Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-08-28

~ Va ~
ing the letters from our soldier boys
in France to read some letters writ
ten from the battlefelds of the Six
ties. Mr.. Roper Day of Trenton very
kindly mailed the writer several let
tiers that were received by his grand
father, the lamented D. Roper Duri-
soc, and we will publish n each
week:
Valley of the Massaponax, Va,
May goth, 1862.
Dear Roper:
I take the present opportunity OF
writing you a few lines to let you
know how we all get on. Well, l be-
lieve all of the boys are well at pres
ent and in fine spirits. We are camp
ed in a beautiful grove three miles
from Fredericksburg. We have moved
five miles from summit point. We
got here Sunday last.
We have been doing picket duty
eve since we got to Virginia. We
have been resting two days, the first
rest we have had in three weeks. We
went on picket last Friday near the
river and we saw plenty OF Yanks.
Some of our company kept up a
very brisk firing all the morning at
the Yanks and they returned the
shot every time.I got within about
six hundred yards of about fifty OF
them before I saw them and l soon
had business another way. We are
within a mile of each other and I am
going over to swap bacon for coffee
with them the first time l see them
without any arms. I have been close
enough to speak to them If l had
been allowed to do so. 1t is against
rules to speak to them only without
a shot.
We are seeing the devil. No, we
have not got a tent in the regiment
only for the big dogs. Gregg and Nc
Gowan have tents but no one else.
We have to sleep on the ground and
cover with the clouds. The people in
Richmond are very uneasy. they
think the enemy will have Richmond
shortly. I understand they are NOV
ing all of theevaluable property away
from Richmond.
1 believe a portion of our sick
have returned to camp. Sammy Lott
DeLoach got in. yesterday. Toney has
not come yet. l suppose he will come
in a few days. We have $50 sick out
of our regiment.
I understand that the Bloody Sew
enth is at Richmond. I suppose you
have heard that Stuart is captain of
the company. 1 expect we will be or
dered to Richmond in a few days. We
have been all over Virginia looking
up a fight but the name of the Bloody
18th scares the Yanks clean off OF.
the land of the living. 1t is a good
thing to have a brave name. II a
man has the name of rising early ne
can sleep all day.
Eight of Colonel Edwards men
were captured by the Yanks the 9TH
or dav and a lieutenant also.
Some think we stand a good chance
of being taken but I don't. If they
ret in the rear of US we can join
Stonewall Jackson and give them as
good as they send. Gregg is trying to
get his brigade in with Jackson. II
we get with him we will see hell and
a heap of it.
What do you think about the war
ANYHOW? l understand you have an
idea of joining u company. II you
will take my advice you Will never
come to this State. You know you
are not very healthy anyhow and this
climate will not agree with you and
7 know YOU and old Brit won't agree
for he is as cross as he can be. he
talks to his men like they were ne
eroes, some of them. He has never
given me a cross word yet but. DO
not know how soon he may, though.
Willie and l have an idea OF dig
eing us a cave to live in as we have
no tent. l don't know how I'll do.
Well, l must close. This is the
third letter 1 have written to you
and l think it is time you had an
swered them. Tell Julia and Sallle l
will write to them next. l don't know
anything at present that would inter
est them more than I have written to
YOU. Give my love to all and accept
the same from
Your true and affectionate friend,
John Harrison.
Goodwin requested me to say to
Won that he had received your letter