Augusta County: James H. Blakemore to Mary Anna
Sibert, September 11, 1864
Summary:
Blakemore describes his dejection after hearing of the fall of Atlanta but
reports that he is now as optimistic as ever. He describes the various ways in
which he passes the time in camp, including performing in a musical group and
mischievously encouraging an epistolary romance between his Sergeant Major and
Mary Anna Sibert.
Sept 11th 1864
Camp 53rd Ga Regt Winchester Virginia
My Very dear friend Mollie
Yours of the 27th of Last month [unclear: Inst.] came safely to hand
Yesterday, and I Will reply at once. you can only imagine how greedly I devoured its contents. And indeed it was a
rich Treat to me. It gave me a great deel of pleasure to
peruse it line by line; Every Word was Interesting and cheering to me, For I
must confess, it [unclear: arrived] in a very good time, for I was very
much down in the mouth about The fall of Atlanta. Just before, I had been raised
to the very highest pinnacule that imagination could
place a man, on the peace question. With the hopes that, Atlanta could hold out
This camppaign, but alas! all my bright visions of
peace was blasted. My hopes of the pleasur of
meeting my old Freinds as a Freeman and enjoying my
self as of years gon by, in there company. then, to give up all, I admit it was too much for me, but
your cheerfull letter cure me
[page 2]
to brighten
up againe, and bring back the old cheerful smile on my
pug. I Soon banished all despondency, and now, I am Just as hopeful as Ever, and
about the Same old [unclear: Sort]. I heard Good news from Georgia [deleted: ]. Soon after, I heard that Hood had Whipped The Yanks good.
[unclear: Well] miss Mollie our Division had a Smart little fight on the
3rd at Berryville only 3 Brigades was engaged, the other did not get up in time
We fought 2 corps of Yankees, charged their Brest
Work & drove them out & held them untill We left the 3rd day. the Yanks would not fight. So we Would
not Stay any longer, our loss was very small considering the great advantages
the Yanks had over us. We had to charge through a open field of half mile under
a heavy fire but our whole loss was only 175. our Div was all the troop there.
the Yankee paper admit a loss of 300. We Just cleaned them up. I was a spectator
of the whole It is an awful
Grand
Sight but [illeg.] is something
[page 3]
fascinating about it We came back to Winchester on the 5th. I found the
Stonewall Brigade in camp in Sight of our camp of course. I had to go over to
see the boys. I found them all well & in fine Spirits. all hopeful of
speedy peace. the old Brigade is gon up the Spout. very
few of the old boys here. It was here, that I learned the Whreabouts of Your Bro John. Oh, I know it must
have taken a great load of uncertainty of the minds of
your family. I know I felt very much released. For I did not know if he was dead
or not. I am Truly Glad it was no Worse God grant he may be permitted to return
to the bossom of Those That love him. I Should love to
see John. I hope to meet him in Solon. I Wish I was there now. I know I Should
enjoy myself [unclear: finly]. I think I may get hom Some [unclear: tim] this year. This is a Beautiful Country
Oh, I Should love to live in this County. Well Miss Mollie I had a good laugh at
the Sergt Maj When I told him what you
wrote
[page 4]
he is such a modest young man, it made him blush. he is
perfectly carried a way and if you send many more such messages to him he will
go up the Spot. but I have not much fears about you & his Lordship getting married for this reason. he
is so very diffident and your shiness of man; Will
make it a matter of impossibility to get up a match With out calling in the
Third person & of course that Will be my self, of course, and of course,
you Will find out that I will do all in my Power to brake up the match as I have an Intrist in
your future Welfare myself. Perhaps more than you dream of and can't bear the
idea of the Sergt
[unclear: carrying] of the prize, for then I should go up the spout, But
If We [unclear: Come] up the Valley, I shall bringe him along, & Will give him a fair chance I Will stand off
& Say Nothing, but Will keep an Eye on him,
haha. Now don't you go
in Love with
him, haha
[page 5]
You spoke of some young lady in Mt
Solon going to take a Husband but did not say who the
fortunate Genl was, or (unfortunate) as the future Will Show) you Wish to know
if I was like the rest of Man kind. I have a poor Opinion of the ladies
faithfulness to man Well, Miss Mollie, I Will be Candid. There are some few
women in the world who are devoid of a particle of love or honor, but thes are
very few but all Women have loved Somebody I do not look upon the whole class of
Women & being heartless, becaue one has
Jilted me. If I am so unfortunate to place my affections on an object &
and I find it is misplaced why I must just do the best I can, & not
curse the whole human race for what that woman done, no I will not do that for I
Love the Ladies; I could not think what young Lady you [unclear: spoke]
of as my sweet heart. I did not know I
[page 6]
was so fortunate as to have
one, for I have been a long tim since I had a sweet
heart. I Will Come up and find out who her Ladyship is. I know I shall be
perfectly happy in her Love. I will trust her. I have [unclear: quite] a
marry tim with my Sergt. Maj. I [unclear: hav] got him all Right. Now, I will
have him dream of Beautiful Eyes & Beautiful Lakes & pleasant Boat Rides on Said
Laks & the very pleasant Moonlight walks over
Many Romantic paths around our desolat litle
village, but he think it is one of the most beautiful Spots in Virginia I have
Just painted the Ladies & (yourself) &
the town and the country in the most Glowing collors
that imagination could paint. I know it is wrong but
Miss Mollie, I must have something to pass away the
tim. I have nothing to read no place to go, only
once in awhile, then I am uneasy all the time, for fear the
[unclear: Rgt] may move. I was out seranading last night & had a very plesent
time Sometimes I go out with the Prof. he plays on the
[unclear: pinio] & have Some [unclear: music]. I
Wish we could give you a midnight seranad with our
Brass Band
[page 7]
I know you would enjoy it so much this is the worst pen I
have written with in a Long time We have a good Band
A Man Just came in an said We had a fight on the [unclear: Staunton] pike above Winchester. I have not herd any thing more I will inquire Ms Mollie I will [unclear: Stop] for I know you are sick of such stuff but I have nothing of [illeg.] to [illeg.] Write with such a pen as this.
Please [unclear: Writ] me a gain as soon as you please. I am alway ready to read. [deleted: ] the Sergt sends his [illeg.] [illeg.] Love to you.
[unclear: give] My Love to the family & to Miss Kenny & Ella; & all My friends that Want to know How I am, I am Very Well Eat 2 [unclear: poundes] of Beeff & [illeg.] a day [deleted: ] [illeg.] Write soon & a Lady Letter My Love to My Sweet heart My [illeg.] Love. You Mind
Excuse my foolishness if you please+
Yours with respect
James H Blakemore
Oh Miss Mollie I am so Glade you are going to Study Music. I know you Will Make a brilliant performer, for you have a great tallent for Music, and fine Tast. you have a great deel of perseverance, and love for Music and I am confident you Will Make a first class performer. What Instrument do you take lesson on? [illeg.] I Suppose you Will take lesson on the Guitar & Pennio & harp. I do love a Guitar it is Such a Sweet Instrument. I love a Harp too but it is such a hard Instrument to Master, I hope I Will have the pleasur of hearing you play some of your sweet [illeg.] and sing a good Song. you have a good voice & all you want is practice, and your voice cultivated If this cruel War Ever ends & I can get home, I hope We Will have a happy a time or at least some good Music, for I do so much Love it.
