Capt J C Porter

The undersigned has
been a resident of Missouri for
three years and at the time of
his entering your company was
on a visit to his relation in Culpeper
—at that time he t hought his health
was sufficient to enable him to
undergo the hardships incident
to a soldiers life–Experience
has convinced him that he was
mistaken and he, in order to be
released from further service
offers a substitute Mr H Parker
a stout robust man, fully able
to do any duty he may be called
on to do and fully expenenied [sic] in
all the duties of a soldier having
served in Mexico under both
Genls Taylor & Scott in their
campaigns. The undersigned
feels reluctance in making
the request above, but feels compelled

[page 2]
to do so–and respectfully
asks your approval of this
his application.

Thomas H. Covington

Approved
John C. Porter
Comdt Company E.

Referred to Maj Genl Lee
Cr in Chief
Phili S G Cocke
Col Va Vol Comps
May 27 1861

Hd.Qr Va Forces
May 28 61
Let him be discharged
when he produces an
acceptable substitute
By order
R. S. Garnett
Adj. Gen.

John Crump Porter was a captain in the 7th Regt. Va. Volunteers under Col. James Lawson Kemper. Later served as Colonel 3rd Regiment Virgina Artillery, local defense troops around RichmondMSS 640

My dear girls,

I suppose
that you have ere this heard
that Alexandria was taken by
the Northern forces last Friday
morning, and may feel some un-
easiness as to what became of
me – Well after reaching Ma-
nassas Junction I took up
that road went to Middleburg
in stages, then with others tried
a spring wagon and came on to
this neighborhood Saturday. There
seemed to be great enthusiasm & ex-
citement among the soldiery in
prospect of an attack Friday
night at Manassas. But there
was a perfect panic here

[page 2]
Saturday evening when, as Lin-
cons [sic] forces were reported to be
marching on Leesburg – The
train on the road from this
place was taken by Lincon men
and bridges burned down, so that
we can get no news here from
the south – Can’t even hear how
the election is gone – You remem-
ber a secession flag in Alex: well
when Colo Ellsworth went to take
it down Mr Jackson shot him
and the soldiers under Colo E. shot
him and run him thro with their
bayonets. It is said that his wife
then took the flag threw it on
the dead body of her husband
drew her pistol and told them
she would shoot the first one
that touched it –

[page 3]
Well Bettie I gave the letters
to Miss Annie, and they were
very glad to get them and enquired
after you both with much affect- ^ ‘ion’
Tell Mr Simms I could not
get to Alex: and have the
money he handed me to pay
to Suttle & co $42.50 and
will hold it until he gives
me further direction. There is
at present no communication
between this place and that –
I did not see your Uncle Will
at Culpepper C.H. Expect he
is now at Manassas – remem-
-ber my injunctions children
about studying, working & C
Write to me at Upperville
for the other officers are almost

[page 4]
cut off – I will write again
from that place, as this
may not reach you – Give my
love to Mr. & Mrs. R. D. Simms.
[Several words are inked out.] & C
Don’t run about too much
and be kind & attentive to
y’r grand parents – If it should
be necessary for me to come over
at any time, tell Mr Simms.
Write to me at Upperville
and I’ll come as soon as I
receive the letter _

I’ve written this
very hurriedly and no time
for pains –

Y’r affect’e father
R.W. Watts

Robert William Watts, 1825-1910, noted Methodist minister, graduated from Emory and Henry, and served parishes in Orange, Loudoun, Warrenton, Amherst, Albemarle, Madison, Green and Nelson. He was a widower at the time he wrote this letter to his daughters. Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Simms mentioned the last page were his late wife’s parents

MSS 809

Record of the Proceedings
of a
Called meeting of the Board of
Visitors of the
University of Virginia
held in the
City of Richmond
May 27th 1861
by Call of the Rector

The Board met in the law-
office of P.H. Aylett–at
one o’clock. Present–Col.
T.J. Randolh, Rector, Wm H. Terrell,
Esq. Col. Jno B. Baldwin, P.H. Aylett
Esq. & Franklin Minor. The
meeting was called to order by
the Rector & on motion of Mr Aylett….

It being stated to the Board
by a member that the Laboratory
& Professor of Chemistry at the
University can render efficient
service to the state at this time by
the manufacture of fulminating
powder for caps & fuses

Therefore Resolved
That the whole means & materials
of chemical preparation at the Univ-
versity be offered to the State for
immediate service….

A communication was received from
the Governor of the State, in the following
words–to wit–

Executive Department
Richmond, May 17th 1861
To the Rector & Visitors
of the University of Va.
The following advice of Council
approved by the Governor is respectfully
submitted to the Board of Visitors of
the University of Virginia:

Th Council unanimously advise
that the Board of Visitors be requested
to establish at the University of Virginia
a laboratory in connection with the Ordi-
nance department of the State for the
purpose of assisting in the preparation
of munitions of war, & that this duty
of superintendence & management be assigned
to professors, to whom no additional com-
pensation shall be given….

The following resolutions were offered
by Mr Minor, to wit.

Resolved 1. That a School of Military
Science & Civil Engineering be estab-
lished in the University.

2. That the instruction in the school
of Military Science & Civil Engineering
shall be given by a Professor & two
assistant instructors.

3. That the professor shall be appointed
by the Board, & shall receive the same
salary & allowance for house rent as
the other professors; & that the assistant
instructors shall be appointed as as-
sistants are now appointed in other schools.

4. That in this School shall be
taught the Science of War, in all its
branches, & Civil Engineering, & a degree
shall be awarded in this school in the
same manner & on the same principles
as in ^’the’ other schools, with the title of “Graduate
in the School of Military science & civil
engineering: & a Certificate of proficiency
may be awarded in the branches of
Civil Engineering or tactics separately.

5. The fees for instruction in this school
shall be _____

6. That students may attend the class
of Civil Engineering or tactics, without at-
tending the whole school or paying for
either Class—-

7. That the class of tactics shall be
opened immediately for a course of instruc-
tion is to be continued during the vacation,
the fee for which course shall be _______

8. That the Board will proceed at once
to the selection of a Professor of Military
Science & Civil Engineering, who shall
forthwith organize the class of tactics
with such assistant instructors temporarily
or permanently appointed, as he can get
& make the necessary arrangements to continue
it until the 18th day of October next….

On motion of Mr. Minor
Resolved 1. That the Rector be requested
to apply to the Governor of the State for
such supply of muskets & other small
arms as will be needed for the
class of Tactics & army organization
& for one or more cannon for the
use of the school in artillery drill…..

5. That the annual appropriation
to the library be suspended until further
action of the Board….

The Board then adjourned sine
die

Franklin Minor
Secretary pro. temp.

Th. J. Randolph Rector

Capt A.R. Stringer

Dear Sir you must write to me and
let me know how the Negreros at my house is getting along I
havent heard from home since I left. we are all well and
doing well a great deal better than I anticipated we have
verry good quarters on the South Side of the new fair grounds
in some horse and mules stalls. our Boys complains of not haver
enough drill to do. the Cadets drill them one hour and rest
one from 6 oclock to 12 and from 4 oclock untill 1/2 past 6 oclock

Lieutenant Scott is detailed for spetial duty to morrow as
officer of the guard and he seems to be verry mutch bothered
you will oblige me verry mutch if you can to barrow some
money to send me some 10 or 15 dollars. I have had to spend
all I had for the benefit of some of our Company
some of them had no blankets and we had to by tin cups
plates and water buckets our selves. I wish Mr Masters
was some other officer than Commissary for we have
not received any thing only what we baught ourselves
we have sent the first and third Regiment from
this camp and the seckond will leave in the
morning the first and seckond leave and will go
to Manassas Gap. we are in the fift regiment
without a Colonel we will elect one in a day or
two and then I expect we will leave

I was down town to day and saw on the Dispatch Board that
they were fighting between Old Point and Norfolk at
you must escuse me as I have no place to wright
you will pleas if you can get me[?] the money to send
it as soon as possible. we are ready to fight and we will
do it soon I think Good Bye
Yours Respectfully
John P. Dunnavant

you can get the accounts
of mine and do the best you can
with them

MSS 8998

My dearest

I have just returned from sacrement in Episcopal
church. We had such a suitable discourse. The minister brought us
right up to the true sense of our difficulties and their remedy
as glorying in our own strength as though by our own power
we had attained to such prominence as a nation, and failure
to acknowledge God’s goodness to us. He thinks we are assuredly
in the right and will eventually succeed ^’though we may have to suffer,’
as all blessings come through suffering. It looks quite like
war here. The court house yard is full of calvary and their horses
feeding as we came by. All hands are baking bread for them.

We have the crushing news that Harpers Ferry is cap-
tured. We were dismayed enough before, to know that
they had Alexandria. I still will not believe that
the last report is true. Cousin Joe Stephens stopped only
for tea, last night in his escape from Alexandria. He
with six others walked almost all the way ^’14 miles’. He was very
tired, but would go on to Middleburg traveling all
night. He said there was no excitement in Alexandria
and no danger now as no resistence is being made,
that is, if the officers can control those horrid zouaves.
They are really awful. Their leader was shot by the man
from whose house he took down the first secession
flag of Alexandria. In coming down from the house top
he met Mr. Jackson and said I have a prize. Mr Jack-
son replied so have I, and shot him down, and was
immediately himself shot by one of the men who was with
the officer–Poor Jackson was buried here yesterday.
His sister owns this house.

This letter by a an unknown member of the family of Edward T. H. Warren, stops at this place. It will resume in two days.

MSS 7786-l

“ELLSWORTH:”

ZOUAVE BATTLE CRY!

By B. B. FRENCH, of Washington City.

“Ellsworth,” name henceforth of glory!
It shall nerve our legions on.
Shout it high in song and story;
write it every heart upon!

So good, so true, fearless and brave,
Our tears fall fast above his grave;
But for every tear that’s shed,
We doom to fall a traitor’s head!

He was our idol–our reliance–
We burned to follow where he went,
To meet the foe in bold defiance
Till the last heart’s blood was sent.

So good, so true, fearless and brave, etc.

Swept from the world in youth’s bright morning.
His star has left its earthly sphere:
It glows on high, Heaven’s arch adorning–
Our guiding star to victory here.

So good, so true, fearless and brave, etc.

While our hearts bow down in sorrow
O’er our young heros’s early doom;
New vigor from his death we’ll borrow
To strike bold Treason to its tomb.

So good, so true, fearless and brave, etc.

“Ellsworth!”–henceforth in every battle
That word our rallyng cry shall be–
The cannon’s roar–war’s deadly rattle–
And Ellsworth’s name, and “Victory,”
All mingled, shall go up to Heaven,
And traitor ranks be torn and riven
Like grain fields ‘neath the sweeping hail!

Though he, so love, so fearless, brave,
Sleeps in a soldier’s honored grave,
Hiss name shall live–our cry shall be
“ELLSWORTHH and BLOOD and VICTORY!

Written at Rainsford Island, Boston Harbor,
Sunday Morning, May 26, 1861.

Elmer E. Ellsworth, 1837-1861, who studied law under Abraham Lincoln and worked in his presidential campaign, is frequently named the first casualty of the Civil War. He was fatally shot after cutting down a large Confederate flag flying over the Marshall House in Alexandria shortly after Union troops entered the city May 25, 1861.

Benjamin Brown French, 1800-1870, a clerk in the U. S. House of Representatives, Commissioner of Public Buildings and some time poet is most noted for the journal he kept detailing over 40 years of life in Washington, D. C.

Broadside Barrett .F74 E55 1861

Colonel

I send you to morrow nine
companies of infantry armed with mus-
kets altered to precussion under the
command of Colonel Robert T. Preston–

There are about 640 non-commissioned officers
& privates, exclusive of commissioned officers.
It has been impossible for me to get accuratae
returns of the companies–I send
also 13,000 cartridges with caps–

The guns &c were only received on
yesterday without Belts, Bayonets
scabbards or cartridge boxes–of which
I learn by telegraph there are none [?]
in Richmond–I have been the
whole day issuing arms to the companies
having had to encounter great difficulties
on account of the disinclination on the
part of most of the men to take muskets–
I will send another company to

[page 2]
complete the regiment in a day or two–
Three companies have been sent to
Richmond under instructions from
Head quarters, which has em-
barrassed me in the organization of the
regiment I wished to send you–I
have had to take very summary
steps to induce some of the companies
to take muskets– But the men who [?]
now go to you go perfectly contented–
I will send you other troops as soon
as I can organize & arm them, but
my duties are very embarrassing–as
all the companies that come here
want rifles or artillery–

Very Respectfully

Your obt servt
J A Early
Col Commndg

Colonel P. St George Cocke
Culpepoer C. House

Jubal Early, 1816-1894, rose to command an infantry corps under Robert E. Lee. He was most noted for a daring raid on the outskirts Washington, D. C. in 1864. After the war he wrote numerous articles promoting the “Lost Cause” version of the Civil War.
MSS 640

Headquarters

Colonel:

I send by to-days
freight train all the troops which
were left last night for want
of transportation. I have ordered
20000 feet of lumber to be sent
forthwith to Manassas: a portion
of it goes with the troops, all of it
would go to-day if I had an
efficient quartermaster here.
I am collecting wagons, additional
lumber causing the flint-lock
guns to be refitted &c

Let me know the probable
times of your return to this
post.

With high respect
your obt svt.
James L. Kemper
Col. Comndg

Col. P. St. Geo Cocke

James L. Kemper, 1823-1895, later led one of the brigades in Pickett’s charge in which he was severely wounded. He was captured on the field, rescued, captured again and finally exchanged but his injuries prevented him from taking the field again. After the war he was elected Governor of Virginia.
MSS 640

My dear Sister,

Your kind & affectionate
letter was duly received this morning & I will answer
it at once. It always gives me a great deal of pleasure
to hear from all of you at home. I am very glad to
hear that Ma has become more reconciled & better satisfied
at my being here. I mr had rat^’h’er be here myself at
Harpers Ferry, than most anyother place I know other of.
It is very healthy here. We have fine bathing her, either
in the Potomack or Shenedoah, but it has been most too
cool, I’ve bathed only once. We have to go to the spring or river
every day to wash our faces & hands. I suppose you’ve
all comme^’n’ced wearing summer clothes there long ago?

We were all mustered into service again this evening for
the term of eleven mos. & twenty seven days, we’ve served upward
of one month. We were all mustered on the parade ground
eached one was called out & asked if he was sound, if he was ^’
& all that were’
not sound will be examined this evening or tomorrow by the
Surgeons & if found ^’un’sound will be examin discharged immedia^’tely’
Joe was too unwell to go out, but will be examined at our
quarters & will be discharged I most sincer^’e’ly hope. I reckon
Mr Bickers will also get one. I wd be very sorry to sepa-
rate with Joe & Mr. Bickers but I know they can’t stand the
hardships of a soldier’s life & therefore I can part with them
willingly. I wd like to go home right well for a day
or two, but I know it is better for me not to go, as I’ve
gotten used to this life now & if I went home, I’d
have have to get used to it againg & parting with youall
a second time wd be as bad or worse than the first…

Everything is still going on quietly & troops still arriving
one thousand Mississipians came in this morning, all of
them were armed, a good many with Colt’s six shooter,
they were very good looking men , a good many

[page 2]
more in a day or two. Mississip[p]i is certainly well repre-
sented here. I do n’t think an attack is expected here
now at all, & it is probable that our regiment will be
ordered east within ten day, to what part of Virginia I
do n’t know, we may have to go to Culpepper CH at first
& there wait for further orders. I wd like to remain at Culp. C.H.

Our neighbors have improved in their behaviour some
since they got the name of being the most disorderly co.
in the place, but they are still very disorderly. We
still keep the name of being a very well behaved co.
I’ve not seen a single one of my men drunk since
Henry Francisco &c left. I reckon it wd wound
C^’h’as. Jone’s pride very much to be brought back here
as a deserter. I was very much surprised at his cond^’uct’.

We still have a cadet as drill master.
Tell Jimmie I hope he’ll finish that letter soon,
he must let me hear all about the puppy, pigeons,
&c. I must stop for the present, will write
more if I have time. My best love to all.

I remain as ever yr
devoted & most aff son
Bro
Edd

My Dear Wife

I am just in receipt of
your welcome favor of the 22nd inst. and as we have
had an exciting [time] I will answer your letter immediately.
The proposition to tender our services to the Con-
Federate States has been extended to our Reg-
iment, and the Regiment has responded to
the call; I therefore have not been left behind,
Lieut Macfie preferring a different branch of
the service has resigned, and my position is
now the 1st Lieut of the Company. Tom McCants
has been elected 3rd Lieut of the “Royce Guards”.
The company are somewhat dissatisfied, but
have concluded to go into the service of the
Confederate States rather than remain in the
sickly section of the low country. The probability
is that we will be encamped at Blackstock,
until we are needed for active service.
I have been very much prostrated in mind about
the matter, and particularly on account of the
loss of Jamie Macfie as I have formed a
very strong attachment for him.

A number of the boys who have volunteered for
the service will reach home to-morrow or Monday
and I very much think I will follow on Thursday
or Friday. You may depend upon this as [word lined out] my
time has come around.

I will get you shoes in Charles-
ton and any other articles you may wish. Do let
me know any thing, you may wish either for your
self or the children. I guess we can maintain our
little family as my pay is much higher than when
I left home. You speak of hearing so many reports
relative to our removal. Do not believe one half
you hear. Send word to mother that Wm. Creight
was down to see us to-day and is quite well
and has also volunteered for the Confederate service.
I would be pleased to see Cousin Anna rem-
oved from her unpleasant situation, feeling that
she desires to be better situated. Do write me where
Lillie is to be found.

I am so anxious to see you
all once more. I feel that an age has almost
transpired since we left home, and I feel in
your speaking of Anna, that she has grown
quite large. I am glad that she has quit the
sugar rag doings. If you can tell me what Nannie
needs, or what I shall get for her, I have
thought of many things for her, yet I am not
able to centre upon anything, write me what!

I must sell our “nigger” when on my visit home
if possible. If I had been home she would have
been sold long ago. Does she look “squally”
Do write me immediately on receipt of this
I will explain all matters when I come
up. Pay the pew rent and I will return the
amt.

I am Your True Husband
J. M. Phinney

I feel so stirred up that I can
hardly connect a sentence, you must
therefore excuse this unconnected letter

MSS 12661