1862 May 16 Camp East Shenandoah Mt.

Camp East Shenandoah Mt.

  May 16” 1862.

My dear Wife

  We got here last night in the

rain.  the advance of our army is

four miles from here on the road

leading to H Burg and yet I am

sorely affraid [sic] that we will not go

there, and therefore I dont want you

to be in too great a hurry about going

to H Burg.  I got a letter from Sister

Lizzie last night which I send you

as the latest from there.  I have no

news & we hear very little that is in

the least reliable from any other

source place.  To day is thanks giving

& fast day & we are resting.  I wish

we had Mr Bell here to day to preach

& pray for us.  The rest will do us all

good men & horse, for our march has

been a very hard one indeed with

only half rations for either  Many

of my men are sick.

  I am in a bad condition, have

but one pair of flannel drawers and

have no cotton ones & I want my

cap also.  I intended to write you

a long letter but have just now

a chance to send a letter direct

to Staunton & must close in order

to send it.  Darling it is hard

to be so far away & have so little

chance to communicate with you

[letter abruptly ends]

“H Burg”, lines 4 & 8 – ‘Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Shenandoah Valley.’

“thanks giving & fast day”, lines 13 & 14 – ‘Warren wrote concerning the proclamation issued by President Jefferson Davis on 3 May.  Davis invited “all the people to unite at their several places of worship, on Friday, the 16^th day of the present month of May, in humble supplication to Almighty God that He will vouchsafe His blessings on our beloved country; that he will strengthen and protect our armies; that He will watch over and preserve our people from the evil machinations of our enemies; and that He will in His own good time, restore to us the blessings of peace and security under His sheltering care.”’

“Mr Bell”, line 15 – ‘Reverend Thomas D. Bell, Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg; born 29 August 1813, died 22 November 1889, buried Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg.  Though not officially an army chaplain, no records seem to exist identifying him as such, Rev. Bell ministered to the 10^th VA Infantry and other organizations occasionally from the beginning of the War.  He, along with another reverend, accompanied the regiment to Harper’s Ferry in April 1861.’

[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g