Augusta County: J. W. Campbell to Virginia G.
McCormick, December 14, 1861
Summary:
In this letter to his cousin Virginia (also Enos's sister-in-law), J. W. writes
of his experiences in battle, mentioning the death of Captain Anderson and the
wounds of Jemmie Hanger and Jake Cox.
Paid 5 cents
Miss Virginia G. McCormick
Greenville Augusta Co Va
December 14, 1861
Dare cousin
I received my box the 12 I was vary glad to git it I wood of ritten yesterday but yesterday morning before sun up
they yankees came on ous
thay had ous
vary
neir
serrounded
the was three 1000 yankees and about 14,100 of our men
wey had tow fights the yankees
devied and went tow ways
our Regiment was in the ditches I was in frount of the
battle the hole time the yankees had the advantedg of our men thay got
in the tree tops behind logs and behind stumps so that we cood not see them when [added:
wey
]
wod look over the bank thay
wod shoot at ous I was vary
neare give out when i got to the ditches it was the
first time I had ben out eny
distance for soum time I had [added: no]
ordes to go but I went and took good ame at the yankees but I cat say that I
kiled
eny the balls fell like hale the
yankees kiled a good meny of
[added: our]
oficers
thay
kiled
[page 2]
Cap't
andison close at me the is
a good many kiled on both sides the is more yankees kiled
then is on our side but I
cant
tell how meny is lost on our side we faugh
[deleted: from] a bout 6 hors and hafe
the
[deleted: ut] is none of our company hirt
Jemmie Hanger is a little better this morning he had a bad chil last night Jake Cox is complaying the rest of the boys is well exsept
bad cols
[deleted: I am a] I feel better this morning then I have felt for some time I have had southing like the neuralsia in my head I am
vary well please with my
shirts and pants I
cant
tell wether we will come to Staunton or not
thery still tawking
about it plees let father have those shoos that I drue in Staunton they are tow large for me if the is eny
pasing to midway
plese send them to Mr nelson store I drew a paire of shoos the shoos is good that I brought from
home nothing more at present oly remain your
affectionate Cousin until death
J W Campbell
Virginia G MC
