.MjMyMA.MzY5Mw
This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.
October 29th 1861
Dear Brother I will now write you a few lines again to inform you that I am well and i hope these few lines may find you in the same sate of health when they come to hand. I have not much nuse to write to you this morning. I herd that Miss Ellen Yowel is going to get married this Thursday but i have not got a bid yet i dont know if i will get a bid or not. uncle Henry [?] and Aunt Mary was out here to day. Mary Ann and Frances Gander sent some very nice apples for you. And Mary Burwell Brought you [?] apples to day for me to send to you and she said i must send you good provision and i thought i would try to do so. Mother said you must give Abraham smith 1 of your lightrolls and a slice of your cheese and a piece of your chicken or turkey. Mother said you must not eat too much that you get sick you must [?] eat that first [you As the will spile?] Mother wants to know how you like your comfort that she sent by cousin isac Hite and how you like your gloves and all that we sent you. this makes 2 letters I written and no answer yet and so i will come to [?] for this time. write as soon as you get this and send it by [modesitte?] From Susan R Hite to Ambrose
The girls sent you your apples you can do with them what you
please. I want to know what your [mess?] boys names are now I herd that you all mess together.
Camp Fair ground. Nov 6th, 1861
Winchester Fredrick Co. Va.
Dear Sister,
I now take my pen in hand to
drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present, and hope when these few lines come to hand they will find you all well. I have no important news to write to you this time. We had a verry rainy time down here last saturday. The Potomac river is said to be hire now than it has been for some time. It is a very wet time here now. We have right smart cold weather down here now. It has froze ice down here already. It is very cloudy now, I exspect it will rain or snow before long. David J. Coffer arrived here on the 29 of Oct. He got little here after dusk. I was setting by the fire when he come. We unhitch and ungird before we unloaded. I received every thing that you sent me, and was proud to receive it. Every thing was delicious. I was very glad to receive my big comfort. My pants fits me first rate, and over coat too. My drawers I haven tried own yet, but I suppose they will fit too. My undershirt will come in firstrate when it gets colder. Tell Mother I like my comfort and gloves firstrate. My shoes fits me first rate. I will send my old shoes home as soon as I ware them a little longer. The Apple [fliters?] that you sent me was first rate. We have been living very well since ave got our provision. Before you sent our provision we had bread, meat, Coffy, and sugar every time we eat. we only eat twice a day. The bread that we get is better than you can bake in [page?]. it is very light, and spungy. I was glad too to receive the cheese that you sent me. Some of our boys had apple buter, so we all eat together like a passel of rabbits, and never fight. Isac Hite had lots of fatcakes. The chicken, and turky was very good, indeed every thing was dilicious. We sleep very warm now. I and R. Modesitt sleeps together, he has one comfort, and two blankets, so we sleep very well. I would like to know whether Elen Yowell is married yet or not. Our mess boys names are AM Hite E J Rothgob, D J Coffman, Harison A Pence, Samuel Rothgeb, J R Modesitt. I would like to know whether you got that money that I sent home by Edmond Rothbgeb. As soon as the paroll is made out we will get paid again in a few weeks. Tell cousin Mary A Gander Frances gander, and Mary Buswell that I thank them very much for them nice apples that they sent me, and would be very glad to receive some more. I washed my shirt, drawers and socks to day. You told me to give Abraham Smith some of my provision, but he was not here when the provision come, he had gone home, so he did not get anything. I do not know whether I will get a furlough when the others comes back or not, meby I will come home when the others come back and meby not. The Coffee, and sugar that I sent home you can use it if you want it. we drawed it from the southern confederate states.
Write soon From Ambrose M. Hite
[Envelope] Miss Susan R. Hite
Leaksvill Po.
Page Co.
Va.
Flowing Springs Jefferson Co. Va.
Nov 29th 1861
Dear Sister
I now take my pen in hand
to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present, with the exception of a cold. The balance of our mess are well except bad colds. I hope when these few lines comes to hand they will find you all well. I received your letter before I left Winchester it afforded me grate pleasure in hearing from you all. I have not much news to write to you this time. We left Winchester on the 22nd of Nov 1861, and got to Charlstown on the 23rd of 1861 of Nov. We camped at Charlstown some five or six days, and then we had to go down to the flowing springs, which is the best place yet I believe. We have been doing very well considering the bad weather. We draw Beef, Bread, Coffee, Sugar, Salt, Candles and rice. I can begin to cook wright well considering the practice I had. Our mess cooks for the two lieutenants, and then they buy corn meal, and molassus for us. We have corn bread for breakfast. We have a fire place in our tent it is very comfortable in here. We can stay in here the coldest weather. It snowed down here last sunday. It has been cloudy for several days. I have received my socks which S. Miller brought for me.
I have learned that some of my friends have past
from this world to a better I hope. They say there is not a yanky on this side of the river. Tomorrow makes 13 weeks sinc I started from home last. I think that I will try and stick my way 6 months owt, unless something happens it hardly pays to come home a few days, and have to go back the [weekly?] so I thought that I would try it a little longer. I want to come home about Chrismas & if nothing happens till that time. It cost so much to come home so often. I have not put on my flanel drawers, nor flanel shirt yet. I thought that I would not put them on till it got right cold. We have not drawed any more money yet. I do not know when we will draw again. Isac Yowel is in our mess now. as I have not much news to write this time I will now come to a close. Direct your letter to Charlstown Jefferson Co. Va in the care of Capt [D M Dovel?] [?] I will now close by subscribing my name
From your affectionate Brother Ambrose M Hite
I want you to write soon
(Envelope) Miss Susan R. Hite
Leaksvill Po
Page Co
Va
(lower left corner of envelope) politeness of Mr. S. Miller
Camp near Buckletown, Berkely Co. Va.
Dear sister, Sunday July 19th 1863
I received your letter
while I was laying in a line of Battle near Hagerstown, (Pa) which was own the 11th of July. I written Pap a letter the next day after I received your letter, which was on the twelvth. I suppose he got that letter by this time. I am on picket to day, five miles above Martinsburg. I and Ed Rothgeb, and two of the other boys are on one post. I would like to know whether Pap received that letter where I wrote when I was near Carlisle, Pa. I have not received any letter from Pap since Rosenberger came down. I think he must write a large letter the next time he writes. I will now tell you a little something about crossing the river the last time. We layed in a line of battle two days and three nights at Hagers Town. We threw up breast work all a long our line. Our breast work was six miles from the river. We left our breast work in the night about eight oclock, and got a cross the river by day break. We were all night going six miles. It was raining besides, the mud was six inches deep. When we got to the river we had to wade it. The water taken me 2 inches above my wesket pockets. We marched a cross the river in four ranks. Some of our small boys, the water nerely washed them down. The water almost raised me up out of the water. I kept nothing dry but my haver sack. My aminition got wet, and the water run in my knapsack and got my things wet. My pocket Book got wet and all my money, but I dryed it up again. I did not care what got wet, so I saved my self.
turn over
Ewels men all had to wade the river. Hills & Longstreets men crossed on the pontoon bridges. We only had one pontoon bridge across the river, so it was impossible for us all to cross one bridge. I do not think we will fall back any further at this time. We lost a good many men in Pennsylvania but we whiped the yankys the two first days, and the third day the yankys held their position, and then we fell back, as they had such a good position. The yankys lost a good many men too in that fight. We taken a good many prisoners. I have not heard from David & John yet, I suppose John is dead by this time. I do not know how long David will stay yet, I exspect he will have to stay till he is exchanged or parolled. I will now tell you what I need. I have to draw a pair of shoes, and a round about, and my pants are nerely gone too. I do not know whether I will draw pair of pants this time or not. My shirts and pair of drawer are nerely worn out too. I am getting pretty raget now. I do not know whether I had better draw my shirts here or get them at home. I exspect I have not got many shirts at home so meby I had better draw here. I entend to draw shoes & a round about & a pair of pants here if I can. I think that would be the best plan, for things are very scarce at home I wreckon. I want you to send me something good to eat such as meat bread Butter &c. I think some of you farmers could make up a team and bring us in a load of provision down here now, as harvest is off I suppose. If you find out any person is coming you must send something for us to eat. This leaves me well and hearty as a buck, and hope these few lines will find you all enjoying the same good health.
I remain your true brother
tell Pap to write soon, and so must you. Ambrose M. Hite
