Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER - 21st Virginia Infantry, WINCHESTER VA CONTENT !

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
CIVIL WAR LETTER -
Co. A, 21st Virginia Infantry
This Confederate Civil War soldier letter was written by James Marshall (“Marsh”) Hamlet (1839-1863), and John William (“Willie”) Hamlet (1841-1863), the sons of James Hamlet (1802-1891) and Sarah Harvey Marshall (1818-1860) of Campbell county, Virginia.
When he was 21, James enlisted on 7 May 1861 to serve in Co. H (the “Appomattox Grays”) , 18th Virginia Infantry. He entered the service as a private and was promoted to sergeant in May 1863. He was wounded on 27 June 1862 at the Battle of Gaines Mill but recovered to rejoin his regiment by October. Late in 1862 he was detached for a time on Provost Duty but was with his regiment at Gettysburg where he was killed on 3 July 1863.
When he was 19, John William Hamlet entered
Co. A, 21st Virginia (“Red House Volunteers”)
at the Red House in Charlotte county on 20 June 1861. Little is included in John’s military record except that he was killed at the Battle of Kernstown on 23 March 1863, left dead on the battlefield. There is more in his file but unfortunately the on-line photocopies are so poor that most are illegible.
Transcription
Camp near Winchester [Virginia]
March 6th 1862
Dear Father,
I received yours of the 3rd inst. this morning bringing to me the sad intelligence of the death of [sister] Bettie. I have been watching the mail with the greatest anxiety some time expecting every day to bring me the awful news of her death. My hopes of her recovery were nearly blasted several days ago by letters received by different members of the company stating that she was constantly expected to die. I am very sorry indeed that I was unable to see her again. I would have gone home with Capt. Moseley but for the fact that he promised Walter Ranson to take him with him before he heard of the extreme illness of my sister.
I sent a fifty dollar Confederate note by Walter Ranson but wrote in the letter that I sent it by Capt. Moseley. As Walter promised to go to your house, I hope it will cause you no inconvenience in getting it though you may get the letter before you see Walter.
In regard to war matters, affairs have quieted down considerably since my last letter although the enemy have been committing some depredations within twelve miles of this place and have ventured up to Berryville—a small town ten miles from Winchester near which place our pickets are stationed. The citizens near Winchester have been sending in their horses to prevent the enemy from getting them and a great many have moved their families to Winchester while some of those here are moving still farther south. Gen. Smith from Manassas is said to be near here with 15,000 men.
It is reported in camp that another great victory has been gained by our men at Leesburg.
I must now close. Write again soon. May God sustain us in our trials and grant that we may all meet with dear Bettie in heaven is the prayer of your son, — J. W. Hamlet
March 7th — We received orders last night to keep our wagons loaded (only keeping the tents out) and to cook 24 hours rations.
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