Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER - 21st Virginia Infantry Surrender Ft Donelson, TN!

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
Manassas Junction
February 22, 1862
Dear Father,
I received yours of the 14th [inst.] & take this opportunity of replying. I am sorry to hear of Bettie’s illness & hope she may be well by this time. Since writing to you last, nothing of interest has transpired here. The weather continues very damp & rainy.
You have [un]doubtedly heard of our misfortune in Tennessee—the surrender of Fort Donelson to the Yankees. Yesterday’s
Dispatch
gives detailed (northern) accounts of the fight and surrender of the fort. They are of course greatly exaggerated. They report the capture of General’s Johnston, Buckner & Pillow with 15,000 of their command but southern accounts represent the affair quite differently—none of the generals captured & very few of their command.
I heard within the last day or two that Gen. Loring’s Brigade was ordered to this place. Do not know certainly whether it is so. I, however, saw a notice in the
Lynchburg Virginian
to the correspondents of the 42nd Virginia Regiment (now at Winchester) to direct letters to Manassas for that regiment. A letter from Tom dated the 11th [inst.] said nothing of their removal.
The boys in the regiment are reenlisting rapidly. About 20 or 25 of my company have enlisted. A good many, including Sam [ ] & Couch have joined a battery organizing in the 19th Regiment under Capt. Peyton.
I must close as I intend going to the regiment & the train (which runs to Bull Run) is about starting. Excuse the haste in which this is written. Write soon & let me hear from Bettie. My love to all.
Your obedient son, — J. M. Hamlet
TERMS
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