Augusta County: [Unknown] to Annie Harris, November
27, 1862
Summary:
The author discusses the difficulties of moving the army through mountainous
terrian. He also discusses the high prices of foods, comments on camp life, and
says that he suspects the army is moving to stop Burnside's march on
Richmond.
Nov 27th 1862
Camp near Madison Courthouse
My Own Dear Annie,
For fear that you may come to the conclusion that I did not receive your last
letter or that I don't intend to answer it, I will embrace the present
opportunity of replying. We left our old camp 5 miles below Winchester on friday
the 21st, crossing the [unclear: Massanutten]
Mountain at New Market. We then marched up the river towards Swift Run Gap to
the ford near the "Columbia Bridge" (which was burnt by Colonel Ashby to prevent General Shields from
cutting off our forces in their retreat from Winchester to Port Republic) where
we crossed & proceeded to the Blue Ridge, crossing into Madison County
about 12 miles from the Court House and on the road leading directly to
Gordonsville. We are now about 16 miles from that place on the road leading from
Madison C.H. to Orange C.H. and about 1 mile from the former place.
[page 2]
We have traveled over 100 miles being on the march
6 days. I must say that I have never passed over such a country before &
hope I never shall again. Some times we would travel for two miles & not
be over one hundred yards from where we started, I mean in a straight line. We
were one whole day crossing the mountain, & then didn't get over. lay
one night in the mountain amongst the rocks & brush with no covering.
Save what could be made of oil cloths & blankets it being too rough to pitch tents. rained all night. what you think
of that? Well I have no news, so I will have to confine myself to nonsense. We seen some right pretty mountain
lasses
who did not seem afraid to show their
[unclear: lincy], & then we saw some that were most
intolerable ugly, have not had the pleasure of seeing any of the Tucahoe gals around camp yet. Think I shall walk out after I get
rested & see if there are any to be
[page 3]
found & it may be
that I may get a good dinner by the operation. by the way just cook there. John
& James Beard have just come in with a fine lot of persimmons so I will
have to stop & eat a while & then finish. Well I have eatten my
satisfaction of them things for [illeg.] my mouth
[unclear: ain't] more than half as big as it was & I firmly
believe if I had eaten a while longer I wouldn't have had any [unclear:
at all
]. I will now give you some idea of the prices we have to pay for our
little nicknacks. Apples the size of [unclear: milled] walnuts sell at a
1$ per day. Half moon [unclear: pris] with two cherries in 75 cents a
piece, other things in proportion. [unclear: Passed] from two four
dollars per [unclear: quire] Envelopes [unclear: 1$] a pack. So
you see how we poor soldiers have to do, & undergo.
I have heard nothing said about the Yankees since we came here, don't know whether they are still advancing or not.
[page 4]
Our
whole army is on this side of the Ridge, making preparations to meet Burnside in
his advance upon Richmond, which I suppose from all accounts will not be long.
My impression is that we will go to Richmond before long some of the troops it
is said are going off on the cars now. well I must bring this to close, as I am
too cold to write any more.
Give my love to all inquiring friends & [deleted: ] a larger portion to yourself. excuse all mistakes [unclear: burn] [unclear: when] you have done
P.S.
Direct to Gordonsville when you write again
& if we are there I'll get it & if we go on it will follow.
I saw Doctor
Bags as we came through Mount (Mountain) Jackson
Buck sends his love
