The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-04-03
Richmond, Va, July 80, '62


1t is long time since l have writ
ten you, so long in fact that cannot
remember now who wrot elast. This,
however, would not have entered into
consideration a moment, had | had
the time to write you long letter OF
one worthy of perusal. You know
what vagabond and desultory life
we have been leading since we left
Centreville, and you are too gen.
erous to take me severely to task.
write now to beg a favor of you,
and have hardly more than time to
state what the favor is. l am entire
ly out of clothes; you were kind
enough, Carrie writes me, to have a
suit made for me in Columbia, but
the pants were stolen on the road, ana
the coat would have fit man weigh
ing six stone ten and a house."
disposed of it therefore. l then
ordered a suit here, leaving a requl-
sltion with rascally tailor on Gov
ernment for the cloth. But thinking
to take advantage of my necessity he
never presented it until the Clothing
Bureau was exhausted, and he now
asks me $1O4 to furnish a suit. THIS
IS too much to stomach, so | am
bound to fall back on Sims & Baldwin.
enclose my measure, which is CO.
c1 which please pay my due oil to
yourself for $4,000 with interest from
April, 1861. | must apologize for not
settling this sooner, but Government
Las only begun to pay us regularly,
and hitherto we have had almost to
beg our bread from the Department.
Some members of my Company will
be returning soon to Virginia. and
some one of them will call on YOU
and bring it on for me. hate tu
trouble you, knowing how busy YOU
are IN your office, and hope you will
not bother yourself to do more than
merely order it. A coat that would
fit you would, think, come near fit
ting me and an accurate fit I do M,
desire or hope for.
| have hardly time to hint at the
aspect of affairs here. Greggs Bri-
gade (Which entire nous did not
cover itself all over with glory il:
the last battles) has gone on to Join
Stonewall; so have many other Dor
tlons of our army here which have
suffered least. The decimated Regi-
ment remain waiting for a conscript
to fill them up and the fresh troops
from S. c. and other points South
take the place of those who go>to the
valley. Gadberry, Means, DeSauasure
and Stephens have joined US here De
ing IN Longstreet's Brigade. We are
buSliy engaged entrenching around
and in advance of Ft. Darling, there
beng likewise heavy force in the OF,
nos,te side of the James, the two
banks being connected by bridges.
Much is expected of the New Virginia
now said to be launched and nearly
ready for action, and if 1t could clear
tte James of McClellan's TRANSPORTS
ard store ships, the war would he
ended with the career of the "Grand
army But no such thing I Judge,
IS hoped for in Government or where
would be the policy of weakening as
herc from an aggressive to a purely
defensive force?
Inc great struggle / think already
over with the prestige of Mcclellan
and his army. Pope will be made tn
"skeedaddle" by Jackson, who is in.
v'ncible from the devotion of bI..
troops, and there comes revenge.
never felt the thirst for it before in
my life. But when I look at NV poor
shattered company and think of Ed.
MckisSick and my other brave, true
nearted friends who have fallen. I
feel like devil chained for season.
send US on our conscripts and let us
work while it is yet day. The war is
coming to close, and we must he
fore it ends repay with terrible in
terest the debt of suffering, misery
and death we owe the u. s. Govern.
ment. Let us loose for however brief
season on the territory of our now
invaders and if howl is not forced
from the Yankee throat that will ter
irify form wickedness and "wars of
INVASION" themselves and Europe for
many years why | am mistaken in the
feeling and spirit which animates nc
all. Excuse haste as I write from,
a public desk in Richmond. I hear
from you all regularly thro Carrie.
40 write me one of your characte.
ristic. letters soon.
Affectionately,