Dear Sir [Judge Francis T. Anderson]

Your letter was
recd yesterday nothing would
give me more pleasure than
to spend a few weeks at
Glenwood this summer
with you all, but I fear
it will be out of our
power conveniently to do so
as we have made our
arrangements with the exp=
ectation of staying at
home this summer. My
brother Wilkins [?]requested me
to take care of his wife
whilst he is away, and
I do not know what day
she may be with us, but

[page 2]
I expect her just as soon
as the convention adjourns
she is now stayng with
Father in Richmond.
Tell Mary
not to be at all uneasy
about the children and
not to allow her being
separated from them to
diminish in the lest the
enjoyment I know she
will derive from the
visit.

We finished cutting
wheat some days ago and
are now engaged with
the oat crop — our wheat
crop is not a good one–
What an abundant hay crop
must be in the mountains
this year.

[page 3]
I think I have sowed
about 30 tons of hay and
might sow a great deal
more but have as much
as Milton will buy and
I fear [?]

I do not
know how we will be
able to dispose of the
grain made in this state
this year I am sure
the army will not use
any thing like the crop
above from consumption.
I fear wheat will hardly
reach a dollar per bushel
However I ought rather
to rejoince at that as a
great many must suffer
even at that price–

I hope we will be

[page 4]
able to pay you a visit
this fall.
with many thanks
for your kind invitation
and much love to all

I am
affectinately & truyly
Alex Bruce

Francis Thomas Anderson,1808-1887, was a lawyer, legislator, Rector of Washington and Lee University, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. He also operated a large iron foundry at Glenwood, Rockbridge County, for twelve years. Anderson belonged to the Whig Party, opposing secession until after the firing on Fort Sumter. He represented Rockbridge County in the House of Delegates from December 1861 until March 1863. After the war he resumed his law practice in Lexington, Richmond, Va.

MSS 2692

Headquarters, Department of Pennsylvania

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 31}

I. The following articles of war will be read to each command, and be posted in a conspicuous place in each camp and quarters. All officers and good soldiers are required to check with a firm hand, any violation of these regulations, and to arrest and report the offenders forthwith, in order that they may be brought to punishment, and the good name of this army and of the American people protected from dishonor.

ARTICLE 49. “Any officer belonging to the service of the United States, who by discharging of firemarms, drawing of swords, beating of drums, or by any other means whatsoever shall occasion false alarms n camp, garrison , or quarters, shall suffer death, or shuch other punishment as shall be ordered by the sentence of a court-martial.”

ARTICLE 51. “No officer or soldier shall do violence to any person who brings provisions or other necessaries to the camp, garrison, or quarters of the forces of the United States, employed in any parts out of the said States, upon pain of death or such other punishment as court-martial shall direct.”

ARTICLE 52. “Any officer or soldier who shall misbehave himself before the enemy, run away, or shamefully abandon any fort, post, or guard which he or they may be commanded to defend, or speak words inducing others to do the like, or shall cast away his arms and ammunition, or who shall quit his post or colors to plunder and pillage, every such offender, being duly convicted thereof, shall suffer death or such other punishment as shall be ordered by the sentence of a general court-martial.”

ARTICLE 54. “All officers and soldiers are to behave themselves orderly in quarters and on their march, and whoever shall commit any waste ot spoil, either in walks of trees, parks, warrens, fish-ponds, houses, or gardens, corn-fields, inclosure of meadows, or shall maliciously destroy any property whatsoever, belonging to the inhabitants of the United States, unless by the order of the then commander-in-Chief of the armies of the said States, shall (besides such penalties as they are liable to by law,) be punished according to the nature and degree of the offence, by the judgment of a regimental or general court-martial.”

ARTICLE 56. “Whosoever shall relieve the enemy with money, victuals or ammunition, or who shall knowlingly harbor and protect an enemy, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as shall be ordered by the sentence of a court-martial.”

ARTICLE 57. “Whosoever shall be convicted of holding correspondence with, or giving intelligence to, the enemy, either dirrectly or indirrectly, shall suffer death or such other punishment as shall be orderred by the sentence of a court-martial.”

II. The names and officers of all persons engaged in pluindering or wantonly destroying property, and of officers conniving at such disgraceful practices, will, on detection, be published to the army and the country.

III. The Commanding General has assured the citizens of protection, while peacefully following their ordinary avocations; and no one worthy of association with honorable men, will disturb them. He relies upon the loyal men of his command, who are here to assert the supremacy of the laws of the country, to see that they are not violated with impunity by wretches who assume the garb of the soldier only to disgrace it.

IV. All officers will be held responsible for the enforcement of these regulations, within their respective commands.

By oreder of MAJOR GENERAL PATTERSON.

F.J. PORTER,
Assistant Adjutant General

Two weeks after these orders were issued Major General Robert Patterson, 1792-1881, a Mexican War veteran, was unable to prevent Joseph Johnston’s army from reinforcing the Confederate forces at Bull Run/Manasses and was mustered out of the army.

A veteran of both the Mexican War and the Expedition against the Mormons, as well as a West Point instructor, Fitz-John Porter, 1822-1901, served as chief of staff and assistant adjutant general for the Department of Pennsylvania, was promoted to colonel of the 15th Infantry on May 14, 1861, and in August to brigadier general. He was promoted to major general after the Seven Days Battle in 1862. In 1863 he was court-martialled and found guilty of disobedience and misconduct at Second Bull Run. Years after the war he was exonerated by a special commission.

Broadside
1861
.U55

[From the diary of Harrison B. Jones of the 33rd, Virginia Infantry]

The Militia are coming
in to day from the differ-
ent Counties

According to “33rd Virginia” Infantry by Lowell Reidenbaugh Captain William D. Rippetoe organized the Page Grays on June 19, 1861.
On July 15 the Grays became part of the newly formed 33rd Virginia under Colonel Arthur Campbell Cummings, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and Mexican War veteran.
MSS 14169

Genl P. St. George Cocke

Dear Sir In consequence of cattle failing
to arrive at this Post the necessary supply required by
Dr. Baily could not be sent on untill to-day.

Most Respt your Obt Servant
J. Richard Smoot
Beef Contractor

Saturday morning
My dear Sister: –
You are all doubtless anxious
to hear from us and I send you a few ^‘lines’ to
tell you of our whereabouts &c – Shd. have
written several days ago but cd not procure
writing materials for love or money (we
left our baggage in Winchester) until Carter
Louthan (who belongs to the 2nd regiment) kindly
gave me a few sheets of paper. I wrote Page
a long letter yesterday evening and shd
have written to you also but was unexpected-
ly called off on duty. You have doubtless heard
of our removal from Winchester to this place and
we fear that you [word lined out] have all made yrselves
very uneasy about us. On last Tuesday evening
about 2 O’clock we recd. orders to be ready to
march at a minute’s warning. In an instant
our camp was all com^’m’otion and we were
soon on the tramp n[o]t knowing where or for
what object we were marching. We soon heard
that Col. Jackson was engaging the enemy near
Martinsburg and that we were wanted to sup-
-port him. We expected to have made a

[page 2]
forced march to Martinsburg that night but were marched
into a field some six miles from Winchester where
we camped for the night and made a leisurely
march of ten miles to this place on the
next day, where we found Col. Jackson’s
command quietly awaiting us. On Monday
he had a pretty smart skirmish with
the enemy in wh, with greatly inferior
forces, he repulsed them three times, took
about 80 prisoners, killed upwards of a
hundred, and then fell back to this place
in good order losing only one man
killed, one missing, and five wounded.
We (I mean the forces brought to Winchester
10,000 strong) immediately joined Jackson
and our whole army was drawn up in
line of battle expecting every hour
an attack from the Yankees who were
at Martinsburg in strong force. And
thus we have been ever since – our
men are not allowed to go far from
their guns, we are ready and anxious
for them to come, we have a very
strong position – our artil[l]ery sweeps
the approaches for two miles and

[page 3]
if the Yankees wd only come we wd give them
a thrashing to wh the fight at Bethel was
mere child’s play. but I don’t believe
that the cowardly thieves are coming –
they will content themselves with
fortifying Martinsburg. We will have
today a reinforcement of 3,000 or more
(among them the N. O. artillery) and then
we will be fully able to cope with them
either here or at Martinsburg. But I doubt
exceedingly whether we will have a fight –
as soon as we move towards them I
believe they will take to their heels
and recross the Potomac. Don’t be unea-
sy about us – we are in the hands
of a kind heavenly Father who can
preserve us in the camp and on the
field as well as at home – A num-
ber of our men are sick but none
of them seriously so. Helen Louthan
and her sister (Mary) came to camp to
see us the day before we left
Winchester and brought us a
nice basket of eatables. We failed
to get the box you sent us by
express last week as it only got
to Winchester the morning we left and

[page 4]
we h[a]d not opportunity of getting it from the
express office. We have n[o]t yet gotten the
letters and bundles sent by Hyman but
hope to in a day or so. Robt. Helm (Page’s
bro.-in-law) lives only six miles from here
and was to see me day before yesterday –
Will come again & bring me some eat-
ables if we remain here longer. Pen, Ed
& I have all stood the tramp firstrate
and are in fine health and spirits.
Pen is a firstrate cook and made us
some beefstake last night that was
really hard to beat. At supper I brought
the water, made the fire – Ed went to
the mill, sifted the meal and made
up the dough, and Pen did the cooking –
after wh performance we all ^‘three’ joined in
the eating with as hearty enjoyment as if
we were in the “Ladies ordinary” of the “Exchange”.
I wanted to have written more but was
called off on special duty (making
a shelter for our guns) just now and
must now close in order to send this
to Winchester. Our best love to all. We will
write as often as we can but don’t be
uneasy if you fail to get our letters. You
must continue to write to Winchester – the
letters will be forwarded. God bless
and keep you all.
Yr most aff Bro.
J. Wm. Jones
I owe Moses $1.45 for washing & will send
the money first opportunity.

A reference to the battle of Falling Waters, July 2nd, a minor skirmish, but known as Stonewall Jackson’s first battle.

MSS 13407

[Concluding remarks from the “Message of the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the first session of the Thirty-Seventh Congress]

Our popular government has often been called an experiment. Two
points in it our people have already settled–the successful establishing and the successful administering of it. One still remains–its successful maintenance against a formidable internal attempt to overthrow it. It is now for them to demonstrate to the world, that those who can fairly carry an election, can also suppress a rebellion; that ballots are the rightful and peaceful successors of bullets; and that when ballots have fairly and constitutionally decided, there can be no successful appeal back to bullets; that there can be no successful appeal except to ballots themselves, at succeeding elections. Such will be a great lesson of peace; teaching men that what they cannot take by an election, neither can they take it by a war; teaching all the folly of being the beginners of a war.

Lest there be some uneasiness in the minds of candid men, as to
what is to be the course of the government, towards the southern
States, after the rebellion shall have been suppressed, the Executive
deems it proper to say, it will be his purpose then, as ever, to be
guided by the Constitution and the laws….

He desires to preserve the government, that it may be adminis-
tered for all, as it was administered by the men who made it. Loyal
citizens everywhere, have the right to claim this of their government;
and the government has no right to withhold or neglect it….

The Constitution provides, and all the States have accepted the
provision, that “The United States shall guarantee to every State in
this Union a republican form of government.” But, if a State may
lawfully go out of the Union, having done so, it may also discard the
republican form of government; so that to prevent its going out is
an indispensable means, to the end, of maintaining the guaranty men-
tioned; and when an end is lawful and obligatory, the indispensable
means to it, are also lawful and obligatory.

It was with the deepest regret that the Executive found the duty
of employing the war-power, in defence of the government, forced
upon him. He could but perform this duty, or surrender the exist-
ence of the government. No compromise, by public servants, could,
in this case, be a cure; not that compromises are not often proper,
but that no popular government can long survive a marked precedent,
that those who carry an election, can only save the government from
immediate destruction, by giving up the main point, upon which, the
people gave the election. The people themselves, and not their ser-
vants, can safely reverse their own deliberate decisions.

As a private citizen, the Executive could not have consented that
these institutions shall perish: much less could he, in betrayal of so
vast, and so sacred a trust, as these free people had confided to him. He
felt that he had no moral right to shrink, nor even to count the chances
of his own life, in what might follow. In full view of his great respon-
sibility, he has, so far, done what he has deemed his duty. You will
now, according to your own judgment, perform yours. He sincerely
hopes that your views, and your action, may so accord with his, as to
assure all faithful citizens, who have been disturbed in their rights,
of a certain, and speedy restoration to them, under the Constitution
and the laws.

And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure
purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear,
and with manly hearts.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

MCGREGOR
A
1861
.U56P7

To-day there is a great
excitement in Winchester
caused by federal
troops crossing the
Potomac opposite Martinsburg
there was a little fight
near Martinsburg. The exact
number killed & wounded
on either side is not certain

[Battle of Falling Waters on 2 July 1861.
“By later standards the affair wasn’t much
more than a skirmish, but it was Stonewall
Jackson’s very first battle, so gets attention
on that basis.” Robert K. Krick]

From the diary of Harrison B. Jones, circa 1828- 4th Sgt. Co. H, 33rd Virginia Infantry [Page Grays].
Complete diary has been posted as a separate blog.

MSS 14169

Asst ComS [Commissary] Rice G. Bailey has leave to pass the sentinels
& pickets from this post to Manassas on his
way to Charlottesville, to which place he has
leave to pass & return free of charge with a horse
on his return; and he is to report for duty at this
post on the 5th inst.

Jno. B. Strange
Comdg

By order of Col. Cocke
Jno B Cocke
A.A. Adjt Genl.

John Bowie Strange, 1823-1862, was one of the first graduates of the Virginia Military Institute. At the time of his enlistment in the 19th Virginia, he was principal of the Albemarle Military Academy. Killed in action at South Mountain, Maryland, Septemnber 14, 1862, he is buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Charlottesville, Va.
MSS 640

[letter written in pencil; many of lines almost obliterated by fold marks]

Miss Porter

I received your kind letters one being from

22nd one 26th June. I was glad to hear that you were

all well and in most fine spirits I also recd a letter

from Miss Ellen. She has surely waked up from

sleep and silence-o The cause I cannot account

for unless it is on the account of Silas I could never

wake her until the 11th hour of her departure–

but time enough she is up now in sweet

sixteen and ready as I see from your letters to sho

ulder her musket and put off to the war with

true love–well I cannot Blame her for I know

how hard it is to be seperated from those we love

we have not moved since I wrote you before but

when I wrote I did not expect to stay here until

this time though we are yet [?] marching [?]

all ready to stand at any moment. It is a very

disagreeable fix to be in to have every thing pack

ed to move and cannot get the waggon. I have much

rather go on and meet my fate, and not be kept in

suspense–We are now expecting to march now at any

moment. There has been firing of cannons all

of the morning down on the river and it is the

impression of all that the great fight has com

menced, and expect to receive news to move ther4e at

any moment, but I hope if we are go that we may

go with a rush, and enough to make them move

as the chaff before a storm.

[page 2]

I learn from you letter that many of the young

men of your county are about to leave, or have left

I hope they have made up their minds to weather the

storm, for a storm it is- and I am somewhat pre

pared to say- for I can assure them that I was

somewhat disappointed in the military life and

I believe that my forethought of it was rather un

pleasant, but when they come here thy must just

make up their minds to be treated worse than any

negro you ever saw, or at any rate your privalege

is an not half so good and again you must

fall down just any where on the ground and

sleep if you cannot get the soft side of a plan

k, and not have sea buiscuit and fried Bacon and

coffee–and you had better tell O P Jones if he

thinks he cannot stand that, he had better stay

at home. but I am glad to see the spirit of

the south waxing so warm in old amherst and

I hope that it may still press on, until every able

bodied man who is able to bear arms have rushed

to the support of the southern flag, as she floats

proudly over the heads of thousands of Virginias

noble sons which will ever be the greatest

pride of my ofe if it can be sustained which

I have not the least doubt of for I believe

we are a people who can never be whiped but

thy can kill us but as long as there is a man

he will struggle to to[sic] the death- on tomorrow

the 4th of July a day which has been observ

ed by our nation for so long will I fear be

[page 3]

a day of bloodshed–in this the day of our great

troubles tomorrow is the day appointed for congress

to meet in washington but I think they will be

very apt to move their quarters to springfield Ill

for I think that times will be getting much to

warm. For such men as Lincoln seward and

their political leaders of the north

My Brother who has been sick for sometime

is getting much better and can now walk about

This regiment is composed of 1000 men a fine band

of men & the two amherst companies compose a

parat of the regiment & also capt Boyd company from

Nelson. My respects to all enquiring friends

I remain as ever yours

Edward

[the writer then flips the paper over and begins another letter on the back of page 4]

Miss Ellen what did you mean

Have you waked at last why surely you

have slept yourself very beautiful and I have been

trying for nearly five weeks to wake you and you

could never be aroused until you found that silas

was about to leave you you have had no sympa

thy for anyone until the hours of your trial has come

and you need simpathy and then you become to be

very affectionate. well I rekon I must simpathise with

you a little, though you are not entitled to it. But

as you are just in sweet sixteen and was blind to all

other cares except the one great object that you could only

see and that silas and when you find that he now

is about to leave you, then you can ask a friend for

simpathy–well I can assure you that you have my best

wishes you bright eyed little rosy cheeked girl and see

that I can say so for you to be a good girl –and wait

with patience until silas returns–I have a friend

in camp with me now who says he is acquainted

with you–he says you are a beautiful girl–and

he intends to go to see you when he returns to amh

erst–it is Clifton Higginbotham he is a very good

boy–I have not gotten acquainted with many of the

Nelson company. they seem to show but little friend

ship and when I see that I am not apt to pester any

one much I always think that my room is better than

my company They must think that I come from a

land of none but fools inhabit or that they have [be]

to themselves I cannot tell which I have become

acquainted with Mr Jones & Mr H[?]lks I like them

[continued upside down on page 3]

They told me to told me[sic] to present there est love to you

and tell you that they intend to come to amherst when

they get back home again–you must excuse this patched

letter as it is the best that I can do. I am out of paper

and I cannot get any until we move for other quarters

Miss Allen you must take good care of Miss Porter and

you must not cry your eyes out, on account of silas. he will

come back again I saw Billy Rucker yesterday he

is looking as pretty as ever, and says he is very

anxious to go home, but it is no use to talk about

that for he will not go much before I will–and

I dont expect to see home soon–if ever–write

often if youw ant my simpathy and I will give

you all the comfort I can

Yours Most Respectfully

Edward



MSS 38-221-a

My dear Creek

I gain have the pleasure of letting you
know, that I am alive and in good health, every thing
is moving along finely here, and no more sign of a
fight with the Yankees than ever, they moved some
of their troops from opposite my position last
night, so that should we have to meet them it
will be easier on us. I am very much gratified
with the behaviour of our company since we
came to this place, we are all respected by every
one, so much so that some of the Ladies of Leesburg
has selected us as their Favourites, and are getting
up a fine flag to present to the company. I know
you will like to hear of this as it shows that we
are conducting ourselves as gentlemen and
South Carolinians. I have sent you my two last
inside of Mrs Browns letters which I hope you
have secured. I have not yet heard from you

[page 2]
I know you have wrote me but the letters must
have been detained on the way this is a very
uncertain place about getting letters, I am
waiting anxiously for tomorrows mail I hope
it will bring me a letter I want to hear from
you so bac, How is Darling little Maggie I hope
both you and her are well, I dreamed last-night
that I was at the Newground and a very heavy
cloud came up, and little Mag came with an
umbrella for me to keep me dry. I though
I took her up in my arms and was carrying her
home through the rain, when one of the Sentinels
woke me up, you may depend he did not get
a very pleasant answer from me for disturbing
me in the middle of such a happy dream
tom Marin is going to start home in the
morning with his dead Brother, if ou can
get her ambrotype send it me by him it
would afford me so much pleasure to have you
both to look at, Bill visited me today they are both
well I will write you a long letter day after tomorrow.
Your affectionate Husband William [Anderson]

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers [Palmetto Sharpshooters]

MSS 10366