Augusta County: Tony Pastor to Annie Harris, July
16, 1863
Summary:
Pastor writes in the aftermath of a battle defeat, describing deaths and men lost
as prisoners. One of those he mentions missing and presumed captured is Franklin
Carson. This letter also hints that Pastor was recently at home, perhaps on
furlough.
July 16 th 1863
Darksville Beakly County Virginia
My Dear Annie,
Once more in the providence of God it is my happy privilege to seat myself (on
the ground) for the purpose of holding sweet Converse with one who is dearer
to
me than all others in this wide world. All written
words are weak & powerless to express the throbbings of a heart where
love has made it home. But all this is useless. I wrote to you from Martinsburg
on my way down, [unclear: but] so I was not posted in regard to the
Casualties of our Regiment & more
particularly of our Company. I will again endeaver to give you a more full
account. Our Regiment lost 5 killed 58 wounded
& some 8 or 10
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missing. In our Company we had one killed,
namely, Benson Buchanan. Also 10 wounded, only 3 of them are considered bad,
namely James Furn, John A. Wilson, & Charley [unclear: McGuppin]
Furn, & Wilson are in the hands of the enemy, with John Clemmer who was
slightly wounded & left to wait on them. The rest of them have gone home
excepting 2 who were so slightly wounded that they would not leave. 4 of the
company are missing & doubtless taken prisoners, namely, D.A. Black,
L.V. Nupanan, D. A. Spitter, & Franklin [unclear: Carson]. I
left the same day that I wrote you before & met with the boys in
Nagerstown the night following. They seemed to be very glad indeed, and I assure
you I was equally as much so to see them. The first thing that they
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said after asking me for a chew of tobacco (for which they were almost starved)
was, if I got married while at home, of course I told them no, but some of them
believe yet that I was. I tell you our boys have had a hard time sure, since
they left Fredricksburg. They have been on the march for more than a month,
during which time they have not had a change of clothes, they are now both dirty
& ragged, & a great many of them barefooted, yet notwithstanding
all these things they seem to be very cheerful indeed. We drew up in line of
battle this side of Nagerstown & fortified where [added: we] remained two days waiting for the enemy to attack us
but this they did not do, excepting to skirmish a little, & on Tuesday
morning about
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day eight we crossed the river at Williamsport. wading it up to our shoulders.
We are now about six miles this side of Martinsburg in camp, how long we will remain at this place I can't say. It is thought by some the yankees are making for Fredricksburg again, if so we will be on the march for that place in a few days.
There is some canonading in the direction of Harpers ferry this evening It may be the yankee Cavalry are trying to cross. The 12 th Virginia Cavalry had a fight there on yesterday in which Ash Harman it is said was mortally wounded, & left with the enemy. Captain Strickler & nearly all of his Company were taken prisoners in the late fight. John Muck had his left arm shattered, it was amputated above the elbow & near the shoulder. I saw all the Rockbridge boys a day or two ago. Also Sam Thompson, they are all well. I must stop my scribbling for I know you will be tired reading this, if you can read it at all. Please don't let any one see this.
As ever yours,
Tony P___
let me hear from you soon
