1862 March 10 Richmond, Va.

Richmond Mar. 10, 1862

Cousin James

I read the letter addressed to
Greenlea & myself this morning. I
am glad that you are all well &
sorry that I cannot see you again
before going permanently into ser-
vice. You know that I am not a
person of great professions & assure you that I
feel the separation from what has
so long been a kind & pleasant
home, more than I care to express
in words. The organization of our
regiment is impeded by the Colonel
& Lt.Colonel being both detailed
on special duty--the first as Provost-
Marshal & the second as Instructor
of Field Artillery. I presented to the
asst. Secy of War this morning a list
of staff officers nominated by the Col.
& hope to have their assistance in a day or two.

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Among them is John J. Waggoner
as Quarter Master. He will make an
excellent one & I have busied myself
specially to secure his appointment.
I dined with him on yesterday &
upon his telling me that he had saved
a small quantity of excellent
smoking tobacco from which I
might help myself,I immediately
claimed two pounds of it for you.
If you are likely to come down at
any time soon I will keep it till
you come--otherwise I will seek
some opportunity to send it yo you.
Tell Cousin Hannah that so soon
as I find time I will hunt up a
box of candles for her. She will
remember that I promised to do
this much at least in acknowledge-
ment of her much kindness to me,
whenever I should be "placed."
The sword I wrote you about I shall
not need, I believe, but the belt I

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do & will need greatly. I cannot
get one like it at all or one that
suits me so well. Tell Henry to get
it for me in some way, & do you have
it sent to me by the first safe oppor-
tunity. I wish too you would send
the cavalry holster pistol of mine
at home. I wish to have it percus-
sioned & Dimmmock says it is worth
a dozen revolvers. I have been very
lucky in my outfit--having drawn
a fine heavy revolver this morning
without any money to pay--& also pro-
cured a neat[?] dress sword, recap-
tured from a Yankee at Manassas
which I have the use of free of expense.
Besides the money in your hands, I
Have a balance in Bank for which
I should like to have a certificate
of deposit so that I can have all my
cash funds in hand here.--On Saturday
I donned my uniform which is very
handsome & "people" say becoming. It has

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any quantity of gold lace on the sleeves,
with scarlet cuffs & collar & a glittering
star or two on the latter. So you can imagine
that with the mixture of gray, red & gold
I cut quite a dash.--Of course you
have heard of the great & glorious naval
success in Hampton Roads. Three Yankee
vessels destroyed--the Cumberland sunk
with the loss of all on board but 23 men,
the Congress burnt: & the Minnesota run
ashore & burnt this morning at 4 oclock
by the Yankees to prevent our getting her.
She cost $2,500,000 without her armament.
The total money loss to the enemy is not less
tha $15,500,000 & probably 1500 lives lost.
The Ericson floating battery too make sift
& the "Virginia" is mistress supreme in those
waters. You will see the Governor's procla-
mation of today calling out the militia.
The Gen[eral]. Ass[embly]. has been trying, as Genl Cooper
says, "to find a soft place to fall in," has
been abusing the Governor in secret session
& seeking to escape responsibility for its own
gross negligence & incapacity--but the
President's call puts the burden right on
their shoulder & justifies the Executive
completely. Wonder what the assembled
wisdom will say now! I am sorry that the
militia has to be called out in this way--as it is
a very confused, disorderly, inconvenrient, expensive
& destructive process--but the Governor had no
alternative & when they reach their rendezvous
a draft must be made which will relieve a
great portion of them. Love to all at home. In
haste yrs truly James B. Dorman.

James B. Dorman, 3rd Regiment, Virginia Light Artillery (Local Defense); Dorman, 1823-1893, lawyer and Mexican War veteran, of Rockbridge County, Va., had been a delegate to the 1861 Virgnia Secession Convention.

MSS 1707