Gov. Letcher
Sir.
I have intended
for some time to make applica
-tion for a Captaincy of
artillery in the Provisional army
but being on service in a remote
fort of the State have been
prevented from doing so.
Should I be thought wanting of
so high a trust- I will therefore
keep the command of my ^’company’
present I now have during this
term of service.

In making this application I
take the liberty of saying that my
estate has been ruined by the

[page 2]
unsettled state of affairs
and I find myself with a
large family – without means
of support. Should you think
proper to confer this office
upon me I promise no act of
mine should ever disgrace
our flag. & I shall use every
effort to prove myself worthy
of the trust.

I am truly sorry to add
to your troubles by this applica
tion and can duly plead
a strong desire to remain
in the service of my country
and the same time make an
honorable support
I have the honor to remain
Yr obt sevt
R. L. Walker
Capt Vol. Va.

possibly Captain R. L. Walker, Cayce’s Company, Virginia Light Artillery, (Purcell Artillery)

MSS 38-390

Dear Pa,
As I have time to write
this evening & do n’t know when I’ll
have time again, as ^ ‘for’I will be on duty
tomorrow, I will write to you again.
Joe is a good deal better & will be
out again soon I hope, he is more
cheerful now, but gets low spirited
yet at times. I am afraid now
that Joe will find some difficulty in
getting a discharge, as it is an
exceedingly hard thing to do now, he
will be very much disappointed
if he does not succeed in getting it.
Everything is right qu^’i’et here now,
Troops are still pouring in, six hundre^’d’
Mississipians arrived yesterday, five
hundred this morning & fifteen hundr-
ed more are on the way, twenty five

[page 2]
Baltimoreans came in yesterday.
A good many Baltimoreans are here.
I d n’t know how many troops ^ ‘men’ are
here in all, but do n’t think there is
less than fourteen or fifteen thousands
The first regiment has been ordered to
Wheeling & will start this evening.
We got twenty three more minnie mu^’s’kets
this morning, have sixty in all now,
enough for all of us. They are busy
here now planting cannon &C.
I do n’t think an attack is
expected here now. I reckon we’ll
have an exciting time here Thursday
I would n’t be surprised if there
was a fight at Wheeling Thursday.
Our Co is the first co in the 2nd regi=
ment now….. Cousine Doc is our
ensign, it suits him exactly.
Some of the Companies are complain=
now ^’ing’ that they do n’t get enough to
eat, we all have enough, but none
to waste, so many are here now

[page 3]
that It takes a great deal to feed them all.
I hope you all will make things
right now if you got that certificate
you must show it as much as possi^’ble’
Haslup & Chas. Jones have been reported
as deserters & Col Hill says he intends
to have them brought back. We wd like
to see Henry Francisco brought back too,
but as he a got a discharge (by lying)
I don’t suppose anything can be done to
him. I wish those fellows cd hear our
whole Co talking about them sometimes.
I got ^’a’ letter from Cousine Edloe
Bacon to day dated the 19th, he did n’t
give me much news, but a great deal of
good advice. I was ver surprised to get
a letter from Cousin Edloe, thought it was
from Pen. I do n’t see why Pen do n’t
write to me, I have n’t had a line from
him since he left home. I got the
paper you sent me yesterday, am very
much obliged to you for it.
Tell sister Page I’ll answer her letter

[page 4]
soon, but she must not wait for an
answer but write again. I do n’t believe
I’ve written to Bro. John either, but he
wo n’t wait I know. I direct the most
of my letters to you, but they are for
all, as much for one as another.
I saw cousine Will Ashby & Jones yester=
day. Will Jones said he wanted to see his
wife very bad… It is no time for
dress parade so I must quit. I am
well. My best love to all
Yr devoted &
most Aff. son
P.S. Edloe
Dr Barret expects to leave day
after tomorrow, so I’ll write again by him
if I have time. Henry Childes is well,
all of the others are well. My love to
Uncle Thos. & Wife, to all of my friends
& to the servants. I wd send the things
home that I do n’t need, but dislike
to trouble Dr. B. with them. Yrs &c
P.E. Jones

Joe is much better this morning.
he’s going to try to get his discharge to day
all of the soldiers are going}
to vote to day, I wish I cd vote}

MSS 13407

Dear Dent
I wrote to you a few days ago
explaining the Cause why I had not made you[r]
Coat – also informing you that I would
write again to Columbus that Evening – I did
so and this Morning secured an answer
Saying that the parties who anticipated
Manufacturing Military buttons
have not as yet revised their
Machinery – but will this Week
and that I can be furnished
with any quantity of buttons in
a very few days – I will write
to the parties this Evening to send me
the buttons as soon as they are manu-
factured – I hope by the 1st of
the week to be able to send you[r] Coat
down

Yours truly & Respectfully

W. H. Locke
[With the above letter is an envelope 3 ½ inches by 5 inches addressed as follows:
Adjutant. S. H. Dent Warrington Fla
favir
Thomas Robinson Esq

MSS 13485

Col. P. St Geo. Cocke
Colonel:

I hereby report to you that I have mus
tered into the service the following companies from
the counties of Campbell, Bedford, Botetourt, Roan-
oke and Craig. viz:

1. May 10th. “The Beauregard Rifles”–Capt. M.W.
Moorman, 95 strong. Gen. Garnett R.E.Lee
has ordered this company to Richmond, to
be converted into an artillery Co. They left
for Richmond this morning. They are from this ^’city.’

2 May 13th “The Wise Troop”, from Lynchburg,
Capt. Jno Langhorne 70 strong

3 May 14th “The Clay Troop,” Capt. Wm. R. Terry
from Bedford, 71 strong.

These two cavalry companies have sabres
only.–

4. May 15th “The Jeff Davis Guards” (infantry)
Capt. J.R. Hutter, 70 strong, from Lynchburg.

5 May 15th “The Old Dominion Rifles” Capt T. M.
Bowyer, from Bedford, 81 strong

6. May 15th “The Bedford Light Artillery” Capt. T. C.
C. Jordan–73 strong–from Bedford Co.

7. May 16th “The Mountain Rifles.” Ca[t. Joseph
Anderson–73 strong–from Botetourt Co.

8. May 16th “The Blue Ridge Rifles” Capt. Wm. T. Patton

[page 2]
69 strong from Botetourt Co.

9. May 17th “The Craig Rifles”–Capt. N. C. Wilson
75 strong–from Craig Co.

10 May 17 “The Salem Light Artillery” Cap. A. Hupp
85 strong from Roanoke

11 May 17th “The Roanoke Greys” –Rifle Co. Capt
M.P. Deyele–90 strong–from Roanoke Co.

12 May 17, “The Clifton Greys” Rifle Co. Capt.
A. Clements–65 strong from Campbell Co.

13 May 17th “The Brookneal Rifle Guard” Capt.
Whitlow–56 strong–Campbell Co.

These companies are all unarmed-
except the last which has 40 Rifles–marked
U.S. –H. Deringer–Phila.–

I am exceedingly anxious to have these cos.
immediately armed & have urged that arms
be sent here ^’from Richmond’ without waiting the slow
process of special requisitions for each
company. Indeed it is impossible to make
out such requisitions exactly, for in every
company there are some, not present at
the mustering in, but who join their compy
in a day or two. Yet there is enough un-
certainty in each case to prevent the ^’an’
exact requisition being made. It would
be much better to have a depot of arms
here. Col. J.A. Early is now in command here.
Your obt. servant
D A Langhorne Lt. Col Va Vols
a company of cavalry Capt Pitzer 90 strong
from Botetourt will be mustered into
day May 20th DAL

[across left margin page 1]
P.S. The arms for the Bedford Artillery have arrived here.

MSS 640

Genl. J. H. Cocke

My venerable Christian Brother,
I have received your letter of the
11th and also a check of 15$ from the Bank
of Virginia. Hearty thanks toyou and
hearty thanks to our friend Mr. Powell.
“A Friend in need is a friend in deed.”
We battle the most popular vice under
heaven and our cause can hardly
live in the best of times! how can it
now live when the most popular cau
ses, nourished by church and state,
languish! But my dear General
amidst wars and rumors of wars
we must drive on the battle against
this abonimable and distinctive nar-
cotic, because we have enlisted in
this warfare for life.

You refer to dear Doctor Humphrey!
Gone to his rest! His memory is precious.
an honest man! a Saint! How
many blessed men we knew in com-
mon have gone, since our brief
acquaintance.

[page 2]
You refer general to your own
departure. Be that distant. Live as
long as you can–and let a
generation north and south, see
you a hale old gentleman, if possible,
marching on to the completion of a
century. We need such examples!

These are noisy and strange times–
but you and I know something of that
God who is always secure on his
throne–the same yesterday to
day and forever! He reigns and
Satan tries to reigh. Let us lean
with all our might on his bosom.

A fresh no. of journal is issued. I hope
you and the dear you youth at
College in Virginia will receive it at
once.

Do send me your article for the
next journal. Let nothing sunder
our correspondence. Let us God willing write till the last gun is fired

Yours with gratittde

Geo. Trask.

The Reverend George Trask, a former smoker, established the American Anti-Tobacco Society in 1850 and served as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and auditor. General John H. Cocke, convinced that all the ills of Virginia could be traced to tobacco, refused to grow it on his Buckingham County plantation.

MSS 640

Genl. Robt E. Lee

Dear Sir,

I am a member of a volunteer
company of cavalry, which has no arms, & none
of whose officers has a military education, or
much of any kind. My own life has been spent
in the study of books, though I have no military edu-
cation. Up to the time of Lincoln’s proclamation,
I was employed as a teacher in one of the high
schools which prepare boys to enter the University.
Since that time, I have been pretending to drill
with this company of men above-mentioned. I
acknowledge my own ignorance of military tactics,
& yet I think it no compliment to myself to say I
know more of the science than some of my officers.
None of us know enough, I assure you. For myself
I feel that I am wasting time. I am a delicate
man & could not do a great deal physically. Could
you know point out to me a way in which I
could without failing to serve my country with

[page 2]
my hand, yet serve it more with my head? I wish
you to understand me as craving no office, but, as
an educated man, can I not be put in some
position where my education would “tell.” Accus-
tomed as I am to books, I feel as if I am throwing
myself away, & making no use of the best part of
myself in going along as a private with these
good & brave, but ignorant men. Many of my
educated friends, some following the same occupation,
are ready & willing to apply their shoulders to the wheel
but do not know where to apply it. Would it be better
for us to go to the Institute? If your arduoius
duties will permit, you can do much good to
many men of this class whom I know , by sending
me your advice. Among these is a brother of mine,
whose course is almost completed at the University, &
who is well acquainted with your son, who is now there.

Humble as is my position, I take the liberty
of writing to you on this subject, knowing you to
be best qualified to direct, both on account
of your high position, & because your are a
good christian. God bless you in all your
efforts is the prayer of
Your sincere friend
J. C. Dinwiddie.

[verso]
Referred to Col. P. St. Geo.
Cocke Commdg at Culpepper C.H.
By order of Maj. Gen. Lee
John A. Washington
A.D.C.

respecting the acquisition
of military knowledge

answered
May 21st.

University of Virginia alumnus John Calvin Dinwiddie, later a Presbyterian minister and principal of a female college in Gordonsville, Va.
The younger brother to whom he refers would be James L. Dinwiddie who received a Masters Degree from the University of Virginia in 1861. Apparently not as delicate or reluctant to endure the uneducated men in the military he served as an artillery captain, and briefly as Robert E. Lee’s secretary. After the war he was a professor at Southwestern Presbyterian College in Clarksville, Tenn.

MSS 640

Head Quarters Camp Jefferson

Lt Col Saml Jones
Actg Ass Adjt Gen
Culpeper C H Va

Sir,

I had the honour
to forward you on the 11th inst a report of the two
companies from Howardsville & Scottsville mustered
into the service of the State, with their condition as
to Arms &c. I now enclose you a full report
of their present condition today.

They have just received their Arms, Accoutrements
and Ammunition, and are now ready for service,
The County court have appropriated a sum of
money for the purpose of equipping the volunteers
of the county, and I was informed by several of
the committee today that the would furnish
these two companies with Tents during the
next week, or as soon as they could be made.

Having sent the Muster Rolls of these companies,
and now report them supplied with Arms Accou
-trements & Ammunition have no further report
to make of them. This complete my report up
to the 20th according to orders.

I received a letter from Capt Boyd of the Piedmont
Greys Nelson County, on yesterday morning,
in which he states his company (100 strong) will
arrive here on Monday the 20th inst. I also

[page 2]
received a letter from Capt Jno T Ellis of Amherst
C H this morning stating that his company
(of 80 to 84 men) will report here on Friday
next, Capn Rey of this county will be in
with his company on Tuesday next. I am
not enabled to say what is the condition of
these companies as to Arms &c, but will report
to you and send statement as soon as mustereed,
Most Respectully Your Obt Servant
Wm H Fry
Lt Col comdg

Samuel Jones, 1819-1887, graduated from West Point and saw service in the Mexican War. Chief of Artillery to Beauregard at 1st Mannassas. To Major General in 1862. Served in both the Department of Western Virginia and the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

William H. Fry, 1821–1902, 1st Virginia Infantry.

MSS 640

Dear Pa,
Although it is
getting late & I’ve written to Ma,
I must write to you also. I am very
much obliged to you for keeping me
so well posted in ^ ‘the’ news by writing to
me so often & sending me papers.
It is a great pleasure to me to receive
letters from all of you at home & get
such advice from a Father, Mother, Bro,
& Sisters, which advice I shall ende^’av’-
or to take & proffit by it.
I heard two sermons this evening,
one at ^’on’ the Alabama camp grounds by an
Episcopal, & another from a porch of a
private house by a methodist minister,
it looks right strange to me to see
a minister preaching in an open
field……..Joe is not quite so

[page 2]
well this evening as he was this mornin^’g’
he has a right high fever, but he is
still a good deal better than he was yester-
day, he expects to start home as soon
as he gets well enough to travel, if
he can get a discharge, which I think
he can do. I wd be very sorry for
Joe to leave me, but I know he ought
to go. I begin to think now that
I am right tough & hard to make sick,
when I was on duty the other night
I slept on the ground, covered up
with a blanket was as wet with dew
as if it had been raining.. I am
very much sun burnt, am most as
black as a negro..
A great deal of excitement is anticipa-
ted next Thursday at the election & it is
thought that if an attack is made
at all it will be before Thursday or
on that day, but I do n’t think it
will be made at all, on this place –

[page 3]
Cap. Murray drew off a
certificate this evening denying all
of those^’e’ charges r^’e’ports that those cowar^’ds’
have put in circulation about our Co,
& all of us signed it, it will be
sent to some ^ ‘of’ you there, & I hope it
will [be] shown as much as possible.
Our Co has the name of being one of
the most orderly & well behaved co’s –
here, we did have some disorderly
members at first, but we’ve gotten
rid of them & they are the very ones
that are trying to injure our Co.
I wish Chas. Jones success with his
co. but I wish he wd send us our
minnie musket back, I think
he ought to elect Henry Francisco
orderly sargeant, & Jno Trice 1st Lieu,
Haslup 2nd & make adfive others office[rs]
that I could mention. –
My very best love to Cit. Wallthall [Christopher J. Walthall]
& tell him we wd be very glad to have
him Join our Co, tell him to believe

[page 4]
no reports that he hears, but come
over to see for himself.
Cap. Murray has been very kind
& attentive to me the whole time, he
took me aside yesterday & told ^ ‘me’ that when
ever I wanted anything or felt badly
just let him know & he wd do anything
he cd for me, that he knew I was willing
to do my duty when I was able &
he wd favor me all he could.
It is time for reverlie so I must stop.
Excuse this badly written letter, for I am
very sleepy & tired & have a very bad
pen & light. best love to all.

Yr most Aff. son P. Edloe Jo

Monday morning}
Joe is a good deal better this morning.
has scarc^’e’ly no fever & looks better, he says
he feels well enough to start home, he is
very an[x]ious to get home now……It
is a very bad day, rained most all
night & is raining yet, but I wo n’t have
to be out to day. My respects to Cap
Anderson. I am very well. yrs’ &C.

MSS 13407

My Dear Wife
The family letter is at hand
and its contents have afforded me the usual
interest derived from the reading of all your
letters. There is nothing of very special interest
to communicate, only to confirm the intimation
given in my last letter. I am highly gratified to
state that we will be removed to our homes
in ten days or two weeks. This is I believe positive
as the information came through Col Rion. Our
being sent home does not discharge us from
our obligation for the time for which we volunteered
but we are to hold ourselves in readiness, so
that the Regiment can be concentrated at any
point within thirty six hours. I have satisfied myself
that the Governor can order us anywhere he chooses
within the limits of the Southern Confederacy. The boys
are somewhat anxious (a number of them) to go into
the confederate service, and there may be a change
when we reach home as the company are not
willing to be commanded any longer by our
present Captain. He has conducted himself so
badly, that nothing he can do now will restore his
lost favour. As I have before said to you Camp
[The above page has been scribbled on with a pencil.]

life will show the flaws in our character, and although
I know Wash Ladd of old, yet I see him in Camp
in full character. Nothing is done right according
to his judgement I could go on and repeat
many such characters yet I will withhold a
further repetition. I am pleased to know that the
articles suit you. The table cover cost $3. You
would imagine that any kind of goods might be
had here, but goods are very scarce, and I looked
through several stores before I found the dress, and
even though I bought it yet I was not fully
satisfied. When I come home I will remember
Nannie. Joe made me feel quite proud when
he said that he had seen her, and how pretty she
had grown.
I forget the price of Lawn, yet I do not
suppose they will charge you more than it is worth.
Probably you had better keep the [-] until I come
home, and also defer buying the lawn. I have
not seen the ladies yet, and may not see them
until we pass through the city on our way home. We
still have some sickness in Camp. I believe I never
told you of our having two cases of Typhoid fever [-]
not in our company. We have had more or less diarrhea
since we have been here, owing to the miserable bad water.
As I propose to write a line or two to “Nolty Beeny” 1
and 2 I must close with much love from your
affectionate husband
J.M. Phinney

Confederate officer from Winnsboro, S. C., in the Boyce Guards Militia and the 6th Infantry Regiment. He participated in the Seven Days’ Battles in Virginia and was killed in action at Fair Oaks in 1862
MSS 12661

My Wife–
I have no sweeter word
than this to call the dear little
woman at home, with whom
my happiest reminiscences
of the past, and fondest hopes
of the future have ever been
associated.

You speak of dreams; I had
one of you that we were mar
-ried again, and thought we
had a very nice time of it.
I received your letter by Mr Cam
pbell and one a few days
before by mail, and was happy
to learn that you and the little
ones were well. I wish you
would go out to Pas frequently
We have moved from our station
on the mountain back to town
Here we have very pleasant
quarters, in which I think it
likely we will remain until
we have a battle. When this

[page 2]
will be it is impossible to say
but is not expected immediately.
I received the green flannel shirt
and put it on for the first time
to day–It is very comfortable
and valued the more because made
by the hands of my dear wife. The
other things are I suppose in a
box left behind at Winchester
which will probably be here to day
Present my kind regards to
John and hand him the enclosed
order on Wm White–
The account book to which I ref
erred in my letter to Wm White
I expect is locked up in the
safe in my office & Mr Catlett
has the key in Richmond. Your
father has some papers in the
safe and if he wants ehem
he will have to write to
Mr Catlett to send the key
to some one in Lexington
who will get them for him
Present my kind regards to
Jack Jane & Phebe. Kiss
the children for me & for your
self take a husbands best love
Ever yours
E[lisha] F[rank] [“Bull”] Paxton

MSS 2165