Monday, April 16, 2012

1862 April 16 Front Royal, Va.

Front Royal  Apl 16 1862
My Dear Richard
Let me embrace the opportunity
to drop you a hasty line  Others will
no doubt write more fully than I now
can, and you will in that way be able
to get all the local news.
Walter has been home for several
days with Mumps--
cousin Mark Richardson
& Cous Thos. Buck with him, a part of
the time--He --W, is very fat and
hearty, and determined to enjoy him
self and to take a cheerful view of
all the difficulties which visit us.
Gussie is still at Col. Lamar's [?] --we have
never heard from her since the occupa-
tion of Winchester.  You may well imagine
our anxiety to see her, and to know how
they have fared there--I fear very badly--
Perhaps you are coming to know what
is going on upon the farm.  Owing
to the incessant wet weather there has
been less done than we have ever had
up to the same period.  My health too--

[page 2]
is very bad; and my business is suffer
ing greatly on that account--How
I wish I had you and Walter
at home steady industrious young men
willing to assist me!  You can never
know My Dear Son, what I have suffer-
ed and am daily suffering in consequence
of this horrid war--
Tell Amos I go over to his house
occasionally; but not so often as I could
desire--owing to my bad health, & the
demands on me else where--I have had
his vines trimmed & have H Mills making
the stakes--The Oats have been sown
and Newton promises to sow the Clover Seed
Mrs Groves has no garden, alathl' I frequently
try to impress her with the importance of
making one--
Let me know whether I shall
send your money to you, or still keep it
for you--Be sure to spend it - (if sent-)
for useful purposes only--this is very impor-
tant both for you good, and for mine.
Please ask Amos what I shall do
with the balance of his money--It may
become valueless here, if the Yankies get
between us and Richmond.

[page 3]
I have an account with Col Barbour
the Qr Master of your Army, for use of
my wagon & team--Your Uncle William wrote
to Capn [?] Th Brown about it, but has not
received his reply--Please be sure
to see him, and if the amount has
been paid,have the money sent to me--
or retain it on account of amount
in my hands--Don't forget to attend
to this at once--Did you get the articles
sent you by Mr Hopper?  Take good care
of every article of Clothing sent you, for it
is now almost impossible to get any thing--
The prices charged here now are beyond
all precedent--shoes $8--and every thing else
to match--
If I can get Mr Scroggins to take any
thing, your Ma will send you some eatables--
Your Ma She sends your Coat, and a pair of
old Pants, which she has had mended
for you--She wishes to know whether you
will have a pair made of some Blue
Jeans I have bought--She sends a sample
that you may judge--
Jaqueline is nearly well again--He is
learning at home and is certainly one
of the best and most dutiful children

[page 4]
I ever knew--The other children are
very well and hearty--We all talk
of you hourly--Remember us to
all the Company, and to your Mess es-
pecially--Why don't you write fre-
quently--you ought keep a letter
constantly on hand to be sent by
first opportunity--So my Dear
Son improve every opportunity occasion for storing
your mind with useful knowledge
and try to qualify yourself for
something better than war--

Every day take some useful book
and study a chapter.  This is very improving
with the importance of these things--Very soon
you and Walter may have devolved upon
you the necessity of taking care of your
Ma & the little children--and I wish
you to be prepared for the responsibility of
such a position--they love you dearly
and I trust you will not be wanting
in your duty to them--
Mr Smedly[?] often asks after you, and
seems to take very great interest in Every
thing relating to you--do send him a mess-
age occasionally  God bless you Dear Dear Son

M B Buck

letter to Richard Bayly Buck of Co. B, 17th Virginia

MSS 3064

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.