1862 October 22 Winchester, Va.

                                         Winchester 22nd Oct 1862

My dear Cousin

                                  Your highly appreciated favor of
2nd October, enclosing also a letter from dear Cousin
Matt, reached me on yesterday.   Its delay had almost
caused me to despair of receiving a reply, and
to think that I had presumed a little too much
on a short, but to me, a most agreeable acquaintance
ship  But the free and happy style in which
you have written, at once convinces of my mis-
take, and encourages me to give your letter a prompt
reply.  The bit of sarcasm to which you refer is not
quite forgotten.  Having reflected after the letter had
left my hands that it might not be rightly un-
derstood I began to regret that I had spoken quite
so candidly--not meaning, by that use of that word,
that adhere still to the same remark; for it was not
an opinion which I held to be true.--I did not
get a chance to visit Leesburg and my many very
good friends living there.  I had to come by way
of Front Royal and this place to join my regiment,
which had just crossed into Maryland.  They par-
ticipated in the fight at Sharpsburg.  It gave
me very great pleasure to know that my friends
had not forgotten me; and from their numerous inqui-
ries and conversations about me evinced a pleasant
remembrance of me.  I hope to get there yet, as all of
my underclothing are there, and I do not know how I am to

[page 2]
do without them.  As good fortune would have
it Genl McLaws detailed me to assist in the
distribution of the army mail at the Winchester
P.O.  the P.M. seems to be quite pleased with me,
and has placed me in a No 1 boarding house,
where I have good eating and a nice comfortable
room.  If it had not been for that good luck I
would have been frozen  I suppose by this time
as I have not a single blanket.  They were stolen
from me.-- I ad lost but one dear friend
in these late battles; and in loosing him I have
lost one of my best friends.  His name was Thos
Randolph--well known at the University and
at Charlottesville.  You mistake me if you think
a letter from you would not be read with inter-
est at any time by me.  Sadness and  grief might
cast their mantles o'er me yet they should never
cause me to treat with indifference or to lightly regard
the voice of a sincere friend.  Your letters will
always be read with interest, so write just as
your heart dictates.--Had I not felt very
well satisfied you had up your mind that I was
engaged to Miss M.  I do not know that I should
have been so willing for Cousin Matt, to tell you.
However I am glad you know it, for it
gives me the pleasure of hearing from you
by your own hand, whereas otherwise I probably
cold only hear of you through another.

[page 3]
You, situated as you are, can see but little of
the effects of this unholy war waged against us.
Even in this place, containing not more than
5000 inhabitants, you see at least one thousand
who have passed through the furnace of affliction
It is distressing to witness the number that are
draped in black, mourning for their dear ones lost
in this blood conflict for our independence. And
to think that the work of destruction is not yet
done, but bids fair to be still more sanguinary
and of long duration is still more distressing.  the
only basis upon which we can now found our opes
for peace, is the recognition of our country by France
and England.  I hold the opinion, as I have seen it
somewhere observed, that, if those powers shold take
that step, the Lincoln government would follow, be-
leveing they could then do so without dishonor to them
selves.  But that would be but an excuse, for that gov-
ernment is steeped and dyed in the blackest dishonor.
It is to be hoped that the defeats in the Northern States
of the Republican candidates, as in the Western states
may give the democrats, which we hope are peace can
didates, a decided majority in both Houses.  Otherwise
we may look for it, only when an exasperated people
rise up in their might, and publicly depose the tyrant
who now governs them, whose userpation of power has
not been scarcely rivaled since the days of Nero or
Dyonicius.  The day of retribution is bound to come.

[page 4]
Our armys are still in statu quo, many of our men
suffering for shoes and socks and many of them
indeed for clothing.  The Richmond Examiner says
that "they are well clothed and anxious for the next
fray."  Now that editor has never left his sanctum to
come and behold the condition of our army, therefore
he writes an arrant and most palpable falsehood.
He could not have been informed so, unless by some
lazy Quarter-Master of the army, hence has no founda-
tion for his assertion, whatever.  What is to be our next
movement is uncertain and a mystery to every one.
Genl Lee very wisely keeps his own council . Present
state of affairs, however, indicate a backward movement,
probably to Staunton.  I judge from the evidences of my
senses, including what I see and excluding hearsay.
The sick have all been removed to Staunton and
Richmond.  Miss Mag is doing a good work indeed, in
nursing the sick and wounded, and God will richly bless
her for it.  You cannot imagine what a purity the
presence of the gentler sex seems to infuse in the
air he breathes, which before seemed to be infec-
tious and almost to stifle him.  I have been sick and
well know what it is to have some soothing hand
to cool my burning brow, or smooth my sick pillow.
The reverence and love I bear them is something
felt within the innermost recesses of the heart which
cannot be expressed in words, and inadequately in actions.

[page 5]
You say you "really envy" me of the delight-
ful time I am having in the mountains.  Do you
though?  My fair friend, if any young man were to
tell me as much and intimate that he had
the least desire whatever, to exchange with me I'd
take him up as quick he would not be able to tell
whether the sun rose in east or west.  I dont wish you
any inconvenience or that you might be at all uncomfort
able, but I would like extremely well to be in your
place.  I'd not only be comfortably situated but near
dear Cousin Matt all of the time.  I did not
see her one third enough.  I was going to say I
wished I might get a little sick so as to get there.
But that would be useless as well as sinful, for I
have been sick nearly all the time since I left
here.  To day the doctor recommended a change of
climate and water, which I shall accept soon if I
do not get better and that very soon.  I was very
unwell when I wrote to Cousin Matt a day or
two, since and wrote very gloomily I fear.
The pure mountain air is very pleasant and exhilarating
& when one has good comfortable quarters to retire
to when night sets in, it is very delightful indeed; but
when we have to recline on the bosom of our com-
mon mother, the earth, without any shelter save the
trees, and oftentimes without covering, it is then quite
the contrary, and rather trying to human nature as
well as testing ones patriotism.  When off of duty
I enjoy myself collecting specimens of flow-
ers for an Herbarium.  I have been trying to

[page 6]
make one for some time past but without success.
Tis is a good portion of the country for the study
pf Botany, but the inconveniences of camp destroy
in a great measure the interest well as the work.
  More troops moving through town in the
direction of Manassas, this morning.  If our army
moves I shall go to R. if I can.  I am the
more convinced this morning that we are going to
retreat from the fact of a large body of cavalry
going to the rear of our army, which is to pro-
tect the rear-guard.
Tell cousin Matt that I will answer her let-
ter very soon. Would do so now but fear that I
am sitting up too long.  I wrote on Monday. Feel
much better to day.  I am greatly in love with the
Virginians.   As a class there is more magnanimity  and
kindness among them than any other state that I have
ever visited--Ive visited six.  During my present
sickness, a Mr Graves, the assistant Post Master, has at-
tended me like a brother.  Such kindness as I've met
with from him is rarely extended by one stranger to
another.  But God is fulfilling his own word, "Cast thy
bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."  My
mother and father have been good to the sick and wounded at
V'burg, taking them in their own home and giving them kind
attention. Thus they have unknown to themselves been repaid
in a measure for their charity.--Please give the enclosed
letters to Cousin Matt.  She can read them, then place
them away in my valise.  My best love to all.  Let me
hear from you soon.  sincerely your friend & cousin James W.B.

letter from an unidentified soldier  and University of Virginia alumnus to a member of the McCoy family

MSS 6830-d