9th South Carolina Infantry - NEW

Item CON-11979

Description

Confederate soldier's letter, 4 pages written in period ink.


Camp near Germantown
September 14^th 1861
 
Dear Father, 
 
I have written home twice this week, once to you and once to Mother. I write now because we expect to march forward today, and not knowing our destination nor when we will return, I do not know when I shall have another chance to write you. We expect to go to relieve another regiment that is on picket guard somewhere around Mason or Munson's Hill. We may be going in advance in expectation of a fight, but I rather think we are going on picket guard.
 
The place we are going to is some nine or 10 miles from our present camp. The pickets of the two armies are about 600 yard distance. They shoot at each other every day.
 
I do not know for certain where we are going. We started off yesterday, got half a mile, and returned to camp, but we expect to go today to be off three or four days.
 
We lost another man the day before yesterday named Brubaker, making the fourth of our company that has died. Thirty-six have died out of the whole regiment since we left Manassas Junction. Typhoid fever is the prevailing disease at present. The measles have pretty well gone through the regiment. All of our sick are better today.
 
We expect Reuben Howe today with some things sent by the society. When you send things to our company, do not direct to the hospital, for we do not intend to send any more of our sick men there. We believe it is to be certain death to send them there, and we will not get the benefit of such things or anything. 
 
When your thing is intended for our company, have it directed to Captain Adams. Do not have it sent to the hospital, for we will not send any more of our men there. Consequently, they will not get the benefit of things sent to the hospital.
 
English says he has received two letters from you. Please send some whiskey and some other stimulant. It is needed very much. Direct it to me. If you had the demijohn you spoke of sending, direct it to anyone else but myself. Our company will get very little of it, as it will go to the hospital. As for myself, I won't get a smell of it, for well men are not allowed any hospital stores.
 
When you send anything from home intended for our company, direct it to me and to no one else, for they will get all the credit and thanks for having furnished it, that is, next to the hospital. What is sent to our company should be directed to Captain Adams. What is sent for the rest of the regiment can be directed to our surgeon.
 
I wish you to direct all things sent to me to myself and no one else. Please send some whiskey or some other stimulant. Have it directed to me. 
 
English and I are well. There is nothing at all new. Remember me to all. Write soon.
 
Your affectionate son, 
 
James Hopkins 
 
P.S. We are going to Falls Church or farther. J. H.