Letter to Ellen B. Stanard (Taliaferro)

Creator:
Stanard, Jaqueline Beverly, 1845-1864
Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards finances and daily life at VMI.

Language:
English .
Other descriptive data:

V.M.I. Dec. 19th 1863

My darling Mother
I guess you have been wondering what in the world had become of me that I did not write. Well we were ordered out on last Tuesday very unexpectedly to march directly to Goshen and there wait orders from Gen. Imboden. I have not time to give you an account of our march now as we have to leave here in the morning at 5 to go in the direction of Buchanan or Salem after Averell ["Averil" in original] and having marched 13 miles today [page torn] a miserable frozen ground feel as if I could [page torn] a little sleep on my old mattress after taking it out long. Oh! I tell you I can stand Army Service. We were exposed one day and night to the most disagreeable weather I ever saw. Rain fell in perfect torrents freezing as it would fall. We intended to have gone on from here after a rest of 2 hours but as there were a good many boys shoeless and others with sore feet we concluded to stay over. We take 3 days rations (which is very little) I received your letter written on the 13 with the $100 but haven't heard or gotten Mr. S with the $70. Has he written and did he [?] rebels. I hope it may not be lost as I am deep in debt. I took dinner with Miss Louise B. today. She promised to write to you for me if I went on. I hope this letter may reach you safely and relieve your mind somewhat. You must not worry yourself. I am perfectly well & hardy, ready to give that [page torn] "Avril" a [_ing]. I hope to gracious we may catch the scoundrel and his men. I will not write more at present. Will do so as soon as I return again. So now must bid you all good night with love & kisses to the family and little ones I am as ever your darling boy Bev.

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Military Institute Archives
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Parent restrictions:
There are no restrictions.
Parent terms of access:
Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.