V.M. Institute
My Dear Sister,
Returned. I have but time to say Good Bye and write very soon. Love to all.
Direct to
Camp at Fairfax Station
Dear Father,
There is no position in this Regiment, or any other, in which Billy could draw pay, and remain only a month or so. But if it is his desire to join the army for the war, and this meets with your approval, I don't think there is any doubt about his obtaining a situation in this Regiment as 3rd Lieut. of Capt. Brown's Company at a salary of eighty ($80) a month. Capt. Brown's 3rd Lieut. has resigned and the vacancy will be to fill, and I asked the Captain the probability of Billy's election. He consulted with his men, and told me he did not think there would be any doubt about it. The resignation of the Lieut. has just been sent in and whilst it will certainly be accepted, it will not be heard from for three or four weeks. I can postpone the election until the 1st October, if necessary. This is all I can do for Billy at present, you & he can take it under consideration & report. But tell Billy if he decides to take the post‐ I want him to understand that Genl. Elzey don't give furloughs & that I don't want to be troubled by loaning money‐ clothes, or treating to ice cream that if he comes he must come with the determination to "hoe his own row"‐ He has been in the army long enough to know what it is & what will be expected of him. Of course I will cheerfully administer to his wants should he get sick, but Billy understands he remembers my lectures about his sponging and complaining at Winchester.
But enough on this subject for the present. I have been directed to make a requisition for 40 rounds of cartridges in addition to what I have and now have a good deal on hand. I am told 17 loads of boats went to Aquia Creek a few days since. I was at Fairfax C.H. yesterday‐ the whole country around is one grand encampment. We have a good deal of sickness in our camp‐ not less than 150 cases‐ of this number about twenty have the remittent fever. Some of my men I fear will die. A. B. Bridges who married (Robt. Miller's) widow died in the hospital at Richmond with the fever‐ he was delirious when he reached Gordonsville. We lost another man last week with the fever on his way home near camp & gave them all the attention we can. I am sorry to hear of Mr. Steven's illness‐ but hope he is well by this time. Let me hear from you soon.
My regards to Miss Matilda & Mr. Stevens family.
Camp at Rich Hill on Big Sewell Mountain
My Dear Sister:
Wise has been ordered to Richmond and has gone. Gen. Loving is here with his forces. If we have a fight Loving will command the right wing- Lee the centre and Floyd the left wing. Our force has been considerably increased but is not near strong enough. The enemy's reported strength at their position on top of Sewell is twelve thousand (12,000)- but then they have nearly as many more between them and Charleston. So that our little force of two thousand would be no where without they attack us in position. One thing certain I don't think it will ever do for us to attack them with this force. But something must soon be done. We cannot remain in sight of one another long without something being done and what is more our men cannot stand it- being on half rations all the time all they get is three biscuits a day and a piece of tough beef- and soldiers can't live in this country where it rains every other day and cold enough to freeze them on any such food as that. We have had several very heavy frosts here. Last Saturday morning a soldier from a Miss. [Mississippi] Regiment was found dead in a wagon supposed to have frozen to death. It rained all Thursday night and all day Friday night very hard and it was as cold as January and the poor fellow not having any tent along with them (having in obedience to orders left them at Meadow Bluff) froze to death. But his is only one of many deaths that occur here every day. Poor fellows! They take sick and have no one to take care of them and die from neglect. You can hardly pass a house without seeing a dead man and often you find them in barns and stables in the stalls where horses have been and nobody to bury them. I was told the other day by a man who said he saw three dead men lying in a stable and had been there so long they were actually putrifying[sic]- and I shouldn't be surprised if it were so- every house from here to the White Sul. [Sulfur] is a hospital. I should like to see some of those Manassas boys out here awhile- they would see some to grumble at.
There is to be a decisive battle fought here ere long whether we shall winter in Charleston or not and I don't care how soon for I am tired undergoing such hardships and doing nothing. I want to get into better quarters somewhere. I don't care where much- can't get as much as a hand full of hay- have to lie on the cold wet ground (in fact nothing but mud) and get up in the morning with rheumatism and sore throat and if it was not but for Lottie's piano cover I would have had to taken it on the naked ground and I believe I would have been dead long had it not have been for it. But I still have pretty good health- have a bad cold occasionally but I don't mind that much.
How are all at home? I should like very much to see you all. Have you seen Lottie yet- don't you think she is a beauty? I wish I could see her now.
But I must close as it is getting too dark to see how to write. I long for a letter- do write very soon. Give my best love to all at house also Uncle [Jo Burns?] family and tell Mollie to write. Tell Aunt [Minta?] that I wish often for some of her good biscuits and chickens- tell her to be sure to write very soon. Direct to the care of Col. McCausland, 36th Reg. Va. Vols. Floyd's Brigade, Charleston, Va. and if we whip the Yankees I will get it there; if not I will get it wherever I may be. Best love to all- tell Uncle Jimmy to write often. Good Bye. May God Bless you my dear Sister in the prayer of
Camp near Manassas
Dear Sister
Genl. Elzey came up from Centreville today. He is still complaining with rheumatism. He does my Regiment the compliment to have his body guard detailed from it. He says the Baltimorians & Tennesseeans stole from him. (Geddie Effinger my roommate has just come and give me a scolding about not having a good fire). But I must tell you that I am in my "shanty". We moved in last night. You will see from the enclosed picture that it bears a striking resemblance to the habitations along the line of the rail‐road in Northern Georgia only it is a better building. My kitchen is not quite completed. I eat in my tent this morning with snow on it, this is as near a Valley Forge scene as I have yet experienced. The ground is covered with snow, but it is very slight and the first winter weather we have had yet. My men are nearly all in their huts. And now I must tell you something else in connection with our Winter Quarters. I was at Genl. E. K. Smith's House today (I will tell you why I went there directly) for some time. He told me that Genl. Johnston wanted us to remain at Centreville and it was some time before he could prevail upon him to let us come here, so you see we are among the "favored few". I was at Centreville yesterday. Many Regiments are still in their tents & will probably be all winter.
Camp Giles Co. Va.
My Dear Sister‐
Camp Near Lewisburg
My Dear Sister,
This Batt. & the 22nd Regt. bore the brunt of the fight. What our loss is I do not know, certainly very heavy though. It will be some gratification to you to know that I was highly complimented in Genl. Echols official report (for my conduct in the fight) to the War Dept, though it does not become me to speak of it to anyone but yourself & I desire that you will not speak of it. I have just returned from a very pleasant & sociable visit to the Yankees. We were treated very kindly indeed. We remained with them three days & four nights had "sure 'nuff" coffee three times a day & everything good that any one could desire, egg‐nog & whiskey included. I send you a Yankee paper of as late a date as I could get. I got a letter from L. last night and found it waiting my return. She is well & "all right", does not give any satisfactory reasons for her long delay‐ but I suppose I will have to give her a slight lecture& forgive her. She inquired after you‐ says she heard you were going to her neighborhood Christmas‐ hopes you will. If you do, you must go to see her. Her Mother has been very ill this fall‐ still is so.
Everything is very dull here now. I have not been to see any ladies since the fight, expect to do so as soon as I can get some clothes washed. Has Lizzie Van Lear returned from Salem yet? When I got home last night I found an invitation from and Aunt of hers, Mrs. Alex Arbuckle to visit some ladies at her house‐ but I rec'd it too late to go. She is a very nice lady, has been very kind to us. When we retreated from here the Col. & I left some clothing at her house & the Yankees heard of it & went & searched the house & destroyed it together with a great deal of her clothing & of her family. I lost some valuable clothing but saved the most of what I had. I do not know when I will be able to get a leave of absence. I would like you to buy me some yarn and knit me a pair of suspenders if you will. Do not make them more than 1 ½ inches wide. I will come to see you all as soon as I can. Aunt Mint is mistaken about my not writing to them. I have written twice I think without a reply. I will write again tonight. Give my best love to all. My love to Kate Duck & all friends when you write again. Good bye.
After you have finished reading the Yankee paper send it to Uncle Jimmie
Camp near Lewisburg
Since I wrote you last we have been run again by the Yankees‐ retreated to Salt Sulphur Springs ahead of Averill going in the direction of Salem. Into position on Sweet Springs Mt. to fight him, but he heard of us being there & took another road‐ have come back near Lewisburg‐ 5 miles on the Union Road‐ are encamped in a miserable place‐ don't think it possible to supply ourselves here very long. I am anxious to see you all‐ don't know when I'll be able to come. May come last of the month‐ don't look for me though‐ don't feel very well today. If you have an opportunity to send my trunk key to Uncle J. do so & if you don't have one send it in a letter. I will have to go there & get some clothes before I come to Salem. Love to all. Excuse me‐ have the Blues
Staunton Va.
My Dear Sister,
Head Qrs. 23rd Va. Batt.
My Dear Sister:
Camp near the Chickahominy
My Dear Sister
Near Strasburg Va
My Dear Sister:
We have a report here that Grant is dead‐ hope it may be so‐ but I fear it isn't. I am very anxious to see some papers & the news.
Did you get my letter to you from Harrisonburg? I wrote to you from there and asked an old Gentleman standing on the street to mail it for me which he promised to do. This is a gloomy evening‐ just suits my feelings. Write me at once a long letter about everything. Give me the news. Tell me about everything and everybody. I hope we will soon get back up the Valley when I will try & come see you. We may more any way though. There is no telling. Give my very best to all. Tell Effie that I understand "Uncle Davy Jamison" is along with this army & I am on the look out for him. Write me very soon. May God ever Bless you and the kind friends of Mt. Solon will ever be the prayer of
Direct to 23 Va. Battalion, Echols' Brigade, Breckinridge's Div., Army of the Valley
[letter continues on the top of Page 1]
Near Martinsburg Va.
My Dear Sister,
I am beginning to think that there certainly must be some Providential interference in regard to myself or perhaps it may be the prayers of my friends. I feel that there is certainly something‐ I cannot (lead?) a charmed life? I have felt this more strongly the other day than ever before. Perhaps it was because I realized my situation more fully than before.
Where we will go from here I cannot tell. There are several conjectures‐ among them are 1st that we will go on a trip to the North West by the way of Cumberland, Md. to Wheeling. 2nd that we will make the trip without crossing the river. 3rd that we will go back up the valley. I am in favor of some place where rest can be found‐ but if we can do anything by taking the trip to N.W. Va. I am in as long as I am able to put one foot before the other. I feel bully today. I am full up to the guzzle for once. We have had hard times in the eating line in the last ten days. I have drank so much coffee today that I am so nervous I can scarcely write. Being full of coffee & bread & meat I now long for some good smoking tobacco which is as scarce as hens teeth down here and scarcer too. I have some Yankee letters for your perusal. If we do will send them to you if I have an opportunity. Will send you a sample in this. She is a good writer but I think is flirting with him. I also send a picture which I think is hers‐ am not sure for there were several pictures captured together‐ but she speaks in one of the letters of a recent date of sending a picture to him & as this was the newest looking one of the lot, I take it for hers. Isn't she loving‐? Derrick got a letter in which I got a message from Mrs. Lewis that Jimmy Sprout, Ginny's oldest boy died a week ago. All this you have heard. I am anxious for a letter from you. Write often twice a week. I may get them. Give my best love to all. Pray for me and be a good Christian May that God will ever bless you and the dear friends in Solon is the heartfelt devoted desire of my heart.
[end of letter continues on tops of other pages]
[On back of envelope]
Near Winchester, Va.
My Dear Sister;
I would like to send you some money to "splurge on" if I have an opportunity. If you can get it then do so & when I come I will give or send it to you by the first opportunity. I don't want you to sit down in Mt. Solon & nurse your hands. I want you fly around & enjoy yourself with your associates. While they are taking pleasure excursions, I don't want you to remain behind. For funds as long as I have any I have plenty for you to enjoy yourself with. I want you to see something of the world. Be very choise[sic] of your associates, both ladies and gents‐ especially the latter‐ avoid forward nor too intimate on short acquaintance, rather be hard to cultivate‐ don't show your likes or dislikes too much, cover them as much as possible‐ altogether if you [can]. I have not time to answer your last letter. I wrote Mr. Paul to get me a n‐‐‐‐‐. I hope he will. I am greatly in need of one. I have no further news to write you now. Go to see Maj. Yancey if you can and enjoy yourself. Visit all you can so it ain't too much. I don't know the name of the girl that wrote the letters more than "Recca" or "Pet". The feller's name is Cassius L. Mather 23rd O.R. I don't think he was killed. Give my best love to all, write me very often. Write long letters. The reason I want the small pistol sent to Uncle J. is that he asked me to leave one of them with him. He has the large one now & will keep it until I can get a belt. Good bye my dear sister. May God Bless you. Pray for me.
Camp 6 miles below W.Chester [Winchester]
My Dear Sister,
Officer's Prison Fort Delaware
My Darling Sister,
Direct to:
Officers Prison, Fort Delaware
My darling Sister:
Officer's Prison, Fort Delaware
My precious Sister:
Walnut Grove
My darling Sister:
Preston LibraryVirginia Military Institute345 Letcher Ave.Lexington, VA 24450-0304