Williamson Family letter

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

Email: archives@vmi.edu

Phone: (540) 464-7516

Phone: (540) 464-7566

Fax: (540) 464-7089

Web: www.vmi.edu/archives

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions

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.

Preferred citation:

Williamson Family letter, 1861. MS 0405. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:

1 items

Creator:

Williamson, [I]. D.

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Williamson Family letter, 1861. MS 0405. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of one Civil War letter (dated July 20, 1861) from Confederate soldier [I.?] D. Williamson of Rockingham County, Virginia, to his wife. The letter mentions the ongoing battle at Manassas, Virginia and reports that "we are victorious so far."

Written from Winchester, Virginia. Letter mentions the ongoing battle at Manassas, Virginia and reports that "we are victorious so far."

Physical location:

Manuscripts stacks

Related

Alternative form available:

This item is available online

Other descriptive data:

Fair Grounds

My dear wife,

You will see that our troops have been victorious so far. I presume Genl. Johnson is now acting in consert with Beauregard. We cannot ascertain exactly what has become of Patterson. It is said that he is still at Charlestown. I have engaged wagons to carry our camp equipage & army stores, & are now prepared to move at a moments warning. With the raw militia here we could not for a moment think of making a stand against a superior force.

I feel a little uneasy about our own country. It would be an easy matter for McClellan's forces to pop into Rockingham from Hardy and Pendleton. If any thing of that sort should happen Uncle must drive all our stock away. And not be caught as were many of the farmers in Berkeley, who lost every thing, stock, negroes and all. Col. Phil Dandridge lost 70 negroes. Many farmers lost all their horses & stock of every description.

There is a great feeling of insecurity here. North of Winchester for 5 or 6 miles the whole country is deserted. You had better have your valuables packed, ready to move at a moments warning.

If we can only whip the enemy at the Junction we are safe. It is the pivot on which our struggle is to turn. If we are defeated then we shall be compelled to abandon the whole of this part of Va.

I sent White home because I thought it was a useless exposure of his life, & my duties are not so arduous now as they were at first.

I am going down town & if I learn any think of importance I will give it in this letter when I return.

165 men armed here from Warren late last night. They are now busy this morning in pitching their tents. They brought 12 or 15 waggons with them. I was compelled to press about 10 of them. Ned Rice told me that one of our waggons is in town. I was sorry to hear it.

I went down town this morning to get the news, but could get nothing. There was no mail from from the Junction & the telegraph is out of order. The office was moved yesterday & this morning they can't get the wires to work. We are all suspense here.

I will write as soon as I get any thing worth communicating.

Mr. Hundsucker will carry this up.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861
Virginia—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
Correspondence

Names:

Williamson family