Richmond Va. July 20th [1863]
Dear Pa,
I arrived here yesterday
morning. I have made dil-
igent inquiry but have not
been able to hear any thing
definite from my Regt. since
the great battle of Gettysburg
Pa. – From what I can learn
the 60th was warmly engaged
and suffered severely, but as
usual the news from that
Regt. are slow to come in.
I have just seen Lieut. Ben
Gleaton, in hospital. He
was wounded on the 9th
inst. at Functown Pa. His
Regt, the 59th was also in
the battle of Gettysburg on the
3rd of this month.
[page 2]
On that day Sim Thews was
badly wounded. His left
knee was completely shattered
by a minnie ball, and his
leg was amputated some 4
inches above the knee. He
was left and fell into the
hands of the enemy. Calvin
stayed with him and was
also taken. – Edward Rob-
ertson is reported missing,
I heard that before I left
Macon, and have not been
able to hear any thing more
definite from him. The last
Uncle Allen heard from William
he was in hospital, having
given out on the march.
I bought two pair of the
genuine Whittmore Yankee
-Cotton cards to-day, and
[page 3]
have sent them to you by
express to Albany, in
care of Mr. W. C. Jelks. They
cost $25.00 a pair. If
Ma does not want both
pair she can sell one of
them for a profit possibly.
You can say to Mr. Corly & Mrs.
McMullin that I have handed
[-] papers to the Auditor
and they they will be attend-
ed to at once. – I find
the clothing I left here
all safe and right. I will
carry a pair of pants along
for Bob in case he needs
them, which I have no idea
is the case. Ewell’s men I
am told are all well clad.
I leave for the Army tomor-
row morning at 6 o’clock.
[page 4]
I shall go from here to
Stanton and from there
to Winchester. Lee’s Army
is on this side of the Potomac
between Winchester and Har-
pers Ferry, at a place called
Bunker Hill. The great
battle is expected in a
few days. But don’t be
uneasy. What is to be will
be. I will write again as
soon as I can hear from
the Company.
I am as ever John.
P.S. I went to church last night
and had the pleasure of hear-
ing Bishop George Pierce. He
came on train as I did all
the way from Georgia.
John
Camp Gordon’s Brigade Va.
August 4th 1863
Dear Ma,
Though I have nothing of particular interest
to write at this time yet I feel bound to fix up my
weekly report. – We are now in active campaign
and this means a great deal more than most
people, or in fact more than any one uninitiated, can
comprehend. By active campaign I mean that when
we stop we do not know whether it is for the purpose of
remaining 10 minutes, 2 hours or 3 days. – A few
minutes after sealing my letter of the 30th inst. we received
marching orders and we have been on the tramp a good
part of the day time since, and have in some instances
borrowed some minutes from black night to march in.
We are now stopped in the woods. I am sitting on a
knapsack with my back against a white oak tree.
I will try to give you the geography of this spot. It is 15
miles N.E. of Orange Court House, and 10 miles S. E. of Cul-
pepper Court House. It is 5 miles east of the Rail Road.
– It is thought that we will remain here until the enemy
makes a demonstration. Meade’s Army is reported to
be in Culpepper County, some 20 miles from here. Gen
Lee will probably make a stand in this neighborhood
if Meade seems disposed to advance. Present indications
[page 2]
do not favor the belief that their will be battle here
soon. Both armies are greatly worn down and time
will be necessary for recuperation. If however Meade
feels confident of his superiority in numbers and equipment
and forces battle upon Lee, the conflict will be a terrible
one. Both Armies seem to think that if a battle is fought
here again it will decide the war, and I believe
it will. – It seems most likely to me however that
both Armies will be comparatively idle here until some
great blow is struck in Tennessee or Mississippi. If
all is to be lost to us in those departments and Charles-
ton falls, then where is the necessity of shedding
more blood here? Why contend longer against
such fearful odds? What prospect is there for
us, and what encouragement? Gen Lee has a grand
and gallant Army, and I am proud to belong to it, and am
willing to go wherever old Bob says go, but this Army
can not accomplish every thing. – I must confess that
I find the spirits of the soldiers greatly depressed. Most
of them were opposed to going over into Maryland, fearing
that they would meet with another bloody reverse. They
went over into the rich Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania, and
Gordon’s Brigade reached as far North as the Susquehannah [sic]
River. There they saw the richest and most delightful country
their eyes had ever beheld. There they could procure every
luxury their appetites could crave, generally for nothing and
always for small price. Butter 10 cts, chickens 10 cts, sugar 40
cents, coffee 40 cents, whiskey 75 cts a gallon and so on. These
[page 3]
were the common figures in Confederate money. The men
saw in fact that the war was in no way injuring the people
of that country. They sow and reap and enjoy life the same
as before the war, and in fact they live so much better
than our people do in the best of times, that the men became
discouraged, and could not but exclaim. ‘How is it
possible for us war against such a people?’ ‘They have
every element of strength, and scarcely know that there
is a war going on? These thoughts had a strong hold
upon the minds of the men and naturally induced
discouraging & melancholy reflections. And then
when the Army was repulsed and compelled to recross [sic]
the Potomac, the spirits of the men were well nigh broken.
I am far from encouraging any such reflections
among the men, and I hope that if there is another collision
between these Armies that our men will fight with all
their original vigor and determination. I will still
hope that depression of spirits has not unnerved
the arms of the Confederates!
Yesterday we had preaching in camp by Rev. Mr. Evans of
Macon Ga. You know him well. – Soldiers are fond
of hearing preaching & pay good attention, and their
minds are now suitable inclined for that humiliation which
the preacher enjoins upon all. ___
The weather is excessively warm. I have mine & Bob’s bag-
gage hauled so that we are not encumbered on the ^ ‘march’
with anything but a haversack and canteen. As to
clothing I will again say that Bob as well as myself have
[page 4]
Plenty. He captured a pair of boots at Winchester
as did nearly every man in the Company.________
In the election for Lieutenant Bob was not with the
Company. If he had been he would most certainly
have been elected. As it was his name was run and
Williams only defeated him by 6 votes. Williams is
a very nice fellow and will make a good officer.
He has not been examined yet & may not pass. I
have not been examined, but I now have the rank
of Captain. You can therefore direct letters accor-
dingly.
I am exceedingly anxious to hear from home
to know how Pa’s health is. We get the mail
regularly.
I will write as often as I can.
I am as ever &c &c
John
[Next in this folder is a slip of lined paper measuring 6 ½” X 2 ¾”. ]
[page 1]
Tell Pa to Direct his letters this way,
Capt _______________
Co. ‘G’ 60th Ga. Regt_
Gordon’s Brigade Richmond
Ewell’s Corps. Va.
Does the “Enquirer” still come?
[page 2]
21 Aug 63 [date written in pencil]
P.S. You will see in the papers that Gen Early
has been sent over in the Valley. He did
not take any of his Division with him.
We are in our same camps. We will move
about 2 miles in a few days & build winter
quarters again. We have to move occasion
-ally on account of wood.
Camp Gordon’s Brigade
21st Aug. 1863
Dear Ma,
I write from the same place
as before. This is the day set apart
by the President for fasting & prayer.
All military duties are suspended
to-day & religious service is being
performed throughout the Camp.
Early this morning the Brigadier General
Gordon had the Brigade called to-
gether, and after reading the Proc-
lamation of the President, the Order
of Gen. Lee and a chapter in the
Bible, and then making some ele-
gant and appropriate remarks on the
subject, he offered a fervent pra-
yer to the Giver of all good.
I went to Gordonsville day before
yesterday & returned in the night,
[page 2]
so that I slept very little, the consequence
was I was very drowsy all day yesterday,
& didn’t feel like writing. – I went
to Gordonsville to carry some things
that belonged to Capt. Colding. I sent
them by Express to his wife. I also
sent some money by Express to Macon
to Uncle Allen. I instructed him to
keep it until ^ ‘he’ heard from me again.
I think it would be beneficial
to Pa’s health to take a trip
to Virginia. I have a sugges-
tion to make. Suppose you
get enough janes to make Bob
and myself each a suit. (You can
get the Tailor in Albany to make my
coat. If he makes it let him make
the sleeves one inch longer than he
made to my uniform. No other change.)
Pa can bring them when he comes &
also bring something good to eat.
[page 3]
