Augusta County: Clinton Hatcher to Mary Anna Sibert, May 29,
1861
Summary:
Clinton Hatcher informs Mary Sibert that his parents finally consented to his joining the
army and responds to her arguments against his decision. He expresses his desire to protect
Virginia from invasion and his approbation of secession. Responding to her inquiries, Hatcher
comments on politics and mutual acquaintances.
May 29th 1861
Maplegrove
Miss Mary:
Your very very welcome letter came to hand on the evening of the day before yesterday and deserves my heartiest thanks. I was rejoiced at your punctuality and am endeavoring to imitate your example by writing at the earliest possible hour. I received your letter too late on Monday evening to permit of my answering it that day and yesterday I started to Harper's Ferry about six O'clock and returned about eight or nine last night. So you see it has been really impossible for me to write sooner. The length of your letter was if possible even more gratifying and though I may not be able, when I am encumbered by military duties, to attempt any successful emulation in that respect, yet I must exhort you in the language of the bible (now don't look so astonished. I read it sometimes) "not to grow weary in well-doing." I have always since my earliest remembrance had an especial admiration for long letters and when I have time am rather fond of writing them.
I have at last succeeded in getting Ma's consent to my joining the army and my name is down
on the roll of a rifle company which will organize
tomorrow
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and will probably be in camp by the first of next week. I am beginning to feel "as
savage as a meat [unclear: axe]" and am afraid before I am in the army long, if I am
not shot I will get to eating Yankee steak for breakfast.
I must confess I do not think your reasoning on the subject of my going to war, entirely logical. I think now that Virginia is invaded it is becoming that every true Virginian should shoulder his rifle and march to the rescue. I should have enlisted sooner but disliked to go without the consent of my Parents and now that they have very reluctantly consented I am preparing to hurry on as fast as possible.
I had the pleasure of casting the first vote of my life last Thursday and was happy to give it in so good a cause as that of ratifying the ordinance of Secession. Our county gave 902 majority in favour of the Ordinance. We have several abolitionists here round us but I can't get any one to help me hang them. I wish I could.
Is Chum dead, or has he enlisted in the army? I have only received one short note from him since I came home and if he is not dead he had better be before I see him again.
I spent about four or five hours at Harper's Ferry yesterday. It is almost impossible to find
any one you want to see. I tried to find the Augusta Rifles Capt. Grinman, but could
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not. I had to enquire of about fifty persons before I could even find out where the Cadets
were stationed.
You need not have the slightest apprehension of my being disappointed in your letters; if they are any thing like the one which I am making a desperate attempt to answer, I would consider myself an ugly fellow with dreadfully poor taste if I did not appreciate them.
You ask me what I think of Carlisle. I think about as well of him as of Scott; he is worse
than Seward because a Virginian and a thousand times worse than Lincoln because poor fellow he
don't know any better. Nature has not been unusually bountiful to him with regard to brains. By
the way the Republicans attempted another of their base strategems in Alexandria. I heard from
my cousin a day or two since, who was in the army there he said that on the morning the city
was taken the ships which brought the troops down sent a boat on shore with a flag of truce and
gave them until nine O'clock to evacuate the city promising not to enter the place until that
time then as soon as the messenger returned they commenced landing and attempted to surprise
our troops and take them prisoners. But fortunately they were on the alert and all of them
escaped except one Fairfax company. Such another cowardly and direct breach of faith is not
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recorded in the history of civilised nations.
I feel unusually dull this morning, but it is useless to tell you that for you must have long since discovered from this disconnected & tiresome letter that I am either either unusually or usually boring. Tell Miss Ella I was looking at her "ambrotype" last Sunday in church, my cousin admired it very much, indeed I am afraid he will fall in love with it which would certainly be quite unfortunate as she is engaged. (I hope her sister is not). I will also your question also. I do very often think of her sister. I have treasured [illeg.] the cockade for though it will not be needed to make me think of you, yet in future years when I am forgotten it will minister consolation by reminding me of the time when once you agreed to accept my friendship and promised sometimes to think of me. But you know the greatest of Poets has said "Woman thy vows are traced in sand." Although my letter is not quite so long as yours I must close, as I have to make preparations for leaving.
By the time you write again I shall probably be in camp in Leesburg so please direct to that place, And write me another long letter very soon. I hope you will. I am conscious of not being exceedingly deserving but hope you will be accommodating nevertheless.
I am most truly, Your sincere friend,
Clinton
