Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER - 21st Virginia Infantry Fight with Yankee Cavalry!

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
Romney [Virginia]
January 26, 1862
Dear Father,
I write you a few lines this morning but have no news of importance. We came into this place day before yesterday and are now quartered in very good houses but so much crowded that I would prefer remaining in tents although the weather is very disagreeable indeed and the snow is about 4 inches deep.
We have regular picket duty to perform now which is by no means a pleasant business but I have been fortunate enough to get on the color guard which exempts me from all duty except marching with the flag. Tom Hancock went on picket this morning and will be out 24 hours. Our farthest post is seven miles but scouting parties are going all the time beyond our picket. A party of cavalry came upon the enemy’s cavalry day before yesterday about 10 miles from here and had some fighting but nobody was hurt on either side. The Yankees were put to flight although they had more than double as many men as we had. I think it strange the Yankees left this place as they were fortified and certainly might have held it unless their supplies had been cut off.
We have a good many cases of sickness in our regiment and only about 20 men of our company for duty. Freeman More is very sick. The others confined mostly with mumps. About a dozen of the company have been sent back to Winchester with mumps. One of Capt. [Sherrod] Mustein’s men died very suddenly last night. There has been some suspicion that he was poisoned by a Union man. He bought a roasted fowl and eat some of the dressing and died within an hour afterwards.
January 27th/ I received yours of the 20th yesterday evening. Am glad to hear that you are well. The letter you mentioned was written, I think, from Cross Roads, Morgan County. The enemy left Romney about the time I wrote but instead of advancing on Winchester as was reported, they went the other way in such haste that they did not even take time to destroy what provisions they could not take with them.
The report probably started from a scouting party of Yankees which went out about ten miles towards Winchester and destroyed a great deal of property along the road.
I received a letter from brother [James] written before you reached Manassas Station that he was well. Write as often as convenient. Give my love to the family.
Your son, — J. W. Hamlet
P. S. I was sorry to hear of the death of James Nash this morning. He was well when we left him in Staunton. I am in hopes that Tom will be able to get a furlough soon as there is no probability of a fight now. Gen. Jackson has withdrawn with his brigade to Winchester.
TERMS
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