Letter to Maurice D. Langhorne, 1862

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards the death of Cadet Fleming and general cadet life.

Language:

English.

Other descriptive data:

Virginia Military Institute

Dear Bro

As we only had 3 more days that week to attend to duty & 3 being the highest mark I was the maximum & I only made [5..] the worst mark on math I have made since I have been here. I went to the board this morning had this example given me. The hour & minute hands of a watch show the time of day to be 24 minutes past 3 oclock, at what time will they come together. You are only allowed 1 minute to demonstrate. I couldn't work it and then I asked him Pro Miller to work it out and explain it and took him minutes to work it and I told him he ought not to mark me on an example that I only had a minute as I knew he had been 5 and he said he would not mark me on it but told me to come round to his room that night & he would show me how to work it. Tis night now and time for me to go.

Tomorrow is the 23rd anniversary of the VMI and by the way I have a good piece of news to tell you. The Beef Sergeant has bought 40 odd turkeys for dinner tomorrow and we have for dessert Pies. They generally fire a salute with cannon but the powder is so scarce that they will not fire one but their is a piece of bad news with it, the old cadets are going to buck every Rat in Barracks {Barracks} tomorrow. They have had regular committees taking down all their names & my name came under that head. Bro Jim I have been scuffling and my hand trembles so that cannot write and so much excited that you must excuse all mistakes.

I wrote to Papa some time ago about some shoes and he never wrote me a work about them & General Smith says he cannot and will not furnish us shoes and I am nearly barefooted and If Ma has not sent me the box pleas send me a pair in it. Pleas excuse this poorly written letter. I will try and do better next time. Love to All at Edgehill & Cousin Hues. Kiss Mama and the two children, love to all. I remain as ever your attached Bro

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
Correspondence

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