1861 April 5-8 Harpers Ferry, Va.

                                       Harpers Ferry Apr, 5th 61
                        My Dear Sister,
                                  I will occupy
what letter time I have in writing to you, but I have
very little time this evening, as It is nearly time for
dress parade, which takes place at six oclock.
I’ve thought about all of you dear ones at home, very
much to day.  I heard a very good sermon to day,
in this church. (Lutheran) I attended a Sunday
School in the Methodist Church this evening.
Sunday has been very little respected here to day,
but I had nothing to do except to drill, as I’ve
been off duty for the last two or three days.
Marcelus Beadles was put on guard this morning.
& will not get off until tomorrow morning, he
seemed to dislike going on guard very much, as
he wanted to remain to preaching.
I went to see Uncle Phil As[h]by this evening, he
expects to see go to Culpepper as soon as cousine Will
Ashby gets back, cousine Will will be back in a
day or two.  I went up to see Wm. Russel  to day
I think he wants to get home right bad, he got a
letter from home to day, I got a letter from Miss.
I believe I gave Pa all of the news this morning
& it is now most time for parade so I must
stop, but hope I will have time to add a little
more.  Best love to all from yr devoted & most
                                       Aff. Bro. P. E. Jones

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                                            Sunday night
              My Dear Sister,
                                       I now have time to add a little
more to my letter, I hope by writing a little at a
time I will be able to finish a long letter to you.
There is now great excitement in the camp, on
account of a rumo^’u’r  they’ve just heard about having
to go to Gordonsville.  They heard in some way or other
that Letcher has ordered us to Gordonsville, some of the
men believe the report to be true, but I don’t intend
to believe any such thing, without good authority.
I do not see why they would want us at Gordonsville,
unless to send us from there, to some other point.
I’ve Just be come perfectly reconciled, to a soldier’s
life, & expect to have to lead it a long time yet, I
never thought I could get used this sort of life,
but I believe now that if I lead this life, much
longer, I will become really fond of it, in fact
I’m becoming fond of it already.  A camp is
certainly the most corrupt & demoralizing place
in world, I reckon.  I’ve seen things since I left
home, that surprised me very much______________
You asked me if I had used the ginger you gave
me.  well I took one dose on the way here, out of the
bottle, without any sugar & it was the hottest dose
that I ever took in my life,  I spilled the balance
in my pocket.  I’ve been threatened with colic only once
since I left, but was relieved directly, by taking a
little small dram.  I will not keep anything back
from you all at home, that & two other times when I
was complaining, I’ve taken drams, I would not have
taken it then, but I could not get anything else.
I know you will all say at home, that I took three

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too many drams, but I think I am very excusable.
I hope you will think so too.  The temptations are
very great here to a young man, situated as myself,
but I will try to be on my guard against them.
I do n’t think Joe has any idea of going home,
but I believe he could get off very easily if he tries.
It is getting late, so I must bring my letter to a
close.  I hope you do not show my letters to any one
but home folks, as they are written so badly & know
I make a great many mistakes, as I have to write
in such a hurry, & do n’t have time to look over it
after it is written, so you must excuse all imper=
fections.  I will be very glad to meet with Mr. Thompson
& Chiles, don’t reckon Mr. Bickers will be very
anxious to get back again.  My best love to all
of the Ladies & inquiring friends, all at Aunt Cynthia,
& at home, with a portion for yr self.  I am very well
                             Write as often as you can.
                                                             Yr most Aff
P. S.                             Monday                 Bro. Edloe
         It is a dreadful bad day, is pouring down raining.
I intend sending this letter through mail and if you
get it safely, you must write every day, or make
some of the others write.  I reckon you will get this.
some of our men have been getting letters regularly through
the mail, but I’ve put several in the office to some
of you at home, which I do n’t think you ve’ ever
gotten.  Direct yr letters Via Winchester.
I have not eaten all of my cakes yet, I enjoy them
very much, I’m very much pleased with my
striped shirts.  We are all well here.  write often to
                                                Yr devoted Br. Edloe.
Miss Helen M. Jones                              Louisa Blues  

Philip Edloe Jones and his brothers John William Jones, and Francis Pendleton Jones all served in the Louisa Blues, 13th Virginia Infantry. John W. was later famous as the author of Christ in Camp.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13407

1861 April 4 Columbia [S.C.]

Dear Creek

I have received your very welcome letter
and am very happy to hear of you welfare, you say that
home has a lonely appearance since I left it, I am among
to much bustle to feel lonely, but it wants the sweet
influences of your company and the prattle of little
Maggie to add to the cheerfullness of my posision. Since
I arrived here, I have been so busy getting my company
properly Quartered and provisioned that I have not
had time to take the home sickness. I have been nearly
run of my feet but have now got the worst of it over,
and although I have to show a cheerful and happy
appearance to my men yet no man can tell the feelings
of my heart. Oh Creek what would I not give to be
with you, and our little Darling (Maggie) again.
If I only had the privilage of taking you along with
me I would be the happiest man on earth, but I
am going in a just and noble cause, and relying
on the protection of divine Providence I hope to be
soon enabled to return and partake with you of all
the joys of home.

You wish me to tell you when I think I may be home
that is more than I can say we dont know any more
about our future movements than we did on the day I left
Anderson. I think however we will know in the course
of a few days what our destination is to be, but it is my
impression that we will be in Columbia yet for a week
or so longer yet. there is no imediate need for Troops
and I think we will stay here till the Regiment is
well drilled before we leave, and there is a very strong
impression that we will not leave here at all but be sent
home very soon I dont say this to bouy you up for it
is the impression of a great many here.

Dugan is getting along finely his company is Quartered
within 50 yards of mine and I see him very often
he has been working at this trade ever since he came here
making the trappings for the Field officers horses I think
they [word missing] him $250 per day. he seems in fine spirits and is getting
along finely he has a letter from Bob Hubbard, this
morning and will answer it shortly.

I have seen all of our brothers but James he is in North
Carolina but is daily expected to get back, none of
them are volunteers Tom talks of joining my company
and going with us if we leave.

John Vandiver is getting finely but as he is also
writing I need not send any particulars about him as
he will send his family all the news about the matter.
Give my kindest Regards to all the people and tell
them we are getting along finely plenty to eat, and
drink, water here is plenty and good.

To convince you that I am not forgetting to eat.
I have eat up all the provisions which I brought from
home and a good deal more. If you have a good supply
of eggs on hand send me down (by the train) as many as
you can and some butter and a loaf of bread or so.
we get plenty of Bacon and Beef here but you know
I never was very fond of that. send me an uncooked
ham to fry for Breakfast, if we stay much longer here I am
coming up for a day or two. if I can get away it

I must now close as my paper is nearly cut and also
the time for mailing. I will be anxious to here from
you again. Kiss maggie for me, and believe me ever
your Devoted Husband William [Anderson]

1861 March 30 House of Delegates, Richmond, Va.

Speech of Joseph Segar, esq., of the York district in the House of Delegates

I call you to witness, Mr. Speaker, that hitherto I have been
strictly silent as to the great questions of federal import that
have been discussed off and on during the session; but the ex-
traordinary resolutions which have been sent us from the Sen-
ate forbid my longer silence. They direct the Governor to
seize and hold, by military force, the property of the United
States, and I cannot sustain them. I would--so help me, God!
--sooner die in my seat that cast my vote for them.

I maintain, first, that there is no adequate cause for the in-
tense excitement which has sprung from this matter, and, of
course, no necessity for the adoption of the resolutions; sec-
ondly, that we have no moral nor legal right to pass them;
thirdly, that the seizure will be an act of war; and, finally,
that the great alarm pervading the country, and the revolu-
tionary action of the secession party in this State and of the
States actually seceded, find no just warrant in the facts of the
case.....

Beyond all this, I desire to be informed what wrong has
been done me, or any citizen of the South...
by that Federal Government which some regard as ac-
cursed, and which they so hurry to destroy. I, for one, am
not aware of any. If there be any law on the Federal statute-
book impairing the right of one Southern man, or impeaching
the equality of the Southern States with the Northern, let it be
pointed out. ....I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker,
to the gentleman from Madison, Gen. Kemper, to my ardent
disunion friend from Stafford, Mr. Seddon, to all the confessed
secessionists in this body, and to all such outside of this body,
to put their finger on one Federal law in the least degree in-
fringing the constitutional rights of the South. If it exist,
let me see it, that I may recant the error....

But I do wish to inquire of my colleagues, if they have
seriously reflected on the consequences of secession, should it
come?

Do you expect (as I have heard some of you declare) that
the power and influence of Virginia are such that you will
have peaceable secession, through an immediate recogni-
tion of the separate independence of the South? Alas! you
hug a delusion.

Peaceable secession--secession without war!...
No! Secede when you will, you will have war in all
its horrors: there is no escape....

In my judgment, there is no safety for this institution [slavery] save
in the Constitution of the United States. There it is recog-
nized and protected. No other property is specially pro-
tected. Slaves are represented; no other proprty is. This
Union of ours is the great bulwark of slavery. No where
else has it flourished; and break up the Union when you
will, you knock away its strongest prop. A Southern Con-
federacy will be to it its deadliest blast, if not its grave.
The whole civilized world is intensely hostile to slavery;
and the moment a new confederacy is formed, based on the
single idea of slavery, numerous and malignant antagonisms
will be provoked which may endanger the institution. But
under the shield of the Constitution of the United States, these
antagonisms, whether foreign or domestic, are, and ever will
be, harmless....
Thus secure under the wing of the Union, why shall we risk its security
by rushing on untried experiments?....

For what, then, are we plunging into the dark
abyss of disunion? In God's name tell me. I vow I do not
know, nor have I ever heard one sensible or respectable rea-
son assigned for this harsh resort. We shall lose every-
thing; gain nothing but war, blood, carnage, famine, starva-
tion, social desolation, wretchedness in all its aspects, ruin in
in all its forms....We shall gain the hardest times the people of
this once happy country have known this side the War f
Independence. I know not, indeed, of one single interest of
Virginia that will not be wrecked by disunion. And, enter-
taining these views, I do shrink with horror from the very
idea of the secession of the State. I can never assent to the
fatal measure. No! I am for the Union yet. Call me submis-
sionist or traitor, or what else you will, I am for the Union.

1861 March 27 Richmond, Va.

Dear Sister,

I have not heard from you
since I left home; but, thank God, with a
vigorous constitution, I have been able to bear
up and have been enjoying tolerable good
health.--My reason for not enjoying my
Christmas with you was on account of
a trifling difficulty I had, and I was conse-
quently confined during Christmas week.
I do earnestly hope this may find you all
enjoying

I can hardly be home before about
the 1st of June; but I want you to answer
this letter by the 13th of April, as I expect to
leave here about that time.

The Convention setting in this city
with regard to secession or no-secession
still claims a large portion of the people's
attention, but the fact is, they have done no-
thing yet except to squander near a
hundred thousand dollars of money for the
State.--A large part of the delegates are
certainly most consummate fools and worse

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drunkards.--One day we have strong secession
talk and the next opposition talk, but
the general impression is that Virginia will
ultimately secede, and join the other Southern
States, which will be the signal for war
if the North desires it--South Carolina has
been for over a month making preparations
for war, and is daily expected to strike
the first blow.--She has bought several hun-
dred thousand dollars of cannon, cannon balls,
shot, and shell in this city, and had them
sent on to Charleston.--Let us hope for
the best, if the worst does come.

Give Miss Nancy my love, and tell
her I have not forgotten her, and hope it will
not be long before I see her.

Give my love to mother, and all en-
quiring friends.

When you write, let me know all
who have married, and all the news about
home.
Do not forget to answer soon, and di-
rect your letter to "J. W. Parrish, Rich-
mond City, Va." and it will come safe to
hand.

Yours, truly,
J. W. Parrish

1861 March 22 Recess

Dear Genl. [John H. Cocke]

....
P.S. I am truly sorry that we were disap
pointed in the action of our Virginia Convention.
Secession is in a minority & likely to be in one
unless the Lincoln (or rather Seward)
administration attempt coercion, then
we may secede, & arrest but too late I
fear to prevent a serious collision. Would
that she had gone out of the Union
before the 4th Mar., as events seem to show
that that would have been her true
policy.

[A. L. Brent]

MSS 640

1861 March 22 University of Virginia

Messrs Editors:

The Spirit of Secession is rampant here. Last
Friday -- one week ago -- the sun rose upon the flag
of the Southern Confederacy floating from the top
dome of the Rotunda of the University. As soon as
it was discovered the news spread like wild fire over
college and soon the morning air resounded with
"Hurrah for the Southern Confederacy." The students
collected in large numbers upon the lawn during
the early part of the day. Prof. Bledsoe came out
and while exprressing himself as heartily endorsing
the sentiments designed to they it manifested, reques-
ted that the flag might be quietly taken down,
as the faculty could not allow it to remain over
State property. Fifty students instantly ascended
to the roof of the Rotunda and the flag was brought
down upon the lawn where it was received with
outbursts of applause. Speeches were made & the
flag finally borne off to "Carr's Hill" to the tune of
"Dixie."

The verdict of the Public was that on the night
previous -- the night of the Ides of March -- access

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was obtained through a series of four doors -- barred
and bolted -- to the top of the Rotunda "by some
person or persons unknown" and the banner of
Southern hopes -- the three stripes & seven stars --
flung to the breeze for the first time in Albemarle
County. -- It is whispered by "those who know"
that it was a band of seven of the "Carr's Hill
boys" who conceived & executed the plan. This
happened on Friday & before Monday 8 or 9 secession
flags were flying in different parts of College.
This afternoon there was a grand flag raising at
one of the boarding houses. At half past four
oclock the Southern Guard, -- a company lately
formed & composed of students -- marched down
to the scene of festivity in full uniform, with music
playing, & numbering about 70 muskets. --
The flag, after being drawn up, was unfurled by
a little girl attired as the Goddess of Liberty. As
it gracefully unfolded to the breeze, "the Guard" fired
a salute of seven rounds by sections in quick
succession, the band playing "Dixie." After the
usual speeches the Guard marched off to drill
upon the lawn & the crowd dispersed.

The Sons of Virginia & of the South ^"Maryland" are true to her honor ^'the South.

To the Editors of the Exchange--

Albert T. Bledsoe (1809-1877), professor of mathematics and the University of Virginia, afterwards served as Assistant Secretary of War for the Confederacy, and later edited the Southern Review. Author of "An essay on liberty and slavery" and "Is Davis a traitor; or Was secession a constitutional right previous to the war of 1861?

According to W. G. Bean in Stonewall's Man Sandie Pendleton law professor John B. Minor looked at the flag and muttered "Flag of my country, can it be, that in they place a rag I see."

In his memoirs Soldier's recollections, leaves from the diary of a Confederate Randolph H. McKim admitted to being one of the Carr's Hill Seven.

MSS 15097

1861 March 15 New York, N.Y.

A POEM COMPRISING A FEW THOUGHTS SUGGESTED BY THE Assault on our glorious Flag IN 1860-'61.
TO MISS JOSEPHINE VAN BUREN, WHOSE INTELLIGENCE AND MORAL WORTH ARE ONLY EQUALLED BY HER UNASSUMING GOODNESS AND LOVELINESS, This Little Volume IS RESPECTURLLY DEDICATED BY HER FRIEND, THE AUTHORESS

THE FLAG OF OUR UNION

Our glorious flag was waving,
'Twas floating in the air,
Amid songs of victory
When Washington was there....

Farewell of our glorious dead,
In solemn tone we hear:
Preserve that flag, our Union,
Ever to freemen dear....

Oh! let that banner ever wave
On yonder southern shore;
Oh! do not stain its history
In Christian brother's gore.

The country Washington left us
In freemen's sacred name---
Dare we destroy this great fabric,
Defile his spotless fame?....

The patriot Webster asked
With love of greatness true,
The veil might not in his day rise
His country's shame to view.

Crittenden with heroic zeal
And holy ardor pleads,
To save his wreck'd country's honor
Till hope unblest recedes.

Scott asks the aid of an armed host
Many brave hearts to chill;
Ambition often prompts a chief
The scroll of fame to fill....

To Douglas hopeful trust now looks,
The one of giant mind,
The statesman bold, our country's friend,
A healing balm to find....

These trial days of our country
Bring no sunshine morrow;
Once bright its national sky,
Now o'ercast in sorrow....

Has party strife dimm'd the brightness
Of the heroic past,
Rushing like a storm our country
On destruction fast?....

That Union flag is trailing
Its memories in the dust,
One by one its stars are going
An unknown fate to trust....

Are our statesmen degenerate?
Unequal to the issue,
A country to save or perish,
Or an abstract issue?

As Americans, we know no
Locality, no Southern,
But America, our country,
Americans, our brethren.

No party, no shrine no section,
Of one Union part,
But invincible royalty,
Love of country in heart.

E.B.R.

Barrett PS 586 .Z93 .P84 1861