My Dear Creek,

As Col. Taylor of Pendleton starts for home this

morning I have risen at an early hour to write to you,

you will see by this that I have again joined the Regiment, my

visit to Culpepeper [sic] did me a great deal of good. I feel as strong

and vigorous again as I ever did, and feel perfectly able to perform

any duty that may be required of me. I found William in

the injoyment of good health, on my return, he stands the

fatigues of a camp life better than any man here.

There is still a great deal of sickness in the Regiment but I think

it is not quite so bad now as it was when I left it, there is no

new cases of Typhoid fever that I know of and the measels are

getting through all the men pretty much, and most of them

are getting clear of them pretty easily, The Palmetto Riflemen seem

to suffer more than any other company in the Regt–I know it

must be creating a great deal of uneasiness about home

to see so many of them coming home dead and sick, but I trust

that it is nearly all over now and that the Regiment will soon

be restored to its usual health, I have not heard anything

from Bob Keys since the day I left Culpepper-he looked very

bad than, and I though would not live many days longer

I Telegraphed to R. Hubbard to tell his father of his sickness

I hope he received it on Saturday last. my reason for sending it

[page 2]

to bob was for feaar Crawford was not at home and he would know

where to find him, John Cochran showed some symptons of Typhoid

Fever also but I would not say anything of this to his mother as I may

have been mistaken, he certainly was a great deal worse than he

had been, but I have not heard anything from him since I left

the others who were their sick were all doing very well and getting

better fast,–I should like if you could get me as much Blue

homespun Jeans as make me a suit of clothes coat vest and

pants; my Company are all going to write home this week

to have their friends make it for them and uniform in it

for the winter, as soon as they get it ready we are going to send

Stephen Breazeale home with the measures and cut the suits

at Belleln & Anderson, and have you all to make them for us

and bring them on with him to us, they will have to be either

doubled in the Backs or lined with flannel, let me know

if you think enough can be made in the neighbourhood

to uniform the company it will take about (600) six hundred

yards, besides the linings, you should all try and make

arrangements to have it all dyed in one stand so as to have it

all as near one colour as possible, you can cut the pants yourselves

and make them but the coats and vests will have to be all cut in

Military style with standing colors &c I hope you will all

go into this thing in earnest, as the cold weather is fast

approaching, and cloth for uniforms cant be had at any

price and our men are beginning to get hard up for them

alrready. Let as many of your neighbours as have friends here

know of this, as you can, and any others who will be wiling

to assist you all in it. tell them we dont ask it for nothing

[page 3]

at their hands but are willing to pay them for it. The

funds for that purpose being already placed in my hands

and I will send Breazeale just as soon as you can get it ready.

You had better have me two pair of pants made as you know I am

a pretty hand on them, line them through with shirting

inside and put stiffening in the feet, keep them a little

wide in the legs but to fit well about the body.

Creek you dont know how I was wearying to hear from you I only

got your last letter last night, it had been ten days on the road.

I had heard of your being on the cars when the accident happened,

and not hearing from you since I just came to the conclusion

that you or Maggie had been hurt, and you could not write

to me, and you may depend I slept soundly last night when

I heard that you were all safe, if I have not heard from you soon

I would [have] been in South Carolina in a few days in spite of

Beauregard and all of them. Poor Little Mag I reckon she did some

crying when she got her hand cut, let me know in your next if it

is well again or whether it was a bad hurt, I reckon jane got a

proper fright as she is so easily scared anyhow, but I will have

to close as Mr Taylor will start soon, and Bob Smith who is writing

also is rocking the table so that I can scarcely us it at all.

Kiss our little Darling Maggie for me and tell her to Kiss

you for papa. Give my love to Mother, Father and all of our

friends

Your affectionate husband,

William

we have not heard any further particulars about James, William sends

his love to all of you, Gambrell[?] Andrew Wardlaw, and Billy Holland are

well.

4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366

[from the diary of Harrison B. Jones, 4th Sergeant, Co. H. 33rd Virginia Infantry]

to day was pleasant

it seem to put a new

spieret into our men.

there has been so little

sunshine. to night there

was a full moon. the

night clear & beautiful.

MSS 14169

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond, Confederate soldier in the Dixie Greys (42nd Virginia, Co. E.)]

Aroused this morning before

day and hurried out in rain

and [-] ^ ‘(without any thing to eat)’ with the expectation

of meeting the enemy in 6 miles

of our Camp. and being in an

engagement in a few hours.

Our surprise in arriving at the

place where we expected the enemy –

made our breakfast on roast-

ed potatoes – remained there

until next day –

MSS 5526

[letter of E.T.H. Warren to his wife Jennie continues]

Tuesday morning A little prospect of clearing
off in which I hope we will not be disappointed
for the weather has been perfectly horrible. I recd
this morning your letter of the 18″, I am very sorry to
hear of your being unwell and dont know of any-
thing you can do except to apply warm poultices
& cover in flannells over the lower part of your bow-
els. I am satisfied that there is nothing the matter
with you except that it is time for you to get
sick–keep quiet & keep your feet dry until
you are better which I expect you are by this
time. I know very well how much you want
to see me but not more that I want to see
you–This constant seperation is bad in-
deed, I can hardly endure it, but when I think
of the dangers through which I have passed
and that I am now safe & well — able
to serve my country and still hopeful
of a return to my dear family at some
distant day or of seeing them here, I cannot
complain of this destiny which now
seperates us but am thankful for
the blessings we enjoy–Try and
keep up your spirits. take care of your-
self and dont be too impatient to visit
me until it is safe for you to do it for
if you should be sick here you would be

[page 3[
without any medical assistance and without
any medecines–much as I want to see you I
cant think of your running any risk–I often
think of the happy evenings we spent together
at our old home–of the laughing prattle
of our little ones, and then after they were
fast asleep of our own quiet evenings
when you would scold me for not doing
as you wanted me to do, and now I think
myself that I really was not only a very
naughty old man but a very ungallant one
too.–I really did not then know how much
reason I had to be thankful & happy. But
do not judge from this that I am dissat-
isfied with this life–for so far as I am
concerned personally I would just as soon
lead this life as any other–but I dont
like the idea of your being without my
protection. Write to me soon & often
as you can

Affectionately

E T H Warren

MSS 7786-g

TO THE LOYAL CITIZENS OF WESTERN

VIRGINIA

You are the vast majority of the people. If the principle of self-government

is to be respected, you have a right to stand in the position you have assumed,

faithful to the Constitution and Laws of Virginia, as they were before the Ordi-

nance of Secession.

The Confederates have determined at all hazards to destroy the Government

which for eighty years has defended our rights and given us a name among the

nations. Contrary to your interests and your wishes they have brought war on

your soil. Their tools and dupes told you, you must vote for secession, as the

only means to insure peace; that unless you did so, hordes of Abolitionists would

overrun you, plunder your property, steal your slaves, abuse your wives and

daughters, seize upon your lands and hang all those who opposed them.

By these and other atrocious falsehoods they alarmed you and led many hon-

est and unsuspecting citizens to vote for secession. Neither threats, nor fabrica-

tions nor intimidations sufficed to carry Western Virginia against the interests

and wishes of its people into the arms of secession.

Enraged that you dared to disobey their behests, Eastern Virginians, who had

been accustomed to rule you and to court your votes, and ambitious recreants,

from among yourselves, disappointed that you would not make good their promises,

have conspired to tie you to the desperate fortunes of the Confederacy, or drive

you from your homes.

Between submission to them and subjugation or expulsion they leave you no

alternative. You say, you do not wish to destroy the old Government, under

which you have lived so long and peacefully; THEY say you shall break it up.

You say, you wish to remain citizens of the United States; they reply, you shall

join the Southern Confederacy, to which the Richmond junta has transferred

you, and to carry their will, their Jenkins, Wise, Jackson and other cosnpirators

proclaim upon your soil a relentless and neighborhood war; their misguided or

unprincipled followers re-echo their cry, threatening fire and sword, hanging and

exile to all who oppose their arbitrary designs. They have set neighbor

against neighbor and friend against friend; they have introduced a warfare only

known among savages. In violation of the laws of nations and humanity they

have proclaimed that private citizens may and ought to make war.

Under this bloody code peaceful citizens, unarmed travelers and single soldiers

have been shot down, and even the wounded and defenseless have been killed;

scalping their victims is all that is wanting to make their warfare like that which

seventy or eighty years ago was waged by Indians against the white race on

this very ground.

You have no other alternative left you gut to unite as one man in the defense

of your homes, for the restoration of law and order, or be subjugated or

driven from the state.

I therefore earnestly exhort you to take the most prompt and vigorous meas-

ures to put a stop to neighborhood and private wars; you must remember that

the laws are suspended in Eastern Virginia, which has transferred itself to the

Southern Confederacy. The old Constitution and Laws of Virginia are only in

force in Western Virginia. These laws you must maintain.

Let every citizen, without reference to past political opinions, unite with his

neighbors to keep these laws in operation and thus prevent the country from

being desolated by plunder and violence, whether committed in the name of Se-

cessionism or Unionism.

I conjure all those who have hitherto advocated the doctrine of Secessoinism

as a political opinion, to consider, that now its advocacy means war against the

peace and interests of Western Virginia; it is an invitation to the Southern Con-

federates to come in and subdue you and proclaims that there can be no law no

right until this is done.

My mission among you is that of a fellow-citizen, charged by the Government

to expel the arbitrary force which domineered over you, to restore that law and

order of which you have been robbed and to maintain your right to govern your

selves under the Constitution and Laws of the United States.

To put an end to the savage war waged by individuals, who without warrant

of military authority, lurk in the bushes, and waylay messengers or shoot sentries

I shall be obliged to hold the neighborhood in which these outrages are commit-

ted responsible; and unless they raise the hue and cry and pursue the offen-

ders, deal with them as accessories to the crime.

Unarmed and peaceful citizens shall be protected, the rights of private property

respected and only those who are found enemies of the Government of the United

States and peace of Western Virginia, will be disturbed. Of those I shall

require absolute certainty that they will do no mischief.

Put a stop to needless arrests, and the spread of malicious reports. Let every

town and district choose five of its most reliable and energetic citizens, a commit-

tee of public safety, to act in concert with the civic and military authorities

be responsible for the preservation of peace and good order.

Citizens of Western Virginia, your fate is mainly in your own hands.

If you allow yourselves to be trampled underfoot by hordes of disturbed

plunderers and murderers, your land will become a desolation. If you stand

for law and order and maintain your rights you may dwell together peaceably

and happily as in former days.

W. S. ROSECRANS

Brigadier-General U.S. Arm, Commanding

McGregor

A

1861

.R67

Dear Father

I was much gratified at

receiving a letter from you, as I was somewhat

uneasy respecting the health of you all at

Berry Hill. I hope Charlie will soon be

well enough to join his Regiment, as

they are about to make a forward movement

We attempted an enterprise here last Fryday

Col Rusk of Arkansas was sent with twelve

hundred men through the by-ways of Cheat

mountain to get in position on the flank

of the enemy, whilst we were to advance

in front. We were called up about one o-clock

at night, and marched about eight miles

to the top of Cheat Mountain to within

two miles of the enemies Camp, but

hearing nothing of rusk, like the French

king we marched down again, having

[page 2]

done nothing more than to drive in and

frighten the pickets of the enemy. We heard

this morning that Col. rusk had lost his

way, and is now returning having also

having failed n every thing except to

fatigue his men dreadfully. It seems to

have been a little enterprise planned by Gen.

Jackson, and so deeply planned that nobody

here has been able to see the object of it.

When we left Monterey, there was so much

measles in the army that we had to leave

eighteen men behind sick of it, those we

brought with us are almost recovered from

it. Our company numbers in all sixty

three men here and at Monterey, we lost

fourteen men prisoners at Rich mountain

The rest I hear privately, have been sent

home by the doctors at Richmond or

Staunton, wither by discharge or furlow.

These last I have nothing to do with, The Doctors

who sent them away are responsible for the,,

and I still report them absent sick in those

places. I received some days ago a letter from

Halifax without any name signed to it

charging me with harshness and tyrany toward

[page 3]

toward my company, inattention to the sick

particularly in not marching my company

home to recruit, and for petty heroicks

in being given to desperate enterprises with

out regard to the valuable lives of my

company, which were not at all to be put

in the ballance with the yankie hoard &c,

written I suppose by some of the same people

who have been complaining to you of me.

The rash enterprises he must [have] hatched in his

own brain. For our only rashness consisted

in marching so fast from Rich mountain

as to be in danger of breaking our valuable

necks, and which I did my best to restrain

not encourage. You can assure all anxious

enquireres that there is not the least danger

of our being hurt in the way of Rashness

in advancing on the enemy, I received

a letter from Maria Sunday. She was well

except a head-ache from her ride on the cars

to Richmond. She is on her way to Fauquier.

I am very well, though Tom is some what ill

from our march yesterday morning and the

night before. I hope he will soon be well

again and ready for another enterprise

[page 4]

which I hope may be better advised

Your affectionate son

Wm. B. Bruce

Captain, Co. K, 20th Virginia Infantry

MSS 2692

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond, Confederate soldier in the Dixie Greys (42nd Virginia, Co. E.)]

Came home from picket – cros-

sed a mountain – day to rainy

to drill – read 11 chapters in

the bible – but little to eat in

camp to day. P.S. Received the news

that Wise had a battle in Sewel valley.

MSS 5526

My darling wife

I have for the last week only been
writing every other day, for the reason that
I had nothing to say–it has rained every
day and now it is wet & muddy inside
as well as outside of our tents–it is really
terrible & so far as I can see there is small
chance for improvement–the only consolation
I have is that you are not here–how you
are doing though I dont know for I
have not heard from you for a week
the last letter recd from you was wri
ten last sunday I cant imagine what
is the matter, unless the mail has stoped all
together by the way you must just
as soon as you hear from Richmond
let me know by that time [?]
[?] the cars running here & I will
fix a day to meet you at the Junction
and if you will say what day Mr Mann
comes down I will fix his day. I am
not entirely willing for you to attempt
to come until I say so for I am fearful
that I might be ordered from here and then

[page 2]
I might miss you.
[letter stops and will resume next day]

My dear Father

Your letter by Thursdays

packet together with package of Turnip seed

was safely received for which accept

my best thanks. The small package for

Mr Tyree I sent him friday morning

But we were prevented in consequence

of the rain from attending Prayer Meeting

on friday afternoon as we intended.

We have all continued quite well since

you left us but have missed Charley

& Courtney from our number I hope

it will not be very long before you

bring them back to us.

I had two letters from Mr Cocke during

last week himself & John were well tho

much sickness existed in the surrounding

camps & he had removed his Hdqtrs

back to Centerville. Said both Armies were

making preparations for another attack

which could not take place perhaps before

[page 2]

Sept. Philip Cabell had arrived there

He also mentions having found our

young relative Dan’l Coleman a private

in one of the North Alabama Regiments

& had appointed him one of his volunteer

aids found him intelligent active &

efficient & Mr Robt Saunders of

Moile was also with him. The

boxes had been received in a very

damaged condition having been

injured at Manassas & also detained

in Richmond. I hope Lucys box

will hare a better fate.

We have here fine & abundent rains

which of course has put an end to

wheat threshing for the whole of this week

but the ground is in fine order for

fallowing of which Talbott has already

done a a fair portion of the season.

He will send wheat bags up as directed when

an opportunity presents itself.

We were agreeably surprised by the

arrival of our kind Aunt Mary last

Sat morning bad as the weather was She

is very much crushed & depressed in spirits

[page 3]

besides being very feeble & indisposed

but a few weeks respite from harassing

cares will I trust revive her drooping

spirits. Uncle Cary remains in Norfolk

I hope you will come down & see her shortly

she is watching an opportunity to get to

Frederick if possible to her Daughter

now very delicate. But I think she will

scarcely accomplish it. Mr Wren came

up on Thursday morning & spent the day

& [?] returned with him to spend a week

St. Julien Wilson went to Ric per[?] railroad

this morning to see his father who is in the

City on business & St George accompanied

him they will return again on Wednesday

Our Boys seem to think they would prefer

going to a boarding school to becoming

pupils in a private family to a Tutor

[?][?] has even suggested himself

in a recent letter [to] our friend Mr Harrisons

I thank perhaps it would be as good a plan

as any to send them to him in Octr. but of

course no definite steps need be taken

until after conferring again with you

& my Husband also through letters

[page 4]

Tell Charley & Courtney they must write

to me. My Bremo correspondents still

owe me letters. Mr Cocke continues

to improve & talks of leaving us.

[?] sick [?] earlier if he [?] any

thing urgent is going on at HdQrts.

Our whole household unite with me

in affectionate love to you & our friends

at Bremo. I hope to hear again from

you soon.

Yours very truly

C[ourtney] B[owdoin] Cocke

The letter is written to her father-in-law and former guardian Genl. John H. Cocke.



MSS 640

Capt. Cary C. Cocke

Dear Sir

Peter R Dunnington is

now and has been for some

time past in the employ of

the Scottsville Manufacturing

Company and his Servises are

as indispensable as any hand in

in[sic] the factory for the prosecution

of a contract we have with

the Confederate States

Yours Truly

John Daggett

Superintendent

I certify that I have

made a contract with the

Scottsville Manufacturing Co.

for military cloth J B Fenwick

Manor & A. Q. M.

MSS 640