Augusta County: Clinton Hatcher to Mary Anna Sibert, May 18,
1861
Summary:
Clinton Hatcher uses the laws of logic to excuse his break with etiquette by sending "Miss
Mary" a friendly letter without first securing her permission. He recounts the last days of his
trip away from his home in Loudoun County and comments on Virginia's mobilization for war. He
reveals that his community plans to organize a home guard for which he has been offered the
captaincy and for which he wishes he could obtain one of her father's pistols.
Miss Mary A. Sibert
Mt. Solon
Augusta Co.
Va.
May 18th 61
Maplegrove
Miss Mary:
It is with the utmost diffidence that I commence a letter to you so soon after forming your acquaintance without first hving asked your permission. But Chum is in Page and I have no correspondent in Augusta to give me news from you; emboldened therefore by having heard you say; first; that when you received a letter from a friend you always answered it, and secondly that you considered me one of your friends, which two propositions combined in the form of a sylogism necessitate the conclusion that you would answer my letter. I have concluded to write, and trust to this very indirect promise. I think the conclusion which I have drawn is clearly demonstrable by any rules of logic from Aristotle to Whateley and hope you will not violate even this indirect promise.
I think I heard you say some time ago that you agreed with me in thinking the
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prevalent prejudice against ladies and gentlemen corresponding with each other, both
unreasonable and injurious; and that it was the part of wisdom to disregard it. I hope
therefore that although I am asking a great favour of you you will not consider it too great a
one to devote an hour occasionally to writing a letter to me. I own it is hardly fair, for you
will have usually have long boring letters to read without either correction or order in the
arrangement, while I cannot fail to be very much improved as well as interested by
corresponding with one who has gained so young, a litterary
reputation.
I had the pleasure of meeting you cousins in Leuray and spent an
hour or two very pleasantly in their company. In Rappahannock I called on a gentleman whom I
had met only once before with the intention of staying all night but he insisted so on my
remaining longer that I found it impossible to escape for nearly three days. H. B. He had a
very pleasant daughter. I stopped then a day in
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Warrenton and saw two of my lady
friends from Washington, both very strong southerners, and several gentlemen in the army from
Alexandria with whom I was acquainted. Of course the time passed pleasantly and I was sorry
that as my visit had already been protracted two weeks beyond my first calculation, duty bade
me hurry on. I arrived at home on Wednesday about noon much to the joy of Pa & Ma and
myself too in fact, for I had been away so long that I was beginning to wish for the quiet
pleasures of home once more.
Day before yesterday I went to Leesburg to get me a copy of Gilhams tactics but could not
find one in the place and heard a gentleman say that he bought a week ago the last copy in
Richmond so I sent by a friend of mine who is smuggling military stores from Baltimore for the
south. I hope the abolitionists will not catch him and I will have my Gilham by next Thursday
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previous to that time I shall prosecute as fast as possible the study of Hardee
which I shall commence to-day.
I believe Virginia has now nearly as men in the field as she needs but we are talking here of organising a company to act at present as a home guard and to be called out when our services are needed. I have had the offer since my return of the captaincy of the militia but have not yet accepted. I think I shall write to Gov. Letcher this morning to know whether he will arm such a company, at once, as I mentioned above and if so commence enrolling at once. Has Mr. Sibert gotten any of his pistols made yet? I want one very much. I can neither beg, buy, borrow, nor steal a colt's revolver now.
I have several letters of several week's standing to answer this morning. I hope you will therefore excuse this hurried letter and write very soon a long one in return; to your true friend
Clinton
Direct to J. C. L. Hatcher Turcellville Loudon Co.
Va.
P. S. Please excuse the middle star on the envelop;
but it was made with too dull a knife to make the shape and outline very accurate C.
