Letter to James Henry Reid, Sr.

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

V.M.I. Aug 26 1862

Dear Pa
Having just recd your letter of the 21st I proceed to answer it at once.

In regard to my maltreatment I went next morning at sick roll call to see Dr. Madison who examined my neck & finger. He said my finger was right badly hurt and bound it up with two little boards, but my neck was not injured. My finger is nearly well but still swollen. If I had known in Lynchburg how I was to be treated I never would have consented to come, but since I have passed through it I don't think I will be molested any more, especially as Gen. Smith allowed the same fellows that maltreated me to resign for nearly killing a rat named Cocke, a son of Philip St. George Cocke, & all of them have gone home some days ago.

I have been right sick for several days. Had a chill Saturday & Sunday but went to the Dr. yesterday morning who gave me some white stuff something like chalk, which entirely relieved me except that it gave me a severe head ache.

We Rats have not any studying to do this week because of the examination which is progressing. The 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 sections, 4th Class expect to enter the 3rd Class, so then I will be in the 3 section, 4th Class whereas I am now in the 8th. Perhaps I may go in the 2nd or 1st. I made 15, the highest mark to be made, on Math last week & 14 6/10 on French, which is also a very high mark as none in the class made higher.

In place of studying this week they try to drill us to death. We get up to Rev at 5, go to squad drill at 5½, & drill till 6½, go to breakfast parade at 7, go on guard mounting at 8, squad drill from 11 to 12, Dinner parade at 1, squad drill again at 5 to 6, dress parade from 6¼ to ¼7, evening parade at 7, & tattoo at 9½. Besides we are on guard twice in every week, stand one hour in the night each time.

I have no demerits so fair, will try & keep from getting them. I was very much surprised to see in an old Lynchburg paper the notice of Clem's departure. Write me about it & if he carried off any thing belonging to the Co. or your key, for you always gave it to him at night & I suppose he left in the night. I must close as it is very near 5 clk. Tell Ma to write to me with love to all,
Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

It takes 6 years single width of cloth to make me a uniform. Please send also 4 yards double width of Flannagan cloth to make me an overcoat. I want Browns cloth for my uniform & Flannagans for my overcoat. 6 yards single & 4 yards double width. Be sure to put it up so it will not look like cloth, as any thing of that kind is stolen directly.

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
Virginia Military Institute—Slang
Correspondence

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