Letter to Lizzy, 1861

Scope and content:

Written from camp at Duffield's Station, Jefferson County, [West] Virginia. Letter regards camp hardships, personal news, mentions being surrounded by Union troops, and also mentions Colonel Turner Ashby.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Duffield's Station. Sep 12

My Dearest Lizzy- After a march of 10 miles last night we have some time to our selves. We do not drill this morning. The Federal troops are all around us. They fired into Sheperdstown last night and we was going over thare but Col. Ashby seen them off before we got thare. We started at 12 oclock and came back at day light. Oh I do hate it down here. We sleep in a old Barn and that is full of cracks. I liked to froze night before last and I did not sleep over half an hour last night.

We have plenty of sour bread. It is enough to make any one sick. Coffee with out sugar. We are out of coffee and we drink rye coffee now. I hope we will soon be home. I want to see you very bad Lizzy. I hope in some day we will never part. I gave my likeness to John Bowen. He said he would see you on Sunday. I do wish that I had yours. Lizzy I love you and you are my hearts first desire for your love. I never shall forget the [parting] kiss you gave me that night at your house. You must not think hard of me for talking in that way but I love and I cannot help from telling you and you must write me. I am very loansome hear. I am coming up as soon as I can get furlow. Write soon. Direct your letter to Duffle's Depot, Jefferson County, Va. Do not forget to write

Subjects:

Confederate States of America. Army—Virginia Cavalry Regiment, 7th
West Virginia—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
Correspondence

Names:

Ashby, Turner, 1828-1862

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