Brother Henry
I heard from home the
other day–until then I did not know
where you were, or I wd. have written
sooner. I know you have often been uneasy
about me, but I thought you wd hear from
me thro’ the home folk perhaps as soon
as if I had written to you directly–It takes
generally four or five days for my letters
to reach the University–theirs to me
come in less time frequently, but sometimes
never get here–I have just recd a letter
from Sister Mary enclosing one from Layton
Martin–Ken has had a short visit to
Cedar Grove, & I am glad of it–Poor fellow
he has been denied that priviledge for
a long time–You have heard of the
death of poor Bettie–I know they all
at home miss her very much–I was
afraid before I left home that her
cough wd end her life–she was always
so delicate–I hope she is in a better
world–I am very uneasy about Aunt
Helen-but she was better when I [?]
left–I am sorry for Aunt Alice–her
[page 2]
servants are dropping off, one by one
& her income every year becoming less–
Do you ever write to any body there?
I want you to tell me all about your
visit to Raliegh, & how you are getting
on at the Seminary–Taylor says he
is thinking about reenlisting, when his
present term of service expires, tho’ he
had much rather be at the Sem &
sometimes feels that he ought to be
there–about half of his letter I can
not translate, tho’ I am as familiar as
any on with his hand & style, I suppose
I am very glad you are at the Seminary
& not in the army–tho’ I know you wd
like to be fighting for your country if you
did not think it to be your duty to be
where you are–I every day see & feel
the great need of ministers of the Gospel
here in Camp & know it is fully as great
in other Camps, & more so still perhaps
at home–I have seen Richard McIlvaine
once since I came back to Camp–He
preached for us the Sunday after the
fight here, & conducted the services at
the grave of the member of my Co. who
was killed He (Mr McIlvaine) is Chaplain
of the 44th–you will remember–He seems
to be doing all the good he can & is one
[page 3]
of the nicest, best men I ever saw–He
enquired for you whenever I see him–I
told you he came to see me at the River
when he heard I was sick–He was a Lieut.
in a company, but thought he cd do more
good as Chaplain–We have preaching in
Camp every Sunday, if the weather permits.
Dr (or Capt) Miller you know I reckon, by
reputation at least–He is Capt. of an
artillery Co–he preaches twice very Sunday
at his quarters & invites every body to at-
tend–I like him very much–sometimes he
is as eloquent as any one I ever heard–
We had an election in my Co the other day-
I was elected “Junior 2d Lieut” on the first
ballot, tho’ there were three other candi-
dates–Sergt Wright had been elected Senior
2d I knew as soon as I got here that he
wd get that office, & I began at once to
work for the other–All the officers were
my friends (i.e. all except my rivals for the
office) & all voted for me that had voted–
The Capt & two Lieuts are not allowed to
vote for an officer below them–The
rank & pay of the two 2d Lieuts is the
same & in case of a vacancy above me, I
wd become Senior 2d, the date of the Commis-
sion fixing that–The death of Lieut Davis
caused the vacancy, wh. I was elected to fill–
[page 4]
So I am now comparatively a free man–can
go about without being stopped by every
camp sentinel–The very next day after
my election, I was put on duty as “Officer
of the Day” for this hill (I have not told
you that we have gotten into our huts on
the hill where all the batteries & entrench-
ments are situated) — It is the duty of the
“Officer of the day” to visit the sentinels twice
during the night–once before & once after
12 o’clock–as the posts are not very numerous
this is no great task, & I had gotten thro’
with it & been sleeping some time, when
I awoke & heard some one bolting down the
hill over the frozen ground, & presently the
Sergeant Major rushed into our cabin & in-
formed me “the pickets had been fired on”–Of
course I had to jump up & dress as speedily
as possible ( I sleep with my clothes off now)
& if it were true, report to headquarters & arouse
the camp–I visited all the sentinels again &
found that they had heard nothing of the kind–
Such false alarms are by no means uncom-
mon–a surprise is almost impossible as we
keep a constant lookout–Indeed I hardly think
the Yankees have any notion of trying over their
game of the 13th Dec.–The wife of a Lieut who was
wounded here that day has come thro’ from Braxton
& says the enemy acknowledges 34 commissioned
officers killed in that battle–I am glad to see
that we get some credit for that fight–I hope
I may never witness such a fight again, tho’ if
it must come, we are all ready, I believe to
fight them as hard again with the help of God-
We are very comfortably fixed now, & I hope we may be
left here some time–Our cabins are warm & snug.
[cross hatched in left margin of page 1]
What do you think of the chance for recognition by England & France?
I have not had time or room to write off
this & many other things–It is reported that
our Rich Mt prisoners are to be exchanged
In that case our Regt will be a large &
good one–the best here.
[upside down in top margin of page 1]
My sheet is full & I must
stop–I am well & doing
well–Write to me & tell
me everything about
yourself–Goodnight
Yr afft brother C.D.M.
C[harles] D[aniel] M[cCoy], 25th Virginia Infantry, (Heck’s Regiment)
MSS 6830-d
