1861 Oct[ober] 21 Camp Bartow

My Dear Hamie

Yours of 14th came to hand last
night having been on the way six days, I had begun
to think you did not get my last, or that you
were sick, or that some other unpleasant cause
must account for your long delay, It was quite a
relief to find the cause to be nothing more than
the delay of mine. We have had a hubbub on two
occasions since the fight in expectation of another
Horses were driven in from the pastures, the
sick and wagons all sent to the rear and men posted
in the works and on the lines of defence, and everybody
calculating with certainty upon another brush, The
enemy was believed to be largely reinforce[d] by Rose
crans or else he would not again attempt our works
You know an enemy must always encounter the pickets
before he can get to the main force or encampment
and it is these that always give the alarm of the
enemys approach, and consequently the opportunity
afforded for preparation. In the two alarms we had
our pickets were fired upon and kept up a bretty[sic] brisk
skirmish for upwards of an hour, but it proved
to be in both cases nothing but skirmishing parties
sent out by the enemy to make, as I suppose, observa
tions and ascertain if possible our real strength, In
the first skirmish we had none hurt, in the second
a private was shot through the flesh and hind part of
the ankle making by no means a serious wound, The
casualties on the enemy's side are not known

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Soon after this we sent out a similar party to
retaliate and succeeded in driving in the pickets and
killing two and probably more of them, with no injur
ry to any of our men. We now have twelve pieces of
artillery two 12 pounders and three rifle among them
and eight splendid embrasure works for them--we
can now take the Yankees in any direction he may
come, let them come if they wish, and they will
find a little more trouble in carrying off their dead
and wounded than before, We have 3000 men for duty
the Yankees may come with 20,000 and 5000 will
find their "hospitable graves" and the other 15000
will be glad to get back to their quarters on Cheat
Mountain. Our Col is in Richmond, did you see that
spread eagle in the Dispach of the 12th soaring with
him and the 44th. Col.___ says he will quit his
regiment and run for Congress on the strength
of it. By the way that piece did my company and
Co. B injustice. It was unintentional, I know the
author, but the manner and connection in which
he states that these companies were detached from
the regiment, would lead to the inference that they
were not in the fight, but also absent on detached
service. I have undertaken to correct this but do
not know whether the Dispach will publish it
or not, It was through its columns the injustice
was done, and it is nothing more than justice
that through them it whou8ld be set right.
You seem to have a good deal of solicitude about
my cold,--there is no occasion for it at all, for
while it is true I occasionally cough, I never enjoyed

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better health in my life than I am do at this time
This morning it threatened to snow, a few flaks were
seen to fall, but now the prospects are for a clear
off. Workmen have been sent on top the Allegha
nies to build winter quarters for 2000 men, the
rest to fall back further towards Staunton. Who
the 2000 will be I can't tell, but hope the 46th
will not be among them--it will be dreadful, just
think, on top the Alleghanies in the winter! It
might do for an Esquimaux but not a a thin
skin white man, a southron to boot. You
spoke of my getting a furlough! they are things
ranked among impossibilities here. Our Major a
refugee from the north, had to leave his wife
behind, he could get her south if he could only
go to Richmond and make the arrangements with a
northern lady who came south under a flag of
truce to see her daughter and is now about to
return. 'Tis the only chance he knows of, has asked
a furlough of six days, stated his reasons for it
and was denied. What do you think of that? only
six days, and to rescue his wife from the enemy
while an opportunity offered, he a Major and
refused! What then would be my chance, to to
and see my sweet heart who has a comfortable
home and all friends around her. The sick even
can not get leave to go in the country here in the
neighborhood unless he examined by a medical
board who must certify that the life of the
patient will be endangered by remaining in
camp. When we go into winter quarters perhaps

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it will be different, for then there will be no
danger of the enemy but now when he may
come at any time, they are very strict in keeping
all in place, and very properly, they are perfectly
right. I have noting much to do just now, have
set some prisoners (our own offenders) to work under
a sentinel and will now enjoy the day as I like
I cant agree with you that Bob is fortunate in
getting home this time, I rather lament the
cause that brought him home. Is his finger
a bad case. I hope not as from his furlough he
is expected to be ready for duty in three weeks.
Necessity does not require that they should be so
stict at Manassas, they can better spare them
and more esly have their places supplied, but
here it is different, we must depend upon the
forces we have, for we can get no others, we
have no rail road to bring them as we want
them. And you ave not forgotten the box? I
will be most happy to pay it my respects. The
address will be different from that of your letters.
I am twenty four miles from Monterey and have been
for two months, but all letters directed there to the
44th Regt came here, not so with anything else.
Let the direction be "Lt. J.M. Steptoe Camp B
Co. A, 44th Regt. Va. Vol. Camp Bartow Greebrier
River Va." If you are not particular with the corks
they will come out. the Quartermaster in Lyncburg will send
it safe. My sheet is out, write soon, Ever yours
John

Steptoe is presumably referring to Norvell Cobb, Colonel of the 44th.
Lt. John M. Steptoe, 44th Virginia Infantry
MSS 6515