1861 May 11 Harper's Ferry, Va.

                                       Harpers Ferry.  May 11th/61
                        Dear Pa,
                                       As I have a little time this evening
I will write to you, although I do n’t feel very much
like writing. I got off duty this morning at nine
oclock, & therefore I’ve nothing much to do to day.
I did n’t have as pretty a day for standing guard as
I thought I would have, it commenced raining early, &
rained all day very hard, & nearly all night, but I
was very fortunate in getting a good post, I was
posted in Col Jackson’s quarters, right at his door,
I did n’t get wet, but had very little sleep, do n’t think
I slept over an hour in all, I will make up for it to night.
I rec^’e’ived yr letter to day, I was very glad to hear
for you all. It was the first one I’ve received through
mail since I’ve been here.  I wrote to you yesterday,
thinking at the time Billy Pettus [William W., Jr.] was going home,
but he was disappointed, so I put the letter in the
Office.  The lost box of Provisions came to hand yester-
day, I of course was very much delighted at getting
it, had given out all idea of every seeing it; I with
a good many others enjoyed its contents very much.
Mr. Bickers seemed very much disturbed about my
box, & believe he was as much delighted as I was at its
recover. Cap. Murray was expected home to day.
I am glad Mr. Thompson has given out comeing, I would
be very glad to have him here, but do n’t think camp
life would suit him at all, as he would have to be expos-
ed to the weather so much.  I wish Mr. Bickers could get
off, think he could if he w’d [would] try, he got a letter from
Mr. Cammack to day, giving him some advice.
Joe has no idea of going home, Dr. Gray is very anxious

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him hom to return, he spoke of coming over himself to
try to get him off, he said that Joe could not possibly
stand it.  We have all been tolerable well, & there has been
only one accident, Bob Trice [Robert N.] was loading his gun, & it went
off accidentally, the ball striking the fore finger on the right
handen, he was not seriously damaged.
     Everything is tolerable quiet now, though vigorous preperations
for defense are still going on, a good many citizens have
moved out of Town.  soldiers are still arriving, a good
many Baltimoreans have arrived, about eighty came last nig
night, they all come by the tow path in small companyies.
I saw two pieces of artilery this evening on the way to
Sheppardstown, a little place about six miles from here up
Potomac.  Troops are stationed all around about here.
I go down to Ferry very seldom, & do n’t hear whats going
so I ca n’t give you much news.
Cousine Will Ashby was to see me this evening, he
sends his love to all of you.  I saw Uncle right much
of Uncle Phil when he was here.  It is nearly time
to get ready for dress parade, so I must stop untill
tomorrow.  I am very well.  from yr devoted &
                                      most Aff Son
                                                     P. Edloe Jones.

Philip Edloe Jones and his brothers John William Jones, and Francis Pendleton Jones all served in the Louisa Blues, 13th Virginia Infantry. John W. was later famous as the author of Christ in Camp.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13407