Richard Bayly Buck Papers 1861-1865
- Abstract Or Scope
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Civil War letters to Richard B. Buck of the Warren Rifles, Virginia 17th Regiment, from various family members and friends. His mother Jane Buck writes to him, May 13, 1861, praying for any early end to the war and that no blood will be shed, but if so "that the calamity fall upon the heads of our enemy." In a letter, May 21, 1861, she wishes he would spend some time with the ladies," I do not like your being so long from under the influence of ladies society." Jane Buck's early letters clearly express her concern about her son's morals and the effect war and "bad company" may have on him. She writes to remember his God and prayers. However, as the war drags on, her letters change tone, but she always encourages her son to invoke the protection of God. Other items of interest are the letters of his cousins, Nell and Lucy Buck (of the above diary). Lucy's are very serious from the beginning, but Nell's are light-hearted, but as with Jany Buck's letters, her correspondence also grows more somber as the war progressed. These letters seem to reflect the mood of the South at the beginning of the War, that all this was going to be a great and heroic adventure, until it was obvious the war wasn't going to be over in a month. #3064
- Collection Context