1862 January 25 Camp Ewell

Dear Phill & Sister
I was very glad to get a letter
from you this morning and to hear that you were well
and Sister improving for I have had Sad dreams about
Sister several nights and althoug[h] I dont think I am very
superstitious still they affected me somewhat & I was very
anxious to hear from you all. I sympathised with you all
when I heard in a letter that I received from home that you
had lost your little baby but we ought to try & believe that
"God does all for the best" and I am in hope this will be a blessing
to you all. I intend keeping my tent very closely today as I have
a very sore foot & have to wear a slipper my shoe rubbed it and
having walked too much on it yesterday last night it was very
much swollen so I thought I would try & keep quiet today but
I am Col. Robertson's Courier still & tomorrow will be my day
to ride again. Since writing the above I have had a long & cold
ride up to Centreville I thought I was fixed for the day here & had
the Capt Heath (who is Captain in the Qr. Master Department)
and Dick Pemberton to carry up the dispatches but they went
off without them so I had to squeeze on my boot on my poor old
foot and travel off but I am used to that sort of thing now.
Maben Hobson is our Captain now and is very popular both
in our company & the regiment he is one of the best men I ever
saw & makes a very good Captain I think I am better fixed than
I have ever been yet stay in an elegant tent with Capt. Heath
& mess with our officers I used to stay in a tent with Dick
Pemberton but then he got tight so often and there were so many
people always in there that I was very glad when Captain Heath
got one & asked me to stay with him and since then have
gotten on finely but Dick does not drink so much now I am
very glad to say. I heard the other day that the Yankees were
rebuilding Accotink bridge but dont believe they will come

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here this winter for the roads are almost impassible from
the late rains & snows I was out a great deal in that bad
weather & it seems to be com[m]encing again as it is hailing now
& right cold & raw. I would get you to send the socks down home
as I am in need of some & thank you very much for knitting
them too Sister if I knew what Pa was going to do but I
cant tell, he said he was going up to see you as soon as
he got back from Richmond and then wrote Col. Robertson
that he was thinking of coming up to pay me a visit
but I expect he could send them to me any way. I wish
I could be with you all this evening I want to see you
both very much but there is no chance of my getting
off yet as they are just as obstinate as they can be about
granting furloughs & never think of doing it except in
the most urgent cases. I dont think we have seen any fighting
at all compared with what has got to come I differ with
you though on that point. There has been right heavy
firing nearly all day down towards Evansport they may
be firing on Yankee vessels as it has continued so long
but I believe they frequently fire for practice down there.
I must now close up. Give my love to all at
Liberty Hall write soon & believe me as ever your
affectionate brother
Richard M. Bolling
P. S. Excuse this paper as all my writing paper is gone
Richd M. Bolling

Co. F was known as the Goochland Light DragoonsRichard M. Bolling, Private Co. F, 4th Virginia Cavalry
Captain Alexander Maben Hobson, later Major of the 4th Virginia
Richard Pemberton, Private, later Sergeant Co. F, 4th Virginia Cavalry
Colonel Beverly Holcombe Robertson,1827-1910
MSS 38-111