1861 June 7 Richmond [Virginia]

Dear Father [James Cole Bruce]

You will be
surprised without doubt to hear that
I am in Richmond after having
written to you that my regiment
was ordered to Jamestown I arrived
here day before yesterday On last Tuesday
I was taken with a very severe case of
Dysentery accompanied with some fever
and as I was a good deal worse on the next
morning, our colonel very kindly gave me
leave of absence for a few days. I am improving
slowly but I still feel quite unwell. I would
have come straight to Halifax, but the Doctor
thought that I could not bear the jolting of the
cars. I think that I shall return to the regiment
on tuesday or wednesday. When I left the camp
there were about 20 of our company sick, and they
were reporting more and more sick every
day, mostly with the dysentery and Measles
. The sickness of nearly every one was brought
on by the continued use of salt provisions
without any vegetables and by bad water

[page 2]
I would have written to you on yesterday
, but I was so weak and had such a headache
that I was able to do it. Uncle Charles is at the
Spottswood with me and tells me he goes out
every day to the Fair Grounds to be drilled
. I hear that Ballard is coming down
to day or tomorrow. I hope that his company
is so fortunate as to have tents already
, for if they have not they will see a pretty
rough time of it when they are ordered from
Richmond. I am very glad to hear that Tom
has an office for I do not think that his
health could stand the hardships which a private
has to undergo. I want you please to send m
a jar of pickles and tell sister Nannie that
we would be very much obliged to her if she
would send me some also. Give my love
to Eliza and Kate and tell Eliza that she must
come down on Monday to see me before I
leave. I remain Dear Father ever your
affectionate son
Charles Bruce, Jr.

p.s. Please send those pickles to the
care of Mr. Pennill

James Cole Bruce, b. 1806, attended the University of Virginia in 1827 and was a member of the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 representing Halifax County. He voted for secession.


Charles Bruce of the 7th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry, was killed at Sappony Church in 1864 in repulsing the raid of Generals James H. Wilson and August Kautz who had been ordered by General Grant to destroy railroad track south of Petersburg, Va.

MSS 2692