1861 October 21 Camp Cooper

My dear Anna

On coming in from Picket
yesterday I found Jones here & was informed by
him that he did not intend to start for
home until tomorrow, but he says he must
go this morning, & I am now writing while
he is getting ready to go, consequently I
am in a great hurry Jones has just informed
me that he will say until after dinner
It is now time for dress parade & I must
stop until it is over-----You say in your
letter that you did not receive my blankets
by George. I sent by him that Yankee litter &
inside of it was a double white blanket--
I also sent by some one of them a pr of good
old pants, full Llinsey for Ed, they will last
him a while---Ask George if he saw the blanket
Did you get those two other blankets a blue &
a gray one?--I sent some chestnuts, about a
gallon by Mr. Joseph Jones (not our wagoner)-I sent
by Mr Rice--a peck of chestnuts & a bushel of
sweet Potatoes--a uniform coat to make a coat for
Gus, a hankerchief 2 canteens piece of soap &c
I hope you have received all of the above named
articles. I received the box & contents all safe &
sound. The shirts are very nice--the vest
is too short it is of no use to me & I return
to you. Mother said it was one George had,
but it is entirely too short Ask George to get
me a longer one--Archie wants you to send
him 3 pr Cotton socks, & that book he sent for, he

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sends some clothes in the box--I send the
blue check shirt for Gus for a "tuck in shirt"
Tell Jack the colonel says, he will form a board of
officers to attend to the recovering the value of the
horses that have been lost, & as the board
acts, I will attend to it--Tell Darrin I sent
Latimore to see Doyle about those papers, & he
told him that he would attend to them, & send
to him. I supposed that he had received them,
before, I will send them to him, the first opportunity
which will be tomorrow--the horses he sent are
pretty much used up, sore back & stiff--I will
have the Andrews horse appraised by the board of
appraisers & Send him the receipt--George Lucas
has him at present--Tell Mother I would
have written to her but for want of time--tell
her she is entitled to 40cts per day for the use of her
horse, & which sum I sent to her, included in Darrin's
pay--she can get it from Darrin--I send you my
plumes which I have taken off my hat, you can
make any disposition of them you choose My
martingale you can put away for me--

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Thank Meg for her nice cap & tell her I will
write to her as soon as I can my time is
so much taken up, that I have not time
to write a decent letter, I am hurried & inter
upted so that I can scarcely connect ideas--
I have packed the little sugar box up for her in
my box, she wants to send some to others--
You do right to fatten the big red cow--she will
make a ggod beef--& she is getting old & will not
stand the winter, I would advise you to
curtail you stock of cattle as much as you
can, food may be scarce & hard to get this winter
you must try & get salt the first chance you
have, I will write you send to R[?] & ask him if
he can supply you, so you can engage it in time--
I have heard of the fight at H. Ferry & hope Ashby
will Keep the Yankees out of that country--What
aid you allude to , in speaking about [Jennie?] M. E
as to the probably cause of her illness I heard
here that she attempted to cross to her home where
she was arrested brought back & searched--& sent home
with the threat that if she came to Maryland again
they would hang her--

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since meeting the last time the main army
have fallen back to Centerville & have [?]
ed the Court house--We are camped about 2 or 3
miles from Centreville & picket below the
Court house--the yankees are as yet quiet
& have not made an attempt to take the Court
house --at Centerville we are throwing up breast
works & are determined to make a stand as we
have a fine position there--We are Kept on
the border watching the movement of the
yankees--Jones is about to drive off, & I
must stop to pack the box--so good bye
May God ever bless & protect you, my
darling--Love to all--Archie recd his coat--
take good care of the potatoes & not let them get
frozen--you can live on potatoes if you have nothing
else---Write me soon--take care of yours & the
childrens sore limbs. I hope they are well by
this time--Kiss them & tell them to be good
children--Good bye ever your devoted
W A Morgan


I send you 2 other shirts I did not care for
more than 2 at a time--your Callico one is
very nice---

The Special Collections Library would appreciate any information on the southern lady threatened with hanging by the Union troops

Colonel William A. Morgan, 1st Virginia Cavalry
MSS 1275