1861 November 8 Camp Bartow

My Dear Hamie
Your last came to
hand about five days ago I have
delayed this long in answering it bec
ause I wished to await the develop
ment of something that might int
erest you, But nothing occurring
of interest, and times appearing
to become duller and duller I
have concluded to avail myself
of the present opportunity and
write even tho' I have nothing
to communicate beyond the
fact that I am well and hardy
My company has left this
place,-left last night, has
been detailed to act in conju
nction with three others as an
escort or guard for teams
while hauling timber for
winter quarters from a section
of country where it is likely

[page 2]
the enemy sometimes makes
his appearance in the way of
marauding parties, My duties
as Provost Marshal have kept
me at this place or else I too
would have accompanied the
company to share its fate,
I do not consider the duties as
dangerous, but certainly very
laborious and disagreeable
as the roads over which they
will have to travel are in
a most wretched condition.
Last night it was reported
that our pickets were fired
on by a scouting party of the
enemy,--a detachment was
immediately send out to cut
them off and take the
party prisoners, but to no
effect, the detachment has
returned reporting no signes of
the enemy, So it goes, such

[page 3]
things are of daily occurance
and occasion little or no excitem
ent, we have become use to
them and regard them with the
same indiference as we would the arrival
of the stage from Staunton.
Where we will winter still is wrapt
in doubt, in deed there is no
certainty that we will go into
quarters anywhere, we may
have to continue active all the
winter, Well, all I have to say
is they can do as they please, I
know whatever they do will be
done for the best, and I am
willing to abide any conclusi
on they may arrive at. I want
the war terminated as soon as
it can be with honor to the
South, not before, and any
policy that will hasten that
end will meet my hearty conc
urance. The nights are very cold

[page 4]
over here.--This morning there
was ice in my basin was an inch and
a half thick. We have also had
three or four days rain intermin
gled with snow, which was quite
severe upon our horses, causing the
death of eight or ten. The Yankees
however have experienced it more
severely than we. this morning
the top of Cheat was white
with snow, our pickets in that
direction report it two inches
deep,- of course we enjoy it, and
hope it will soon compel the
hirelings to abandon their strong
hold. One of our men has just brought
up a barrel sent from home with
apples, chestnuts, and potatoes, but
the pitty is it has been broken into
and robbed of all but the potatoes,
I wrote to you about a week ago.
did you get it? It seems the block
ade dont interfere with the marying[?] question
about Lynchburg. Yours truely John

John Marshall Steptoe of the 44th Virginia

MSS 6515