Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER - 21st Virginia Infantry Expects Battle Winchester!

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]
February 25, 1862
Dear Father,
I received yours of the 21st inst. day before yesterday. I had watched the mails with great anxiety several days having heard through a letter to Capt. Moseley that Bettie was very sick and though I dreaded the next news from her, I was shocked by your letter. I applied for a furlough this morning and Capt. Moseley also attempted to get one for me, and was told by Gen. Jackson’s aide that it would be granted. I then carried my knapsack &c. to Winchester in order to take the stage for Strasburg tonight but found when I got there that Gen. Jackson refused to grant it. Having so nearly succeeded only aded to my disappointment.
Gen. Jackson refused me on account of an expected attack here soon. It is reported that the enemy is advancing from Harper’s Ferry. I do not know whether this is true or not, but there must be something of it for some of the inhabitants of Winchester are moving off towards Strasburg and others are preparing to do the same. It is my impression that Winchester will be evacuated soon, though I should rather take my chance in a battle than see this country in hands of the enemy. Five regiments have left here within the last week—three of them gone to Tennessee and numbers of those regiments that remain have reenlisted and gone home. Unless we are reinforced, it’s very probable that this place will be in ythe hands of the enemy very soon.
Since I have been writing, wagons have been ordered to town from our regiment to load up with ammunition and provisions, and our commissary stores are now being started off. As it is getting late, I have not time to write more. I shall expect a letter from you soon and though I dread th contents, I still hope that Bettie may be improving. But should it be otherwise, mat God sustain us both at our homes and in the battle field.
Your affectionate son, — J. W. Hamlet
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