Letter to Martha E. McCoy

Scope and content:

Written from Culpepper County, Virginia. Letter regards Andrew J. McCoy's health and family matters.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Oct 25th, 1863
Camp Near Brandy Station, Culpeper Co. Va. Miss Martha E. McCoy

Dear Affectionate Sister-
It is with a considerable degree of pleasure within myself that I will now take my pen in hand to address to you a few lines in order to let you know that I am in tolerable good health at this present occasion, with the exception of a very bad cold that I have had for several days past which caused me to feel somewhat under the weather. But I truly hope that when this reaches you that all of you may be in the enjoyment of [special] good health through the blessings of God the Preserver of all our health & happiness in this world of sorrow & c.

I am truly pained to learn that the health of the people of Highland Co. & especially in the neighborhood of old Doe Hill has become so disastrous & bad with disease & sickness again, & that death has again visited that vicinity. It is truly taking everything into consideration between that & the trials of this war a very solemn & serious matter, but if it is God['s] will we must try & live to endure the afflictions that is to befall us in this life & make preparations with our almighty God to meet them in consequence of our behalf through the grace of Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls in the world to come & c. But I will have to close on this subject for the present, hoping to God that he may speed you all & myself on the way in this great work.

I was sorry to hear of mother's misfortune & loss of losing her horses & the great drawback it will cause upon her with her work & c. But I suppose from what I can learn that there is no chance for her ever to get them back again. It is a great pity but what she could. Also the thieving rascals that taken them should share the punishment that they so justly deserve. I am also ashamed to know that southern men will be guilty of such disgraceful depredations on our own people, especially a poor helpless woman that is left in her situation, but I hope that such men will meet with the doom that becomes such villains. Martha I did not get your last letter until a day or two ago on account of the army being on motion. We did not get our regular mail until we got back off of our last trip after the yankees. I will not attempt to try to give you the particulars of our trip this time as John I. Rumisel has gone home on furlough & he will tell you all about the matter & consequently I have but little news to write to you at present.

Jared M. Wilson & Josiah Armstrong come back to the company night before last & both of them look better than ever. I saw them they look fat & fine. The rest of the boys are all well & hearty. Lieut. J. L. Hempstead is going to start away in the morning on furlough of twenty days so our company will be left without an officer until he returns again.

Martha I forgot to write to Sarah to send me a pair of mittens & I want her to send me a good heavy pair of half soles for my shoes if she can get them if she can get them by Rumisel when he comes back. I want you if you please to let her know as soon as you get this letter if it comes to hand in time. I also had on a new jeans vest when I left home. It was so warm & I left it at Augustus Stowbuses on North River Augusta Co. I would like if to have it if he can bring it to me.

You said in your letter something about naming that big boy you say I have out there if I had no name for him. I have no particular objection to the name you proposed to me to call it but I will tell you what name I had thought to give it but I still neglected to send the name to Sarah, it was Davis Jackson. Write to me & let me know what you think of my name for him not that I object to your name at all.

I must close. You must excuse this kin of ink. I expect it will fade so can't read this letter at all. Very Respectfully yours & c. Your Brother Andr. J. McCoy.

Write immediately to me. Good by. Give my kindest regards to Caroline & family & all of my relations & friends. Tell mother she is due me a letter. I wrote to her some time ago & never received a letter from her

Subjects:

Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Infantry Regiment, 25th
United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives—Confederate
Virginia—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865

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