Oconee County, South Carolina Genealogy Trails

History of the Fourth Regiment of S. C. Volunteers
FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR UNTIL LEE'S SURRENDER
By J. W. REID
South Carolina Genealogy Trails

Giving a Full Account of All its Movements, Fights and Hardships of All Kindh.
Also a Very Correct Account of the Travels and Fights of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Same Period.

This Book is a Copy of the Letters Written in Virginia at the Time by the Author and Sent Home to His Family.

Containing an Account of the Author's Services in the First Regiment of Engineer Troops in the Latter Part of the War.

With a Short Sketch of the Life of the Author...By J. W. REID

Private in Company C. Fourth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers and Afterwards a Sergeant in Company K First Regiment of Engineer Troops. 1892: Shannon & Co., Printers and Binders, Greenville, S.C.

Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1891, by JESSE Walton Reid, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.

INTRODUCTION.
Dear Reader : The Fourth Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers was made up principally from Greenville, Anderson and Pickens (which then enbraced what is now Oconee) Counties.

The field officers were J. B. E. Sloan, Colonel; Charles S. Mattison, Lieutenant-Colonel, James Whitner, Major. Samuel Wilkes was Adjutant, A. C. Cooley, Surgeon, -----Burnham, Assistant Surgeon, Henry Cauble, Commissary.

The Captains of Companies were Kilpatrick, Humphreys, Dean, Anderson, Pool, Hawthorne, Long, Hollingsworth, Griffin and Shanklin, with a full quota of Lieutenants and non-commissioned officers.

This Regiment was called out April 14th, 1861, and went to Columbia, S. C, from which place I wrote my first letter home, and from that time on 1 endeavored to give an account of our travels until the Regiment ceased to be even a battalion, in July, 1862. As the reader will see, I wrote a great many letters to my family during this period, which were all taken care oi and which I have here copied from the originals, leaving nothing out, except a few things of a private nature. I have also used precisely the same language that I did in the letters, because I could use no better.

In writing the letters at that time I stated nothing but facts in regard to our movements, or what I thought to be facts, and I can also say that I still think them facts.

A goodly number of my old companions in arms and others, knowing that these letters had been preserved, have urged me for several years back to have them published. I have at length concluded to do so, hoping they may to some extent interest the reader and benefit the writer. Please pass over all errors, as I have never studied grammar a day in my life, and am by no means a learned man. I hope that grammar is not what you want, but a plain statement of facts. These pages are written so the most illiterate person can understand, and if so, most assuredly a scholar can. Without further remarks, I will say, "Such as I have, give I unto thee."

Very respectfully yours,..........J. W. Reid.

Greenville Co., S. C.
Columbia, S. C, June 8, 1861.

There has nothing important transpired since I wrote you a few days ago. Since the taking of Fort Sumter I have heard of no more fighting, but as the ball has opened there is no telling at present how or when it may,end, but it cannot reasonably be doubted by any one that is familiar with the present situation of affairs, that there will be fighting to do, and a great deal of it. I have no doubt in my mind but that we will be sent on to Virginia soon. Everything seems to point that way. Virginia is where the Federal army is concentrating its forces, and there is where I think we will meet them; and if we do go I will try to keep you posted on our movements, our ups and downs, our outs and ins — at least, so long as I am able to do so—until hostilities cease, should I be spared through it all. Let our united prayers be that I may be spared.

Since coming to Columbia I have met up with a great many of our friends and acquaintances from Greenville and some of our relations; also, some from Pendleton and other places. Your brother Robinson Tripp's two eldest sons, William and Elias, are here, and your cousin, Ware Childers. David Keesler of Pendleton is also here. I shall not at present give you the names of acquaintances that I have formed here. I may have occason in future letters to refer to some of them, and sad to contemplate, it is probable that I may have to chronicle the death of some of them.

Our boys here are very jubilant over the taking of Fort Sumter, and so am I. But the the taking of Fort Sumter is not exactly taking or whipping into submission the Yankee nation, or Yankee army. That thing remains to be done hereafter, if at all. It will not be done in a day. Big men seem willing to drink all the blood that will be spilled in this war. I do not feel quite drouthy enough to do so myself, and I think they will have to be as big as they feel before they do so. They may possibly be able to drink ail they themselves have shed, but I fear they will not be able to take the whole bottle. Time will show.

We are still drilling every day, but so far as I am concerned I could drill them as well as they can drill me, as you know I have been a commissioned officer ever since I was eighteen years old, and already understand military tactics and army regulations very well. Nevertheless I drill with the balance of them. When we are not drilling the time is pretty much taken up by drinking popskull, frying pan cakes and bruising around generally. You may ask: Why fry pan cakes? Ans: Because the dough sticks to our hands and we don't know how to get it off. Please send me a receipt. We make the latter with a spoon.

Most of the boys here think that we are just going to have a frolic. I think so too, but I fear that we will have to dance something besides hornpipes and jigs.

It reminds me of

" A Highland laddie heard of war.
Which set his heart in motion ; He heard the distant cannon roar
And saw the smiling Ocean."

Our immediate neighbors are mostly all well. Mr. J. J. Land is sick, but not dangerously so. I will write soon, Providence permitting.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Note.—I had written two or three letters to my wife before this one, but as I had given her no instructions to keep them, they were therefore not taken care of as those I wrote afterwards. However, they contained nothing that would interest the reader of to-day. Neither will those that will follow the precceding letter for sometime, but in order to preserve a connected account of the movements of the glorious Fourth, they are inserted. It ceased to be even a battalion in the latter part of 1862, When I arrive at that point I will inform you as near as I can of what became of the few that were left of the " Bloody Old Fourth," as it was familiarly known. Now, dear reader, follow me and get it all.

Columbia, S. C, June 14, 1861.

Everything and everybody is in commotion here today. We have orders to make ready to start to Virginia to-morrow. I suppose there is no doubt but that we will go, and if so, the Lord alone knows when we will get back. Most assuredly, with some of us at least, that time will never come. But don't let the thought of that disturb you at all. Try to think that I will be among those who will get back, and I will try and think the same; in fact I do think I will. There seems to be something within me that assures me that I will get back, and still I am by no means certain of it; neither can I be, but still I feel as as though 1 would. Since coming to Columbia I have visited all the places of note in the city; and although I had been here often before, I had never been to the lunatic asylum before. I expect I should have been there long ago. It may be that they can bring insane persons to sanity there. I can't say, but I can say that it would work the other way with me, for I was not there but a short time, and in less than three hours afterwards I hardly knew whether I was a rebel soldier or an Irish Yankee. There is, however, a glimmering possibility that going to the ayslum was not the prime cause of my insanity, as several of the boys swear that they have seen me so before from causes too delicate to mention. At any rate I did not again visit the ayslum, but I did visit Hunt again.

There were several here from about home and from Greenville to see us off in the morning. If we do go you will hear of it in a day or two. I send you my carpet bag and contents by Mr. E. J. Earle. He can tell you more than I now have time to write. I send you my likeness by Mr. Earle also.

I must now close and prepare for my journey. I will write again at the first opportunity.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Note.—We went the next day as anticipated.

Camp Near Richmond, Va., June 18th, 1861.

When I last wrote to you we were preparing to leave Columbia, S. C. Accordingly on the next day, the 15th, we left our native State, and on the night of the 17th reached Richmond. I shall say but little about our trip here. It was, to say the least, quite an unpleasant trip, as we came the most of the way in open dirt coaches. We came by the way of Wilmington, N. C. At every depot and town we passed the ladies and gentlemen had gathered to give us a welcome. Flags and handkerchiefs were waved in profusion; every one seemed to be in high spirits. We were treated to all we could eat and drink (and that was considerable) at every place we stopped at. Some time before we reached Petersburg the Captain of the company to which I belonged—Thomas Dean by name—telegraphed on to Petersburg to have dinner ready for his entire company when we arrived there. We were to pay Captain Dean afterwards. Accordingly when we arrived the dinner was ready, and so were we; but before eating the most of us took as an appetizer a doze of rot-of-pop-skull. I don't know that I ever saw men come so near eating the worth of their money before in my life. A corn-husking or logrolling would look like a fast day by the side of it. I do think that Bill----ate at least two chickens, and other things in proportion, and then filled every pocket that he had, except the one his flask was in, with pies, cakes and other desserts, and then took a baked chicken off in his hat. After we had been on the train a while, at an unguarded moment, for some unkown cause, he took off his hat, and out fell cold speck on the floor. As you were' never at a shooting match where they were shooting for mutton, and the mutton an eye witness to the proceedings, of course you don't know how he looked, but I do. Richmond is a good, big place, and is situated at the head of tide water on the James River. I don't suppose that we will remain here long, but will go further North, where we will meet our brethren of the North, and it is more than likely that we will fall out and fight before we are together very long.

I will close this letter. I will doubtless write again soon.
Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Note.—This trip from Columbia to Richmond, at that time, beat anything that I ever saw for non-discipline and insubordination in soldiers. It seems that every man in the regiment mistook himself for Commander-in-Chief of the regiment Whiskey was plentiful and cheap; every man had as much as he wanted, and a great many had a great deal more than they needed. I suppose that there was some few that did not drink any; but if so, your humble servant, the writer of this note, had not the pleasure of their acquaintance. I was truly glad when we got to Richmond, where we had a partial rest We still had whiskey in abundance, but it was not long before it was less plentiful and harder to get at, and I was truly glad of it, and then times went on more smoothly, and it was for the better of us all.

Leesburg, Loudon Co., Va., Jan. 24th, 1861.

When I last wrote you I was at the City of Richmond. In that letter I stated to you that I did not think we would remain there long, and such really turned out to be the case. We left Richmond on the 20th, and arrived at Manassas Junction the 21st, but only remained there a few hours, and then went on some eight or ten miles to a little place called Gainesville, and remained there all night. On the 22d we for the first time took up the line of march on foot, and on the 23d arrived at this place. On our route we passed the old homestead of President Monroe, a very beautiful place. We are camped here, near the town of Leesburg, which is on the Potomac River. We are at an advanced post, being in advance of our main army. We are said to be only twenty-seven miles above the City of (Abraham) Washington. This is a rich and beautiful country and a great place for cattle, and the land literally flows with milk and honey. So we are by no means suffering for rations, as provisions of all kinds are plentiful here and easily obtained. We are now in plain view of the mountains, and nearly in view of the men we came to see, as they are just on the other side of the river, and our business here now is to try to keep them from crossing over; but if they do succeed in crossing the Potomac River, some of them at least will have to cross Jordan, and some few of them may have to cross over another noted stream, called the River of Styx, and that is the last watering place this side of Hades.

Whilst in camp near Richmond I found a beautiful little money purse. I took it away off in the woods to examine my fortune. With trembling hand and palpitating heart I opened it; it contained a negro woman's pass and two copper cents. Is it possible that I can ever lack for money again. I got me a new pair of shoes while at Richmond, and if I have to travel much more in them I will have corns to dispose of. The Virginians here say that the Yankees are as afraid as death of South Carolinians. I don't know about that, but I do know that South Carolinians are not afraid of them.

Called to drill.

Yours as ever,J. W. Reid.

Leesburg, Loudon Co., Va., June 30th, 1861.

Nothing new of import has occurred here since I wrote to you on the 24th inst. The Yankee Doodles have not as yet crossed the river as I have heard of, but as I have before said, if they do cross we will try our best to make them recross. They are nearly in sight of us, but they are in Maryland and we in Virginia, the river being the line. They may and no doubt will cross, but if not I feel pretty certain that we will not cross over to them. I am no general, corporal or scoundrel, but my private opinion is that it would be very bad logic in us to cross over to them, as I don't think we should be the invaders. It is an accepted fact here now that we will have some hard fighting to do before a great while. If so I sky let it come; that is what we came here for, and the sooner we go at it perhaps the sooner it will end, and I mean to do what fighting I have to do as soon as possible and get back home to Dixie.

Since commencing this letter I have been put on guard. I was put on at eight o'clock this morning and will be relieved at eight to-morrow morning. I am now writing on my knee at the guard house, when off of post, which is two-thirds of the time; so excuse bad writing, for my chances at writing are very sad. Make yourself no uneasiness about me if you can help it. I will try and do the best I can for No. 1. I have not missed a roll call since I came into the service. I send my best wishes to Colonel Parke, E. J. Earle, A. M. Holland, and all inquiring friends. I hope the neighbors will treat you well. I have come here and left everything that is dear to me on earth to fight and suffer all manner of hardships to protect their property, not my own, whilst many of them who have property are still at home with their families—in fact they are the ones as a general rule that stay at home; and I think honor dictates and justice demands that they should see to the families of the poor horny-handed soldiers who are doing their fighting, hundreds of miles from home and friends. Will we poor soldiers ever be recompensed for what we are doing? I fear not. I now go on post.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Note.—In the above letter, written nearly thirty years ago, you will see that I doubted the poor soldiers ever getting anything for what they were then undergoing for the wealthy men of the South. I know very well that there has been several theories advanced as being the cause of the war, and it cannot be successfully denied but that it was the negro, and nothing but the negro, a fact which any chuckle-headed- school boy is familiar with. But as to the poor soldier ever getting anything, I am about of the same opinion now that I was thirty years ago. It don't seem to matter how old or how poor and infirm a soldier may be, he can't get anything unless he was nearly killed in time of the war. It reminds me of an anecdote that I will here relate: A man that in former times did a great deal of hauling to Augusta, Ga., was in the habit of having something crank to say to persons that he would pass. On one occasion his son John was driving the wagon and he was walking behind. He passed an old man sitting in a door shoemaking, but said nothing to him, but a little further on he came to a stout-looking young.man chopping wood. "Is that your father back yonder that was shoemaking," he added. "Yes," replied the young man. "You had better go to your father, for he dropped dead just as we passed the house." The young man dropped his axe and ran to the house, but soon returned, cursing and abusing the man in a dreadful manner. The man called out, "John, come back here quick; this man is cursing me all to pieces because his daddy is not dead." So they don't give the poor, infirm soldier anything because he was not killed in the war. The poor, infirm soldier should get something after he becomes of a certain age.

[This letter is rather a continuation of the preceding one, written June 30th, 1861.]

Next Thursday will be the Fourth of July, and on that day the United States Congress will meet, and then it will soon be known what we may depend upon. The universal opinion here is that we will be pushed forward. As to my own part I feel confident that such will be the case. There was a false alarm here last night. It was reported that the enemy had crossed the river in large numbers. We were ordered to pack up everything and cook up two days rations, in case we should have to fallback to our main army, in the vicinity of Manassas Junction, which we undoubtedly would have had to do if the report had proved true, for our regiment, if they are South Carolinians, could not long continue against the whole Federal army. We remained up all night with our equipments on and our muskets at our sides; but the report proved false, if indeed there was such a report at all. I think it was done to try our pluck. I am confident there is none of the "enemy on this side of the river in this vicinity. There were some ladies here the other day from Maryland, and they say that if we never die till the Yankees kill us that we will live till we turn to mules and jackasses. I hope not, for some of us are too much like the latter animal already. The ladies of Leesburg and vicinity come here every day by hundreds and bring us all kinds of good things to eat, milk and honey, butter and eggs, and almost any and everything you could mention. These ladies are quite nice looking, and some of them are said to be quite wealthy. If you could be here on those occasions you would think that there was not a married man in the regiment but me. A great many of them are married men, but they are not obliged to say so.

We all went out yesterday to try our guns. We shot at a barrel, two or three hundred yards off, placed on a fence. Jim Loftin and myself, and one or two more, was all that hit the barrel, of my company. If our men shoot at the enemy like they did at that barrel, they will not kill very many of the enemy unless they climb like squirrels or get in the ground like moles; for those that did not hit the tree top hit the ground about half way to the target. I will finish when preaching is over.

Evening, 2 O'clock.—

Just as I stopped writing this morning it set in to raining, and is raining yet; so we have no preaching. I went over to Leesburg the other day, and amongst other things I got was a fine comb, but of course I did not need it, for. I don't believe that there is one-----in my head. You may perhaps say there may be some on it. You say that you don't feel like you would ever see me again. My dear, banish all such thoughts. Far from you I feel quite the reverse. Try and feel the same way. All dangers are not deaths. Keep all the letters that I send you, as I may want to refer to them at some future time.

Direct to "Tudor Hall, Leesburg, Loudon County, Va."

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Leesburg, Va., July 2d, 1861.

I did not intend writing again quite so soon, but having an opportunity of sending a letter by hand, I will therefore scribble a few lines more, as I am well aware that I write none too often. So far as you are concerned there has nothing important occurred since I wrote to you last, June 30th. We have all sorts of rumors here, but none of them have any foundation whatever, and therefore I will not report them here. I have been reading and writing letters for the boys nearly all day. I undoubtedly write more letters than any other man in the regiment.

It is quite cool here to-day. I am wearing my coat all day. This is quite a healthy place here. Our regiment is enjoying very good health here at present. I doubt very much if one could take the same number of persons anywhere in the country and find less sickness amongst them than is to be found in our regiment. We are all anxiously awaiting the Fourth of July; it is only two days off. After it is over it will not be long till we know what to depend upon. A great many men here seem to flatter themselves that there will be but little fighting done. I can't say how it may be, but I very much doubt that doctrine. We will all soon know more about it. Now, in giving you my ideas about things, don't take it for granted that I am right. I may not be. I only give you my private opinion about those things; but what I do state to you for a fact you may at all times be assured that such is a fact. At all events I shall state nothing as a fact unless I have the best of reasons for believing it. When I write you that such and such is a rumor, you may put it down as a rumor; neither need you put much confidence in rumor, for old Dame Rumor is a notorions liar. She will actually tell a lie when the truth would answer the best purpose.

I will write again soon.
Yours affectionately, J. W. Reid.

Leesburg, Loudon Co., Va., July 5, 1861.

Nothing of importance has occurred since I wrote to you last.

Night before last some of our men got with a negro who lives near here, and told him they were Yankees, and made arrangements with him to poison the whole regiment. He agreed to put poison in pies, cakes and the like, and distribute them amongst us all he could, and I understand that he was preparing to do so when he was arrested. He was tried this morning and found guilty of intended murder. He has just now finished taking the most powerful whipping that I ever saw any human being take. He has just now gone home. Was our men justifiable in what they done? Every one can answer this question in their own way. On yesterday, the Fourth, the ladies and gentlemen of Leesburg and surrounding country came here in great numbers. The ladies presented us with a beautiful flag. A Virginia officer made the presentation speech, in the name of the ladies. The acceptation speech was made by Warren D. Wilkes, of Anderson, in the name of the regiment. We all agreed that it should never trail in the dirt. The Fourth is over. We will soon know what to depend upon. May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of all mankind, be with you and with us all.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

In those letters from Leesburg I wrote a great many things that I am now leaving out, as they would be of little interest to the reader of the day, I will therefore hurry on to times and things more exciting- Although any one still living who was in the old Fourth Regiment at that time, will look back to these times that I am now writing about with more pleasure than at any period of the war; for at Leesburg we not only lived like kings but had the company and the sympathy of as fine a set of ladies as lived on God's green earth. If these writings should ever find their way into the hands of any of the old citizens about Leesburg, I presume they will recollect the Fourth of July, 1861. Our flag never did trail in the dust.

Leesburg, Va., Sunday Evening, 1 o'clock, July 7th, 1861.

As I don't expect to close this letter for several days, I shall not say anything about the war to-day. We are camped here within one mile of the town of Leesburg, and in plain view of the Maryland mountains, distant about ten miles. We are camped in a beautiful grove of oak, hickory and other forest trees. The grove contains some live or six acres. All around except on one side are old fields, grown up with grass and clover, on which are grazing a great many fine cattle. It is stated here that this beautiful grove was once a Methodist camp ground, and a more beautiful place could not have been selected. It is also said to have once been the camping ground of General Braddock during the English and French war. I have just returned from preaching. An old Virginia preacher preached for us. The opening hymn was, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross," &c. His text was 12th chapter Romans, 11th verse: "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, fearing the Lord." He preached an excellent sermon. It made me think of home. I am truly glad that we can still hear the Gospel preached here, if we are in the army. God is everywhere. He is looking over us here, just the same as he would under our own vine and fig tree. As much as I regret it, I will have to inform you that-it was a funeral occasion. Death has already entered our ranks. There has been three of our regiment to die this past week. A Mr. Pilgram, of Captain Long's company; a Mr. Martin, of the same company, and a Mr. Anderson, of Captain Griffin's company. They all three died this past week. Our Adjutant, Samuel Wilkes, is sick, but I don't think he is dangerously sick. 1 will now stop writing for the present.

Evening, 5 O'clock,—

I have just returned from preaching again. Our Chaplain, Mr. Guin, preached this evening a very good sermon. Mr. Guin is an old acquaintance of mine. He lives at Greenville; his wife is Laura Guiu. I found a beautiful pearl-handled knife the other day that I intend giving to you some day if I don't find the owner of it. I must now stop and write for others.

Monday Evening, 5 O'clock, July 8th.—

Nothing definite from Washington yet. Report says that Lincoln in his address to Congress advises the raising of a large army. I expect this is true. I could not tell you the tenth part of the rumors that are now going the rounds, some of which, if we believed them, would make us think that we would soon be at home again. Other reports, if believed, would make us doubt if we ever got home or not. Now, this is the same old dame that I told you was such a liar. I will stop again for more rumors.

Tuesday Evening, 5 O'clock, July 9th.—

Nothing important. I expect to write a letter to Colonel Parks in a day or two. You will doubtless hear from me when he gets it.

Wednesday Morning, 5 O'clock, July 10th.—

Everything in an uproar. We are preparing to leave here. We are going down the river; trouble is before us. No doubt all dangers are not deaths. I must now close this long, uninteresting letter, and prepare to go—I know not where.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Frying Pan Church, Fairfax Co., Va. July 12th, 1861.

I closed my last letter in a hurry, to prepare to move. We left Leesburg the same day and came on to this place, some twenty-five miles. We were nearly ten days coming. I don't know how long we will remain here, but I hope it will not be long, for I do not like the place at all. Tell Colonel Parks to read the letter to you that I sent him; tell him that the Louisiana Battaiion that I wrote to him about has left us and gone, it is said, to Faifax Court House. It is also said that we will go there shortly; I don't profess to know whether it is true, or not. It is also said that the Butler Guards, of Greenville, are there. If so I would like to see them, as I am acquainted with nearly every man in the company. One of the men of Wheat's Battalion had his leg cut off before they left us. He is now dying. Report (who is nearly as big a liar as rumor) says that some of the enemy is now occupying our old position at Leesburg. I don't believe it; but if they are there, I want to go and drive them back to Maryland, or somewhere else. I shall say but little more at present, as it has been but a day or two since I wrote to you. Direct your next letter to Manassas Junction, Va.

Yours affectionately,J. W. Reid.

Note.—Wheat's Battalion did not go to Fairfax Court House, but halted about one mile from us. Neither did we go back to Leesburg. The man I spoke of as having his leg cut off died that evening.

Frying Pan, Va., July 13th, 1861.

I now commence another letter to you, and may not finish it for several days.

We were alarmed last night about dark by a report that we were surrounded by about twenty thousand of the enemy, and that our only chance of escape was to cut our way through them, and make our way as best we could to Manassas Junction, where General Beauregard is with our main army. Our officers told us that if we failed in this we would all be cut to pieces or captured. We were ordered by General Evans to prepare for action. Provided an attack should be made in ten minutes all was ready. Each man drew forty-five rounds of cartridges, and had everything in wagons ready for an emergency. We thought that twenty thousand, and five thousand of them cavalry, rather too much for eight or nine hundred of us, although it was our determination to fight our way through them; A large picket was sent out to examine the situation. They returned this morning, and report no enemy in this immediate vicinity; perhaps none nearer than Alexandria. However, there is no doubt in my mind but that we will have hard fighting to do before long. Everything points in that direction.

Two more men of Wheat's Battalion got killed accidentally yesterday. Wheat's Battalion and our regiment and one hundred and eighty mounted men are all the troops we have in this vicinity. I will now stop a while.

July 14th.—

All is excitement and confusion here at present. Yesterday, just after I stopped writing, we got the news that two of our regiments had started to join us, and that the enemy had got in between them and us, and that they were retreating back towards Manassas Junction; so we were ordered to pack up and move immediately. In a few minutes we were en route for this place, distant some two or three miles. We call this place Camp Holcomb. I hope that we have not jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. I like this place better, provided an attack is made, than I did frying pan, as there is an old railroad cut here, some twenty feet deep, which will be greatly in our favor, if they come on us here. Ten o'clock, and our pickets still fail to find a foe near us. Some of old Rumor's tales I reckon. We heard some cannonading last night in the direction of Alexandria, where Mr. Eumor says there are twenty thousand of the enemy and fifteen thousand Confederate troops. I have heard several reports from there to-day, all without foundation. If the fight comes on I will do the best I can. I am determined not to run unless the boys all run with me. I will die in the battle field first. I will stop a while again.

Monday Evening, 4 O'clock, July 15th.—

There was a man here to-day from Alexandria. He says we are as safe here as we would be in the middle of South Carolina. I would much rather risk it there than here, so far as I am personally concerned. There are some men here who try to make themselves and everything else look as big as possible, and every rumor that they hear they write it home as facts, and that is calculated to keep the people at home always excited and uneasy. Don't listen to every thing you hear, but what I write to you shall be facts, as near as possible. Another,thing I warn you against, and that is, what you see in the papers. A great many take what they read in the papers as gospel truths. The papers are like the men; they publish every rumor as an established fact. Don't believe any thing you hear, and only about half what you see. I will now stop again and wait for more lies.

Tuesday Evening, July 16.—

No positive news yet. I understand, from a pretty reliable source; that there is a great many of the enemy whose time will soon expire, having only volunteered for six months. I believe this report to be true, and if so an attack is almost sure to be made before their time is out, as it will take some considerable time to get others in their place and have them ready for service. I believe this to be precisely the state of affairs now; and if so, we will most assuredly have them to fight soon. I am not uneasy, for I want it to come, because I want it over with; so I presume that we will have to whip those that are here now, and then whip their new army next Spring, or let them whip us, as the case may be. I will now drop that subject and talk of something else. We are still getting plenty to eat, and that which is good enough for anybody. It is good enough for me. Again I stop for news.

Wednesday Morning, July 17th.-—

All quiet along the Potomac. No exciting rumors to-day. My eyes are quite sore; otherwise I am well. I will now close this long letter before writing again. I think we will find something to do. Don't be uneasy.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Note.—In closing these letters I always stated the health of our immediate neighbors—naming each one of them—which I omit now as of no importance. I generally taper off with a little honey and sugar talk to my wife, which I also omit here, as I don't believe it is any of your business if I did call her Snug. As to my children, I have but one—and have but one yet—a son, then going to school. His name is Washington Irving. Hereafter when I speak of Irving, you will know who I mean. In the latter part of the war, when I was an engineer officer, of which I will hereafter speak, this same Irving came to me in. Virginia and remained till the end of the war, being present at the surrender; took the measles that very day, and was kept in the hospital at Farmerville until in May. Of this I will say more hereafter.

Prince William County, Va., July 23d, 1861.

" The sky was darkened; we were hid from the sun; The earth it did tremble, but the victory's won."

I scarcely know how to begin, so much has transpired since I wrote to you last; but thank God I have come through it all safe, and am now here to try and tell you something about the things that have just happened. As you have already been informed, we were expecting a big fight. It came; it is over; the enemy is gone. We left Camp Holcomb the day that I finished my last letter to you, the 17th inst., and by a rather forced march got to this place the same day. On the 18th a battle was fought four miles from here, at a place called McLane's Ford, which would have been called a big battle in any of our previous wars. Our men drove the enemy back. I can't give any of the details, as our regiment was not in it, but bad as it was, it was only a skirmish by the side of the one we have just had at this place. On Saturday last, the 20th, it became evident that the long-looked-for battle was approaching. I need not undertake to describe to you the terrors of a big battle, so that you could comprehend how awful the sight and how terrible the sound is or would be to you. The very best of historians, or writers of any kind, would fall short in doing so, and of course it could not reasonably be expected of me to do so; but I will now proceed and give facts as they occurred under my own observation. On Saturday night I happened to be on guard. It also happened that I was on post (or vidette). Just before day, on Sunday morning, at which time those of us on post nearest the big road, heard the enemy approaching. We gave the alarm, and in a few minutes the regiment was formed in line of battle on the hill overlooking Stone Bridge on Bull Run Creek. This was just about daylight. The enemy did not keep us long waiting. Just at six o'clock they fired their first gun (a cannon). It went over us, and in a few moments afterwards a regular firing was going on. Language fails me in giving a description of last Sunday's work. It seems almost a miracle that I could remain ten long hours in such a battle and now be here, unhurt, writing to you; but such is nevertheless the case. An unseen hand has carried me through safe. When the battle commenced the only troops on the ground were Wheat's Battalion, of Louisiana, and the Fourth Regiment of South Carolinians, commanded by Colonel J. B. E. Sloan, of which regiment you are aware that I am a member. These troops were placed as follows: Six companies of our regiment were placed on the hill as above stated; Captain Dean's company, to which I belong, and Captain Humphries' company were placed at the foot of the hill, some two hundred yards in rear of the regiment, to act as a referee. Captain Anderson's and Captain Kilpatrick's companies were placed— the one above and the other below the bridge, in advance of the regiment, to act as skirmishers. Wheat's Battalion was placed a half mile or so up the creek to our left. This was precisely the position of what troops was here when the battle commenced, as above stated. About half-past seven a regular firing was going on, and our cannons were only two in number, all we had at that time. About this time it was ascertained that several thousand of the enemy had crossed the creek higher up and had attacked Wheat's Battalion in large numbers. At this juncture the six companies under Colonel Sloan were ordered by General Evans to go to Wheat's assistance. The two companies of regulars (to which remember I belonged) were ordered to occupy the position that had been occupied by the other six companies on the hill. Just after this our reinforcements commenced coining in to Wheat's assistance, but none to our assistance on the hill overlooking Stone Bridge. By this time the battle became pretty hot, the enemy still advancing in large numbers. Our reinforcements were also coming in rapidly by this time. The firing had not ceased for a moment from the time it first commenced; the balls and shells poured amongst us like hail. About twelve o'clock two small cannons came to our assistance (we on the hill). They fired a few rounds only, the enemy advancing in such overwhelming numbers that the ten cannons ceased firing, and was compelled to fall back. The two companies above mentioned also fell back a few hundred yards. We had not left our position but a few minutes till the enemy was occupying the position that we had just left. All this time the battle was raging tremendously higher up the creek. The enemy had crossed the creek by thousands, but our men up there were standing their ground bravely. I did not know how or at what time Kilpatrick's and Anderson's companies got away from the creek, but they did get away some how, and fought till the battle ended in another part of the field. A little after one o'clock our two companies got around to where the hotest of the fight was going on, and there remained amid sulphur and, smoke, balls and shells, death and carnage, until the battle ended, late in the evening, because we failed any longer to find a foe to fight. They were gone. The victory was complete. We are now occupying the same ground that we did before the battle. As this letter can't go before to-morrow I will finish in the morning.

Stone Bridge Battle Field, July 24th.—

As before stated, I cannot give you an idea of the terrors of this battle. I believe that it was as hard a contested battle as was ever fought on the American continent, or perhaps anywhere else. For ten long hours it almost seemed that heaven and earth was coming together; for ten long hours it literally rained balls, shells and other missiles of destruction. The firing did not cease for a moment. Try to picture to yourself at least one hundred thousand men, all loading and firing as fast as they could. It was truly terrific. The cannons, although they make a great noise, were nothing more than pop guns compared with the tremendous thundering noise of the thousands of muskets. The sight of the dead, the cries of the wounded, the thundering noise of the battle, can never be put on paper. It must be seen and heard to be comprehended. The dead, the dying and the wounded; friend and foe, all mixed up together; friend and foe embraced in death; some crying for water; some praying their last prayers; some trying to whisper to a friend their last farewell message to their loved ones at home. It is heartrending. I cannot go any further. Mine eyes are damp with tears. I will now close this letter. Perhaps in my next I will say something more of the Waterloo of America. I should have stated above that Jefferson Davis, General Johnson and General Beau-regard all camp amongst us late in the evening. We gave them a yell.

Although the fight is over the field is yet quite red with blood from the wounded and the dead.

Yours as ever,J. W. Reid.

Note.—Some years ago I read a history of the late war, written by some Northern man—I don't recollect the author's name—and in giving a description of this battle he says, that when the attack was made that morning, there were fifteen regiments of Confederate troops on the ground at the commencement. This statement I flatly deny. There are hundreds of men still living that will corroborate what I have stated —that is, that Wheat's Battalion and the Fourth South Carolina Regiment was all that was there at the beginning, or about fifteen companies. It is true there were other troops not far off, but the battle had been opened some time before they commenced coming in. As before stated, there was but one regiment and one battalion on the ground, or fifteen companies, instead of regiments, and the future historian will put it so, if he puts it correctly. The same author, after going on in this erroneous fashion for some time, at length caps the climax by saying that late in the evening the Federal army gave way in good order. If that was good order I would like for the same author to tell me what it would take to constitute a rout; for they ran as fast as fast as their legs could carry them, without any regard to discipline, army regulations, or anything else but self-preservation. They threw away everything they had, and then carried themselves away at the rate of ten knots an hour. Good order I Please let me hear from a regular rout.

Stone Bridge Battlefield, Prince William County, Va., July 28, 1861.

A few lines in a hurry, as we are preparing to leave this place for one where water will be more convenient. I will give you a few more items about our big fight before I leave the battle ground. It is said we fought about three to one on the 21st. I am not in a position to know how many was killed and wounded on either side, but there was most assuredly a great many. I went over what I could of the battlefield the evening after the battle ended. The sight was appalling in the extreme. There were men shot in every part of the body, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot. Heads, legs, arms, and other parts of human bodies were lying scattered all over the battlefield. The next day after the battle I went two or three miles out along the road that the enemy had traveled in their retreat. It seemed that what they did not leave on the battlefield they bad thrown away after they started. The road was completely blockaded with wagons, cannon, caisons and other vehicles, as far fits I went, and muskets were scattered about by thousands; knapsacks, haversacks and the like literally covered the ground. I think we got all the cannon they had, which was something over sixty in number, including the famous Sherman Battery, and one very tooted cannon called "Long Tom." I think we got about all the small arms they had. We also took a great many prisoners and sundries by the thousand. It is said that it was their regular army that we fought. I don't think that we will have another big fight soon, as it will be next Spring before they can raise another army and equip it ready for service. I talked with Colonel E. P. Jones, of Greenville, the day after the fight, and he and I both were of opinion that we ought to have followed the enemy when they retreated (in good order), but there are heads here that have more in them than is in ours, and in all probability more on them. There were a great many narrow escapes during the fight; a great many had holes shot ii± their clothing, and some of them at several places. A young man of my company named Mathew Parker had two balls to go through his hat. It was an old fashioned bee gum hat, like the one that I wore off. We both swapped off our bee gum hats that evening. We had choice amongst thousands. We are both' now wearing nice low crowned hats, but we don't know what they cost or who paid for them, neither do we care. I will have to stop, as we are ready to move.

Yours as ever,J. W. Reid.

Camp Pettus, Fairfax Co., Va., July 30th, 1861.

I have nothing interesting to write at present. My main object in writing now is that you may know that I am still alive and enjoying good health; and I presume that is what you are more interested in and would rather hear than any news that could be written by me or any other person; therefore I shall say but little about the way at present, but will confine myself to, other matters, I have already written you two letters previous to this one, since the battle, in which I gave you. about all the details oi the fight that I thought would interest you. I did not, give you a list of those killed in my company, as you are acquainted with them, I will not at present give their names. I sent the last letter that I wrote to you by Willis Dickson, who is gone to Culpepper Court House to the hospital, sick; he may go home. In it, I gave you the particulars of our fight the best I could under existing circumstances, and what I did state as, facts you may depend upon as facts. I still have a strong, presentiment that I will get home again, some time. It may be a good while, and there is no telling at present what I may have to go through before I come, if I do come, only that I will have to encounter war and its consequences. Be that what it may, try and be as courageous as you can, and I will do the same. I will try to watch passing events as closely as I can, and from my conclusions accordingly I will on all occasions give you my, opinion about things; but do not take my opinions as Gospel facts, but just take them for what you think they are worth. A few days after the fight I found out that the Hampton Legion was at Manassas Junction. I understood that they had been in the fight, but had went back to the Junction; so I concluded to go and find out whether my brother Reuben was still with them or not. I got leave from my betters and went on to hunt the Legion. I found it at the Junction, but Reuben and his Captain, Toliver Bozeman, both had got a discharge whilst at Richmond and gone back home. Reuben's complaint was said to be heart disease. Heart disease is getting very common here—the kind that I call chicken heart disease. That is not the kind, however, that Reuben has got. He has had heart disease for many years, as you are well aware. I found Jim Tarrant and Bill Thompson and several more of our Wilson Bridge neighbors that day.

When I last wrote you we were still on the battlefield. Yesterday morning, the 29th, we left there and came on to this place, six or seven miles nearer to Alexandria and Washington City. It is said that all the carpenters of this brigade, and perhaps others, are at work on a bridge between here and Alexandria; and there it is stated that we will cross and attack the enemy. I don't believe a word of it. If we intended to cross over at all we should have done so on the 21st. My opinion in that it would be bad policy to cross now or any other time in the future. We are just not going to do it. We are right here amongst several South Carolina regiments now, and I know that they will do to tie the grape vine of our canoe to there are troops here from all parts of the Confederacy, from Dan even to Beersheba; so if we should have another fight soon it will be some pumpkins; but I don't think we will, for the one we have just had ought to satisfy all parties concerned; and I don't know but what it would be better to give them another little brush before they recruit up again. I am on guard again, now writing on a drum head, the best place that I have had for a long time. I now have to go on post again. I am now off of post. Whilst on post I saw any amount of our old tea plant called ditna that you and I used to gather on the old Saluda hills when you and I were young, Polly. "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind." Direct to Manassas Junction, Va.

Yours as ever,J. W. Reid.

Note.—With the above letter I sent the following lines, thinking it might amuse my wife or any one who might see it; and as I have it now before me I will draw it off just as the original. Perhaps it may amuse the reader of to-day.

Whilst I was sitting around about the guard house and off of post, there were several little squads hunkered about on rocks and stumps, some talking about one thing and some about another. I could only hear a few words at a time, first from one squad, then another. It was right amusing to me, and may be to you. It ran as follows:

Squad No. 1.—" Yes, it was Old Abe that recommended it. If he could have had his way he would have"-----
Squad No. 2.—" His face greasy from ear to ear. He can eat more in one day than I could in"-----
"Several years yet, but I don't think it will last longer'
"Then my whiskers. I have not shaved since I left"
"Noah's ark. Two and two of every kind of animals. Two lions, two elephants, two tigers, and two "-----
"Durtiplings! If I could just get them all the time I would soon fatten up and look as well as a"-----
"Possom and taters is just as good as anything that I ever-----. Stuck my head in up to my eyes and got nearly drowned. I tried to call for "-----
"A chew of tobacco, if you please. I have not had any since I left Stone Bridge. When I get some I will give you "-----
"The d—est whipping that a set of fellows ever got if they just fall into the hands of"-----
"My wife and children I left with tears in their eyes, and told them not to look "-----
"At that little upstart. Just gin a fool a little office and it soon makes" ——
"Chickens and dumplings if I have to pay"-----
"Five hundred thousand dollars and four hundred thousand more to try to exterminate"-----
"Every louse on my head, since I got that fine comb. I did have a good many till"-----
"Dr. Cooley gave me some blue mass and some other stuff that made me throw up"-----
"My commission and go home, where I can get"-----.
"The worst kind of a bile right on my hip, but when I had it lanced it run "-----
" For captain, but he got so badly beat that I don't think he will ever"-----
"Double quick much for half a mile, and then halted right in front of"-----
" Bill Smith's leg. They cut it off just above "-----
"The top of the Blue Ridge. We had gone several miles, when we came to a place" —
"That stinks worse than a dead horse. I would almost perish before I would eat"-----
" My new hat and shoes that I got at Richmond as we cam^ along; they just cost me"
"My life is in his hands, if they do bring four hundred thousand "-----
"Green flies over everything. They will just blew" ——
" The bugle for drill directly, and then I hope that fellow yonder will quit sawing away on that"-----
" Old woman and children; I do want to see them so bad I would gave any man" ——
"The measles, the worst kind. There is several in my mess broke"-----
" All to pieces, and its full of whiskey, so I lost bottle and all. It fell right on "-----
"Sam Brown's nose. It was shot off right where it joins"-----
" Nova Scotia. It now belongs to England. It was discovered by "-----
" Long-heeled Jake, as we called him; his leg was nearly in the middle of"-----
" Hell or some other seaport town, and all the rest with him, and then I would be perfectly"-----
"Blind. If it was not for that he would be the best horse in"——
"This canteen and tin cup just holds"-----
"The general impression here is that we have"-----
"A baked goose for dinner, but it was not half done, and I believe it was"-----
"Sixty-five years old when he came into the service, but he seems to stand it well, considering that he has"-----
"A sucking babe not more than fifteen mouths old, and will soon be looking for another; if that is so" —-
"I shall have to gun my blankets to-morrow, for we don't know at what moment we may have to go"-----
"To the devil with your crackers. I had rather eat"
"President Davis and General Beauregard both say that"-----
"We must cook that mutton for dinner or it will spoil "
" Our uniforms every evening at dress parade. At any other time we can wear"-----
"My patience out talking so much. I had as leave hear"-----
"That big snoring of nights. It would keep any man from"-----
"Running and jumping into the river head foremost,-and staying under the water till he was nearly out of"
"Something to eat. I have not had a bite since"-----
"I was born, on the 4th of July, 1829. That makes me just"-----
"Six o'clock, and I must go on post again."
The drum beats and ends the conversation.

Camp Pettus, Va., Monday .Morning, 4 O'clock, August 5th, 1861 .—

I had so many letters to write for other people yesterday that I did not get to write any for myself, but I don't know that it would make any material difference, as I have nothing worthy of your attention to write about at present. I will have to go on guard again this morning at eight o'clock, and remain till eight to-morrow morning. I have not had a letter from you in two weeks.

I believe there is something wrong with the mail (not the female). I will try and send this letter on to Columbia or some other point on the railroad by hand. The war news is dull indeed. We hear nothing at all of another fight soon. Some seem to think that the enemy is pretty well satisfied, and others think (and me for one) that they are making all the preparations in their power to carry on the war. I still feel gallant and want you to try and feel buoyant. I want to do what fighting I have to do and get back to Dixie.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Camp Pettus, Fairfax Co., Va., August 8th, 1861.

I have received yours of the 31st of July, in which you inform me that you have attached yourself to the Church. The news is very gratifying to me indeed, and I hope you may live to see me a member also. I think I have known men as bad as I am to reform and join the Church. In fact the wicked ones are the only ones that are called on to reform. It is the sick that needs a physician. It is said in God's word that everything worketh together for good to them that believe. I think that I do believe, although I don't conform to what 1 profess to believe. I fear there are but few that do. Tell Irving that 1 have not forgotten him; tell him to be a good boy and be governed by the advice that I gave him just before my departure. I have nothing at all important to write. I only write at this time merely that you may hear from me. We are still at Camp Pettus, between Manassas Junction and Alexandria. We will probably remain here for some time. We cannot tell.

Yours affectionately, J. W. Reid.

My wife did live to see me a member of the Church, and there is nothing under Heaven that gives me as much satisfaction as that She did live to see me a member; she had prayed for it so long; she lived to see her prayer answered.

Camp Pettus, Fairfax Co., Va., August 11th, 1861.

I have just received a letter from Mr. Dickinson, in which he states that you were all well. It was made last Sunday, the 4th inst. I have nothing definite to write about the war. We got orders yesterday to be ready at a moment's warning to march: Our commissary is ordered to keep on hand, at all times, three days' rations, to carry with me if we should have to march. It is said here today that we will march to-morrow, but that, I think, is uncertain; but I think it. is certain that we will march soon, and where we will go to I cannot at present say,— perhaps Washington City. It seems that some of the great European powers are beginning to look upon this war as being of some importance. This will be plain to you when I inform you that Prince Jerome Bonaparte has visited our country, today on last Friday reviewed our army. We were marched to Centreville, which is about one and a half miles from here, on Friday, the 9th inst., I and was reviewed by him. But, by the way, I thought it the warmest day that I ever had. seen; it was perfectly suffocating. A great many men gave out and stopped before we got there, and a great many broke ranks after we got there. There were two men I know of who fainted.: I came very near giving out myself. 'What made things worse, we had our thick woolen uniforms on, and our coats buttoned up. It was almost suffocating. It is said here that Bonaparte also reviewed the Federal army. His presence here is a matter of speculation to both parties.

I have no more war news. Dame Rumor is still tattling.

I am sorry to say our ranks are being thinned by sickness and death. Before this reaches you you will no doubt hear of the death of Claudius Earle, who died at Richmond a few days ago. I fought within a few yards of him on the 21^st of July. Our friend (Irving's teacher) Jesse Smithy is at the point of death. There are a good many others of my acquaintance sick at hospitals, and I have but little chance of hearing from them. My Captain (Dean) is sick, and gone to Culpepper Court House. Colonel Sloan has also gone off sick, and a great many others.

I am sorry to have to bay that a good many are dying at the different hospitals. 1 hope the sickness will abate when the weather gets cooler, if not before.

As it happens I am again on guard to-day, writing on a Yankee drum head, one that wetook at Stone Bridge. I this morning put on my new blue flannel shirt that I took from Uncle Sam on the day after the battle. It is a perfect fit; made on purpose for me. The reason that I put it on this: My other shirts are wet; I had them washed yesterday.

I will write again as soon as I can; but if we do have to move it may be some time. I forgot to state that our present Brigadier General is named Jones.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Army of the Potomac, Fairfax County, Va.; Wednesday Morning, 10 Q'clock, Aug. 14,1861

In my last letter to you, the 11th inst.y I told you that there was a talk of our moving soon. Sure enough, on Monday, the 12th, we left Camp Pettus and came on to this place, Germantown, the same day, a distance of six or seven miles. We are now some nearer Alexandria and Washington than we were before. I think I told you in a former letter that we were but eight or ten miles from Alexander- I was wrongly informed. It is said to be twelve or fifteen, from here, and we are several miles nearer there now than we were then. We are one and a half miles from Fairfax Court House, where it is said that General Washington will is recorded and where he attended church. It is eighteen miles to Mount Vernon, where he lived and where he is buried. 'This little town here, Germantown, is in ashes, the enemy having burnt it on their march to Richmond; but they did not get very far south till the weather got too hot for them and they had to come back. The climate at Stone Bridge was entirely too bear the Torrid Zone for them. We do not anticipate another big fight soon, as the enemy is not yet ready to "again advance on us, and I hardly think it probable that we will advance on them. I think it too late now for that. We should have done that in July, if at all. Some think that we will storm Arlington Heights pretty soon. I don't pretend to know, but I don't believe we will. This is only my opinion. But there is one thing I do know, or think I know, and that is, if we do take Arlington Heights it will cost us something. But as to Alexandria and Washington, I think we could take them easy enough if it was not for their everlasting engines of destruction that are on Arlington Heights. I really have nothing to write about. I only write that you may hear from me, which I know you are anxious for at any time; but if any little thing does happen soon you shall hear from it, if I am able to write.

Since writing the above I have heard some twenty or thirty cannon reports down towards Alexandria. I will not close this letter till I find out what it means. I don't think it is a regular fight. If it was we would be double-quicking down there. There is eight South Carolina regiments all here together, and if we have to go down there, we will give them—what paddy give the drum. Willis Dickinson has beenat Gulpepper hospital for some time. I can't hear from Jesse Smith. Sam Couch has the mumps.

Evening, 5 O'clock —

I have not as yet heard from that cannonading. It is still going on at intervals. Perhaps they are only trying their guns or trying to scare us, which they have everlastingly failed to do. I will write more when I know more.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Army of the Potomac, Germantown, Fairfax County, Va., August 15th, 1861.

Nothing new since I wrote last. The cannonading that I spoke of turned out to be nothing. I have just heard of a battle fought above here the other day, at a place called Pan Handle. I hear so many different reports about it that I shall not attempt to say much about it at present.

I do not know how many were engaged in it, or how many killed and wounded, but report says a great many. I think though, from what I can find out, that our side got the best of it, as usual. I understand that our troops were commanded by General Wise, of Virginia (Governor Wise). I also understand that a battle has been fought somewhere out towards Missouri, the particulars of which I have no positive information ; but report says our side got the best of it; I can't say. They would tell us so here whether it was so or not. I hope, however, that it is so. It don't seem to me that the war ought to last long now, as both armies are pretty large now and pretty close together, and why not fight it out and be done with it. . That would be the tactics of High Private J. W. Reid. Each army seems to be waiting for the other to make the attack. The big officers on both sides are getting big pay, and I don't suppose that some of them are in a big hurry to go home. I mean no insinuation, but if the shoe fits wear it.

I will pay the last cent I have in the world for postage on this letter; but when I write again Providence will provide for me. He always will.

Our friend, Jesse Smith, is dead. I heard it last night. He has been dead several days. Colonel Sloan, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mattison and Major Whitner are all sick. My own Captain, Thomas Dean, and Lieutenant B. A. M. McAllister are both sick at the hospital, and a great many, more officers and privates are sick at the different hospitals; and I will here remark that most of the cases of sickness are not considered very dangerous. I think that the cases of bad sickness are few, considering our number. Take the same number anywhere else and you will doubtless find as much sickness. I am still in good health, and, as you well know, have the constitution of a nail machine. I hope I will still have good health, but still I may get sick as well as others; and if so, I will try to get leave of Dr. Cooley to remain in camp. I think I would fare better.

You say that you have religion. Don't let it make you melancholy. True religion, the kind that I hope you have, will not do that. It will be more inclined to make you cheerful. Pray in faith, and your prayers will most assuredly be answered. He says they will, and He cannot lie. If your prayers are not answered immediately, don't think that they will never be, God has His own time to do all things, and at the proper time He will do it; for He cannot lie, and He says He will answer any prayer prayed in faith.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid

Army of Occupation or Invasion, Fairfax County, Va.

Sunday Morning, 10 O'clock, Aug. night, after I laid down, Mr. Phillip to read a letter for him that he had got from opening it I read a few lines in it that ---. It is unnecessary for me to say how magi-- me feel. You say that yon were to trade --- Appier for a cow. My advice is to do so if y cow would certainly be of more service to horse. You also say that you have a go---melons, but that they do you no good be there to help eat them. Don't let that ---, for I have something here that I wo-- with you; but as we can't divide what strike off even, and each one partake of w-- eat it with as much relish as we can. I have a good mess of beans to-day, and can get more any time I want them by paying for them. I also have apple pie very often. Peaches are not ripe here yet. I also get plenty of roasting ears. I have eaten beef till, if you were to see me, you would take me for a Virginia bull. In this letter I send you two kind of tomato seed ; one kind is as large as my fist; the other kind is small, and has a neck like daddie's powder gourd. I suppose that you think I write mighty often; so I do; but I also suppose that I don't write any oftener than you want to hear from me, and especially at a time when there is so much sickness amongst us fever most fatal complaint among us now is measles, one as you already know I have had them. I have had the measles, the mumps, the whooping cough, the itch, rot scald head, the hives, the thrash, and all those little fave complaints; so I don't know that I need fear from all thing now but thunder, Yankee missiles and typhoid fever and hypocondria. My mess are all sick, more or less the most of then less. Jim Loftin and myself are the only ones of my mess that are complaining of being well. I have no war news. Everything is as dry as a bone, and it is painfully hot. I have no doubt but you read a great many exciting things in the paper; but let me assure you that all that is: in the papers are not Gospel truths! I told you in my last letter that I was out of money, but that the Lord would provide, and so He did. He and Jeff Davis and company on yesterday drew five dollars in Virginia shinplasters that are not worth a fig outside of Virginia, but they will pay postage anyhow. I will write again soon.

Yours as ever, J. W. Reid.

Note.—The tomato seed mentioned got home safe, and some of their descendants are in the neighborhood yet, 1890 The letters that I am now drawing off are not so important as afterwards when the times became more exciting, but as I have them before me I will draw them off, so as to give a full account of our travels.

I wrote another letter from Germantown, August 21st, but in it I wrote nothing of importance. I only give the names of those that were sick, and some other little matters not worth repeating. I wrote again on the 27th of August as follows:

On Friday evening last we received information that a fight was going on at Fall's Church, a few miles below here; so we bundled up, leaving our tents under a guard, and ponied off for the scene of action, or rather the scene of inaction, for we only got about three- miles, when we orders to turn back. We instantly obeyed the order, will battle more promptness than we had done when we cheer --- camp. It was all a humbug. I think it was ---- many of us there were that were able to ---. There were a great many that were not able, and there were several taken very suddenly ill. About the time we got the orders to march, I tell you confidently that an order to march right to where a battle is going --- is one of the most sickening things on earth. I have seen men, apparently in good health, get sick enough to throw up in a few minutes after an order to march. In fact I have known some officers that did throw up their commissions and go home, it made them so sick. Such news has never made me so very sick yet, but sometimes it makes me feel a little weak and puny-like.

On Sunday night we were again started, we knew not where, but we only got to Fairfax Court House, about one mile and a half from here, and again we were ordered back. We promptly obeyed again. More sickness on the occasion. On yesterday morning we were ordered to strike tents and be ready to move at a moment's warning (quite sickly), but in the evening we were ordered to put up our tents again. (Sickness abating considerably). I can't say how long we will remain here, but if we start again I want to keep on. I am tired trotting backwards and forwards. I don't think that we will attack the enemy where they are now; neither do we believe that they will venture to travel the same road that they did in July. It was too hot for them at that time, and I think it would be so again. I am sorry to say that our regiment is in a rather bad condition for fighting or marching at present. Of my mess of nine men all are sick but Jim Loftin and myself. Last Saturday I went four miles to our hospital to see the sick. I found one hundred and sixty of our regiment there. There are a great many of our regiment at other hospitals. Ten men were dying when I got there, one belonging to my own company, named William Bagwell, and another belonging to Griffin's company, named Hunt. They both died that day. Two of my company died at Culpepper last week, Thomas Bagwell and Marion Murray, all from the effects of measles. Every case of pneumonia or fever that I have heard of originated from measles. Every one that has took pneumonia or fever took it after going to the hospital. Judd McLees took the measles here, and I got Dr. Cooley to let him remain in camp with me. I have now got him up and about again. If I get sick I will remain in camp if possible.

There are not as many deaths at Culpepper now as there were a week or two ago. It is getting some colder now, and I hope times will soon be better. It is a very dark time now.

Five O'clock, Evening.—

Great preparations are going on for some purpose I know not what, but I positively do hope that is for another fight, for I am anxious to do what fighting I have got to do and be done with it. To tell the truth I am getting tired of this way of living. I will now close for the present,

Yours affectionately, J. W. Reid.

Army of the Potomac, Germantown, Fairfax County, Va., September 1, 1861.

I have no news. Everything is quiet for the present. The two armies are close together, and could go to fighting at any time; but it seems that each party dreads to attack the other party, and well they may; for let the attack be made by whom it may, somebody will get hurt, for I have found out long ago that the other party is about as good fighting stock as we are. We are all chips of the old block. We never know when we will fight till we go at it. Colonel Sloan and three or four others have got back to camp, but Lieutenant Colonel Mattison has been sent off sick; so that I can't see that there is much improvement in the health of our regiment as yet. James and Willis Dickinson are both sick. Phillips, the two Earles, Stacks, Herron, Couch, Loftin and Jefferson, all of my company but the two Earles, are well. Tell Mr. Dickinson to address his letters to me for the present, and I will send them to the boys. I will keep myself informed of how the boys are coming on, and let him know in my letters to you about them.

We have had two more deaths at our country hospital this week. They were men you are not acquainted with. The good Lord has carried me safe thus far, for some purpose unknown to me at present; and I hope He will carry me safely through all the changes that daily surround me. Bad as I am, and bad as I may appear to others, still I have implicit confidence in Providence. There is unfortunately a great many here who cannot write, and they keep me almost all my time, when off of duty, writing letters for them. I cannot deny them. Only a day or two ago I had written letters till I was tired out, when Lige Herring came to me, with paper and ink in hand, requesting me to write a letter for him. I refused. He walked off a few steps and looked up and down the street, undecided what to do. He looked to me like his heart would break. I called him back and wrote his letter, reflecting how it would be if I could not write to you. "As ye would have others do unto you, do ye so even unto them," came into my mind at the time, and I am not ashamed to say that I acted accordingly.

I would be glad if you would send me by mail my gloves and a good big needle, as I have to do my own patching and ironing. The ironing, however, goes minus.

The bell is now ringing for preaching. I will go and hear the sermon and then write.

Four O'clock P. M.—

I went and heard our Chaplain preach, Rev. Mr. Guinn, of Greenville. He preached a very touching sermon; it brought tears to my eyes, if I am a soldier. It makes me feel quite serious to hear so many voices singing and not a female voice among them. Will I ever hear that sweet music again ? I hope so.

I have just been handed a letter from the hospital. Our sick ones are no better. I got a letter yesterday from our esteemed brother-in-law, John A. Cargill. Your mother and family are all well. John speaks of coming out here to me soon. I will now stop a while.

Monday Morning, September 2d.—

Nothing new. Cold enough for frost. Please don't forget gloves and needle.

Yours affectionately, J. W. Reid.

Note.—The reader must understand that I do not commence and end those letters as I did at the time, as I sometimes used some very sympathetic language to my wife in beginning and closing my letters, and I will not repeat it here in drawing them off, as I don't wish to set you all crying. Everything else is just precisely as I wrote it at the time, ungrammatical as it was and is yet.