Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER - 21st Virginia Infantry, Yankees Not Far Off !

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 1, 1862
Dear Pa,
As Capt. Moseley and [Sgt.] Walter Ranson are about to start home [to Red House, Virginia], I will write a few lines but have only a few moments to spare. I send by Capt. Moseley . You will please send me by Tom Hancock when he returns. I cannot get the change unless by taking money which probably may not be good. Please send also two or three pair of socks as I am nearly out.
I have been very anxious for several days past to hear from Bettie and have been expecting a letter but have failed to get one. William Taylor received a letter dated the 24th stating that she was no better.
We still have a great many rumors in camp in regard to the advance of the enemy and although most of them are doubtless false, yet the Yankees certainly are not very far off. We now have a great deal f picket duty to perform taking nearly one third of the company every day.
We are ordered to keep a day’s ration cooked and everything in readiness to march at a a moment’s warning. I must close as I have not time to write more. Please write soon.
Your son, — J. W. Hamlet
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