Finding Aid to the Letter From Will to Ma
Text
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
LETTER FROM WILL TO MA, 1864
The letter is from Will, on picket near Bermuda Hundred [VA], 9 Aug. 1864, to his
mother, name & place unknown. He lists clothing left behind in Richmond and mentions
washing clothes and buying vegetables. He further tells of hearing the explosion of a
torpedo in the James River while writing this letter.
A Charles Hamner is mentioned as receiving a food box from home which he shared
with Will. Charles Daniel Hamner, a Lynchburg resident, was a lieutenant in Company
G of the 11th Virginia Infantry at the time of the writing of the letter.
Will mentions in the letter that his mother is to send future mail to Terry's Brigade,
rather than Kemper's. During the time that the 11th Virginia was encamped at Bermuda
Hundred, William R. Terry was promoted to brigade commander.
The letter was written in pencil. A typescript copy of the letter is included.
SOURCE: Bell, Robert T. 11th Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985.
MS2064
On Picket Near Bermuda Hund
August 19th, 1864
Dear Ma
I received your letter of 5th on yesterday and hasten to reply to show you how much it
is appreciated. It is the first real long letter I have received from you for a long, long
time, and I assure you that it gives me the greatest pleasure imaginable to get such.
The author you quote from in reference to a soldier's hardships is entirely mistaken
when he says they receive the merest pittance in return. The fact that he is doing his duty
to his country is in itself sufficient pay, and then these privations are made pleasures then
he knows that they are for those he loves better than self and that they love and honour
him the more for it. --and again, in your letter you seem to think -- after reading William
Milton -- that you have in some way neglected to bring up us children in the proper
manner. You should not do so. You have done your duty in the sight of God and if the
tree (as they often with the best of training do, but I pray Heaven we may prove
exceptions) should prove knotted and bent, it is no fault of yours but their own, and God
alone thro their hearts can make them straight.
You wish to know what clothing I left in Richmond. I left 1 Grey Jacket, 1 pr. Blue
pants, 1 Calico & 1 Marsailes Bossom shirt, 2 pr. Socks & 2 pr. drawers, 2 Collars & 2
cravat with a little paper of those buttons that Jim sold me in the bottom drawer of the
beaureau up stairs in the room for guests, and 1 Black Jacket, 1 pr. Grey pants, drawers, 1
shirt (cotton) and some smoking tobacco in a Knapsack with my overcoat & Blanket
thrown over it in the next room (the one with the blue furniture). I drew forty-four (44)
dollars from the Gov't. the other day, but have loaned all out that I have not spent and that
was very little. I have to pay 50 cts. a piece for washing down here and it is such a dirty
place that it counts up pretty fast, besides the vegetables I buy are not as cheap as they
might be, but I can scarcely do without them and keep the health.
I am surprised that Miss T is just cutting her wisdom teeth -- why I feel almost old
enough for my heirs to cut theirs (not wisdom). You had better deputize Sue to tell her
this and it may remove one impediment that is now in my way to supreme felicity. That
is the difference in our ages and by-the-by, I reckon I will have to drop Missie & yourself
as correspondents & write to Nell and Sue as they could & would tell me more than she
does & says concerning her "galliant louvier," -- even Kate Selden tells me more (thro
Chas. Hamner) of her (T's) incomings and outgoings. She says that T. has turned her
affections Northward and ceased to think of the once happy soldier, is this true? Must I
commit suicide or --or shave? No, I won't believe it till I get (what the Examiner calls)
authentick information.
Just then, as I wrote there was a tremendous explosion in our front -- suppose it to be
the bursting of a torpedo in the James River -- don't know tho, it may be most anything.
It is of not much consequence I reckon or rather serious result on our side or they would
be cheering like mad.
MS2064
I forgot to tell you that I also left a pair of Scotch satin shoes with my other things in
R. Ed may have taken some of this clothing and if anything is missing you had better
write to him to know if he has it. save those pants that you spoke of. I am under many
obligations to you for them.
Give my love to my uncle Joe(?), Miss T
and tell them to make haste and recover,
also to the rest of the family especially Aunt Poll and Nell, but excepting the greatest
share for yourself, believe me as ever.
Your devoted Son,
Will
Direct your letters as here before with the exeption of Kemper's Brigade, instead put
Terry's as he has now been promoted to the this place.
Write soon another long letter and tell me all that is going on in L. Give my love to all
at Grandma's the next time you have an opportunity.
[on the back was written the following:]
Chas. Hamner got a box from home yesterday and we had one of the best dinners you
ever saw.
MS2064
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VA 24501
(434) 846-0501
LETTER FROM WILL TO MA, 1864
The letter is from Will, on picket near Bermuda Hundred [VA], 9 Aug. 1864, to his
mother, name & place unknown. He lists clothing left behind in Richmond and mentions
washing clothes and buying vegetables. He further tells of hearing the explosion of a
torpedo in the James River while writing this letter.
A Charles Hamner is mentioned as receiving a food box from home which he shared
with Will. Charles Daniel Hamner, a Lynchburg resident, was a lieutenant in Company
G of the 11th Virginia Infantry at the time of the writing of the letter.
Will mentions in the letter that his mother is to send future mail to Terry's Brigade,
rather than Kemper's. During the time that the 11th Virginia was encamped at Bermuda
Hundred, William R. Terry was promoted to brigade commander.
The letter was written in pencil. A typescript copy of the letter is included.
SOURCE: Bell, Robert T. 11th Virginia Infantry. Lynchburg, VA: H.E. Howard, Inc., 1985.
MS2064
On Picket Near Bermuda Hund
August 19th, 1864
Dear Ma
I received your letter of 5th on yesterday and hasten to reply to show you how much it
is appreciated. It is the first real long letter I have received from you for a long, long
time, and I assure you that it gives me the greatest pleasure imaginable to get such.
The author you quote from in reference to a soldier's hardships is entirely mistaken
when he says they receive the merest pittance in return. The fact that he is doing his duty
to his country is in itself sufficient pay, and then these privations are made pleasures then
he knows that they are for those he loves better than self and that they love and honour
him the more for it. --and again, in your letter you seem to think -- after reading William
Milton -- that you have in some way neglected to bring up us children in the proper
manner. You should not do so. You have done your duty in the sight of God and if the
tree (as they often with the best of training do, but I pray Heaven we may prove
exceptions) should prove knotted and bent, it is no fault of yours but their own, and God
alone thro their hearts can make them straight.
You wish to know what clothing I left in Richmond. I left 1 Grey Jacket, 1 pr. Blue
pants, 1 Calico & 1 Marsailes Bossom shirt, 2 pr. Socks & 2 pr. drawers, 2 Collars & 2
cravat with a little paper of those buttons that Jim sold me in the bottom drawer of the
beaureau up stairs in the room for guests, and 1 Black Jacket, 1 pr. Grey pants, drawers, 1
shirt (cotton) and some smoking tobacco in a Knapsack with my overcoat & Blanket
thrown over it in the next room (the one with the blue furniture). I drew forty-four (44)
dollars from the Gov't. the other day, but have loaned all out that I have not spent and that
was very little. I have to pay 50 cts. a piece for washing down here and it is such a dirty
place that it counts up pretty fast, besides the vegetables I buy are not as cheap as they
might be, but I can scarcely do without them and keep the health.
I am surprised that Miss T is just cutting her wisdom teeth -- why I feel almost old
enough for my heirs to cut theirs (not wisdom). You had better deputize Sue to tell her
this and it may remove one impediment that is now in my way to supreme felicity. That
is the difference in our ages and by-the-by, I reckon I will have to drop Missie & yourself
as correspondents & write to Nell and Sue as they could & would tell me more than she
does & says concerning her "galliant louvier," -- even Kate Selden tells me more (thro
Chas. Hamner) of her (T's) incomings and outgoings. She says that T. has turned her
affections Northward and ceased to think of the once happy soldier, is this true? Must I
commit suicide or --or shave? No, I won't believe it till I get (what the Examiner calls)
authentick information.
Just then, as I wrote there was a tremendous explosion in our front -- suppose it to be
the bursting of a torpedo in the James River -- don't know tho, it may be most anything.
It is of not much consequence I reckon or rather serious result on our side or they would
be cheering like mad.
MS2064
I forgot to tell you that I also left a pair of Scotch satin shoes with my other things in
R. Ed may have taken some of this clothing and if anything is missing you had better
write to him to know if he has it. save those pants that you spoke of. I am under many
obligations to you for them.
Give my love to my uncle Joe(?), Miss T
and tell them to make haste and recover,
also to the rest of the family especially Aunt Poll and Nell, but excepting the greatest
share for yourself, believe me as ever.
Your devoted Son,
Will
Direct your letters as here before with the exeption of Kemper's Brigade, instead put
Terry's as he has now been promoted to the this place.
Write soon another long letter and tell me all that is going on in L. Give my love to all
at Grandma's the next time you have an opportunity.
[on the back was written the following:]
Chas. Hamner got a box from home yesterday and we had one of the best dinners you
ever saw.
MS2064
Dublin Core
Title
Finding Aid to the Letter From Will to Ma
Subject
Finding aids
Civil War -- correspondence
Bermuda Hundred (Va.)
Description
Finding aid to the Letter From Will to Ma held at Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The letter is from 1864 and was written from a soldier named Will who was at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, presumably with the 11th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War.
The letter is from 1864 and was written from a soldier named Will who was at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, presumably with the 11th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War.
Creator
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.)
Publisher
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.)
Date
2024
Rights
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.)
Format
pdf
Language
English
Identifier
JMLMS2064FA
Collection
Citation
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.), “Finding Aid to the Letter From Will to Ma,” Digital Collections, accessed April 28, 2024, https://digitaljones.omeka.net/items/show/788.