Augusta County: Tony Pastor to Annie Harris,
April 19, unknown year
Summary:
Tony laments that his unit is abandoning his "beloved valley." This letter
probably dates from later in the war, though it does not include a
year.
April 19
Rockingham County
Virginia
Shipats Hollow
Dear Annie
It is now late in the night & we are in [added: a] dark & dreary part of the world, with gloomy prospects before us - but not
withstanding all these things, I will devote a few moments in answering
your kind favor of April 13th which I received at New Market on day before yesterday. I hardly
know what to write about, as we are now leaving our beloved
valley to the mercy of the Yankees. But we have
certainly left - & are now on our way across the Blue Ridge. I
suppose to join Johnson's Army. In a few more
days you may expect to hear of [added: a] big
fight
[page 2]
somewhere. I will not trouble you with any more war
news at present. But will say a word in answer to something you said in
your letter. You spoke of being forced to come to a certain conclusion but
you did not say what it was. Well I have imagined to myself what that
conclusion was & from what cause [added: you
came to it] I am [unclear: truly] at a loss to know. You
have made such declarations before & I assure you you do me great
injustice. I hope therefore that you will give yourself no more uneasiness on that subject, unless it is your
pleasure to do so - please excuse this hasty note & I will if
[unclear: prompted]
[page 3]
write you again at my earliest
opportunity. I wrote you twice since I left but suppose you did not receive
either from the [unclear: tenor] of your last. I must bring this to
a close for the present with a hope (however faint it may be) of hearing
from you soon again. But if the Yankees get up the valley so as to cut off
communication Remember that you will still be remembered most
affectionately by your absent friend [illeg.]
Tony_
The
Boys are generally well & in fine spirits. My love to all &
[unclear: recain] the same. Farewell for the present.
Tony
Buck is with us again stands the
march very well
[page 4]
We have been out two nights without
anything in the way of new clothes. All our baggage has been sent up
to Staunton & will go across by [illeg.] I suppose. I
tell you we have hard times now sure but hope there are better times
coming.
P.S. Please don't show this to anyone for my sake. I could write more if I had paper
but we are all out. I don't know what we will
do after this, but it may be we won't need it.
This I hope will not be the case. Tell Annie B I owe her a letter
& will answer it as soon as I can
