Augusta County: Jacob Kent Langhorne to His Mother,
May 4, 1863
Summary:
Langhorne gives a description of his company's movements and tells about his
narrow escape from capture while out scouting along the James River.
Mother
May 4th 1863
South Side James River Opposite Columbia
Dear Mama
I commence this letter not knowing when & where I can mail it. We left Orange Court House on the 1 and started to Spotsylvania Court House where we heard our army was. We had not gone far from Orange Court House before we met with a squad of Yankee Cavalry which made us leave the road and go to the woods. They then pursued us a mile or two where we lost sight of them. We then came to the road leading to Richmond to the right of the central railroad where we camped for the night.
We got up the next morning and went out of the woods to the railroad where we came to a company of about 50 or 60 men tearing up the railroad. They saw my white horse. Just we turned back and 2 of them pursued us about a mile when we came to a halt and when they came up in sight we rode towards them then they ran back about a mile up the main road. We then met some citizens who had just left Louisa Court House where the Yankees were tearing up the track and were coming towards James River. We then came on to Columbia and tried to cross the river but there were so many people to cross that we could not have gotten over in time to have made our escape.
I and Mr. Lee went out to watch them approach. We had been out about 3 hours & 1/2. About 11 o'clock in the night when their advanced guard of about 100 men came up we went and gave information to the Citizens. We then started down the tow path towards Richmond. Had gone about 2 miles and and were right upon them before we heard anything from them.
I thought then I would be a prisoner in 10 minutes but we crossed the small part of James River and got over on the Island and happened to come to a man's private ferry who got us over and saved us from their mercy. They have burned all the bridges over the canal and all the barns and stables and every thing like food on the other side of the River from here. They tried to destroy the aqueduct over the Rivanna but did not succeed. They shot a young man over the river yesterday 3 times and then cut his head off and rolled him in the canal right before his mother & Father's eyes. I am right well. Love to all. I will write as soon as I can again,
I am your attached son,
Kent.
