Letter from Lawrence Royster to John E. Roller

Creator:

Royster, Lawrence, 1841-1914

Scope and content:

Written from Richmond, Virginia. Letter regards travel to VMI's temporary headquarters at the Alms House in Richmond.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

Corps Cadets Camp on Intermediate Line
Near Richmond Dec. 7th 1864

My Dear Roller,
I am really ashamed at the idea of neglecting your letter for so long a time, but out here even I scarcely have time to write a letter, so busily are we occupied drilling and having dress parades. Soon after you were at Camp Lee, we moved to this place and it seems impossible, although we have procured the Almshouse for us to get away, we are anxiously expecting a furlough of two weeks to prepare etc. When we will be relieved from duty here I cannot say, we are daily expecting a fight on this line, certainly before the end of this week. They are making such a stir about our getting the building that I do not expect we will be able to study in peace after we do get there. The provisions and "we officers" have all been moved down ready for work but the much persecuted Corps has not been released from the Confederate Authorities yet. Not long since a foreign battalion was raised under Col. Tucker to be stationed in Columbia & Aiken SC as a garrison. A good many of our boys have accepted positions as Captains and Lieutenants, among them, several of the old class, also Duncan, Brockenbrough, James F., Dinwiddie, Barton, Penn and Tunstall. I came near going myself but concluded not to do so, and now I congratulate myself upon not going. I believe we intend to occupy the Alms House until the spring and then move to Lexington again. I am sure I cannot study much in Richmond, and now I have my fears concerning Calculus etc. as it would be more disgraceful than ever should I fail in that, oh! I do want that diploma so much. I have studied hard for two long years and now do not want to fail. We are to room by company, consequently our old room will greatly, to the regret of all parties, be broken up, Pizzini, Davis and myself being in different companies. With that exception I have as pleasant a room as I could desire. Stuart, Echols, Etheredge, Royster, Ridley R., James J., Jarratt & Peirce, the officers and non-commissioned of "B" Co. The house is an elegant building, much more than old barracks. We will also have to study on Saturday which I do not like much. That fine breakfast on Saturday will be knocked in the head then.

Ross & Echols desire to be remembered to you.

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
Virginia Military Institute—Civil War, 1861-1865
Correspondence

Names:

Roller, John E. (John Edwin), 1844-1917
Royster, Lawrence, 1841-1914
Roller, John E. (John Edwin), 1844-1917

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