Letter from R. Henry Campbell to mother

Scope and content:

Written from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Letter regards general news, a burned bridge across the Opequon River, and no wages.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Harper's Ferry June 3d 1861

Dear Mother,
I received your kind letter that you sent by Mr. Charlton. I do not receive half the number of letters now that I did some time ago. I have no doubts about your writing often, but think it is the fault of the Mail Carries & Post Masters.

I received the Cakes and sugars. Tell Sis they are very nice and that I am much obliged to her. We will not get such eatables here. While we were in Martinsburg, we had plenty of nice provisions, but since we have been here we get nothing but Soldiers fare. Our Company left Martinsburg on the morning of the first of June. All of the Citizens were very sorry to see us leave. They say that if they are going to station a Company in Martinsburg, that they want us to come back. They say that we are the most gentlemanly set of men that they have seen, and that they would rather have us there than to have their own town Company.

Last week I was appointed Sergeant by our Officers. Also A. S. Wade was appointed Sergeant. Ed Northern, Andrew Varner and Wallace Ruff were appointed Corporals. I wish you to tell Father to get Mr. Vanderslice to make me a pair of Sergeant's chevrons [Chevrons]. Tell him to make them like the Cadets' are made. I cannot get a bit of Lace here or I would get them made here. If he cannot get the Lace at the Institute, go to Mr. James S. Smith's Jewelry Store, and tell him to let him have that Lace that belongs to Sergeant Boude. Tell him that Boude told me to send for it. Send them the first opportunity that you have as I wish to have them put on my coat.

You ask why we were sent to Martinsburg and why we were kept in the House the day of the Election. I do not know why we were sent there, but I think that it was to keep down a disturbance if there should be any. Our Company was not locked up the day of the Election, but we were required to be at our quarters, so that if we were needed we would all be together. The voting was done at the Court House just across the street from our Quarters. All of our Company that had a vote cast them for Ratification. A good many of our Company had no vote. I was one that could not vote. You say that James Suddarth was greatly elated, because his Company was ordered off. Let him come and go through what we have gone through and I think too that he will have the wire edge taken off him. I think it will go rather hard with that Company if they have much duty to do as they have been used to lazing about College and doing nothing.

You also asked to send my likeness if I could spare the money. I sent you my likeness by John Breedlove nearly two weeks ago and I sent my likeness to Sis by Col. Ruff about a week ago.

We have not drawn any wages yet and I do not think that we will get them soon. Some of the Companies I hear have been paid, but I do not know whether to believe it or not. My money is almost gone. I do not know what I will do when my money gives out. Money will get anything that we need. Moody is with the Company now. He looks real pitiful. I do not know whether the Company will allow him to stay or not. Nothing will be done with him. I think he is punished sufficiently, the men hardly speak to him.

When we got to this place on Saturday evening, twenty five men were detailed to go back within two miles of Martinsburg to burn the Bridge across the Opequon River. I was Sergeant of the detachment. We walked about eight miles up the Rail Road and then got a hand car and worked our way within a mile of the Bridge. We stopped there and Lieut. Edmondson, myself and ten others went forward to reconnoiter (We expected to have a skirmish as the Citizens of Martinsburg (the Union men) said that we should not burn the bridge). When we got within sight of the Bridge we found a sentinel pacing on top of the Bridge. We immediately sent back and informed the reserve that there was a guard on the Bridge and for them to come on. We marched up to the Bridge. When we got there two others appeared and asked us where we were going to. We told them that we were going to stop there. Then they asked us to what we were going to do. We told them that we were going to burn the Bridge. Then one of the three that was at the Bridge said that he must go up to a house that was just above the Bridge and see the Captain of the Guard. As soon as he got to the Guard House and told the Captain of the Guard that there was a detachment at the Bridge, he called out his whole guard (amounting to 31 men) with their arms and came to the Bridge. We expected to have a fight, then as some of them said that the Bridge should not be burned while we were talking, the reserve of 13 men came up and they backed out. We kindled about twenty fires in the Bridge and set them afire. At eight o'clock Sunday morning, the bridge was in ashes. Not a particle of it was left except the butments. While the Bridge was burning the Guard from Martinsburg stood upon the other side and watched until the Bridge was consumed but did not attempt to interfere. If they had they would have met with a warm reception as we were well prepared and went with the determination to burn the Bridge. We burnt the Bridge by the order of Gen. Johnson to prevent the Federal Troops from coming down on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Two bridges were burnt above near Grafton on the same road last week.

You spoke of hearing that there was a fight at the ferry. There has not been one here, and I do not think that there will be one at this place. I think if the Federal Troops invade Virginia, that they will come through Maryland and enter Virginia just opposite of Martinsburg and march across to Winchester (22 miles) so as to cut off the supplies that are intended for this place. I think that the troops here ought to burn every house in the Ferry and move to Winchester as there is nothing here now to protect as the Machinery has all been removed and is not in Richmond. There is a force of about 18000 at this place now and they are still coming every day. There is a force of 36000 at Manassas junction on the Orange and Alexandria Rail Road near Alexandria. All of the reports of fights between the forces is false. There has not been an engagement any where yet and I do not think that there will be soon as Congress (U. S.) does not meet until the 4th of July and they have the power to declare war, (not Lincoln.)

When the Federal Troops do invade the South they will find that the Southern Troops are well prepared and ready for a fight. The South has received 200000 stand of arms from Europe and plenty of material has been found in Arkansas to make powder. Richmond has five Cap manufacturers in operation fifty thousand percussion caps passed over the Baltimore and Ohio road to the South marked Garden Seeds last week. Just as I am writing a regiment went into a field to drill. Jo Neff is looking out of the window at them. J. says just look at them; G-d, ain't there a lot of them; don't that look like war; just suppose them were Federal Troops; if they were to fire, what a hole they would make; and fifty other expressions, you can imagine what they are like as you have heard him talk often. He has an oath about every other word. Tell Cousin Ann that Joe is well and sends his love.

Some time ago you said that is John Donald wanted some check shirts that you would make them for him. He says that he will be very much obliged to you for them as he has nothing but his white shirts. Tell father that he is getting real fat, and is as full of fun as ever. He sends his best respects. He also sends his respects to Jake Smith, and says to tell Jake that he would like to be in Lexington to see John William. We have got the name of the being of the best company at the Ferry, and have the healthiest men and are able to stand more than any other company here. As we go along, the soldiers say there goes the Rockbridge Boys. I believe that we have done more than any two companies since we have been here. There are thirty men from Baltimore that want to join our company. They belong to the Baltimore Rifles. They cannot form a company of their own as there is not enough of them here and they say that they want to join Capt. Letcher's Company. I do not know whether we will take them or not.

Tell Cousin Sarah that I have received her letter and and will answer as soon as I can. I also received a letter from Tribbett(?) which I have not answered. Mrs. Dodd died in Winchester last Thursday (Robert Dodd's Mother) and was buried last Friday. Miss Lizzie Dodd says that she is going to send me another box of Cakes soon. Edward Norgrove sends his best respects to all of our family and says to tell his Mother that he is well and to give her his love. He was with the crowd that went to Opequon Bridge.

Tell Father not to pay for those things that I got the morning that we left Lexington, that they will be paid for out of the money that was appropriated by the county for equipping the Volunteers of Rockbridge. I got two pairs of drawers and two shirts at Switzer's. A pea jacket at Young's worth $2.75, and a pair of buckskin gloves at Capt. Bakers, a pair of boots at Tom Deaver's worth $6.50, and a silk handkerchief at George White's. We have got new Military Caps, (Grey) new canteens and new shirts since we have been here.

John and Sam Charlton send their best respects to our folks. John says to give Jake Smith his best respects. Bowyer sends his respects to Smith. George Chapin says to give his love to all of his folks and tell them that he is well.

Subjects:

Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Infantry Regiment, 27th
Correspondence

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