Dear Friend Kate I received your
kind & welcome letter some three
or four weeks since and I take this
opportunity to answer it I was very
glad to hear from you and to
hear that you were all well, you
said all the girls looked well except
Snake you named one in particular
you called her my Dear Maggie well
if you say she is my dear it must be
so & guess you know, give her my love
Tell Snake I can very easily account
for her looking badly she has par-
ted with some one and she is grie
ving herself about him I cant

[page 2]
say who it is unless it is Mr Quarles[?]
tell her he is well and I hpe it
wont be long before she may have
the happy privilege of seeing him
I long to see that happy time when
we all may be permitted to return
to our homes, you cant imagine how
I would like to come home &
have tried to get a furlough but
there was no earthly chance so I
have come to the conclusion to wait
patiently until next aprile if I
am spared to see it then I can come
home, but I hope this fus may be
settled long before then Kat I
suppose you heard about Tom
supple loosing all the letter that
was sent by him & never have been
heard from snice we scolded him
a great deal about it but I suppose
he did not loose them intentionally

[page 3]
therefore we will have to forgive him
I received a letter from home
yesterday the first one for more than
two weeks and was very sorry to hear
of F Campbell’s death poor fellow
he suffered a greateal[sic] but I hope he
is now at rest I would like to
have come and see him before he
died but that privilage was denied
me I think it very hard that no
one are allowed to go home under
any circumstance except on a sick
furlough I pittied James Trotter
he tried several time to get a fur
lough to go home and see his
Father before he died but there
was no chance, well Kate as it is now
about ten Oclock and the candle is
about out I will have to bring these
few lines to a close give my love to all
the Family & all inquiring friends excuse
all mistakes nothing more at this time
from your true friend James W Vines

[top margin of page 1]
Kate I had
a talk with
your dear
friend John
Lightner to
night I see
him nearly
every day
he looks
very well
dont you
wish you
could see
him
Write to
me again
as soon as
convenient
JWV

Miss Kate Armentrout
Rose Dale

envelope addressde to Miss Amanda C. Armentrout Greenville Augusta C Va

Private in Co. E, 5th Virginia Infantry (Augusta Grays)

MSS 11332

I am very much obliged to you my d[ear] General
for you kind response to my letter in relation
to the sought for cadetship of young Sidney Brooks DeKay
–he will resume his studies- ’till the time comes
to apply for appointment–

We are all on the “qui vive” here–not
knowing what the next telegraph may tell.
I have lost all sympathy for the South–there
seems such a fixed determination on the part of
those (who must be allow’d to be inteligent) to
persevere in wrong doing and such a readiness
on the part of the ignorant masses to be “led in
inquity”–that I see no other mode left than
to “smash them all up”–I did hope that
neither would have so turned that this conflict
would have been limited only to a severe rebuke
to a certain classof Ismites at the north
and east who would persist in stirring up
strife of a sectional character–But “Southern
regulators“–have so blindly sought every remedy

[page 2]
that I have no longer a spark of sympathy for
them–and I only hope that every leading Traitor
will get what he richly deserves–(a short trial
and a long rope) and the misled taught a lesson
that will last them till they reach old age
& crutches.

I admire much that letter from
Russia–tho’ it seems to me it must havae been
detained somewhere in transition–being dated
10 July–in regular course of mail it shd
have reached here at or a little after the
Bull run affair–perhaps the accredited member
at Washington had the power to use discretion
as to its delivery–but let that pass–

I learn that the french party (Prince Napoleon)
do not think the Southern army at Manassas
have an easy time of it–“tout au contraire”

If I had been “Commander in Chief”–I would
never have allow’d a gun to be fired—Except
in defence and (never moved unless in
number and force that would have incurred
no dishonor by retreat of those I moved
against–I would have made this War

[page 3]
from the beginning – a War of Shoes trousers & shirt
because we hold all the sources of power
to circumvent–cut off–and hold–nor would I
resort to confiscating in retaliation–let the other
party confiscate if they would–they might
steal spoons–but all the natural wealth
would have sought protection North–but
some people are so constructed as to hold
a five cent piece so near the eye as not
to see a $20 gold piece at the end of their
nose–there are Evils hat only obstruct
and delay a result sure to come in
the End–“Secession” is as sure to fail
as good government is sure to prevail–

Thus far in a pecuniary sense I have
not suffered much–Virginia confiscated two
steamers of a line of three steamers–in which
I had an interest–because said line
had Northern stockholders in it–and the
third steamer is seized here because
of Southern interest in the stock–So

[page 4]
like “Dog Tray”–I get a thumping for being
caught in bad company.–I did think of writing
a letter to the Govr of Va–respectfully requesting
him to pay me the amount thus taken from me
by a given time or I wd lick every slimy back
biting Virginian I met who did not weigh
more than I do————These are lively times
and I am very glad- (since they must come)
that I am still alive to witness them–

The body Politic–(like the body physical)
had become diseas’d and needed good dosing.
the Liver will be all the better for it
and I hope (as I believe) that you and I
(and yours and mine) will be among the
livers to see–better times–and better national
health–as the Irishman said- when he thought
he saw “good times coming tomorrow” “how I pity
the man who died yesterday”—–with kindest
regards to your sweet wife–believe me as Ever
yr friend & well wisher–
Ch. A Davis

Charles Augustus Davis, 1795-1867, a New York City business man and author wrote political satire under the pen name “Jack Downing.”

The Special Collections Dept. welcomes commentators who can identify Davis’s correspondent “My dear general”

MSS 7159-a

My dear Creek

As it is now night and every thing
comparatively quiet I though before going to bed I would
write to you as I may not have a chance of doing so again
in a few days, we have recieved orders late this evening to
hold ourselves ready to march at a moments warning
and have two days cooked provisions with us, I presume
we are going to pay our Yankee friends a short visit,
but in what direction or manner I am ignorant–as
yet–I do not anticipate however that anything like a
fight is going to take place as yet, we will have to
fight them again, but it will be some time before
we are ready to do so, and when it does take place
we will not have such a hard time of it as we had
before as their is a great many troops between us and the
enemy, and you know before their was not any in front
of us, and our Regiment, had to fight them almost alone
for two hours. Now you must not get alarmed at our moving
as I know it is nothing of importance, as we are going to
leave all of our tents standing where they are now with
only a corporals guard, t take charge of them till we
return, whereas if we were going to attack the enemy we
would have to strike tents and pack them on the waggons and

(page 2)
send them off to the rear in the neighbourhood of Manassas
so that none of them might fall into the hands of the enemy.
L. A. Osborne reached camp today, we were all glad to see him and
hear that you were all getting along smoothly about Anderson
you dont know how it cheers us all to see any one direct from
home and get all the little details from them, they have to
answer almost fifty questions at once, every one is so anxious
to hear from their friends, he told us the vigilance comitee
had run Heldman off from Anderson, they ought to have
done so long ago. The health of our Regiment is still improving
the men are returning from Hospital every day. Col Mattison
has been sick for some time something like a Billious attack
he is not able for duty, but has never been confined to bed altogether
he is recovering now and will resume his duties in a few days.
Major Whitmer I believe has got a Furlough and started
for the springs. I suppose he has had enough of the glories
of war. I am afraid the move has made him unpopular in
the regiment, as most of the men thing he is feigning sick
more than anything else, do not spread this however as coming
from me, as he is my Brother officer and Superior in rank,
and it is unbecoming in me to cast any shoes on his
character as a soldier, whatever I may think of it.

Their has been some talk here this last few days of our Regiment
and three others from south Carolina being sent to Charleston
soon for winter Quarters, I cant say as to the truth of it but
sincerely hope it may be so, we would be much nearer home
and in a much better climate for spending the winter in
and we may also do good service for our state at that place

[Page 3]
in case the enemy should attempt to land, which is not improbable
but I am stuffing your head with a great deal of nonsense and
I am afraid nothing that will interest you much as I will quit
writing about the wars, as I know it will only make you feel bad.
How are you getting on with the crop you had better try and hire
some one a few days to help gather the corn and Fodder as they
get ready, and not depend on any one helping you to do it as
you might get it all spoilt by rain in waiting. put the shucks
up in the old stable and lay some fails in the floor to keep them
of the ground, it will soon be time also to pen the fatening
hogs: if they are poor now get them up as soon as possible, how
many young pigs have you got now, if you think you have to
many of them sell some of them of[f] as it does not pay to feed away
corn to them all winter unless it is very low in price, but I
need not be telling you all this for I reckon you are a better manager
in that respect than I am myself, and Papa will advise you better
than me, I wish I was back again to take all these cares off you
hands for I know it puts you to a great deal of trouble I often
think I see you walking about home and Maggie and Polly runing
after you, Mag stopping to pick up all the pretties she come across
and showing them to you does she know the road to the apple
orchard yet, you must watch her very close now that she can
run about, or she may fall into the Creek and get drowned. Kiss
the Litle darling for me and tell her Papa Lovers her dearly.
William is well and sends his love to you all. Give my love to all the
Family, Good night Dear Creek. May Heaven guide and
protect us both, and grant us a speedy and happy meeting,

Yours, William

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366

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

the day was cloudy
nothing of importance
occurred to day. there was
Some firing of cannon
in the direction of Alex.

MSS 14169

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virginia]

Are ordered to prepare 3 days
rations – were ordered to leave
about 10 O’clock A. M. to go
to Mingo Flats to cut off the
retreat of the enemy – Went to
the Yankees at night – Heard
retreated. Built fires and
remained there a few hours
then took up our line of march
after the Yankees. To day our
men fired on some yankee
pickets killing 5. Read 9 chap.
in bible.

MSS 5526

[from the diary of Eugener M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

Much commotion has prevailed in camp all day–forces all got here last night and this morning from below. Genl. Floyd with his command got here this morning and have gone into camp at this place–the general had a severe engagement on the other side of Gauley River on yesterday, he, himself, received a considerable flesh-wound in one of his arms (right) but having to contend with an overwhelmng (force) was compleled to retreat

We, the Border Guard, now have our place in the first regiment and are again on the list for active service–and expect it very soon–9 o’clock P.M. Have orders to sleep on our arms and be ready for action at any moment–Taps, etc.

MSS 38-221

[Warren is correct. September 10, 1861 was a Tuesday]

My very darling Jennie

A moment in which an officer of the
Confederate army is Entirely unemployed is so
much of a rarity that I must this morn-
ning enjoy it by writing to you–I am now
about 200 yards from the house of Upton, the
Black Republican member of Congress from Va
seated on the Root of an oak tree writing to
you on the top of an old band box. By order
we left our camp at Fairfax Station Satur-
day morning & took position at this point
which is 2 miles nearer the yankey lines
than Munsons hill and a mile nearer the
city of Washington than Munsons Hill
but no nearer the lines of the Enimys
Our pickets are now so near the yankey
pickets that we can hear them talk and
frequently hear what they say–Yesterday
morning while I was on duty as officer
of the day –such a continued fire was kept
up between our pickets & the yankeys that I
deemed it my duty to visit I accordingly
started on horse back–but to avoid being too
conspicuous a mark I left my horse in

[page 2]
the Reserve of that post by the picket, which was
occupied by the Guards & went the rest of the
way on foot. I found the boys either squating
behind trees or lying down behind logs watching
with guns ready to shoot in a second. They said
the thickets in their front was alive with them
& insisted on my leaving the lines & going
some distance around in order to get to our
last post from there I cold see them as
thick as black berries, but entirely beyond
our range–The Tennesseans however on the
next post from us were pretty buisy with
them–I am inclined to think that they
were not so near our boys as they im
agined for in returning our post in
full range of them–no one fired at
us–I mention this to show you the
delicate nature of the work we are
Engaged in–a constant fire is kept
up all day long–& shots were fired in
the last minute & so it goes all day
long–Yesterday while I was at the for
front[?] of our line we fired from Mun
sons Hill threw shell in the corn
field from which the Yankeys were
firing on us & I tell you it
made them travel in a hurry–This
morning we heard apparently 2 miles

[page 3]
on our left two heavy volleys of musketry
which rather alarmed us–first we thought
it was in our Rear in the neighborhood of Falls
church & the men were called to arms in a
hurry–but it turned out to be an attack on
our cavalry picket–How it resulted I have not
yet learned. We are in full view of the yankey
encampments & can hear them firing their
big guns–trying them I suppose–12 have
just been fired & now another–then 4 more
& then 4 more–this commenced on their
right & run to their left & I expect means
something more than a mere trial of guns
some signal.. but what I cant imagine &
so it is all the time–when we first got
here we could hear their drums all the
time & such a rattle mortal men never heard
but since Sunday we have heard but little
until just now–since we have been here
we have had fine living–I sleep in a house
on my cot eat all sorts of vegetables except
tomatoes we get them in this vicinity
The country is the prettiest I ever saw
would I think be a nice place to live
but for the great number of Yankeys in
the country

I have an opportunity to send this to
day We expect to return to the Station

[page 4]
tomorrow all seems to be quiet here
now

Most affectionately
E T H Warren

“the Guards” would be the Harrisonburg Valley Guards, Co. G, 10th Virginia Infantry

“The Tennesseans” would be the 3rd Tennessee Infantry

What Warren was hearing was a 21 gun salute to President Lincoln who toured Union fortifications on the evening of September 10, accompanied by Secretary of War Cameron, General George B. McClellan, and Governor Andrew Curtin of Pennsylvania.

John P. Mann IV

MSS 7786-g

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

Centerville. the weather
very pleasant. the Com
pany was very much cheered up to day. it
being pay day

MSS 13407

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys (Co. E of the 42nd Virginia)

Remained the [-] about
8 O’clock P.M. Sent a [-]
from camp on picket.
Our pickets fired on the Yankees
Were hurried out expecting to
meet the Yankees. One of our
pickets shot one of our men.
Read 16 chapts in bible

MSS 5526

Col. Tho. G. Rhett
A. Adjt Genl.

Colonel

When at Genl Beauregard’s
Head Quarters yesterday, I learned for the first
time that a certain passage of my report
of the battle of the 21st July was disapproved by
Genl. Johnston and I rode to the General’s
Head Quarters to ask an interview with him
upon the subject. Finding him absent and
being obliged to return to this place the same
evening I met him by the way and after
the usual salutations mentioned the subject
of the report.

The only material difference between the
General’s recollection and statement and mine
given in the report appears to be in regard to an
order which he says he gave of the advance of
two of my regiments into battle and which order
he says subsequently withdrawn upon my
stating to him the position & strength of the enemy

[page 2]
in my front. I recollect but one order as stated
in my report and which was received upon at a
time when those regiments could be thrown forward
into battle without at the same time inviting attack on
the flank & rear of our then line of battle–which
would have been fatal–and when I had explained to General
Johnston the state of things which I conceived to be involved
in the position of those regiments–all with the view of
enabling him to determine whether the time had come
to abandon the position and to order forward the regiments.
He decided that it had–and accordingly dis-
patched my aides de camp to order up
the Regiments.

I was indeed greatly pained and
surprised to learn from General Johnson
that he regarded some expressions in my
report as conveying the impression of a want
of consideration of and reference to his
position and orders

I can assure hm that nothing was
further from my thoughts or purpose.

But to put this beyond all question
not only with himself but with all who
may see the report when published–I

[page 3]
purpose to modify the form of expression
in the paragraph of my report alluded to which
I understand to be objected to–and which I
can do in a manner entirely consistant
with the material statements of the report–
I propose then that the paragraph shall
read thus

“Genl J. E. Johnston appearing near my
“position about this time–I pointed out to
“him the state of my command on the
“front of Lewis’ farm and referred for his
“decision the expediency of abandoning that
“front & of immediately ordering forward
“the whole of the balance of my command-
“to take part in the battle now raging
“and becoming critical as to its results on
“our left. It was decided to make the
“movement and I immediately dispatched
“my Aides de Camp to order up &”

I hope this explanation will prove satis-
factory.. Having stated circumstances in my
report to the best of my recollection, I do
not pretend to infallibility of memory in
regard to much that may have happened

[page 3]
when so much was crowded into every
moment–

I shall be glad to hear from Genl Johnston
& remain Col
very Resptly
your obt servant
Philip St Geo Cocke
Col Comdg 5th Brigade

MSS 640