My own Dear Friend

Yours is just
read Unfortunately circum-
-stances have occurred since
I wrote compelling me to
go to Richmond next
Friday. I must therefore
forego the great pleasure
of seeing you as I pro-
-posed. & as both of
my sons will soon leave
for the wars, I can not
say when I can be at Bre-
-mo. If you should come
to Belmeade let me know, or
go to Richond. My Heart
is with you–God ever
bless you–
Affectionately
Wm H. Harrison
Gen Jno. H. Cocke

MSS 640

State of Maryland, Head Quarters M.M

General Orders,
No. 4

TO COL. J. PHILIP ROMAN:

Call out the Regiment under your orders to be mustered at once into the service of the United States, in pursuance of the requisition of the President of the United States, on the 15th of April, 1861, addressed to me, and report for orders and instructions to Brigadier General John R. Kenly, at Baltimore, commanding the four Regiments called for from Maryland.

THO. H. HICKS
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Maryland Militia.

Broadside 1861 .M329

State of South Carolina, Head Quarters

Lieut Col. Ripley has authority to select
one of the iron twelve pounders now at
the citadel for rifling & experiment

F[rancis] W. Pickens

——————————————

My dear Colonel

I want the best 12 pdr
there is at the citadel–Within is the
Governors authority, as far as it goes. I
don’t know what the Ordnance Board
will say but I want the gun & I want
Eason to select it & at once–Will you
let him have it & oblige

Yours truly

R[oswell] S[abin] Ripley

Col Edwd Maningault

Hd Qrs:

Col. P. St George Cocke
Commd Virga Forces
Hd qrs: Culpepper Ct House Va

Colonel

I have just recd your letter of the 12 Inst. &
hasten to give Such explanation as I can of the Circumstan-
ces to which it refers. Your Change of rank has
resulted from the action of the Convention. Before the
termination of its Session an ordinance was passed
requiring all appointments in the military Service by
the Governor to be Submitted to the Convention for
Confirmation. The Convention also determined, as I
have understood, to reduce the number of the higher
grades in the Service,which resulted in the renomination
by the Govr by & with the advice of the Council, of Several
officers for appointments to grades one degree lower than
those to which they had been originally appointed.
Genl. [?], Genl Johnstons, Genl Ruggles, yours & others
were of this number.

Another ordinance of the Convention gave to officers of
the Provisional Army rank above those of the Volunteer
forces of the same grade & subjected them to duty with
the volunteers until required for service with the Pro. Army
Col: Ruggles & Col: Terrett having been appointed
in the Pro: A. it was incumbent on me to reorganize

[page 2]
their rank. It therefore became necessary to change
your Command which I did with regret. Of the
Circumstances attending it. I Supposed you were Cognizant,
as the action of the Convention I think occurred before your
last visit to this City.

When Col: Jackson was sent to Harpers Ferry it
was to muster into service the Companies there assembled,
with a view of organizing a force as rapidly as possible
to hold that point. Hence he was not directed to report
in person to you on his route, as that would have occasion
-ed delay, though it was well understood that Harpers Ferry
was embraced within your Command—- at
the present time ^’as well as’ & for the reasons given in S. Orders No 39
it was deemed advisable to give to the Commander
at Harpers Ferry Command of that station without
a reference to any other question.

I hope you will perceive from the foregoing explana
-tion, which has been necessarily brief, that the change in
your Command was dictated by necessity & not by choice.
In assigning the officers within your former district to their
present posts I was guided entirely by the Convenience
of the service, & a desire to hasten the organization of the
troops. It is temporary & designed to meet the exigencies
of the occasion.

As to yourself I desired to have the benefit of your
knowledge of the troops & officers Called from the extensive
Country assigned to you, in their organization & equipment,
& hoped the service would be as agreeable to you, as I believe

[page 3]
it will be beneficial to the public. Recognizing as
fully as I do your merit, patriotism & devotion to the
State, I do not Consider that either rank or position are
necessary to bestow upon you honour, but I believe that you
will Confer honour on the position.

In the present Crisis of affairs I know that your own feelings,
better than any words of mine, will point out the best
Course for you to pursue to advance the Cause in which
you are engaged & to promote the interests of the
Service which you have So much at heart: & will leave
to the voice of your fellow Citizens to assign to you the
position you deserve

I am with high respect & esteem
your obt Servt
R. E. Lee
Maj Genl

Head Quarters, Virginia Forces

Colonel P. St. Geo. Cocke
Commdr Virginia Forces. Manasses Station

Colonel

I am instructed by Maj. Gen Lee to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May
11th.

Gen Lee approves of the arrangements you
have made as mentioned in your letter and
desires that they be continued.

By Special Order no. 39–which you have probably
received you will see that your Head Quarters
are placed at or near Culpepper C.H. and
that you are desired to organize the troops into
regiments as fast as mustered into service, to
place them under the available field officers
at your disposal and to have them instructed and
prepared for active service as rapidly as possible.

When ready they will be directed to such points
as may be most advantageous for defense.

[page 2]
You will please report your progress from time to
time & he will be always happy to have your
views as to the military operations in your front.

He requests you to keep him advised of events
as far as you can from the earliest reliable information
you can obtain.

I am respectfully your obdt servt

John A. Washington
Aide to Maj. Gen Lee

My Dear Sister,
Though I’ve Just written
a long letter to Pa, I’ll write to you this evening,
but I will not be able to give you much news.
I went to the catholic church this morning, the house
was crowded, it is a very fine church. There will
be preaching this evening on the parade ground, but
I ca n’t go as I was away this morning, we are
not allowed to go away in the morning & evenings too.
We have n’t drilled any to day, & I hope we will not drill
any more on Sundays hereafter, for I do n’t think it
is necessary…….. I saw Cousine Will Ashby this
morning, have nt seen cousine Will Russel for a day or two.
I have good many acquaintances here. I met with
Garnette Wil^’l’is som[e]time ago, I did n’t know him.
he is a very nice fellow……The Co (Bob Freeman
Cap) that we are quartered with, is the worst & rowdiest
set in the place. I reckon, there is not more than
five or six nice fellows in the co. they’ve had three fights
amongst themselves since we got here, two of them
had a big fight this evening , & a one got his arm
broken a few days ago fighting. We do n’t associate
with them, anymore than we can help.
It is reported about here today that Maryland has seceded

[page 2]
but there are so many false reports now that I do n’t
know how to believe it, hope it is so, but I reckon
if it is true, there will be some fighting soon somewhere.
I’ve never thought we were going to have a fight here yet
but once, & that was the night we were all called out &
it was said that the enemy was in sight, I thought
then we were certainly going to have a fight. I do n’t
believe we are going to have a fight here at all now.
Five hundred Mississipians are expected this evening
& eight hundred more tomorrow, a great many of
their arms arrived this evening.
Joe & I’ll have our daguerrotypes taken whenever we can
get off together, & will send it home by the first opportuni-
ty……………I do n’t do much washing now my
self, I only wash my handkerchiefs & towels, I have my
shirts & colars washed out. I’ll send all of my ^ ‘white’ shirts
home, but one by the first opportunity, & the other things
that I do n’t need. My new pants & jacket fits
me first rate. Tell ^ ‘Miss’ Mary Walker that Joe thinks his
pants are made very nicely, they fit very well.
I know you broke yrself down working for us, for
I’m certain you worked as hard as any body else.
I think we have the prettiest flag here now, we’ve
carried ^ ‘it’ out twice……………….Our fare has be
improved a goodeal lately, the cooking is a good deal
much better, but it is still Beef. Mr. Bickers, Joe,
Marcelus, Jesse Porter & myself bought a “Jug of Molasses”
day before yesterday, so we’ve been faring very well

[page 3]
since. Joe & I got a cup of milk yesterday, three cents
a cup, & some pies, which we enjoyed very much.
I think I would enjoy a piece of corn bread very muc^’h’
I’ve not seen a piece since I left home atall.
A fine lot of [-] passed just now, that were
stopped here last night on the way to Baltimore, I
wish they had been hogs, as they are for us.
A part of the Mayrland Legislature arrived to day, they
came to see Col Jackson & co, & are now at Head Quarters,
they number about fifty I believe.
I intended writing to cousine Julia, but as Mr. B.
has written & I have very little time, I will put
off writing until some other time, tell her not
to be uneasy about Mr. Bickers, his cough is better,
I am in hopes that Cap. Murry will get him off
when he returns. I must stop now. My best
love to Miss Daisy, & Lute Payne & all of my lady
friends. I was sorry to hear of Lutes complaining
hope she is well by this. I will try to take
good care of myself. Love to all at home, to yrself
& all of the Blacks. write soon to yr devoted &
most aff Bro.
Edd
Miss Helen M. Jones
Louisa CH P.E. Jones
Va Harpers Ferry.

A continuation of the letter from May 11

Dear Pa, Sunday morning May 12
I’ll try to finish my letter this morning,
as I’ve nothing to do yet. It is a very fine morning,
is right warm. We will not have any preaching in
our quarters to day, but I expect to ^’go’ somewhere to
preaching if I can, will go to the Catholic church, if
I can’t do any better. I would like very much to be
with you all at home to day, I dislike to have to
work on Sunday, but am compelled to do it, I think
though, a good deal more work could be dispensed with.

[page 3]
I think we could do very well without drilling today.
We have one of the Cadets for our drill master, our Co.
has improved very much but we have some two or
three that will never learn anything, I’m afraid.
I heard that Henry Francisco was entirely well when he
got home, if you had seen him here before he started,
you wd [would] have thought that he was n’t able to go home,
as he was suffering so very much with “Inflamitary
Rheumatism”, I think that he & several others there
ought to be arrested & brought back, if I had my
way they would be. I’m very much surprised at
Chas. Jones. We have another man trying to get off
with Henry’s complaint, but I do n’t think he’ll
succeed, he may take Haslup’s plan for it. I know
there is not a one here, that would like to go home
better than myself, but if I can n’t come honorably,
I will not come at all, & I know you w’d. not have me
to do otherwise. If things are ever settled get more qui^’e’t,
we may been able to come home for a little time. We
are now regularly enlisted for the service, as long as
four years if necessary. W v’e all reported our ages, & are
to report our occupations, I’ll hardly know what to
to report, as I had^’v’n’t been doing anything for sometime,
but reckon I will have to report myself a student at
the Louisa Male Academy, or a “Gentleman Loafer”.
Henry Chiles is on duty to day, I was sorry he was
put on, to he does n’t have to stand guard himself, as he
is Cor. but has to post the sentinels or (part of them). I am
very glad to have Henry here with me, I think a great
deal of him, tell Miss Isy she must not be uneasy
about him, I will take care of him, he is very well
& is getting on finely, he intended writing to her to day
but will not have time. Doc. Bibb is getting along

[page 4]
finely, he had a pain in his face last night, but is
well this morning I believe. Mr. Trennon was very right
much complaining a day or two ago, but is very well now,
none of our men are on the sick list now.
I will send all the clothes home that I do n’t need, by
the first opportunity. I like the colored shirts very much,
have one of them on now. I have n’t left off any of
my flannel, except one shirt, you know I had on two,
I’ve put on one of the bandages you sent me. I’ll be
very particular about leaving off my flannel. I find
the knapsack to be very useful, I’ve put my things in it.
Mr. Bickers, Jesse Porter, Marcelus Beadles & myself went
begging for straw yesterday evening & succeeded in getting
our ticks well filled with nice straw, it is a great
improvement to our sleeping, I did nt wake atall
last night, untill this morning I was awaked by the drum.
Just now a bea^’u’tiful boquet was with a small secession
flag was sent in by a young lady, for those who were
singing last n^’i’ght, I was amongst them, Marcelus, &
Mason leading, we sing every night nea^’r’ly.
My sheet is about out, so I must close. My best love
to Mrs Thompson & Tally & thank them very much for
the cakes sent me, best love to all of my friends & the
dear ones at home. Mr B’s cough is a goodeal better,
I will write to Cousine Julia if I have time. Joe is
well. You all must write as often as you can.
I will be happy to see you over next week, will have
you a good bed ready. Tell Sister Page to write to me.
Yr devoted & most Aff son
P. Edloe. Jones
Harpers Ferry
Maj. J. Wm. Jones
Louisa CH
Va

Head Quarters Virginia Forces

Colonel P. St. Geo. Cocke
Commdg Virginia Forces Manasses Station

Colonel
I am instructed by Maj. Gen Lee to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May
11th.

Gen Lee approves of the arrangements you
have made as mentioned in your letter — and
desires that they be continued.

By Special Order no. 39 – which you have probably
received you will see that your Head Quarters
are placed at or near Culpepper C.H. and
that you are desired to organize the troops into
regiments as fast as mustered into service, to
place them under the available field officers
at your disposal and to have them instructed and
prepared for active service as rapidly as possible.
When ready they will be directed to such points
as may be most advantageous for defense.

[page 2]
You will please report your progress from time to
time & he will be always happy to have your
views as to the military operations in your front.

He requests you to keep him advised of events
as far as you can from the earliest reliable information
you can obtain

I am respectfully your obdt servt
John A. Washington
aide to maj. Gen lee

from the Phi Kappa Psi minutebook

Fraternity called to order by Bro Shearer Proedros
Prayer by Chaplain
Rolled [sic] called & Bros Davidson, Estill, Hale, Massie
Payne & Shearer were present.
Minutes read & stood approved–
No communications–War! War!! War!!!
Farewell addresses were made by Bro’s Estill, Hale
Payne & Shearer, which were offered & received with a great
deal of feeling–It was stated that these 4 or 5 P. K.’s
in the R’d Howitzers, 7 or 8 in the Rockbridge Dragoons
besides there a great many others in different Com-
panies–The question arose as to whether, if we should
meet a P. K. in an opposing army, wh[ether] we should raise
our hand against him. Decided that we should not
but if he were captured, to take the best care possible
of him–
Whereupon the present minutes were read & stood ap-
proved.–

Fraternity adjourned in P.K.P.
adjourned Sine die–
R. B. Shearer
E. B. Massie

The following members
only were let at College
Sam. Hale, Rocky Mount–Franklin Co. Va
Rich. B. Shearer Spout Spring, Appomattox Co. Va
E. B. Massie, Waynesboro’ Augusta Co. Va.

Address inquiries to the above….

RG-23/4/8.781
CSA Captain Richard Baxter Shearer fell at Monocacy in 1864
Edwin Blackwell Massie served in Capt Carrington’s Co, Va Lt.Arty.(Charlottesville Artillery)and later farmed in Albemarle County, Va.
CSA Captain Samuel Hale fell at Spotsylvania Court House
The fraternity did not meet again until Confederate veteran and acting Proedros Frank Preston convened a meeting November 2, 1865.

                                       Harpers Ferry.  May 11th/61
                        Dear Pa,
                                       As I have a little time this evening
I will write to you, although I do n’t feel very much
like writing. I got off duty this morning at nine
oclock, & therefore I’ve nothing much to do to day.
I did n’t have as pretty a day for standing guard as
I thought I would have, it commenced raining early, &
rained all day very hard, & nearly all night, but I
was very fortunate in getting a good post, I was
posted in Col Jackson’s quarters, right at his door,
I did n’t get wet, but had very little sleep, do n’t think
I slept over an hour in all, I will make up for it to night.
I rec^’e’ived yr letter to day, I was very glad to hear
for you all. It was the first one I’ve received through
mail since I’ve been here.  I wrote to you yesterday,
thinking at the time Billy Pettus [William W., Jr.] was going home,
but he was disappointed, so I put the letter in the
Office.  The lost box of Provisions came to hand yester-
day, I of course was very much delighted at getting
it, had given out all idea of every seeing it; I with
a good many others enjoyed its contents very much.
Mr. Bickers seemed very much disturbed about my
box, & believe he was as much delighted as I was at its
recover. Cap. Murray was expected home to day.
I am glad Mr. Thompson has given out comeing, I would
be very glad to have him here, but do n’t think camp
life would suit him at all, as he would have to be expos-
ed to the weather so much.  I wish Mr. Bickers could get
off, think he could if he w’d [would] try, he got a letter from
Mr. Cammack to day, giving him some advice.
Joe has no idea of going home, Dr. Gray is very anxious

[page 2]
him hom to return, he spoke of coming over himself to
try to get him off, he said that Joe could not possibly
stand it.  We have all been tolerable well, & there has been
only one accident, Bob Trice [Robert N.] was loading his gun, & it went
off accidentally, the ball striking the fore finger on the right
handen, he was not seriously damaged.
     Everything is tolerable quiet now, though vigorous preperations
for defense are still going on, a good many citizens have
moved out of Town.  soldiers are still arriving, a good
many Baltimoreans have arrived, about eighty came last nig
night, they all come by the tow path in small companyies.
I saw two pieces of artilery this evening on the way to
Sheppardstown, a little place about six miles from here up
Potomac.  Troops are stationed all around about here.
I go down to Ferry very seldom, & do n’t hear whats going
so I ca n’t give you much news.
Cousine Will Ashby was to see me this evening, he
sends his love to all of you.  I saw Uncle right much
of Uncle Phil when he was here.  It is nearly time
to get ready for dress parade, so I must stop untill
tomorrow.  I am very well.  from yr devoted &
                                      most Aff Son
                                                     P. Edloe Jones.

Philip Edloe Jones and his brothers John William Jones, and Francis Pendleton Jones all served in the Louisa Blues, 13th Virginia Infantry. John W. was later famous as the author of Christ in Camp.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13407