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[Letter One]

[John S. Capers to E[lizabeth] R. Braxton, at Ingleside., April 19, 1864]

April 19th 1864
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[Letter No. 2] [Page 1]

Camp Near McClellands Bridge
Chickahominy River. May 25th 1864

I can scarcely realize that so
long a time has elapsed which has been
fraught with events so important and which
has introduced me to scenes even new to
my long experience
[Since I last heard from my friends]
Nor could I possibly
realize it were it not for the long seperation
[?from] my friends of Ingleside which is its
direct result. Could wishing hace accomp-
-lished anything I am sure that the evils
which have surrounded the bright neighborhood
of Old Church would never have been felt.
You have been called on to pass through
another severe ordeal from what I can
learn even worse than any preceding one.

and this in comparison with the position I
have occupied is far more trying & severe
Indeed a soldier has comparativly an easy time
to those who are subject to the merciless and
cruel atrocities of such a vandal for -

[letter 2, Page 2]

I [?need] scarcely ask how my friends of
Ingleside have stood it. Its f[air?] ones have
long since established themselves heroines.
and each occasion as it renders the effort
to resist such overbearing influences [?]
only enhances the character of the [?patriotism]
that has so [?] our [?admiration].
I trust Miss Bettie that you have been
so fortunate as to escape even a ruffled
mind. This I am well induced to believe
You are one of those rare philosophers whose
Equanimity is scarcely ever disturbed.
However! the satisfaction of direct proof is
very desire
able and I hope to hear that Yankee
[?] has not polluted Ingleside soil or
if it has with less contamination than
usage affixes to such proximity generally.
I wish I could supercede Mr. P in his de-
lightful duty of a visit to Old Church and
I feel no hesitancy have no scruples in
such a display of selfishness.
The scene from which this [?]

[Letter 2, Page 3]

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