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Augusta County: J.J. Sibert to Mrs. Lorenzo Sibert, June 25, 1861

Summary:
Sibert writes to his mother, reporting on a minor engagement with Union troops and asking her to send him an article of clothing.

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June 25 1861

Camp Davis

My Dear
Mother

I received yours of the 15 In due time just about the time I expected one from your. My letters all come straight to me that you send by members of the company. by mail. I cannot say what be come of them or where they go to. I would like to see you all very much but I cannot come home before the last of July or August furlough are very hard to get [unclear: now] but [unclear: mebrs] of Families can get them & they have hard work I do not

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want to come home before I have a fight & I have been waiting for a fight for some time, but have never had it I begin to think that we will never have one I understand that the Quartermaster was ordered not to buy any more provisions, for the Southern Army, If this Is the case, Old Abe has a notion to acknowledge the Southern Confederacy that Is the report here our camp is about ten miles from the Federal troops our pickets gone down as they are stationed there

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by order of Colonel Harper one of them was shot day before yesterday through the stomach he is now very low & suffers very much he Is a member of the Augusta Cavalry Dallas is his name I think he is from Staunton & clerked for Ben Crawford If not mistaken he was shot from the Maryland side & another one came very near getting shot but [illeg.] protected him from being killed our pickets are placed so it won't be half so dangerous now the way this man got shot was not at all fair nor did

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It show one spark of bravery they outnumbered our men & went down close to the river side & laid down In a wheat field & hid themselves from our men & waited until they got In good gun shot, & then they all fired on those two men I do not consider that very brave this poor young man certainly will die. Tell papa that Sam Patterson is here. He that used to haul manganese for him at [unclear: warmest] [unclear: now] he is here a member of the Augusta Rifles he sends a great deal of love to Pap & so does all of the men that worked for him Dick Taylor says that he would give [illeg.] [unclear: most] to see [illeg.] I would like for you to make me a calico shirt if you can something with a small figure purple will be best make it if you can with two pockets on the outside make it short without much [unclear: tale] my love to all the children goodbye

from your affectionate son

JJS