Augusta County: Martha L. Roadcap to John B.
McGuffin, June 3, 1861
Summary:
Martha Roadcap writes to her son, John, about the excitement and anxiety at home,
and about the results of the local elections. She asks John and his brother
Charles to send her an account of their personal belongings and unsettled
business, should she lose either of them in the war, and also asks that they
both write her more often.
John B. McGuffin, West Augusta Guards, 5 Infantry Va. Volunteers, Qr Master
[illeg.], Winchester, Va.
Care of Col. [illeg.] Harpers
Ferry, Va
John B. McGuffin
Goshen Bridge Va
June 3, 1861
My Dear Son
Your long expected letter came to hand on Saturday last, dated the 24th and it
relieved me my son of the greatest anxiety as I had not heard from you for three
weeks previous. As you had been so kind as to write so regular before and not
receiving a word from either you or Charles it was natural for me to feel some
anxiety on your account especially as you said in your last letter that you had
a bad cold - I feared you were sick and that alone caused me great uneasiness.
But as I heard from you I feel more composed and am happy to hear you are well
as also Charles - Your letter found us all well at home as also the
neighborhood. There is no news of any interest transpiring here now. Every
person old & young Man Woman and children being anxious to hear the news
from the army of Harpers Ferry and other points. We are full of excitement and
prayers are daily & hourly offered for the preservation of our brave
soldiers. The Election passed off very quietly & old Rockbridge although
formerly Union is now so
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thoroughly Secession that to find a Union man would be a wonder. There was only one vote in the County for
Union and that was [unclear: Zach. White] in Lexington, let his name be
[unclear: offered ] to the Four Winds, to meet that contempt it
deserves. There was a Pennsylvanian living at [unclear: Millbors Tunnel]
by the name of Strunk who voted for the Union ticket
and boasted of it, defying the Community in which he lived - he was seized, and
well decked, then ordered to leave within 48 hours
which prudence and a whole hide prompted him to do by the next evening. There is
another in Jail in Staunton - an officer of Lincolns Army, he formerly was
tanner at Brattons and then Merchant at Millboro - he left his wife, having
married her over about Middlebrook, a Miss Thomas - he came back under pretense
of visiting his wife, but for the purpose of a spy - was nabbed - and would have
been Lynched - but the Civil Authorities placed him under charge of the troops
now stationed in Staunton where he now is. It is not known what will be done
with him but it is presumed he will get his deserts. His name is Edward
Randolph.
Every person is putting his house in order around here so that when called by our Governor they will be prepared to take up arms in our Common defense. Our Crops are looking [unclear: finaly] better than for some years so that Mr. Lincoln will find it about as hard to starve us out as it will be to whip us into terms.
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I was up to see Sallie on Yesterday, Sunday.
Poor Sallie is lying upon a bed of sickness, she is very sick but desired me to
send her love to you and also to request you to write to her as she would like
to hear from you very much, she has written to you, did you get her letter. I
have also written two letters to you and you have never said whether you
received them or not. let me know when you write again. [unclear: I recd] your letter containing the ring
which was duly appreciated, and had thought that I had mentioned it to you in a
former letter. And my Dear son that ring calls to mind another thing that I wish
to make inquiry of both you & Charles. It may happen as you both are now
about to be engaged in mortal combat that I may never see your faces again and
what I wish to know what disposition you had made about your business. Whether
you had settled it up before you left home. Your [illeg.] clothing and
other property you each of you left behind in whose care have they been placed
and what was to be done with them. If it should please an overruling providence
to take you from me, being your Mother and nearest of Kin; and who feels more
for you than any other person possibly could do. I wished to know where they
were, so that in the event of your fall I could take possession of them and so
keep them, as to perpetually remind me of my own brave sons. I don't want you to
think I am too fast or avaricious to obtain what little you have possessed
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[illeg.] my dear sons. It is no more than
[unclear: what] others have done and being your Mother think that if any
person is to have them she ought and if any person could take care of them she
could. I therefore wish you and Charles to give me a list of all the things you
left behind you: so that if you never return, I may know where to find them and
what to receive. And also what business you left unsettled. Tell Charles I am
sorry he has neglected to write to me for this span of time, he can write to
others. I think his mother is or ought to be worthy of an occasional letter from
him at least. When you write I want you to tell me how you are all situated, how
you are getting along - and if you are brought into an Engagement to write me
forthwith if alive to do so. Abraham & all send their love to you. As
well as your friends in this neighborhood. I hope John you will write as often
as you can, once a week at least, if you can write oftener it is the only
consolation I have, and if you knew the distress of mind I was in by not
receiving a letter from you for 3 weeks. I know you would write often &
punctual. I also wish you and Charles to send me a lock of your hair I thought I had some but upon examination found I
had none, don't forget if you please. Well my dear son I will close hoping to
hear from you soon & often. With my prayers for your safety &
Gods blessing upon you both I will stop for the present
Your Affectionate Mother
M. L. Roadcap
