Quarters of the Rockbridge Artillery
1st Brigade--Army of the Valley
Mrs. Wm. M. Blackford. Lynchburg
My Dear Mother
My last letter
was despatched to you from our Camp
near Hunger's Store, in Morgan, 35 miles from
here on Saturday last, 11th Inst. It was
very long and contained a circumstantial
account of our time from the day we left
Winchester Jan. 1., up to Sunday night, Jan. 5.
I shall proceed with my account from
that time to the present, so as to take
things in their proper sequence.
I will state first that we are here
-i.e. Garnett's Brigade, quartered (poorly
enough as far as we are concerned) in houses
Other troops are near here, but whether
Jackson's whole army or not, I cannot say.
The Yankees, as you have ere this
heard, frightened by Jackson's feint at
Hancock, cleared out last Friday & Saturday
We have possession therefore without firing
a gun. Our march from Hunger's Store was a
most exhausting one; snow, rain, sleet, cold, Etc.
We left there Monday; got here last night
[page 2]
At the close of my last letter I was des
cribing my lodgings after the fatigues of
the first Sunday of the new year, of which
a prominent part was my share in the
bombardment of Hancock. The work at
the guns was not of sufficiently long
continuance to fatigue us much, nor
indeed was anything painful except
the excessive cold to which we were
exposed on that bleak hill, with but
2 or 3 fires, much crowded, to keep
us warm. Sunday night I slept better
and so did Berkeley, than any night
we laid out. This was due to the ex-
cessive fatigue and short rest of the pre-
ceding 48 or 62 hours; and not a little
to a substantial addition to our bed
furniture in the shape of a thick com-
fort that Berkeley raised in the plunder
ing of the Sutler's Shop in Bath. When
we woke in the morning the snow lay
an inch or two deep on the canvas cov-
ering of our bed. This covering we had
drawn completely over our persons, head
[page 3]
and all. Charles Minor and Fairfax were
with us and rested equally well. These
two, David Barton and Holmes Boyd (son of
Rev. Dr. A. H. H. Boyd of Winchester) with Berkeley
and myself comprise our present tent company.
I could not possibly be better satisfied in any
tent mates: we get on together most pleasantly.
Monday morning we were ordered down
again to the river to take our former
position. We were some 3 miles distant
but of course began the march. Our
horses were so much broken down however
that it was deemed best after we
had gone half a mile--the roads being
filled with ice and snow and much jam-
med for us to go back and some battery
nearer at hand to take our place.
Gen. Jackson came by us and seeing our
difficulty told us to go back. Owing
to some mismanagement on the part of the
Q.M. our horses had no corn & scarce anything
else from Saturday morning to Sunday night. In-
deed our horses were very poorly provided
for during the march.
[page 4]
We returned and took up other quarters
in a bleak snowy field about 1 1/2 miles
beyond Bath, i.e. between Bath & the river
Here we pitched tents and remained un-
til Tuesday morning. We kept good fires
and kept ourselves very comfortable
during the day. At night however I rested
badly; snow makes but a cold bed and
we had no straw. The weather was
exceedingly cold but nothing was falling.
I do not know what we would have done
but for the rails. During the oc-
cupation of the country from Bath to
the river for 3 or 4 days, all the fences
nearly were burnt--perhaps for 8 miles
(including both sides) along the road.
Friday the return of the army began
when we again were put at the head of the
train of baggage (miles long) and often it
procced[ed], so slowly as to occupy hours,
the infantry of our brigade headed the col-
umn of troops and we followed. Then came
the other brigades. In returning from a hostile
position of course the baggage is put in front.
[page 5]
It was 2 o'clock before we got underweigh
in our march. In returning through Bath
I had opportunity to look around at
the improvements of the watering place
which are of the handsomest and most
extensive description, though somewhat
out of repair, owing chiefly I imagine to
Yankees abusings. There is a very large
and handsome hotel, frame building
of the most tasteful description, with
a long veranda etc. It belongs to Colonel
Strother, I am informed, the father of
that rascally tory "Porte Crayon." On
the premises is an elegant little villa
belonging to one Gilmer of Baltimore af-
ter whom the Hotel there is named. It
is a very tasteful building, and furnished
in the most exquisite style of summer
furniture. No expense has been spared ev-
idently in making it all that the greatest
wealth could procure. Moreover the rooms
are adorned with beautiful engravings
and paintings appropriately mounted.
These have been evidently selected by a
[page 6]
connoisseur, and are of great value.
The house seemed to have been occupied
by soldiers--Yankee troops I presume and
though in disorder, did not appear to
have been abused. When I went through
the house there was a gentleman there
packing up the pictures to take care
of them. He told me he was Gilmer's
nephew and anxious to preserve the
pictures as much valued by his uncle.
the man himself belonged to our army:
a member, I think, of Ashby's cavalry.
The bathing arrangements about the place
are of the most complete and extensive
kind; larger but not so substantial
as those at the Old Sweet Springs. We were
very sorry not to be able to take a bath
but the times did not permit. The water
is warm enough to make it probably
not disagreeable even in midwinter.
I have been thus explicit in speaking
of Bath, because I recollect you were
to visit the place many years ago; then
called Berkeley Springs, I believe.
[page 7]
Tuesday we travelled some nine miles, stop
ping at night about 7 miles this side of
Bath. I shall long remember that days
march as one of the most wretched I
ever made. A good deal of snow had
fallen and a great many wagons had
meanwhile passed over the road, which
though good, was hilly. During the day
there had been a little thawing, and the
track of course rendered very smooth by
other vehicles. As night drew on, which
it did before we had gotten our battery
more than 3 miles from where we started
the road froze hard. This prevented the
horses which were not rough shod as
they ought to have been, from getting
foothold, so that in going down hill
the cannoneers had to hold on to the
piece & caisson to keep them from running
over the horses, and in going up hill
we had to aid them by pushing to draw.
The very evenness of the road was thus
a disadvantage to us. In addition to
such delays we were often stopped by the
[page 8]
wagon train in front of us, so that we
did not make a mile an hour. This
was particularly bad from the fact that
the night was the coldest of the season,
and we had frequently to make long
stops without fire. At the end of one
of our hardest pulls one of the horses
in the No. 6 Caisson fell in the traces
and was unable to rise again. We were
compelled to put in another horse and
leave him. We heard he died shortly af-
terwards. The horses generally held out
excellently: they fell repeatedly but gen-
erally were gotten on their legs again
without difficulty. We travelled so slowly
that a number of Infantry regiments in our
rear commenced early in the evening to
pass us and go on to their places of biv-
ouack along the road where we found them
hours afterward as we passed by at our
snail's pace. We generally outtravel Infantry.
It was sad as the regiment passed us to
hear the chorus of coughing that rose
from the lines of the poor fellows.
[page 9]
We had had no meal since morning and
were much exhausted but it was deemed
necessary to go on to a certain place where
we could get corn for our horses. So we
struggled on. About 10 o'clock we halted
a while to rest at a point where the 1st
Ga. regt. was bivouacked--(we passed through
bivouacks of a great many regiments) &,
warmed by their fires. At the fire where
I was the Georgians with much courtesy
and real hospitality (for provisions were
scarce about this time) gave me a share
of their supper. I was weak from hunger
and found the bread, meat & coffee, most timely.
I shall always recollect the kindness of
the 1st Georgia with gratitude. I was sit-
ting by their fire asleep, when they waked
me up to invite me to eat with them.
About midnight at length we halted,
and to our great discomfiture and discomfort
we found that owing to gross carelessness
on the part of somebody--whether the cap-
tain or not I cannot say--our wagons had
gone on to the Cross Roads, 8 miles ahead
[page 10]
and that we must needs go without
blankets and provisions until the next
evening. The wagons had largely the start
of us and it was evident from the first
we could not get as far as they did, the
order having been given to men & baggage
too to get on to the Cross Roads if possible.
Nothing of course was gained by our wagons
going so far ahead of us s they had
to halt the whole of the next day to
be overtaken by us. So we spent the
coldest night of the season without blan-
kets, and fasted (with a few exceptions)
from Tuesday morning until Wednesday evg.
We built large fires and sat up around
them all night, sleeping no more than
we could do in this way. Even with fires
we suffered a good deal with the cold.
In the morning I, with two or three of
my friends, was fortunate enough to get
a good breakfast. The Irish Battalion,
(Loring's command)--the entire "regular army"
of Virginia was quartered near us. One
of the Lieutenants is Lewis Randolph (Mrs.
[page 11]
Kean's brother) and with him we breakfasted
Lewis was very hospitable and gave us
a cordial an kindly welcome. He messes
with Capt. Pembroke Thorn, whom I had
not seen since he used to walk home
from church with sister in Fredericksburg
many years ago. He made courteous inqui-
ries after you and all ours, and was par-
ticularly attentive and polite to me. His
manners are singularly peasant. This
Wednesday morning was with us and in
Lynchburg excessively cold. In washing that
morning I wet my head as usual and
though within 6 feet of the fire my hair
was stiff with ice before I could apply
the towel. Later in the day it mod-
erated greatly. Our march to the Cross
Roads was uneventful, though slow.
We got there late in the afternoon &
my mess had the satisfaction to find
our excellent meal ready cooked and waiting us.
This was owing to the providence of our
good cook--a free colored man--who always stays
with the wagons on marches & got ready for us.
[page 12]
Most of us, by reason of long abstinence,
were much exhausted, & almost famished.
In view of this fact we thought the name
of the locality very appropriate, though is-
posed to contract it and call the place
"Camp Hunger"--simply. Large supplies met
the whole army here and plenty once
more prevailed.
I neglected to mention one incident
connected with the late expedition
which will interest you. I told you
that in our onward march when we
got to Bath, the force was divided,
some going on to Hancock, some to Capon
Bridge and some to [?] John's Run. For one
of the last two expeditions the 3d Ark
Regt (Col. Rust) was selected. As they were
advancing Saturday night they came in
sight of a Yankee camp, where fires were
burning and everything looked like it was
occupied. They commenced to charge upon
it but before they got to it were fired
upon by the foe from an ambuscade
which they had left their camp to assume.
[page 13]
The enemy-said to be more than double the
number of the Confederates had made a
slight fortification of R.R. cross ties in the
shape of a V and into this Col. Rust led
his Reft., so they were exposed to an en-
filaded fire which killed 2 & wounded 8.
Nothing could be more paralysing[sic] than
such a fire but Col. R. with admirable
presence of mind rallied his men, crying
out at the same time--"Come on boys,
--nevermind--" and then "Tell the to bring
up thse Mississippi and Georgia Regts., the
Texan Rangers, and that other Battery, and
we'll fix 'em" (or words of this tenour) This
strategem proved a perfect success and
the enemy decamped with out staying to receive
or give another volley. No other troops
were near than the Arkansas Regiment & some cannon
I have given you the particulars of
this affair as I heard them. I can only
vouch for the truth of the main
part of the story though I believe
all of it is substantially correct. It
was a remarkable success.
[page 14]
We remained at the camp at Hunger's X
Roads from Wednesday to Friday, enjoying
the rest and eating our fill--a qreat point.
The place was a very bad one for tents
indeed for anything, but we did not
mind being in a marsh for a day or
two, so as to rest. On Friday we moved
up the Martinsburg road a mile and
found a much better camping ground
in the edge of a wood on the brow of a
hill where we improved our condition
greatly. It was from this point my letter
of Saturday was written. On that day
our fare was much mended by the
receipt on the part of several mem-
bers of "Mess No. 10" of boxes from Winchester
containing sausages, cakes, biscuit, butter,
etc. The recipients were our Winchester
members. John Williams received another
today--a large one--with a turkey,
cakes, biscuit, sausage, etc. the hospi-
tality of Mr. Williams' household does
not ever cease with our removal from
Winchester; and so with others.
[page 15]
On this Spring-like Sunday on which your
letter which has just reached me was,
ceived
wild mountains of Morgan, out of reach
of religious services and without any of
the appliances of civilized life out of camp.
I staid most of the day in my tent, ex-
cept an hour in a prayer meeting in another
a large number of persons. I was nominated
to lead it and did so. It is our habit
to have meetings twice in the week;
and twice on Sunday when out of reach
of church or preaching of any kind. For
several weeks past, i.e. ever since we left
Winchester such exercises generally have
been suspended, as a matter of necessity.
I read during the day the Bible and the
Church service, but was much interrupted.
There was a great bustle at one time
attending the departure of seven of our
men who had been so fortunate as to
obtain furloughs. On Friday notice was
given that furloughs would be granted
[page 16]
and out men's application were returned
approved on Sunday morning. Since Sunday
the granting of furloughs has been tem-
porarily suspended. I do not like the
plan pursued in granting these furloughs.
The order is that one man out of 20
of those present in every co: may have a
furlough for 20 days. this is the maximum.
In our co., supposing the giving of fur-
loughs to continue until the last of March,
beyond which it will scarcely extend,
about one man in six will get them:
in other words about 16 per cent will
have 3 weeks leave and the rest none.
As I have, or will be considered, prob-
ably justly, to have, less claim to a fur-
lough than the large majority of the co.
I have no hope of getting home at all.
At the end of my enlistment, 11th May next,
I may see you, though it is quite possible
the exigencies of the service then may be
such as to make me think it
right to re-enlist immediately, as I design
to do at any rate within a few weeks.
[page 17]
Friday, Jan. 17/61[sic]
My plans for another term of service are
as yet indefinite, as to particulars, tho'
determinate as to continue in the ser-
vice as long as the cause to which I
am willing to give up everything may
need me, or as I last. I would like
to know what you and father would
advise in the premises. I shall go in
again as a private, if I can do no better
though I would vastly prefer another
capacity, although I could not possibly
be more agreeably situated than I am in
regard to associates. The annoyances of the
life of a private are manifold, as you know,
I believe I mind none now as much as
guard duty these cold nights. I bear it
all for the sake of a great & righteous cause
with a degree of willingness that nothing else
could give. Ask bro. Charles about the
matter above referred to, and ask hm if he
thinks the chances of some staff appoint-
ment with a certain colonel, who may be made
a Brigadier General, are worth thinking of. He
hinted something in this way to me last fall. he will recollect
[page 18]
On Sunday we heard of the evacuation
of Romney by the Yankees. It seems that
they feared they might be surrounded
by Gen. Jackson, although truly he was
farther from Romney when at Hancock
than he was at Winchester by some
10 miles, and with a much worse road.
that evening we got orders to march
at daylight Monday morning. We sup-
posed immediately it was to occupy
Romney. all idea of attacking the
enemy here we supposed actually
enough had been abandoned when
they began to grant furloughs, at Hun-
ger's Store. Indeed the state of the roads
would have rendered an aggressive
movement, I imagine, highly inexpedient,
if not impossible. On Monday we
marched about 10 miles, to Bloomery,
in Hampshire; a village where there
is a woolen factory, a foundry, etc.
It is 26 miles from Winchester, but on
a different road from the one we came
up by. When we rose Tuesday morning
[page 19]
we found it had been snowing all night
nearly and was still snowing. We had
to march for several hours with this
addition to our other discomforts. Of
course our progress was much retarded
by the snow on the ground, this too
enlarging our troubles. Our journey on
Tuesday lay through mountains almost
continually and was wild and barren
often to the last degree; picturesque
too, for that matter, though nature
had few attractions for me that day.
It was dismal enough travelling through
high mountains covered with snow
and no house to be seen often for
miles together. The road was excellent.
We made 10 miles on Tuesday and halted
to spend the night in a forest on the
side of the road where the snow was 3
inches deep. Soon we had a big fire
and one tent pitched with beds made
of pine brush upon which we rested
excellently. The snow made camping
out at best very disagreeable however.
[page 20]
During the night it snowed, hailed and
rained at intervals, and until noon
on Wednesday a cold rain fell continuously
making a deep slush in which walking
was intensely disagreeable and tiresome.
After the rain ceased the walking was
not bettered and by the time we got
to Romney my feet were perfectly wet
and gave me much inconvenience from
cold. We made 15 miles the last
day but travelled so well that we
reached here before night. It was
the worst days' march I have ever
seen and is one I shall long remember.
When we got to town we found that
no provisions whatever for our accom-
modation had been made, and that
all the best places had been taken by
the Infantry of our Brigade which had
preceeded us by a few hours. The pros-
pect was dismal
to try the stoutest philosophy. After more
delay we secured a small Methodist Church
in which to quarter our entire company
[page 21]
In this we sleep well enough, feeling very
thankful for a floor beneath and roof
above and in such weather. The officers
sleep in the chancel and two sergeants
occupy the pulpit. Berkeley and I have
the extreme right hand corner of the floor next to the pulpit.
The mess fires are all outside; some of
them almost in the graveyard, which
is now, if ever otherwise, never closed. No-
thing but absolute necessity would cause
us to commit such a descecration as to
pull benches out of a church to make it
a sleeping room, or to intrude on the sacred
precincts of a grave-yard for a Kitchen.
My mess, by a most unexpected stroke
of good fortune, have secured the Kitchen
of a house near the church in which
to do our cooking, and indeed to abide
whenever not sleeping or on duty. We
got it in this way. The first evening
we got here David Barton went out to
see if we could get some cooking done
at some house in town, our chances for
getting supper otherwise being rather slim.
[page 22]
After many ineffectual attempts he
called at the house of a very respec-
table family, living within 100 yards of
our quarters, and inquired if we could
get cooking don they said no, but
that our cook might use their kitchen
and cooking stove. From this David
went out to make an arrangement by
which the said respectable family
being but 3 in number--agreed to cook
in the house and let us have their
kitchen; we to pay an adequate
consideration for the use of it. This
they did not require, but we insisted on.
In consequence of this excellent arrange-
ment--which is beyond price to us just
now--we have a comfortable room to
stay in and eat and cook in, a capi
ital stove, with its appliances, to cook
with, and a quiet place for our Mess
of nine to stay in apart from the
rest of the co., except, as said above,
at night, when we do not object to
making our resting place with the others.
[page 23]
My impressions of Romney are by no means
favourable, although to say soothe we
see it under the most unfavourable
circumstances possible. The town gen-
erally has a very delapidated appear-
ance, and the suburgs are almost totally
deprived of enclosures; everywhere that
the fences afforded eligible fuel the
Yankees have destroyed them. any place
however where troops, friendly or not,
have been quartered, soon begins to
have a desolate and dilapidated
appearance. I have seen this at Fair
fax C.H., Centreville, Etc., but never more
so than in this dismal mountain town.
We hear it rumoured that the 1st Brigade will be sent back ere long
to winter in Winchester, though of this
I cannot speak knowingly. I ardently
hope it may be so however. I cannot
leave Romney too soon for my taste.
Our Captain left us last Saturday on a
furlough of 3 weeks. the 1st. Lieut., Mr.
Poague, an excellent officer is in command.
[page 24]
You have probably heard something of
the outrages of the enemy in Hampshire.
The "gallant (!!!) defenders of the Stars and
Stripes" rendered themselves infamous during
their sojourn here by sallies into the country
and laying waste the dwellings of unof-
fensive citizens, whose only fault is that
they afforded shelter to secessionists.
This we saw great evidences of in the
many blackened ruins we saw along the
road hither. Quite a settlement about
6 miles hence on the Winchester road, called
"Frenchburg," comprising a tannery with ex-
tensive machinery, and a number of
dwellings was burnt last week. I saw
the ruins as we came by on Wednesday.
Further down the road the whole prop-
erty of Col. Blue, an eminent & estimable
citizen f Hampshire, and her delegate in the
Legislature, was destroyed a few days ago,
as well as the houses of poorer persons.
The poor shoemaker they burnt in his own
house. Such are some of the doings
of these infernal scoundrels hereabouts.
[page 25]
Your letter of the 29th ult. gave me
great pleasure, and is highly prized
although not yet answered properly
speaking. I am much pleased to
think my letters afford you so much
pleasure and find in this additional
reason for writing often & particularly
I have to write always under great
disadvantages: with many interrup-
tions, talking and noise around me
and generally writing in my lap and
getting in a constrained position. With
such hindrances my letters can but
shew slovenliness of diction & arrange-
ment, appear and pretend to be nothing
but simple conversational narration
of what is befalling me. I often go
into lengthy and circumstantial accounts
of incidents in camp life which I
think may amuse you though they
would be tiresome to others. I read
the extract you gave from Mrs. Grant's
letters with much interest, and though
the sentiment she expresses admirable
[page 26]
I gave your messge of love & sympathy
to Charles Minor. He seemed deeply grate-
ful for your remembrance of him and
begs me to assure you of it, and gives
his love to you. He has been in great
affliction poor fellow, about his father's
death, though he has taken the
bereavement like a true Chris-
tian as I believe he is. Charles Trueheart
is very well and thanks you for your
remembrance of him. He too sends his
love. He keeps up manfully to his
duty always like his Minor cousins, &
with characteristic family conscientiousness
Brooke too is well and always seems
particularly pleased at the kind mes-
sages you and father send him. He
appears to preserve a very lovely & grateful recol-
lection of his entertainment at our house.
I was very sorry he could not longer retain
the place in the tent with me, but it had
been promised beforehand to Ch. Minor & of course
Brooke gave up when Charles came. He tents
with Chas Trueheart and 3 other very nice fellows.
[page 27]
Berkely stands the hardships and troubles
very well, although we both get very
miserable and grumble sometimes un-
der circumstances as trying as those of the
last 2 weeks. We both have colds
but nothing serious, and both getting
better. I generally shew Berkeley your
letters and father's or such parts of them
as I can, so that your messages to him
never fail to reach their destination.
He is very thankful always for your
affectionate messages and kind remem-
brance of him, and sends his best love
to you. He is worthy of all the love
[?] and confidence you have in him.
I was glad to know of the attention
you had bestowed upon the brother
of my friend Randolph Fairfax. I mentioned
it to him. I wish you knew Randolph.
He is a charming fellow, a great favour-
ite with me as with all of his friends,
and one of the best soldiers as well as
finest men in the company. His appear-
ance is particularly handsome & striking.
[page 28]
I wish if you have any opportunity to
do so, you will by message, or any tokens,
indicate the kindly feeling I know you
have toward my dear friend Randolph
McKim. I have not heard from him, nor
have I written to him, owing to our fre-
quent moves of late, for some time, but
always think of him nevertheless as one
of my best loved friends. He is with his
Regt. in the Army of the Potomac, near Centreville.
Perhaps you may find some opportunity
to comply with my wish through persons
returning to the army from Lbg. on furlough.
I cannot express to you what a help
to me your letters are. They nerve me &
encourage me in the several duties and
manifold hardships of this soldier's llife.
I read them always over & over again, and
frequently go over them in my mind when
marching. I think of them & of you when
going into danger & remember with pleasure
that your prayers accompany me thither. I
pray God the confidence you are kind enough
to have in me may not be misplaced.
[page 29]
I received the ten postage stamps and thank
you for them. I do not write on larger
sheets of paper , first because I have not
them and then, if I had, because
the smaller sheets are so much easier
to handle when we write under
the disadvantages of camp.
Your letter with father's P.S. rached me
yesterday--written Sunday & received here on
Thursday. I was exceedingly glad to get
it and hope you will write frequently
from home. We have been having a very
hard time and
before us. Of this I know nothing of course.
My health has been indeed wonderfully
preserved amid the exposures of the last
few weeks. Not less than 25 or 30 of our co.
have gone to the rear on the sick list
since we left Winchester, and that propor-
tion is smaller than in other quarters
of the army. There is a great deal of sickness
in this command--perhaps 25 to 35 percent, nearly
wholly due to the late marches, i.e. the
increase. The newspapers deceive the publi in this regard.
[page 30]
I was very glad to hear from Eugene
though concerned to hear he had had
such a hard time on picquet. I am
particularly gratified that he has
such comfortable winter quarters &
only wish he did not have to leave
them in such weather. I wish to write
to him today or sometime very soon.
I heard with much pleasure of bro.
Charles's being at home and having a
furlough for so long a time. I suppose
sister Sue is delighted, and the family
circle much cheered up generally. I
do so much wish I could make a
visit at home. I have so many things
to tell
amuse you all, for I have seen a great
variety of life int he last 5 months.
I am more homesick than I have been
for a long time, but must bear it
Do not trouble yourself about having
no opportunity to send me a box, for,
except to reciprocate favours, I really
would prefer my share shd go to my brothers,
[page 31]
Barton Boyd & William, all of whom
live in Winchester, get frequent contribu
tions from home when we are not there
and as they all belong to "Mess No. 10"
profit by them. When we are at Win-
chester I take so many meals in town
that I dont mind meager fare in camp
We have now on hand a leg of mutton,
a turkey, plenty of sausage, corned beef
and other extras; a box having come from
Washington yesterday. Besides this our
rations are abundant & of good quality.
My clothes hold out very well except
the socks, most of which are so thin as
to become worn out in a few wearings.
I am in no want however. Nothing
in a small way has given me more com-
fort this winter I have a pair of stout yarn gloves
Mary Lancelot knit & sent me in November.
I have worn them a great deal & never
suffered from cold hands in the worst
times. My great coat is as great a god
send as ever: it has already been worth
to me many times its value.
[page 32]
If your patience has lasted to reach
my 32d page I fear it is by this time
exhausted, and I must draw to a
close. I determined however to finish
the account of our late march and
to reply to your letters. I trust I
shall hear soon again from home.
Give my love to Mary and tell
her I hope soon to get her promised
letter. Address me at Winchester
until further notice. Please
let me know any thing you hear
from Lewis, who has not yet written
to me and I suppose never will.
I would like to hear what Uncle
James and Aunt Mary's letters said.
My love to bro. Charles, Sister Sue
and to all the family at the Drs.
Kind remembrances to the servants
and especially to Peggy.
I will write again next week
Your affectionate son
L. M. Blackford
Lancelot Minor Blackford, 1837-1914, University of Virginia alumnus and later the beloved principal of Episcopal High School in Alexandria for over 40 years.
MSS 5088
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.