe Unity Blair"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1862 September 30"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James Booker, camp near\n                  Hopewell Church, near Winchester, Virginia, letter to\n                  Chloe Unity Blair"],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"physdesc_tesim":["ALS"],"extent_ssm":["2 p."],"extent_tesim":["2 p."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":11,"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"Text transcription\",\"href\":\"http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=legacy_mss/uvaBook/tei/booker_letters/Boo2i30.xml\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1862],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#9","timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_viu01838","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/uva-sc/viu01838.xml","title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["11237"],"text":["11237","James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","26 items","There are no restrictions.","Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities","Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.","See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.","","University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["11237"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"creator_ssm":[""],"creator_ssim":[""],"acqinfo_ssim":["This collection was given to the University of Virginia\n            Library on May 20, 1996, by Mrs. Mary H. Payne, Danville,\n            Virginia, through P. L. Anderson, Jr., Danville,\n            Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"physdesc_tesim":["26 items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"bibliography_html_tesm":["\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003ePrint Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eElectronic Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eOther Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e"],"bibliography_heading_ssm":["Bibliography","Print Sources","Electronic Sources","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web"],"bibliography_tesim":["Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eJames Booker and John Booker\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eChloe Unity Blair\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eThe 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information","James Booker and John Booker","Chloe Unity Blair","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment"],"bioghist_tesim":["James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["James and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFunded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Funding Note"],"processinfo_tesim":["Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information","Scope and Content","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters","Preparing for Battle","Health","Food and Supplies","Interactions with Civilians","Morale","Religion"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSee the \n            \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.library.virginia.edu/policies/use-of-materials\"\u003e\n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.\u003c/extref\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc/\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":[""],"names_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"corpname_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital"],"persname_ssim":["John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":23,"online_item_count_is":22,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eScope and Content\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eOverview of Themes Discussed in the Letters\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003ePreparing for Battle\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eHealth\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eFood and Supplies\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eInteractions with Civilians\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eMorale\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eReligion\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOptimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eClaiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eApparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBooker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e1 John\u003c/emph\u003e. The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.\u003c/p\u003e"]}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c10"}},{"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c07","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"James Booker, Camp near\n                  Yorktown, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c07#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes to inform his cousin of the location of his regiment. He indicates that they have been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was the only man from his regiment (he was attached to Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury their dead. He feels that, because the best of both armies are here, the war will be settled here. He closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet arrived.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c07#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01_c07","ref_ssm":["viu_viu01838_c01_c07"],"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c07","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"text":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts","James Booker, Camp near\n                  Yorktown, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair","ALS","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived."],"title_filing_ssi":"James Booker, Camp near\n                  Yorktown, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair","title_ssm":["James Booker, Camp near\n                  Yorktown, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair"],"title_tesim":["James Booker, Camp near\n                  Yorktown, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1862 April 19"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James Booker, Camp near\n                  Yorktown, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair"],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"physdesc_tesim":["ALS"],"extent_ssm":["2p."],"extent_tesim":["2p."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":8,"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"Text transcription\",\"href\":\"http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=legacy_mss/uvaBook/tei/booker_letters/Boo2d19.xml\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1862],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#6","timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_viu01838","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/uva-sc/viu01838.xml","title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["11237"],"text":["11237","James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","26 items","There are no restrictions.","Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities","Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.","See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.","","University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["11237"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"creator_ssm":[""],"creator_ssim":[""],"acqinfo_ssim":["This collection was given to the University of Virginia\n            Library on May 20, 1996, by Mrs. Mary H. Payne, Danville,\n            Virginia, through P. L. Anderson, Jr., Danville,\n            Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"physdesc_tesim":["26 items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"bibliography_html_tesm":["\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003ePrint Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eElectronic Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eOther Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e"],"bibliography_heading_ssm":["Bibliography","Print Sources","Electronic Sources","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web"],"bibliography_tesim":["Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eJames Booker and John Booker\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eChloe Unity Blair\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eThe 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information","James Booker and John Booker","Chloe Unity Blair","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment"],"bioghist_tesim":["James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["James and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFunded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Funding Note"],"processinfo_tesim":["Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information","Scope and Content","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters","Preparing for Battle","Health","Food and Supplies","Interactions with Civilians","Morale","Religion"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSee the \n            \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.library.virginia.edu/policies/use-of-materials\"\u003e\n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.\u003c/extref\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc/\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":[""],"names_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"corpname_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital"],"persname_ssim":["John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":23,"online_item_count_is":22,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eScope and Content\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eOverview of Themes Discussed in the Letters\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003ePreparing for Battle\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eHealth\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eFood and Supplies\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eInteractions with Civilians\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eMorale\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eReligion\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOptimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eClaiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eApparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBooker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e1 John\u003c/emph\u003e. The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.\u003c/p\u003e"]}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c07"}},{"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c06","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"James Booker, in Greaner\n                  Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c06#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eJames Booker explains why he has been so long in answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to come home on furlough, but has been separated from his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that Unity write to him with the location of his regiment. He also complains about the quality of the food and mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R. G. Banks.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/viu_viu01838_c01_c06#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01_c06","ref_ssm":["viu_viu01838_c01_c06"],"id":"viu_viu01838_c01_c06","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssi":"viu_viu01838_c01","parent_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["viu_viu01838","viu_viu01838_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts"],"text":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","c01: Manuscripts","James Booker, in Greaner\n                  Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair","ALS","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks."],"title_filing_ssi":"James Booker, in Greaner\n                  Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair","title_ssm":["James Booker, in Greaner\n                  Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair"],"title_tesim":["James Booker, in Greaner\n                  Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1862 March 15"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James Booker, in Greaner\n                  Hospital, Richmond, Virginia, letter to Chloe Unity\n                  Blair"],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"physdesc_tesim":["ALS"],"extent_ssm":["3 p."],"extent_tesim":["3 p."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"sort_isi":7,"digital_objects_ssm":["{\"label\":\"Text transcription\",\"href\":\"http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=legacy_mss/uvaBook/tei/booker_letters/Boo2c15.xml\"}"],"date_range_isim":[1862],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#5","timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"viu_viu01838","ead_ssi":"viu_viu01838","_root_":"viu_viu01838","_nest_parent_":"viu_viu01838","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/uva-sc/viu01838.xml","title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["11237"],"text":["11237","James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864","26 items","There are no restrictions.","Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities","Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false.","See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.","","University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["11237"],"normalized_title_ssm":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_title_tesim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"collection_ssim":["James and John Booker Collection \n         1861-1864"],"repository_ssm":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"repository_ssim":["University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept."],"creator_ssm":[""],"creator_ssim":[""],"acqinfo_ssim":["This collection was given to the University of Virginia\n            Library on May 20, 1996, by Mrs. Mary H. Payne, Danville,\n            Virginia, through P. L. Anderson, Jr., Danville,\n            Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["true"],"physdesc_tesim":["26 items"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"bibliography_html_tesm":["\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003ePrint Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eEncyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy\u003c/emph\u003e. Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026amp;\n                  Schuster, 1993.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eGregory, G. Howard. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eThe Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series\u003c/emph\u003e)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eHewett, Janet B., ed. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eRoster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865\u003c/emph\u003e. Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eSublett, Charles W. \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e57th Virginia Infantry\u003c/emph\u003e.\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eElectronic Sources\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eAustin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September,\n               1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003e\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm\u003c/extref\u003e(9 September\n                  1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWebb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\"\u003e\n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html\u003c/extref\u003e(28\n                  August 1997).\u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibliography\u003e\n               \u003chead\u003eOther Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web\u003c/head\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n               \u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e\n            \u003c/bibliography\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eIndex of Civil War Information on the Web \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\"\u003e\n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eCivil War Miscellany \n                  \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\"\u003e\n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003ePickett's Division \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\"\u003e\n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e","\u003cbibref\u003eWar Links \n                     \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\"\u003e\n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/\u003c/extref\u003e\n               \u003c/bibref\u003e"],"bibliography_heading_ssm":["Bibliography","Print Sources","Electronic Sources","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web"],"bibliography_tesim":["Print Sources Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993. Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series ) Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996. Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Encyclopedia of the\n                  Confederacy . Richard N. Current, Ed. NY: Simon \u0026\n                  Schuster, 1993.","Gregory, G. Howard. \n                   38th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1988. (part of \n                   The Virginia Regimental Histories\n                  Series )","Hewett, Janet B., ed. \n                   Roster of Confederate Soldiers\n                  1861-1865 . Vol 8. Wilmington NC: Broadfoot\n                  Publishing Company, 1996.","Sublett, Charles W. \n                   57th Virginia Infantry .\n                  Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985. (part of The\n                  Virginia Regimental Histories Series)","Electronic Sources Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997). \"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997). Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Austin, Gayle. \"Pittsylvania Co. VA Homepage.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapittsy/ (9 September,\n               1997).","\"Southside on the Net, Directory of Churches and\n                  Religious Organizations.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://www.petersburg.com/c/c1.htm (9 September\n                  1997).","Webb, Kerry. \"U.S. Civil War Generals.\" 1997. \n                   \n                  http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~hoemann/generals.html (28\n                  August 1997).","Other Civil War Sites on the World\n               Wide Web Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/ Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/","Index of Civil War Information on the Web \n                   \n                  http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/civlink.htm","Civil War Miscellany \n                   \n                  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6806/","Pickett's Division \n                      \n                     http://home.ptd.net/~jeff1863/pickett.html","War Links \n                      \n                     http://members.aol.com/histcw/civil.html/"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eJames Booker and John Booker\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe twins, John and James, were born to \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1797-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eNancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)\u003c/persname\u003eon October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eWhitmell, Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, in \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eCompany D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").\u003c/corpname\u003eFor more\n            information about the regiment see \n            \u003cbibref\u003e\n                  \u003ctitle\u003e38th Virginia Infantry\u003c/title\u003eby G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988)\u003c/bibref\u003e. The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n            \u003cgeogname\u003eBattle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia\u003c/geogname\u003e, on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n            \u003ccorpname\u003eChimborazo Hospital\u003c/corpname\u003e. John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n            \u003cpersname\u003eMartha Ann Fulton (?-1923)\u003c/persname\u003e(nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County\u003c/geogname\u003e, on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eChloe Unity Blair\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIndeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cbioghist\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eThe 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/bioghist\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOn May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\n               \u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\n                  \u003chead\u003eEngagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry\u003c/head\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eJuly 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43).\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eMay 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eSeptember 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eNovember 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house.\u003c/item\u003e\n                  \u003citem\u003eApril 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.\u003c/item\u003e\n               \u003c/list\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical/Historical Information","James Booker and John Booker","Chloe Unity Blair","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment"],"bioghist_tesim":["James Booker and John Booker The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859). Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin). In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861). At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82). In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864. After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","The twins, John and James, were born to \n             John Booker (1797-1859) and \n             Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859) on October 10, 1840. Nancy and John\n            had been married since November 15, 1824 and had four other\n            children besides the twins: Mary Ann Booker Sparks\n            (1825-1872), Armistead M. Booker (1827-1838), Caroline\n            Booker (1833-1859) and William Booker (1836-1859).","Nancy also had another child --Margaret Benson Reynolds\n            (1815-1867) --from a previous marriage to William Reynolds\n            (March 29, 1814) (Austin).","In the first three months of 1859, typhoid fever struck\n            the Booker family, killing Nancy, John Sr., Caroline and\n            William. James and John were 19 years old. For the next two\n            years, the twins stayed with relatives, including Aunt\n            Kitty and Uncle John Blair, who later moved to Texas in\n            1860 (James Booker, September 6, 1861).","At the age of 21, James and John enlisted in the\n            Confederate Army, the 38th Regiment of Virginia, on May 24,\n            1861 in \n             Whitmell, Virginia , in \n             Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\"). For more\n            information about the regiment see \n             38th Virginia Infantry by G. Howard Gregory\n            (E 581.5 38th .G73 1988) . The Booker brothers\n            remained in service throughout the war, and were both\n            promoted to Sergeant sometime before April, 1864 (Gregory,\n            82).","In March of 1862, James was hospitalized in Richmond\n            with chronic diarrhea, but returned to his company soon\n            after. Both brothers were severely wounded at the \n             Battle of Drewry's Bluff near Petersburg,\n            Virginia , on May 16, 1864 and transferred to \n             Chimborazo Hospital . John received a\n            chest wound and James was wounded in the right thigh. Only\n            James, however, would survive. John died of his wound on\n            August 26, 1864.","After the war, James returned to Pittsylvania County and\n            on October 31, 1867, he married \n             Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923) (nicknamed\n            \"Pat\") of \n             Pittsylvania County , on October 31,\n            1867. She was one of the \"sweethearts\" mentioned in his\n            letters. James and Pat Booker had seven children. They died\n            within two months of each other in 1923. A typed page\n            listing their children and mentioning her relatives can be\n            found with the copies of the typescripts of the brothers'\n            letters.","Chloe Unity Blair Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers. Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother. Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","Chloe Unity Blair (1833-1875) was born to Chloe Coleman\n            Blair (1801-1854) and Drury Blair (1801-1864). Her father\n            was Nancy Booker's younger brother, making James and John\n            her first cousins. Chloe Unity had several brothers and\n            sisters, some of whom James and John mention in their\n            letters: Polly Ann, William, and Drury Addison \"Addie\"\n            Blair, who briefly served in the 38th Regiment with the\n            Bookers.","Unfortunately, all of Chloe Unity's letters to her\n            Booker cousins were either destroyed or are as yet\n            undiscovered. From their responses, however, we can see\n            that both John and James greatly appreciated her letters.\n            They depended upon her for news of the family and they\n            often asked her to \"remember\" them to different family\n            members. The Bookers also periodically asked their cousin\n            to have their sister Mary forward certain items such as\n            clothing or James' \"soldier likeness\" (October 4, 1863).\n            Chloe Unity would send them gifts and provisions as well,\n            prompting James to write, \"I am under many obligations to\n            you all for send ing us such a fine box it was a great\n            treat to us,\" (October 4, 1863). James and John are always\n            polite and solicitous in tone to their cousin, and yet the\n            letters also convey warmth and friendship: having lost\n            their parents and two siblings just before the war, John\n            and James may have been especially close to \"cousin Unity,\"\n            who along with their sister Mary may have served as a kind\n            of surrogate mother.","Indeed, when John married Martha Ann Fulton in October\n            of 1867, he became Chloe's step-son-in-law, since Chloe had\n            married Martha's father William Fulton (1821-18?) just a\n            few months before. It is easy to imagine that the two\n            cousins were pleased by this relationship, as their\n            respective marriages unified and tightened the Booker and\n            Blair families which had suffered so many losses during the\n            war years.","The 38th Virginia Infantry: A Brief History of the\n            Regiment On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected. The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon. Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home.","On May 3, 1861, Governor John Letcher called for the men\n            of Virginia to leave their families and occupations and\n            join the Confederate Army. Soon after, the 38th Virginia\n            Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed, lead by Colonel\n            Edward Edmonds, Lieutenant Colonel Powhatan Whittle and\n            Major Isaac Carrington. During the course of the war, the\n            38th was assigned to several different brigades, including\n            Smith's, Early's and Armistead's Brigade. There was also\n            considerable turnover of officers, as some were wounded,\n            killed, or not re-elected.","The 38th consisted of ten companies, most of which were\n            organized in Pittsylvania County, VA. Company D, which the\n            Bookers joined, was organized at Whitmell. Its initial\n            leader was Captain Ralph Herndon.","Engagements and Assignments of the 38th\n                  Virginia Infantry May 5, 1862: The Battle of Williamsburg:\n                  Whittle is wounded. May 31, 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines: The\n                  38th suffers a casualty rate of 42%. July 1, 1862: The Battle of Malvern Hill: The\n                  38th suffers severely with 11 killed, 72 wounded and\n                  11 missing. September 15, 1862: The 38th takes part in\n                  capturing Harper's Ferry. September 16, 1862: The 38th joins the Battle\n                  of Sharpsburg. July 3, 1863: The 38th is part of Pickett's\n                  Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg; Colonel Edmonds\n                  is killed; of the 481 members of the 38th who\n                  participated in the battle, \"40 were killed on the\n                  battlefield (8%); 51 were wounded (10%); and 103 were\n                  captured (21%)\" (Gregory 43). May 10, 1864: The Battle of Chester Station;\n                  Colonel Cabell is killed; Lieutenant Colonel Griggs\n                  is promoted to Colonel of the 38th. May 16, 1864: The Battle of Drewry's Bluff;\n                  from the 38th, 23 killed and 77 wounded. September 3, 1864: Brigadier General George\n                  Steuart assumes command of Armistead's Brigade.\n                  Desertions are frequent. November 17, 1864: The 38th captures the Union\n                  line near Petersburg. April 1, 1865: The Battle of Five Forks. April 6, 1865: The Battle of Sayler's\n                  Creek--the 38th's final battle. April 9, 1865: Lee surrenders at Appomattox\n                  Court House; the 38th is nearby at \"Pleasant\n                  Retreat,\" two miles east of the court house. April 13, 1865: The 38th breaks camp and heads\n                  home."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJames and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["James and John Booker\n            Collection, Accession 11237, Special Collections Department, University of\n         Virginia Library"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFunded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Funding Note"],"processinfo_tesim":["Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment\n            for the Humanities"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content Information","Scope and Content","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters","Preparing for Battle","Health","Food and Supplies","Interactions with Civilians","Morale","Religion"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Scope and Content This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","This collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n             John Booker (1840-1864) and \n             James Booker (1840-1923) of \n             Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to their\n            cousin, \n             Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875) ;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.","Overview of Themes Discussed in the Letters The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","The letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.","Preparing for Battle The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864). Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863). Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","The members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).","Although the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).","Not only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).","Health More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","More explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.","Food and Supplies Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Although in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026 butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.","Interactions with Civilians Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging. Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Throughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.","Although civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).","Morale Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863). Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864). The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862). His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863). Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863). As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Early in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).","Soon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n             \"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863). John Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n             \"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).","The Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n             \"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).","His brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n             \"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).","Further feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).","As a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).","Religion Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home. In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Whereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n             Tis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.","In March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.","Optimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.","James Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.","James Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.","This letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.","Writing from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.","James Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.","James Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.","John Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.","James begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"","James Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.","Claiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.","After reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.","Writing on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.","James Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.","Writing a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.","John Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.","Apparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.","After observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.","Booker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"","John Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. He deplores the strategies they\n                  used: calling the men to stand before the \"Colors,\"\n                  declaring that any man who wanted to be a slave to\n                  the enemy should not re-enlist. John fears that his\n                  leaders want to continue to fight at all costs,\n                  rather than press for peace; and as long as men\n                  re-enlist the war will go on. John also expresses his\n                  dissatisfaction with the administration of the\n                  Regiment: only the men who re-enlist are granted\n                  furloughs, and John has still not received the\n                  furlough owed to him in 1862. He mentions that the\n                  two new recrutes to Company D are receiving their\n                  furloughs ahead of him. Changing the subject, John\n                  writes of nearby Union activity and says that they\n                  have been expecting a raid. Finally, he writes of\n                  Memory Inman's court martial and Captain John\n                  Herndon's marriage. He closes the letter by\n                  apologizing for its angry tone, writing, \"I have bin\n                  mad all day.\"","James Booker informs his cousin of his and his\n                  brother's good health. He discusses the treatment of\n                  prisoners of war, the unavailability of certain types\n                  of foodstuffs and the deprivations of civilians due\n                  to the war. He further comments on the weather and\n                  his coming duty in the field. He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.","James Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                   1 John . The postscript,\n                  written on April 30th, states that the rumor that the\n                  Yankees are coming may be false."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSee the \n            \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.library.virginia.edu/policies/use-of-materials\"\u003e\n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy.\u003c/extref\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["See the \n             \n            University of Virginia Library’s use policy."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc/\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":[""],"names_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital","John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"corpname_ssim":["University of Virginia. Library. Special\n            Collections Dept.","Company D, 38th Virginia Regiment, Infantry (also\n            known as \"the Whitmell Guards\").","Chimborazo Hospital"],"persname_ssim":["John Booker (1797-1859)","Nancy Blair Reynolds Booker\n            (1796-1859)","Martha Ann Fulton (?-1923)","John Booker (1840-1864)","James Booker (1840-1923)","Chloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":23,"online_item_count_is":22,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T13:07:18.853Z","scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eScope and Content\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis collection consists of ca. twenty-six items,\n            1861-1864, chiefly the letters of \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJohn Booker (1840-1864)\u003c/persname\u003eand \n            \u003cpersname\u003eJames Booker (1840-1923)\u003c/persname\u003eof \n            \u003cgeogname\u003ePittsylvania County, Virginia,\u003c/geogname\u003eto their\n            cousin, \n            \u003cpersname\u003eChloe Unity Blair (1839-1875)\u003c/persname\u003e;\n            electrostatic copies of Bible records for the Booker and\n            Blair families; and electrostatic copies of typed\n            transcripts of the letters. The original bound volume of\n            the transcripts was returned to the donor.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eOverview of Themes Discussed in the Letters\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters of James and John Booker give a sense of\n            what life was like for an ordinary soldier serving in the\n            Confederate army. Of course, the Bookers depict the drama\n            of battle --describing gunfire and cannonades, listing the\n            dead and wounded, and giving thanks for their own escapes\n            from death or imprisonment--but the letters are more\n            concerned with the rhythms of everyday life at camp. The\n            Bookers worry over their health and their comrades'; enjoy\n            the plenty or (more often) lament the lack of food and\n            supplies; report on the interactions between civilians and\n            soldiers; and describe religious revivals held at the camp.\n            As the war goes on, the Bookers begin to articulate with\n            more intensity not only what happens to them, but how they\n            feel about it. Whereas John fumes against the elites\n            (officers, politicians, and the wealthy) for evading their\n            responsibilities and mistreating the common soldier, James\n            grows more fatalistic and religious, trusting that his\n            suffering is God's will.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003ePreparing for Battle\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe members of the 38th Virginia spent much of their\n            time drilling, marching, serving picket duty, and\n            speculating about when and where the next battle would be.\n            Indeed, the Bookers seem to devote more energy to\n            anticipating battles than to describing them (perhaps\n            because they did not want to upset their cousin). They\n            acquired much of the information that fueled their\n            speculations from gossipping with citizens and other\n            soldiers. In a letter from 1861, for instance, James Booker\n            predicts that a \"hard battle\" will break out soon, basing\n            his prediction on a conversation he had with a soldier\n            whose company is located closer to the front (October 8).\n            Sometimes more immediate experiences led the Bookers to\n            forecast a battle, especially when they could see Union\n            troops or hear cannonades and gunfire nearby. Writing from\n            a rain-soaked outpost near Yorktown, Virginia in 1862, for\n            instance, James reports that the Union forces have been\n            \"shooting at our men constantly tho it is very cildom thay\n            hit eny of them\" (April 19). He predicts that soon a battle\n            will occur that will decide the war, since he has heard\n            that Yankee prisoners \"say that thay have got to whip or\n            die here\" (April 19, 1862). But in this prediction, as in\n            others, James was disappointed. As the war dragged on, the\n            Bookers stopped assuming that it would reach a speedy\n            conclusion; indeed, by 1864 John came to the conclusion\n            that the \"leaden men\" were not really interested in\n            achieving peace (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough the Bookers participated in several battles and\n            skirmishes, the most devastating battle for their regiment\n            was Gettysburg (see the section on Regimental History for a\n            complete list of the engagements that the 38th took part\n            in). While participating in Pickett's Charge, the 38th\n            Virginia lost Colonel Edmonds, whom James Booker describes\n            as \"one of the best men in service,\" and many other\n            officers and soldiers (July 11, 1863). The Booker brothers\n            themselves had to scramble to avoid being captured by Union\n            troops; several of their companions, however, \"let the\n            Yankees take them\" (John Booker, July 11, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNot only were the Bookers shocked by their experiences\n            in battle, but by chilling events that upset camp routines.\n            In the first weeks of the war, James Booker reports, a\n            young man accidentally shot another soldier from his\n            hometown and now is \"about to grieve himself to death about\n            it\" (July 14, 1861). But James passes on an even more\n            shocking story in a later letter: two soldiers were caught\n            conspiring to kill their commanding officer and were\n            executed. In an attempt to \"save their souls,\" the\n            condemned soldiers \"gave the Roman Catholic Priest 25\n            dollars apiece\" (December 15, 1861).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eHealth\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMore explainable than violence in the camps, but\n            ultimately more destructive, was disease. Illness and\n            disease killed two-thirds of the Southern soldiers who died\n            during the Civil War, so not surprisingly the Bookers often\n            detail the health problems that they and their fellow\n            soldiers were suffering (Robertson 88-89). These ailments\n            include jaundice, typhoid, stomach disorders, fever, and\n            mumps. The Bookers imply that much of the illness is due to\n            the conditions the soldiers must face; sometimes the\n            soldiers lacked adequate shelter, at times they would have\n            to wade rivers and then march miles wearing wet clothing,\n            and often they lacked adequate provisions (John Booker,\n            April 29, 1862). Although sick soldiers were typically sent\n            to the hospital, the men also took care of each other. In\n            the fall of 1861, James and John Booker, apparently just\n            recovering from sickness themselves, were responsible for\n            nursing three members of their company (James Booker,\n            September 6). Several months later, James Booker fell sick\n            with chronic diarrhea and was sent to Greaner's Hospital in\n            Richmond to recuperate. While in the hospital, Booker was\n            stuck in a Catch-22: he wanted to get a furlough so that he\n            could recover his health at home, but he did not know where\n            his company was, so he could not get the permission of his\n            commanding officer to return to Pittsylvania. Eventually\n            James re-joined his company, but he did not receive the\n            furlough that he wished for.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eFood and Supplies\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough in his first letter James Booker claims that\n            the soldiers get \"plenty of good pervision,\" the Bookers\n            later complained that they often didn't get enough to eat\n            (July 14, 1861). As James writes in 1862, \"the rations has\n            bin very scanty a large portion of the time sence we have\n            bin marching\" (September 30). But sometimes the 38th\n            Virginia did enjoy plentiful supplies, particularly when\n            they camped in locations where food was abundant. When the\n            38th Virginia arrived near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, for\n            instance, James Booker reported that \"we can get plenty of\n            milk \u0026amp; butter and apple butter that is verry good\"\n            (June 30, 1863). Often civilians would supply soldiers with\n            food, whether because they feared or supported the\n            troops.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eInteractions with Civilians\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThroughout the letters, the Bookers demonstrate their\n            consciousness of the effect the war is having on the\n            civilians. At the beginning of the war, James Booker\n            describes the friendly exchanges between Southern soldiers\n            and civilians, reporting gleefully from a camp near\n            Winchester that the men have \"a fine chance of beautiful\n            young Ladies, and the kindest that I ever saw\" (July 14,\n            1861). Besides providing moral support, Southern civilians\n            would exchange information about the war with the\n            Confederate troops (James Booker, November 24, 1862). Both\n            Southern and Northern civilians would sell or give supplies\n            to Confederate troops. Writing from Winchester, Virginia in\n            1862, James Booker even claims that he prefers Yankees to\n            Quakers, since \"the Yankees will sell us eny thing cheap\n            for the specia\" while \"the quakers will sell any thing thay\n            have got when the spirit moves them, tho we cant catch them\n            rite half our time\" (James Booker, October 17, 1862).\n            Likewise, in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, the Yankee\n            citizens treated the Confederate soldiers \"verry kind,\"\n            providing them food without charging them for it, though\n            James suggests that \"it is don through fear\" (June 30,\n            1863). While in Fredericksburg, James enjoyed a mutually\n            supportive relationship with a local civilian, guarding his\n            home in exchange for lodging.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough civilians and soldiers often cooperated with\n            each other, the Bookers realized that the war was damaging\n            the lives of those not directly involved in the fighting.\n            In particular, James argues, citizens who live near the\n            \"line of the enemy\" \"have great deal to see trouble about\"\n            (June 14, 1863). Even those areas not yet scarred by the\n            war would soon be, James predicts. As he says of\n            Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania,\"this is a verry flourishing\n            looking Country the crops all look fine. it has never felt\n            the affect of the war, though I guess if we stay here long\n            it will feel the affect of it\" (June 30, 1863). James\n            especially blames Northern soldiers for looting the homes\n            of Southern citizens, claiming that \"the yankees is geting\n            too mean to live\" (June 14, 1863). But he admits that some\n            Confederate soldiers likewise have stolen from citizens,\n            disobeying General Lee's orders. Indeed, one woman stormed\n            into the Confederate camp near Kinston, North Carolina,\n            hoping to recover a skillet of soup that had been stolen\n            (June 30, 1863; January 1, 1864). Confederate soldiers also\n            stole over 18,000 dollars from the Quarter Master (January\n            1, 1864). Despite these incidents, James Booker was\n            offended when Confederate General Seth Maxwell Barton\n            called the members of his brigade \"rags and thieves,\" since\n            \"it is not healthy for him to gave honist people such a bad\n            name because some men does wrong\" (January 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eMorale\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEarly in the war, James and John Booker seemed to\n            believe that the South would defeat the North swiftly. They\n            contended that the South had a stronger army, and they\n            noted that Northerners \"dont unite like our people do,\"\n            since the Democrats and the Republicans were at odds (James\n            Booker, June 30, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSoon their hope had begun to fade. Though James Booker\n            longed to return home, by 1863 he no longer believed that\n            the North and South would achieve a quick peace: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I am a fread it will be a long time first if ever, I\n               think the prosspect for peece is very gloomy now it dont\n               look like eather side is make in any prepperration for\n               Piece, thare are greater preperation for fighten than\n               ever\" (September 23, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003eJohn Booker was even more pessimistic, and\n            certainly much more cynical, as he accused the Southern\n            leadership of needlessly prolonging the war: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I beleave that we mout have hud piece be fore this\n               time if our head leaden men would would have tride\"\n               (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Bookers, particularly John, felt that while Southern\n            elites were making decisions that extended the war, the\n            poor were actually fighting most of the battles and\n            suffering the consequences of those decisions. Because the\n            First Conscription Act allowed a drafted man to hire a\n            \"substitute\" to serve his term in the army, wealthy men\n            could evade service (Current, 396-99). This provision\n            enraged many of the Confederate soldiers, who contended\n            that it placed the burden of the war on those who could not\n            afford to pay for a substitute. Not only did substitution\n            fan class tensions, but it also failed to bring competent\n            soldiers into the army. James Booker mentions that that the\n            substitute for John Millner deserted, and many other\n            substitutes did likewise (August 3, 1862). Some men even\n            made a business of agreeing to substitute for one person,\n            deserting, and then collecting money to substitute for\n            someone else. Although James Booker did not get angry about\n            the practice of substitution, he understood that it\n            weakened the Confederate Army: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I dont blame no man to put in a substitute if he\n               can, tho I think if it is kept up much long er it will\n               ruin our army\" (August 3, 1862).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis brother John, however, was less tentative in\n            condemning substitution: \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003e\"I say put every one on equal foottin for this is a\n               rich mans war an a por mans fight, I be leave thare are\n               some of the men that have but in substitute are dooen a\n               great [d]eal of good but the most of them are doo en\n               more harm than good they are just speculaten on the poor\n               people, an soldiers\" (December 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFurther feeding John Booker's indignation was the\n            distribution of furloughs. According to the First\n            Conscription Act, a \"twelvemonth man\" was entitled to a\n            sixty-day furlough each year, but neither Booker received a\n            furlough during his time in the army (Current, 396-99).\n            John Booker noted that while officers freely took furloughs\n            themselves, the captain in charge of his company, John\n            Herndon, was \"too lazy\" to give his exhausted men a break\n            (Decemeber 22, 1863).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAs a result of the inequalities and inefficiencies of\n            miltary adminstration, John Booker believed that soldiers\n            should refuse to re-enlist. In his March 1, 1864 letter, he\n            derides the miltary pagaent staged by Virginia Governor\n            William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel Cabell in an\n            attempt to persuade the men to re-enlist. After commanding\n            the soldiers to line up, the Colonel ordered that the\n            Colors (the flags of the regiment) be borne to the front\n            and asked \"all who wer determen to be freemen to step out\n            on the line with the cullars and all who wer willen to be\n            slaves for thare enemyes to stand fast\" (March 1, 1864).\n            Angry that he hadn't yet received a furlough, and convinced\n            that re-enlisting would only encourage the Southern\n            leadership to continue the war, John Booker rejected the\n            Colonel's challenge that he re-enlist; two-thirds of the\n            soldiers stood back with him. As he explains, \"I dideant\n            inten to reinlist nor I wes not willen to be a Slave for my\n            enemyes and I dident go on line with the reinlisted, and I\n            dideant wish to bee in eather line\" (March 1, 1864).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cscopecontent\u003e\n            \u003chead\u003eReligion\u003c/head\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e\n            \u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e\n         \u003c/scopecontent\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhereas John Booker responded to terrible conditions by\n            getting angry, his brother James turned to religion as a\n            way of making sense of his suffering and connecting with\n            home. As he writes of his homesickness, James Booker\n            occasionally expresses his desire to join his relatives at\n            the religious revivals held at Mount Hermon Baptist Church\n            near Danville, Virginia (August 3, 1862). But he reassures\n            his cousin that revivals often take place in the camp and\n            that many soldiers have been converted. According to James,\n            a sense of gratitude in war-time motivates many of the men\n            to convert: \"I think it is time for them to turn after\n            being blesed so plainley as they have bin in the past\n            battles\" (October 17, 1862). Likewise, James' faith seems\n            to have strengthened him and given him hope of returning\n            home, whether to Pittsylvania County or to Heaven. In a\n            letter written on New Years Day of 1864, James includes two\n            quotations about coming home to and through God. Quoting\n            from the third stanza of \"Amazing Grace,\" James writes, \n            \u003cblockquote\u003e\n                  \u003cp\u003eTis grace that brought me safe thus far And grace\n               will lead me home.\u003c/p\u003e\n               \u003c/blockquote\u003e\n            \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn March of 1864, however, James believed that he might\n            not arrive home safely, at least not home to Pittsylvania,\n            since the spring campaign would soon open and \"then we poor\n            soldiers will see a hard time\" (March 16, 1864). But James\n            embraced a spirit of Christian fatalism, contending that\n            his life was in God's hands: \"If it is the will of [my]\n            maker for me to be cut down in this war I dont ask to be\n            spared for I beleave that he will do what is the best for\n            me, thare is but few things that I would ask to stay in\n            this trouble some world for\" (March 16, 1864). After\n            writing this letter, James Booker lived for almost sixty\n            more years, but his twin John died five months later of\n            wounds he received at Drewry's Bluff.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOptimistic at the beginning of the war, James\n                  Booker praises the \"elegant water,\" \"beautiful young\n                  Ladies,\" and \"most beautiful country\" he finds at the\n                  38th's camp at Winchester. But he notes that one\n                  member of the regiment accidentally shot another\n                  member from his hometown and now feel terrible. He\n                  warns that \"cowardly boys\" who are avoiding service\n                  should beware, since they are likely to be drafted or\n                  made to put up breastworks. After salutations and\n                  greetings, James indicates where letters should be\n                  sent. A. Blair, a relative of James' and possibly\n                  Chloe Blair's brother, writes a short note to be\n                  included. Blair indicates that he is including a\n                  letter that \"brother William\" received from\n                  \"brother,\" who was expecting to go to Manassas. Blair\n                  finishes by saying that all are well.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker complains of not hearing from his\n                  family. He mentions being too ill to serve and that\n                  he, consequently, works in the hospital. He talks\n                  about patients suffering from jaundice and yellow\n                  fever and mentions the poor health of James May, Hugh\n                  Norton and Josiah Burnett, as well as the death of\n                  Billy Pruett from eating \"too much beef liver.\" In\n                  spite of their complaints, he notes that the health\n                  of the men in camp is improving. He alludes to having\n                  received bad news from Texas, and then states that he\n                  will probably not come home as long as he is healthy\n                  or until peace is declared. The postscript states\n                  that James will try to send for things via any\n                  returning soldiers.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that his company is healthier\n                  than it has been for some time. He has heard about\n                  fighting at Falls Church the day before, and reports\n                  a conversation with a man from the Danville Grays,\n                  who told him that the Yankees are within four miles\n                  of his company at Fairfax Court House. From this\n                  information, James Booker predicts that a \"hard\n                  battle\" will soon take place. He mentions getting a\n                  letter from Addie (perhaps Drury Addison Blair),\n                  whose condition is improving.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThis letter is a reply to one or more letters that\n                  James had received from his cousin and \"sweethearts\"\n                  a few days earlier. He has just heard that his\n                  regiment is about to move into their winter quarters\n                  in Gainesville. He will join it when the winter\n                  quarters are ready. Meanwhile, the work in his\n                  current quarters is lighter and the pay better. He\n                  believes the fighting in Centreville will not\n                  continue past winter. He mentions meeting a man who\n                  had been captured by the Union and who was recently\n                  released. According to this man, there are 60,000\n                  sick Yankees in Washington. He also adds that he has\n                  heard that two men in Centreville were shot for\n                  trying to kill their commanding officer. James closes\n                  the letter by asking to be remembered to cousin Eliza\n                  Ann Williams and to all the \"ladies\" at Christmas\n                  time.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting from the company's winter quarters near\n                  the battlefield of First Manassas, John Booker\n                  describes his brother James' sickness, which has left\n                  him weak and without an appetite. Other soldiers,\n                  including Nathaniel Robertson and Neal Gilbert, have\n                  struggled with illness; one, Josiah Burnett, has\n                  died. Booker ends his letter by expressing his\n                  pleasure at having received his cousin Unity's letter\n                  and apologizing that his brother James was unable to\n                  write.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker explains why he has been so long in\n                  answering Unity's latest letters, stating that he has\n                  been in hospital, too ill to write. He had hoped to\n                  come home on furlough, but has been separated from\n                  his regiment and could not obtain leave. He asks that\n                  Unity write to him with the location of his regiment.\n                  He also complains about the quality of the food and\n                  mentions seeing many acquaintances on their way to\n                  the front. He closes by asking his cousin to direct\n                  her replies to Greaner's Hospital, care of Surgeon R.\n                  G. Banks.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes to inform his cousin of the\n                  location of his regiment. He indicates that they have\n                  been shot at but infrequently hit. He mentions that a\n                  man named Tucker, who was wounded in the chin, was\n                  the only man from his regiment (he was attached to\n                  Captain Carter's Company F) to have been shot. He\n                  also notes that many men, mainly Yankees, were killed\n                  at last Wednesday's battle and that this evening the\n                  Yankees flew a truce flag in order to safely bury\n                  their dead. He feels that, because the best of both\n                  armies are here, the war will be settled here. He\n                  closes by asking that Unity write soon, and direct\n                  her letters to him at Yorktown. He also asks her to\n                  notify \"sister Mary\" that Pickney has not yet\n                  arrived.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes a new posting and notes\n                  that, since leaving the Orange Court House, the\n                  troops are living without tents. They stay in the\n                  entrenchments every other day and night, and are\n                  under constant bombardment by the Yankees. He\n                  mentions that there is a good deal of sickness and\n                  many are being wounded. Also, he notes that they have\n                  elected officers for the next two years. John closes\n                  by asking Unity to direct her letter to him at\n                  Yorktown.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames begins by apologizing for the tardiness of\n                  his letter: he explains that he has been ill. He then\n                  discusses the practice of substitution (arranging for\n                  a replacement in the army), concluding that it is\n                  having a bad effect on the Confederate Army. He also\n                  discusses his work assignment and his health. In a\n                  separate letter on the same paper, John tells his\n                  cousin about his cold and sore throat. He also states\n                  that there is currently no fighting, but he can hear\n                  the Yankees firing cannonade \"down on the river.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker writes that he and his brother John\n                  are in good health. They have been marching hard but\n                  usually have not gotten enough to eat. Booker reports\n                  that the general feeling in the camp is that peace\n                  will come soon. Four sick conscripts have arrived\n                  (and are named). James complains of having to march\n                  in wet clothing after crossing bridge-less streams.\n                  He also notes that the sick and wounded have been\n                  ordered from Winchester to Staunton and thinks that\n                  everyone else will be going to Richmond soon. James\n                  looks forward to going there since he has not heard\n                  from home since leaving Richmond. He greets other\n                  family members and mentions that John will write\n                  soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eClaiming that he would be able to \"stand\" being a\n                  soldier if he received enough to eat, James Booker\n                  notes that recently the supply of food has been\n                  adequate, but that the men have not gotten enough\n                  salt. James Booker notes the illnesses of two men in\n                  camp, Bage Pritchett and John Hundley. He compares\n                  the entrepreneurship of the Yankees with the more\n                  whimsical quality of the Quakers' mercantilism and\n                  notes the use of Confederate money and specie to buy\n                  provisions. He also describes a month-long religious\n                  revival meeting underway in camp.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter reporting that he and his brother John are\n                  well, James Booker writes that the company has been\n                  marching for the past four days and has finally\n                  arrived at its camp near Fredericksburg. Many Union\n                  soldiers are nearby, and he predicts that the Union\n                  troops will soon begin shelling the Confederates. He\n                  expects a \"hard\" battle to commence soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting on the Sabbath, James Booker tells his\n                  cousin that both he and his brother are well. The\n                  members of Company D marched for the past ten days,\n                  and they expect to march again the next day, since\n                  they are following the movements of the Union troops.\n                  A few days previously, the Union had surprised the\n                  Confederate cavalry, but the Confederates managed to\n                  drive their enemies across the river and take several\n                  hundred prisoners. Complaining that \"the Yankees is\n                  getting too mean to live,\" James Booker writes that\n                  they steal and destroy Southern property, such as\n                  meat, corn, and horses. He notes, \"I still live in\n                  hope of peace soon though I may not live to see it.\"\n                  He observes that at a \"very interesting\" camp meeting\n                  several men, including Captain Herndon, were\n                  converted.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker reports that he and his brother John\n                  are well. He mentions that local residents seem\n                  fearful of the army and that General Robert E. Lee\n                  has ordered his troops to respect private property.\n                  He describes the flourishing condition of\n                  Pennsylvania farms, noting that this part of the\n                  country has not yet felt the effects of the war.\n                  James perceives disunity in the people's attitude\n                  toward the war, comments on the abolitionists'\n                  motives, and mentions that he is boarding at a\n                  private house for free in return for guarding the\n                  owner's property. He closes by asking that Unity\n                  write soon, for he the last letter he received was\n                  dated the 13th.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWriting a few days after Gettysburg, James Booker\n                  describes the heavy losses suffered by his division\n                  during Pickett's Charge; most of the regiment's\n                  officers and many of the enlisted men were killed,\n                  wounded, or captured during the assault. James and\n                  John Booker escaped harm, though they were nearly\n                  taken prisoner by the Union forces. His division has\n                  been assigned to escort 5000-6000 Union prisoners to\n                  the South. He reports hearing daily of small battles\n                  and expects another major battle imminently, although\n                  he does not expect his division to be involved\n                  because it is on guard in Williamsport, a city where\n                  most of the citizens appear to favor the North.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker writes that he is happy that Chloe\n                  enjoyed the revival meeting at Hermon (perhaps the\n                  Mount Hermon Baptist Church near Danville), then\n                  notes that there is \"good preaching\" at the camp. He\n                  contends that \"the prosspect for peece is very gloomy\n                  now,\" given that both sides are preparing for war\n                  with more intensity than ever. He reports that,\n                  despite rumors, Pickett's division will remain in\n                  Virginia. The troops are elated at this news, even\n                  though they have little more to do than guard camp\n                  and drill three times a day. In a postscript, James\n                  Booker asks Chloe Unity Blair to send his letter to\n                  his sister soon.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eApparently upset that he did not receive a\n                  furlough, James Booker wishes for the warmth and\n                  comforts of home, writing, \"there is none of them\n                  that knows how to appreciate a blessing until they\n                  are deprived of it.\" Still, he admits, in wartime he\n                  should find satisfaction simply in having enough to\n                  eat and enjoying good health; but he cannot be\n                  satisfied when speculators sell food to women and\n                  children at inflated prices. He observes that the\n                  married soldiers have sent for their wives and were\n                  boarding them at the homes of local citizens. He\n                  observes that General Corse's Brigade had been at the\n                  camp near Petersburg, but that they were sent to\n                  Tennessee. He also mentions writing to his sister\n                  Mary, telling her that he did not need clothing, as\n                  he received the box that \"you all\" sent him. The\n                  letter closes with a one-page postscript stating that\n                  John made a potato pie, and Cousin Tom ate with the\n                  two of them. He sends his regards to Cousin Pollie\n                  Ann and mentions that Cousin William Blair and Luther\n                  are stationed nearby but will be leaving for\n                  Chatanooga, Tennessee, within the next two days. He\n                  closes asking for Unity to return his \"soldier\n                  likeness\" to him so he can exchange it for a new\n                  one.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter observing that letters from home bring him\n                  great pleasure, John Booker chastises his cousin for\n                  not writing sooner. He notes that \"Flem\" Gregory has\n                  been ill, but is recuperating. Then he launches into\n                  a complaint that energizes the letter: Captain John\n                  Herndon is too \"lazy\" to grant the soldiers in his\n                  company furloughs, even though it is Christmas time,\n                  and even though the men are not doing anything, not\n                  even picket duty. So discontented are the soldiers\n                  that many say they will not re-enlist. John Booker\n                  claims that he opposes desertion, but that the\n                  wealthier men who paid substitutes to serve in the\n                  army should have to join, while veteran soldiers\n                  should receive furloughs. Angered at the inequality,\n                  John exclaims, \"this is a rich mans war an a poor\n                  mans fight.\" He ends his letter by observing that\n                  Memory Inman, another member of the D Company, is\n                  heading home to get married.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBooker reports that although his regiment had\n                  begun to march to meet the Yankees in battle, the\n                  Union had attacked --and been defeated by --another\n                  group of Confederate soldiers thirty-five miles away.\n                  He reports that the winter has been fairly pleasant\n                  and that food is cheap and plentiful. Despite such\n                  abundance, he notes, soldiers have been stealing food\n                  from local residents. He mentions a serious theft of\n                  $18,000 from the Quarter Master; soldiers are\n                  suspected of the deed. James expresses concern over\n                  General Barton's attitude towards the Regiment.\n                  (Barton has said his men come from \"rags and\n                  thieves.\") James complains that after three years of\n                  service he has still not received a furlough. He\n                  closes the letter with a stanza from \"Amazing\n                  Grace.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJohn Booker describes the attempt by Virginia\n                  Governor William \"Extra Billy\" Smith and Colonel\n                  [Joseph Robert] Cabell to make the men of the 38th\n                  Regiment re-enlist. 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He laments the lack of\n                  correspondence from home and closes his\n                  correspondence with salutations and wishes for his\n                  family's good health He apologizes for his poor\n                  writing, attributing it to having to finish the\n                  letter by firelight.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJames Booker replies to Unity's letters of the\n                  17th and 24th. He mentions that his company has been\n                  fishing about 20 miles away and that the Yankees are\n                  getting closer and are expected to drive the men out\n                  of the fishery. He states that the Yankees are\n                  believed to be heading for Richmond. James hopes that\n                  \"this cruel war\" may end soon and \"in our favor.\" He\n                  closes with a quotation from \n                  \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003e1 John\u003c/emph\u003e. 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