1861 July 3 Camp Strange on the Potomac

[letter written in pencil; many of lines almost obliterated by fold marks]

Miss Porter

I received your kind letters one being from
22nd one 26th June. I was glad to hear that you were
all well and in most fine spirits I also recd a letter
from Miss Ellen. She has surely waked up from
sleep and silence-o The cause I cannot account
for unless it is on the account of Silas I could never
wake her until the 11th hour of her departure--
but time enough she is up now in sweet
sixteen and ready as I see from your letters to sho
ulder her musket and put off to the war with
true love--well I cannot Blame her for I know
how hard it is to be seperated from those we love
we have not moved since I wrote you before but
when I wrote I did not expect to stay here until
this time though we are yet [?] marching [?]
all ready to stand at any moment. It is a very
disagreeable fix to be in to have every thing pack
ed to move and cannot get the waggon. I have much
rather go on and meet my fate, and not be kept in
suspense--We are now expecting to march now at any
moment. There has been firing of cannons all
of the morning down on the river and it is the
impression of all that the great fight has com
menced, and expect to receive news to move ther4e at
any moment, but I hope if we are go that we may
go with a rush, and enough to make them move
as the chaff before a storm.

[page 2]
I learn from you letter that many of the young
men of your county are about to leave, or have left
I hope they have made up their minds to weather the
storm, for a storm it is- and I am somewhat pre
pared to say- for I can assure them that I was
somewhat disappointed in the military life and
I believe that my forethought of it was rather un
pleasant, but when they come here thy must just
make up their minds to be treated worse than any
negro you ever saw, or at any rate your privalege
is an not half so good and again you must
fall down just any where on the ground and
sleep if you cannot get the soft side of a plan
k, and not have sea buiscuit and fried Bacon and
coffee--and you had better tell O P Jones if he
thinks he cannot stand that, he had better stay
at home. but I am glad to see the spirit of
the south waxing so warm in old amherst and
I hope that it may still press on, until every able
bodied man who is able to bear arms have rushed
to the support of the southern flag, as she floats
proudly over the heads of thousands of Virginias
noble sons which will ever be the greatest
pride of my ofe if it can be sustained which
I have not the least doubt of for I believe
we are a people who can never be whiped but
thy can kill us but as long as there is a man
he will struggle to to[sic] the death- on tomorrow
the 4th of July a day which has been observ
ed by our nation for so long will I fear be

[page 3]
a day of bloodshed--in this the day of our great
troubles tomorrow is the day appointed for congress
to meet in washington but I think they will be
very apt to move their quarters to springfield Ill
for I think that times will be getting much to
warm. For such men as Lincoln seward and
their political leaders of the north

My Brother who has been sick for sometime
is getting much better and can now walk about
This regiment is composed of 1000 men a fine band
of men & the two amherst companies compose a
parat of the regiment & also capt Boyd company from
Nelson. My respects to all enquiring friends
I remain as ever yours

Edward

[the writer then flips the paper over and begins another letter on the back of page 4]

Miss Ellen what did you mean
Have you waked at last why surely you
have slept yourself very beautiful and I have been
trying for nearly five weeks to wake you and you
could never be aroused until you found that silas
was about to leave you you have had no sympa
thy for anyone until the hours of your trial has come
and you need simpathy and then you become to be
very affectionate. well I rekon I must simpathise with
you a little, though you are not entitled to it. But
as you are just in sweet sixteen and was blind to all
other cares except the one great object that you could only
see and that silas and when you find that he now
is about to leave you, then you can ask a friend for
simpathy--well I can assure you that you have my best
wishes you bright eyed little rosy cheeked girl and see
that I can say so for you to be a good girl --and wait
with patience until silas returns--I have a friend
in camp with me now who says he is acquainted
with you--he says you are a beautiful girl--and
he intends to go to see you when he returns to amh
erst--it is Clifton Higginbotham he is a very good
boy--I have not gotten acquainted with many of the
Nelson company. they seem to show but little friend
ship and when I see that I am not apt to pester any
one much I always think that my room is better than
my company They must think that I come from a
land of none but fools inhabit or that they have [be]
to themselves I cannot tell which I have become
acquainted with Mr Jones & Mr H[?]lks I like them

[continued upside down on page 3]
They told me to told me[sic] to present there est love to you
and tell you that they intend to come to amherst when
they get back home again--you must excuse this patched
letter as it is the best that I can do. I am out of paper
and I cannot get any until we move for other quarters
Miss Allen you must take good care of Miss Porter and
you must not cry your eyes out, on account of silas. he will
come back again I saw Billy Rucker yesterday he
is looking as pretty as ever, and says he is very
anxious to go home, but it is no use to talk about
that for he will not go much before I will--and
I dont expect to see home soon--if ever--write
often if youw ant my simpathy and I will give
you all the comfort I can

Yours Most Respectfully
Edward

MSS 38-221-a