1861 Sunny Side, VA Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER Tennessee Soldiers Arriving

Very nice and detailed 1861 Confederate Civil War letter written by a woman in Sunny Side, Virginia - with Civil War content about Tennessee soldiers getting off the trains! The letter is housed in its original postal entire envelope - a USA Star Die variety with a pen canceled manuscript Sunny Side, Va (Cumberland County). FULL SCANS, TRANSCRIPT and RESEARCH NOTES below.

Jane and Edward Brown were married in May 1845 and resided in Powhattan, Virginia. They had three daughters: Cornelia Walton b. 1849 and Anna Eliza b. Winfree was an 1848 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

He served as the captain of Co. E, 11th Virginia Infantry after the first captain, James Edward Blankenship resigned. Company E was sometimes referred to as the Lynchburg Rifles. There are frequent references to "Aunt Bettie" throughout the letter. I believe she was Elizabeth Owen (Winfree) Dance b.

As you may so soon have to leave home, I will address this letter to you. We reached Farmville very safely after a pleasant trip. Powers, came down with us. One of her grand daughters (Miss Woodson) came in with her.

Illustration from Steve Cottrell's Book, Civil War in Tennessee. After we got to Farmville, several Tennessee soldiers came out of the cars. A good many girls and gentlemen had collected at the depot.

The girls threw bouquets to the soldiers. One of them (the soldiers) made a nice little speech in return for the favors. Loomis said he was an editor and a very nice gentleman, She came to Virginia under his care.

One of the soldiers proposed three cheers for the Virginia girls and they were cheered in style. We got home about three o'clock. Mary Virginia had a little dinner for us. She had gathered strawberries and insisted I should let her have cream with it. I did so and they were very nice.

The next morning she and Willie gathered more for dinner. In the evening, Mary and Anna Eliza gathered a large mess for Sunday. Mary and [her cousin] Salina [Brown] have gone again. They are wild strawberries but larger than wild ones are generally. He says they drilled pretty well.

Cocke ² wants more persons in his troops. I understand he authorized Mr.

Marsay to get new members. Cocke is very kind and persuaded them with many comforts. It is quite convenient to a Colonel who is able to supply the wants of his men.

John French is still sick at Culpepper Court House. French insists she will go to see her boys. [John] Wesley Garret came up to see [his wife] Pattie [Martha Frances (Clarke) Garrett] last week [at Farmville]. He left the troops of Co. G, 3rd Virginia Cavalry well.

He says they have great difficulty about getting their food cooked. They made him cook a good deal.

He says they would put thick pieces of meat in the pan to fry and burn up the outside before the inside was cooked at all. You had better learn to cook before you go. Garret's leaving better than at first.

She thinks of going to see him in about three weeks. I understand George Palmer has made oath to keep the Constitution of the United States. Palmer from Cumberland (tell ____ he is cousin of Laura Garret's children) was so sick when the troops got to Powhatten Court House that he had to be left. He was taken either to Willis Dance's or Mrs.

We heard yesterday that the Federal troops had taken Alexandria. If it is, I reckon Lynchburg is in danger.

Willis Hobson is anxious for bro. Daniel to join the Powhatten troops. When I got home, I found no one here but Mary and Anne. I brought her and Salina home with me from church yesterday.

I saw sister Ann, Mollie, and Laura yesterday. All were well and asked Mary questions about ____ and other Lynchburg friends. Cornelia looks a good deal better than she did when I left home. Miss Mary is still at Mrs.

She told me she would come home with me from church next Sabbath. Next Saturday and Sunday will be our Quarterly Meeting. I expect no Christian to come home with me.

Our preacher is not on the circuit. Gordon preached for us yesterday.

His sermon was on Temperance. I have been to see her.

She told me she did not think she would ever be well. Ellen and Bently staid with us last night. Figgat, you can tell him she is well.

Also Willie seems to be enjoying himself very much. He sends much love to all and will write soon. The boys seem delighted to have him with them. My children seem to be very glad indeed to have him here. Did Hoppie go to Aunt Bettie's when he got to Lynchburg Friday?

I felt afraid he would have some difficulty in getting along. Frances got a letter from Rose Friday evening saying her Pa would meet him at the bridge. We have been more cheerful since I got home than before I left.

I will by and by keep so. I know it will be much best if I can. When you see my Mammy? , be sure to tell her how sorry I was about not telling her goodbye. Give much love to her for me. Brown has gone to Cumberland Court today. He will begin to teach in the morning. He says it will give him much pleasure to instruct Willie in arithmetic.

How are the sick soldiers? Have the ladies been in to see any of them?

Walton when he was in Richmond. He told him he had some very ill patients with measles. He has about thirty to attend to. I wish you were here to have some. Give much love to each one for me.

Sister Anne says when you go. Jimmie must come down to Cumberland. My dear brother, try and prepare your heart for what is before you.

Don't be satisfied without the constant evidence of your acceptance. You ought to prepare your heart so that you may discharge your duty in camp. The responsible position given you by your company, God will require you to improve. It is your imperative duty to watch over the souls given to your care whether poor human nature is willing or not.

Be sure to have prayers in your camp and get if you can every member of your company to sign the pledge. If you will start right with your company, you will be able to wield a moral influence over them that will last an eternity. Let songs of praise rise to God from your tents and let every morning and evening in prayer to the giver of all good. The Charlotte Troop ³ passed while I was in Lynchburg. At the Court House, they took their seats in the court yard and sung hymns.

None of them drank liquor at the court house. There was 88 in the Troop - 44 were married men, Dr. Lewis Walton was a member of Mr. Harrison's Company of this county.

He was sent back because he was too feeble to bear the fatigue of the service. No one is with me or lots of love would be sent. Kiss Jimmie, my sisters, and Aunt ___ for me. Give much love to John and all at his house.

Write very soon to your devoted sister, - Jane M. I have written a long letter to Christopher & as I wrote you a long letter before I went up, I will only write a few lines to return the hearty thanks of little Anne for her doll.

She is also under obligation to Aunt Bettie for the piece of ____. Salida is delighted with her ____ and other things and is much obliged to you for her doll. She says she wrote to you a few days ago.

She seems pleased to get back to school and looks well and happy. Receive for yourself and C the warmest love Salina and the children. Wilkerson has gone home and the children are at Fulton's.

Brown went round to see his relatives while I was away. Zack expect to go to Richmond this week. James Reynolds was here yesterday. He said he would go in a short time to Randolph-Macon to Commencement.

He hopes he will take measles while away as he wants to join the army and is afraid to have it in camp. Bently hopes he will take it while in Richmond.

Thomas not to let Bently join the army. Try to get more of the love of God in your heart. You can never be as happy as you might until you have an assurance of your acceptance. The love of God sweetens every joy, soothes every sorrow. You have so much leisure time.

Spend more of it in prayer and in the study of God's Holy word. There you will find every duty made plain. Kiss my dear brother for me. I don't feel very sad about his going into camp. I believe the good Lord will be with him.

So few of our family are in the army, I would do nothing to prevent his going. Be sure to write anymore to. Your affectionate Aunt, - J. ¹ These Tennessee soldiers were probably members of the 1st Tennessee Infantry. This regiment was ordered to proceed by the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad to Lynchburg, Virginia on 3 May 1861. Six companies arrived there on 5 May 1861; the other four companies arriving shortly afterwards. They were mustered into Confederate service for twelve months on 8 May 1861. They were then ordered to proceed by the Southside Railroad to Richmond on 19 May 1861 and arrived there very late on 20 May 1861. They probably passed through Farmville (midway between Lynchburg and Richmond) on the 19th or 20th of May. A private in the 1st Tennessee named Sam Watkins remembered, Leaving Nashville, we went bowling along twenty or thirty miles an hour, as fast as steam could carry us. At every town and station citizens and ladies were waving their handkerchiefs and hurrahing for Jeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy. Magnificent banquets were prepared for us all along the entire route. It was one magnificent festival from one end of the line to the other. At Chattanooga, Knoxville, Bristol, Farmville, Lynchburg, everywhere, the same demonstrations of joy and welcome greeted us. Ah those were glorious times.. By Steve Cottrell, pg 13. Banner of the Powhattan Troop. ² Philip St George Cocke was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the first year of the American Civil War.

He is best known for organizing the defense of Virginia along the Potomac River soon after the state's secession from the Union. He commanded troops in the Battle of Blackburn's Ford and the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) in July 1861 before becoming despondent and committing suicide.

Cocke served as captain of the Powhattan Troop of cavalry from the time of its formation in 1859 (shortly after the John Brown raid) until he was promoted in 1861. ³ The 14th Virginia Cavalry, Co. B, was sometimes referred to as the Charlotte Troop. We're members of the American Philatelic Society, the U.

Philatelic Classics Society, the Confederate Stamp Alliance and the Illinois Postal History Society. Some of our letters have been transcribed and nicely presented for future genealogists and history buffs on the Spared & Shared blog. The item "1861 Sunny Side, VA Confederate CIVIL WAR LETTER Tennessee Soldiers Arriving" is in sale since Friday, August 14, 2015.

This item is in the category "Stamps\United States\Covers\Postal History". The seller is "cmvolz" and is located in Washington, Illinois. This item can be shipped worldwide.

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