1861 August 25 Camp at Greenbrier River

Dear Father

We are still encamped here without
the prospect of moving for some time, as it is impossible
for us to advance, on account of the strength of the
position of the enemy on Cheat Mountain, until
Gen. Lee defeats them near Huttonsville and turns
their position, And it is said the enemy are
as strong or stronger than we are, and well
entrenched in the valley in front of Gen Lee, I hear
he intends to advance as soon as the roads are dry
enough for the transportation of bagage and for
artilery, We have had now two dry days, and if
this weather continues we may expect orders to
move forward in a few days. There is some talk
of forming a regiment for Col. Stark, of our two
companies, four companies of Col. Heck's regiment
which escaped from Rich Mountain, and two other
companies, To which are to be joined Shoemakers
battery and a company of cavalry, In that case
we will be sent over to Gen. Lee's column and
will no doubt be in any battle that may be

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expected soon, Our company are in a very bad
condition, and few others here are any better off,
We have only forty three men present, and of them
there are only twenty five for duty, the rest being
sick with measles and diaraeha, Eighteen were left
in Monterery and have since been sent back to Staunton
all the sick who are here, If wo we will have left
only about thirty men in the company, We all
have plenty of clothing and other necessaries except
over coats, of which there are only sixteen in the
company, The government promises to send us a
supply of overcoats very soon, but they are always
too late in every thing, and the Quartermaster and
subsistance departments are very badly managed,
for instance every regiment has to send back twenty
four miles to Monterey for its provisions.
Tom left here this morning on leave of absence
for home by Staunton, he has been very sick for
a week with intermittent fever and diareaha, and
had become so unwell that the Doctor and I
insisted on his going home, He thought himelf
better this morning but said he had a slight
hemorage, there being some colouring of blood in
his spittle, It was for this reason, that I insisted

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on his going home, as this climate is particularly
unfavourable to a diseased condition of the Lungs
He will get to Staunton, Tuesday evening if he is not
obliged to stop on the way from fatigue, as he is
very weak. We procured an ambulance, in which
he is able to recline, as on a bed.

The men who have returned to Halifax on furlow
from the hospital are not under any command, and
I am not responsible to the state for them. I have
received no notice that they are not in the
hospital from the authorities, and therefore to me
they are still there, Those who sent them home
must account to the state for them, It is against
the rules of the service for any officer even the general
to grant a furlow without the recommendation of
both the surgeon and captain commanding the
company, I received yesterday a letter from
Maria, who is now at the home of her uncle Mr
Robert E. Kott in Fauquier she is just recovering
from another convulsion and severe attack of head-
ache, I think, produced by he[r] ride on the cars
from Richmond, We are to have a pay master
here soon I have heard to pay the men up to
the 1st of July, If the government is not more prompt
in paying their army, They will be in danger of

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losing it very soon, It is well enough to talk
of patriotism, but men won't fight without pay,
particularly when they see the government paying
promptly themselves and their favorites above them

I am very well, and find this rough life agrees
with me, But Tom can not stand it, and I
think he ought to resign rather than come here
again, The climate as winter approaches will
certainly give him consumption, and one is always
subject to diareaha in camp. With love to
Eliza and Charlie

Your affectionate Son
Wm. B. Bruce

[Paper folded to envelope size and following note on back]
Thomas Bruce of
Tarover ill, had to
leave camp at Greenbrier
River in ambulance
Died Sep 19 - 1861 at
'Tarover'


William Ballard Bruce was a captain of Company K in the 20th Virginia Infantry

refers to Lt. Col. Jonathan M. Heck of the 25th Virginia,and possibly to Lt. Col. william Edwin Starke, 1814-1862, of the 53rd Virginia, who was later killeld at Antietam.

MSS 2692