Letter to sister

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards arrival at VMI and daily life as a cadet.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

V.M. Institute
June 6th, 1861

My Dear Sister,
I suppose you have heard ere this my whereabouts - I passed through Staunton on yesterday week and would have called to see you but the cars were behind hand that day and the stage left immediately after cars got there and I did not have time to do so. I went to Uncle Jim Burn's and intended coming to see you from there but heard that your school was out and you had gone to Mt. Solon and as I did not have time to come there I left for this place on Monday last where I have been ever since. I entered as a regular cadet. I am well and getting along very well‐ am very lonesome and often long for a letter from you‐ have rec'd no letters from anyone since I have been here. I rec'd a letter from you the day I left the University‐ but have not been able to answer it since‐ and here I have not time to do anything of that kind‐ keep a feller running to roll call, drums, drills and lecture every two minutes almost. When a feller comes here he has to give up his liberty in every respect‐ it is just like you were in jail. Can't leave barracks hardly without permission. I have no news of any importance to write you‐ in fact I haven't heard any news or seen a newspaper since I have been here. I suppose you have rec'd a letter from Uncle Jimmy or Aunt [Min] ere this. They told me they would write and let you know where I was for I did not know when I should have an opportunity to write. There is that infernal drum again.

Returned. I have but time to say Good Bye and write very soon. Love to all.
Your Loving Bro‐
James.

Direct to
Cadet Jas. A. Harden
V. M. Institute
Lexington, Va
Never ~Darling~

Subjects:

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

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