Letters and diary entries from the corresponding day in the Civil War posted from the holdings of Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
1862 November 11 8 miles from Middletown
In camp 15 miles N.E. of Strasburg & 15 miles
S.E. of Winchester, & 8 miles E. of Middletown, in the
woods, where this Reg. was encamped from the
7th inst. until yesterday morning – Nov. 11th 1862
Dear Ma,
I left Culpeper C.H. the 7th directly after
[There is a fragment torn out of the above line so the word “after” is a guess.]
writing to you. I met a man there who wanted to
send a horse to a Captain in the 6th Ga. Reg. He was
a good horse & I gladly undertook to carry him to
his owner, as it was directly on my route to my
own Reg. On friday I rode all day in the snow. I
endured it much better than I expected I could. – from
Culpeper C. H. I set out to go to Front Royal having to go
a circuitous route to avoid the Yanks. It is impossible to
give particulars. On Sunday evening I overtook the
6th Ga. together with D. H. Hills entire Div. on the march.
The Div. camped near Strasburg & I stayed with the 6th.
There was no commissioned Officer with Capt. Anderson’s
Co. The Capt. was at home & 1st Lt. was left in the rear sick.
I made arrangements however to have the account attended
to. Pa can rest perfectly easy until the account is sent to
him by the Auditor. – Yesterday I left Strasburg and at
4 P.M. reached this place. The boys had made huts to
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partially protect them from the snow & winter’s
wind. The Brigade left yesterday to go some 8 or 10
miles to destroy some Rail Road. The sick & barefooted
men were left at the camp – where I now am.
I find some half dozen without shoes & 10 or 12 sick,
among the latter is York Raines of course. The Reg. is ex-
pected back this evening so I will wait here for it.
There are over 40 men in the Co. besides those left here.
[Fragment is torn out of line.] the finest of health & spirits. – those that are
sick are only slightly so & look better than I ever
saw them. – I now wish I had brought my hat. If Bob is at
home when you get this please send it. He may bring as
many as he can. the boys want hats & will pay a good price
for them. It will probably be best for Bob to come on as
soon as he can, but he must fail not to provide him-
self with plenty of warm clothing. The Pants he found &
left at Gordonsville were lost, as was one of the knap-
acks, containing a shirt & pair of drawers of mine. I will need
my janes suit by the time Bob comes, but not before I hope. I
left all my clothing, except what I have on at Gordonsville. When
Bob gets there I wish him to bring my knapsack, which contains
a suit of underclothing. I left it with Mrs. Jordan. – We
lost 5 men killed in Maryland. Sergt. Hamaus & Wm Coleman, were
among the number. The weather is mild now. I am well. Josh
is well. – 14th I am now with the Co. We expect stirring times.
Josh wants a hat. – I left a blanket in Gordonsville. Bob must bring
it. - John
Lt. John Y. Bedingfield, 60th Georgia
[According to Dr. Keith Bohannon, there are two men named Raines in the printed roster of Bedingfield’s company: A.W. Raines and William M. Raines.]
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 13119
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