Letter to sister

Scope and content:

Written from "near" Winchester, Virginia. Letter regards recent engagement with the enemy, desire to send money home, and personal matters.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Near Winchester, Va.
Aug 18th 1864

My Dear Sister;
Again we are on the move forward down the Valley. We marched from Strasburg here yesterday & attacked the enemy here & drove him beyond the town. They fell back from our front at Strasburg night before last‐ caused by a flank movement of Gen. Anderson with two Divs. of Longstreet's Corps & Fitz‐Lee's Cav. Div. We fought here only a Brig. of Infantry & a large force of Cav. , their main force having gone towards Berryville. They certainly have a very large force‐ say 35 or 40 thousand. Our loss here heavy in comparison to that of the enemy. I lost my Sergt. Major badly wounded leg amputated. The fifth one I have had since I have been with this Battl. I again have great cause to thank God that I am again spared. Pray for me still. I suppose we will move on towards Martinsburg again & may cross the river "if we can".

I would like to send you some money to "splurge on" if I have an opportunity. If you can get it then do so & when I come I will give or send it to you by the first opportunity. I don't want you to sit down in Mt. Solon & nurse your hands. I want you fly around & enjoy yourself with your associates. While they are taking pleasure excursions, I don't want you to remain behind. For funds as long as I have any I have plenty for you to enjoy yourself with. I want you to see something of the world. Be very choise[sic] of your associates, both ladies and gents‐ especially the latter‐ avoid forward nor too intimate on short acquaintance, rather be hard to cultivate‐ don't show your likes or dislikes too much, cover them as much as possible‐ altogether if you [can]. I have not time to answer your last letter. I wrote Mr. Paul to get me a n‐‐‐‐‐. I hope he will. I am greatly in need of one. I have no further news to write you now. Go to see Maj. Yancey if you can and enjoy yourself. Visit all you can so it ain't too much. I don't know the name of the girl that wrote the letters more than "Recca" or "Pet". The feller's name is Cassius L. Mather 23rd O.R. I don't think he was killed. Give my best love to all, write me very often. Write long letters. The reason I want the small pistol sent to Uncle J. is that he asked me to leave one of them with him. He has the large one now & will keep it until I can get a belt. Good bye my dear sister. May God Bless you. Pray for me.
Your devoted Bro.
James

Subjects:

Soldiers -- Confederate States of America -- Correspondence

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