Letter to Katherine Snodgrass-Boyd

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards family matters and a trip with other cadets to explore a cave outside of Lexington.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

Virginia Military Institute
April 6th 1862

My Dear Sister
I rec'd your letter several days ago. I would have answered it sooner but I knew you had not received my letter when you wrote – I heard from Bose yesterday. He is well – going back or rather by this time has gone back to his company – he said that Arch and Jack had reported back to their company. I was sorry to learn that Joe McMarran was taken prisoner. He has been sent to Baltimore. I hope he will be treated kindly – his mother and sisters will be much distressed about him. I know how all in Martinsburg and how Ma feels about the boys – hope they will hear in some way that they are safe – I would not be surprised if Grand Ma has gotten home. Communication is of course open between Maryland, and that part of the valley now subject to the Yankee despotism. [?] Delaplane has been over to see them at home I suppose - he would come, if none of Uncle Johns family did. I am sorry to see you are dissatisfied and long to be home. It is of course natural that you should feel in that way since you are deprived of hearing from home - don't despair, it may be a long time, before you can see home again - and it may be a short time - none can tell but I hope when we do hear, all will be right. Bose told me in his letter, that his time in the army would be up - the eighteenth of April. He is coming to see me - on his way down to Capt Pelhorns company - I wouldn't stop much to go down with him - I went yesterday with several boys to explore a cave about 2 miles from the Institute. We went several hundred feet under the ground past through some of the most perfect rooms I ever saw. I believe no one has ever gone to the bottom of it - several boys have gone over today to go farther down in it than we went yesterday - Will H among the number - Well Kate I must close - Goodbye Love to Nannie - write soon
Your aff. Brother
(signed) John B. Snodgrass

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Class of 1864
Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
Correspondence

Names:

Snodgrass family
Snodgrass family

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