1861 July 7 Fredericksburg [Virginia]

Mr L. M. Minor
Lynchburg

My dear Lancelot,

What about Eugene? The latest
account I have of him is that he
had set out for Montgomery in the
hope -- nay more, the expectation of
receiving orders to bring his Comany
to Va. There is some strange disorgan=
ization in the mails of late; for
your fathers last letter was five
days coming from Lynchburg--but
this may have been caused by the
disorderly post office at Richmond.
Have you any news from him?

John Maury arrived last night
from the university & tells me
that Charles is gone with his Com=
-pany to Manassas Gap.

[page 2]
You will, I hope, let me know how
he is getting on there and how he likes
the new sort of life.

In order that you may have some idea of
our position with respect to the
enemy I shall subjoin or enclose
a rough map of the Aquia Creek &
its batteries.

A new man has taken command
here--General Homes or Heromes
Whether Co[l]o[nel] Ruggles is to be
sent to another duty or re=
-main here second in command
I know not.

I have just recd a letter from
your uncle Lucius who informs
me that Charles has received a
promise of a Commission and
Berkeley is drill sergeant of
Bledsoe's company at the Uni=
=versity---

Lucius wants yr fathers

[page 3]
rifle--I asked him in a
letter written some time ago
if I should send it to him, but
have recde no answer that
I had a letter from him yesterday
(Thursday 6th) written & post mark=
=ed 1st June. Five days from
Lynchburg to Fredg!

Pray have me advised about
the Hall's rifle.

I am called away--Good
bye Love to all ours

yr aff[ec]t[ionat]e uncle

J. Minor

John Minor, 1791-1862, of Fredericksburg, Va.

Minor's enclosed sketch of Aquia Creek is not present. He was most likely referring to the incident of May 30th in which two small Federal steamers under Commander James H. Ward attacked the Confederate battery at Aquia Creek and the followup engagement on June 1 in which the U.S.S. Pawnee, Anacostia, and Thomas Freeborn again fired on the battery which was under the command of Colonel Daniel Ruggles. Nothing was accomplished. On June 27, Ward was mortally wounded in another engagement, the first Federal naval officer killed in the war. West Point graduate Ruggles, a Mexican War veteran, served throughout the war, mainly in the Western Theatre. Known for his fearlessness in battle, he was eventually relieved from field command due to his advanced age and served as Commissary General of Prisoners of War. After the war he returned to Fredericksburg and in 1884 was appointed to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy

Theophilus Hunter Holmes, 1804-1880, a West Point graduate and Mexican War veteran was appointed Brigadier General on June 5, 1861, commanding the Department of Fredericksburg.

MSS 5088