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V.M.I. Aug 10, 1862

Dear Pa Having nothing else to do this evening I thought I would write to you although I had just seen you yesterday morning. After I left you I went up to Barracks & staid in my room all the morning. After dinner I had a very bad headache so I laid down & went to sleep whilst Henderson, Lee & Read went to town.

After supper the Corporal of the Guard came for me to go on guard at an outer post & was very particular in telling me to let no one pass without the countersign, but he would give me no load to put in my gun. After he left about 25 cadets came down & wanted to take my gun but I stuck one of them with my bayonet not very hard (for I knew it was all a trick to frighten me) & drove them off but they came back with guns & got my gun away. The Corporal came & made a big fuss saying he would have to be responsible for my neglect of duty, but I told him how 25 with guns could easily take one man but he said I must be court martialed & sent me to the guard house but in fact Sub Profs. Wise & Semmes room, kept me in there some time & saw I was not to be fooled so let me go. That ended yesterday.

I went up town to the Church, I don't know what kind of church but think it was Presbyterian. Came back went to dinner & am now in my room No.76. Tell Ma to send my box about a foot or less any size about six inches high, I think she has one with my 2 shirts with the 2 collars, as soon as possible if she don't I will have watch money or nothing in a few days. I must close. Please excuse writing as my fingers have all been put out of joint today & I can hardly write. With love to all I remain.

Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

P.S. Tell Mrs. Holcombe Tommy is getting on very well, is very studious & and fat as a pig. Remember me to Mrs. Brown, Mr. Brown, & every body who think enough of me to inquire after me. Tell Mac he ought to be here the bucking would not hurt him. Please send me some stamps. Henry.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Transcription

VMI Aug 14, 1862

Dear Pa I received your letter about two hours ago just after dinner & was very glad to hear from you. I hope you have got me a box large enough to hold my collars hank &, not a writing desk it is rather too small but perhaps I can make it do. The Staff Va buttons I would rather have than the V.M.I. Please send me a dozen.

I have bought a mattress for $7 whereas I would have to pay the quartermaster $14, but it should come out of the money which Gen. Smith holds & I consider I have saved $7. I borrowed it from Thomas Henderson because I did not want to use my small notes. I paid also 75 cts for a chair. Please send me $10. I may want to buy some thing else. I have spent 25 cts since I have been here.

Our studies are math & French. I am in the 8th section, 4th class math; 4th section, 4th class French. We will have more studies after the first of September. Geo., composition & some one or two other things. I will make 13 in French this week & 14 in math. 15 is the highest & none have made 15 since I have been here.

I got 11 demerits the first day, 7 the second, 5 the third, 3 the fourth, 1 the fifth, & none since. I got off from all of them & all say I have got less demerits than any Rat that has come here this year. We get up at 5 to Rev, eat at 7 also at 1, squad drill at 5, dress parade at 6 & supper at 7, Tattoo at 9½, & taps at 10. I have been on guard twice since I have been here.

I like the V.M.I very much & do not dislike the fare. Have fattened about 10 lbs. I have my white uniform & I think it improves me very much. All I want are the buttons. I don't understand you about the vest. I don't want one it will be no use. How do you do in the office with Mr. Jamieson. Please write me. Tell Mac McLean I am going to write to him as soon as I get things straightened up.

I have three very nice room mates. F. Lee, S. Read & T. Henderson, all from Lynchburg, very kind & accomodating fellows. I have heard no news for I don't know how long, not since you left. Don't know where Jackson, Pope or any of our armies are. Please send me a paper with a great deal of news in it, for I want to hear something about military affairs.

Our clothes come in every Wednesday & Saturday evening. Last Wednesday evening they all came in & an old cadet by the name of Exall ordered me to carry his box of clothes up. It was more than I could stand so I pitched in I thrashed him pretty badly. The other cadets did not blame me but he collected some of his friends of the same feather & caught me, at least jumped upon me suddenly Monday night as I was coming off guard with my gun lying carelessly across my shoulder, tied me & hung me over the door until I had no life in me & they had to throw water in my face, bathe my head &c to bring me to. Yesterday I met two of them, the old cadets said they would see fair play so I beat one at a time all to pieces, knocked one's teeth down his throat, at least 2 of them in which I got one eye pretty black. Since then an order has been read out dismissing them for impudence to Major Shipp. None of the Subs found out about the fight though they saw there had been a fight some where. Please write often & long. Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

P.S. Remember me to Mr. & Mrs. Brown & every body else. Tell Mrs. Holcombe Tommy is well & sends his love. Henry.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life, mentioning the cirriculum and the slang term "rat."

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Aug 18 1862

Dear Pa The desk & was recd safely Saturday morning. I walked down to the landing & got it myself, had to pay 50cts on it. All the things were in good order. Your letter & Ma's were safely recd., stamps, $2, buttons, shirts &. Very much obliged for the apples & sugar, do not know what to do with the sugar unless I eat it so, No I will not do that, I will take it down to Mess Hall tonight & sweeten my milk with it and have a sort of Ice Cream.

One of my roommates Read S has gone to Lynchburg (you have probably seen him before this) on furlough. Please send by him some undershirts for it is very cold up here. I was on guard about 2'oclock last night & had nothing but my white clothes on, I very near froze. I would write for my thick winter coat but Gen. Smith recd a letter yesterday from Charleston saying the cloth had run the blockade & arrived safely. It will be here in a few days, so I will try & stand it as my order for Jacket, pants & overcoat is 3rd in the list & Mr. Vanderslice will soon make it. Gen. Smith says he has $30,000 worth of cloth about 15,000 yards or more because it did not cost $2 per yard in Europe.

Don't forget my buttons, send them by Read. Also $10 for mattress, chair &. Send my other blanket as soon as you can, but do not pay a big price for me. I would rather wait a while.

My left little finger has been broke, but I am in hopes it will soon be well. My eye is well but some of the old cadets who have been on furlough & returned are very hard on Rats & I heard a cadet say this morning "I pity the Rats now."

I will answer Ma's letter before long. I have now written four letters in a week so you must make them last for sometime. Write often, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

Remember me to all my friends & write me about Mr. Brown's boarders &. My pillow is a great deal of use.

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Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Aug 26 1862

Dear Pa Having just recd your letter of the 21st I proceed to answer it at once.

In regard to my maltreatment I went next morning at sick roll call to see Dr. Madison who examined my neck & finger. He said my finger was right badly hurt and bound it up with two little boards, but my neck was not injured. My finger is nearly well but still swollen. If I had known in Lynchburg how I was to be treated I never would have consented to come, but since I have passed through it I don't think I will be molested any more, especially as Gen. Smith allowed the same fellows that maltreated me to resign for nearly killing a rat named Cocke, a son of Philip St. George Cocke, & all of them have gone home some days ago.

I have been right sick for several days. Had a chill Saturday & Sunday but went to the Dr. yesterday morning who gave me some white stuff something like chalk, which entirely relieved me except that it gave me a severe head ache.

We Rats have not any studying to do this week because of the examination which is progressing. The 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 sections, 4th Class expect to enter the 3rd Class, so then I will be in the 3 section, 4th Class whereas I am now in the 8th. Perhaps I may go in the 2nd or 1st. I made 15, the highest mark to be made, on Math last week & 14 6/10 on French, which is also a very high mark as none in the class made higher.

In place of studying this week they try to drill us to death. We get up to Rev at 5, go to squad drill at 5½, & drill till 6½, go to breakfast parade at 7, go on guard mounting at 8, squad drill from 11 to 12, Dinner parade at 1, squad drill again at 5 to 6, dress parade from 6¼ to ¼7, evening parade at 7, & tattoo at 9½. Besides we are on guard twice in every week, stand one hour in the night each time.

I have no demerits so fair, will try & keep from getting them. I was very much surprised to see in an old Lynchburg paper the notice of Clem's departure. Write me about it & if he carried off any thing belonging to the Co. or your key, for you always gave it to him at night & I suppose he left in the night. I must close as it is very near 5 clk. Tell Ma to write to me with love to all, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

It takes 6 years single width of cloth to make me a uniform. Please send also 4 yards double width of Flannagan cloth to make me an overcoat. I want Browns cloth for my uniform & Flannagans for my overcoat. 6 yards single & 4 yards double width. Be sure to put it up so it will not look like cloth, as any thing of that kind is stolen directly.

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Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Aug 28 1862

Dear Pa & Ma I recd my box safely this morning and enjoyed the contents very much, but was disappointed at not finding the small Va. buttons as I had plenty of large V.M.I. buttons & did not want any large Va. The shirts, collars, cakes & apples all recd safe & sound. You need not have troubled yourselves about the apples as we get the best even nicer than you sent for 5 cts per doz & sometimes cheaper. Peaches are considered high at 10 & 15 cts, plenty of pears, plums &.

I have not heard from Bro yet, expect a letter today. Write me about Clem's departure. I think Mr. Jamieson treated you very badly after he had accepted the place. You ought to get some body to take the place as you cannot do every thing.

My finger is a great deal better tho still swollen and a little crooked. It will get straight in the course of time. I have not been maltreated much lately. I must close with love to all, I remain, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

P.S. Please send my cloth as soon as possible, 6½ yards of Brown's & 4 yards of Flannagan's as I wrote you in my last for my uniform & overcoat. 6½ single width for uniform, 4 double width overcoat & small Va staff buttons.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Sep 14 1862

Dear Pa Your letter was recd several days ago for which I am very much obliged as it has relieved me of a great deal of twisting &.

Gen. Smith has gone to Gen. Jackson's army with his son (who you saw, he was adjutant of the V.M.I.) who has the position of first Lieutenant in the C.S.A. (Artillery). He will return in a few days, when he does I will ask him about the cloth & write you immediately.

Since the first of Sept I have been getting up at 5 oclk to Rev., squad drill from 5½ to 6½, breakfast at 7, go in to recite math at 8, Geography at 11, drawing, composition and French till 4, squad drill at 5, & Dress Parade at 6, supper at 7, & Tattoo at 9½.

The last week I made 15 on French (max 15) & 14 6/10 on Math. They did not mark us on the other studies as we have just commenced. The reason I make such good marks in Math is because we are in the first part of Algebra & I have been over it before. If I could make 13 every week on math I would stand near the top of my class, but when we get over in the middle of the book I don't expect to average 11. Very few will make more. I am i the 7th section in alphabetical order. In French I will stand about 7 in the class.

Over 100 cadets were found deficient at the last examination & of course a great many of them will stand above me on Math. Frank Smith was so sure of being found deficient that he went home on furlough & did not even run for the 3rd class.

I have 5 demerits. It happened in this way. I was orderly of the room (an orderly is a cadet who is detailed every Sunday morning. He sweeps out the room, brings water & is responsible for noises &). Some of the boys made a noise. I as orderly was reported for "noise after Taps" (after Taps is after the lights have been put out). All of them denied making any noise & I as orderly had to take the report. I don't think I will get any more for some time.

I am getting very tired of the V.M.I. & would a great deal rather be with you in the office than here, especially as you have no one to assist you. I know you have a great deal to do.

If our army goes into Alexandria I would like very much to go also. Write & let me know because if the army goes in it will not stay any length of time.

Ten cadets deserted the other day & 10 or 12 more are making preparations to leave also. There is a rumor that all cadets over 18 will be taken as conscripts. I don't know how true it is, if so the Institute will be broken up unless they are exempted by Congress. I think by studying Gilham a little I might get an office in the army for I have learned a great deal about it. With love to Ma & all my friends.

I remain Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Sep 20, 1862

Dear Pa Your letter written from Richmond was recd several days ago, and your letter of the 18th recd today.

When I first entered the Institute I liked it very well, but in the last two or three weeks I have become very much dissatisfied. Amongst other things I do not get enough to eat. My seat is in the middle of a long table. At breakfast a pitcher of milk is put at both ends & by the time it passes down to me there is no milk left so I have to eat dry bread, same at supper. Today at dinner I was so hungry that I ate a piece of rotten beef although it smelled very badly, & a small piece of bread. Since then I have thrown up several times and still feel very badly in my stomach. My only resource is to buy some apples & fill up with them. (Capt. Whitwell the Commissary says the fare will be better in a week or so). I felt so badly last Thursday night that I could not prepare any lessons and made zero which reduced my mark a great deal for the week. I am also inclined to some kind of disease in my stomach, my food constantly coming up in my mouth & my throat hurting me but perhaps that may wear off. I had a cold sweat last night which I don't like very much. I intend going to morrow to see Dr. Madison about it.

I have 13 demerits, 5 for noise after taps, 3 for no regulations in room (I did not know that we were obliged to have them in our room) & 5 for falling out of ranks at drill. The way I came to fall out was thus. For the last two or three weeks we have been double‐quicked nearly to death & the evening on which I fell out I was very unwell & double‐quicked until I could go no further. So I fell out & came to my room. I told Maj. Shipp how it was but he refused to take it off. I don't think I will get any more for some time. There are very few who have as few demerits as me. Thomas Henderson had 40 3 weeks ago. I don't know how many he has now about 60 I suppose & he has only been here 10 days longer than me. He will be dismissed for neglect of studies unless he alters a great deal. He is the most good‐for‐nothing fellow I ever came across. Has not as much sense as his sister Julia.

I have learned so rapidly lately that they have put me in Company drill, which I am very glad of for it is nothing like as hard as Squad drill.

I asked Gen. Smith this morning about the cloth. He said he did not know when he would get cloth so you had better send mine up. He has given some boys furloughs to go home to provide their winter clothing. He says if I get the gray like you have his will be something like it and I will not want another uniform. Please send it on a Friday so that I can go down & get it on Saturday. You know how much to send for uniform & overcoat. The uniform of Brown's & the overcoat of Flannagan's I wrote you some time ago how much it took to make them. I reckon you had better wait till Ma comes back before you send it but be sure to send it on a Friday. Bundle it up good and write me when you sent it so I will know when to look out for it. I must close with love to all,

I remain, Your affectionate son, J. Henry Reid.

P.S. We have not begun to drill Artillery yet, perhaps not at all. Please write me what Bro is doing, what his position, &.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Sept 27 1862

Dear Pa I recd your letter day before yesterday, but did not know what to make of its contents. It ran thus, "I do not think Henry has yet acknowledged the receipt of a package sent him about two weeks ago in the care of a Cadet going to the V.M.I. Capt. Wilkinson was off the line and at the moment of starting the Capt. of the boat was so occupied and I so hurried in getting ashore that I left the package with the Cadet and handed him 25 to pay freight on it. It contained 2 blankets and something else perhaps buttons."

It seems the letter is not addressed to me but to somebody else. I recd the package safely, blankets & buttons and thought I had written you so. I am very much obliged to you for the blankets are a great deal of use these cold nights, for we nearly freeze.

I can either get $4 for my buttons or get 3 doz cadets buttons for them. Please when you send my cloth send my cap cover. It belonged to the cap I sold Boyd Smith. Ma knows where it is she put it away, also my skates, they are in the barrel. Let me know when you send the cloth. Please send it on a Friday so I can go down & get it on Saturday.

I have been very sick in the last week and got the report "not studious" which Dr. Madison will excuse me from. I made very poor marks & got some 10 or 12 demerits for absent from roll call &. Maj. Shipp assures me Dr. Madison will excuse me from all my demerits so I will be free once more from demerit. I have 20 so far but will write my excuses Monday and send them in to Gen Smith's office. In intend to try next week to make up in my studies also. The eating does not improve & I am nearly starved. Much as I can do to keep up. I nearly froze on guard last night & expect to freeze tonight. I think when I get off from my demerit I can easily keep from them.

I must close. Write me the news about Bro with love to all. I remain, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Transcription

V .M.I. Sept 30 1862

Dear Pa I recd your letter yesterday morning after I had written you in answer to a letter recd several days ago. I am very glad to hear that the cloth will be here so soon, as it is very cold late at night and early in the morning with my white uniform, and besides I nearly freeze when I go on guard at night (every 4th night). Since I recd the blankets I have been very comfortable at night.

Speaking of the fare I could not get milk or bread, the only thing you can buy up here is apples, and you have to live on them. At breakfast this morning I took a small piece of bread for my dinner (I did not intend to go to dinner), and was reported for "carrying provisions from Hall." Don't you think that is hard.

I have been sick now for nearly two weeks & have fallen off about 25 pounds. Dr. Madison has been giving me quinine and some kind of acid, which does me a little good but about 4 oclock every evening I have a very high fever which lasts till after bed time. I have had it regularly every evening for two weeks. I understand Dr. Madison said this morning that the fare here was calculated to give any body the Typhoid fever. I hope they will change it, for the milk affects me just as it does you. I don't know what you call the disease but think it is the "dyspepsia". I have attended to nearly all my duty since I have been sick, but I will go into the Hospital if it continues much longer.

I have gotten off from all my demerits except "noise after taps," 5 demerits which I think when Maj. Shipp returns I will get off from. I got a report yesterday for grabbing provisions which I intend to deny for I can prove by 3 or 4 that I did not do it. The Sergeant who reported me says himself he may have been mistaken in the person. I cannot get off until Maj. Shipp returns (report says he has gone off to be married.) I have another report for "allowing visiting whilst on Post on 25th". I was not on post on that day, but a rat by the name of Reed T. from Winchester was. I will refer that to him, also a report loitering on post. I think I can get off from all but the 5 for "noise after Taps."

I have been made Section marcher to the 8th section, 4th class math (the duty of a Section Marcher is to call the roll of his section every time it goes into recite, also to march the section in, report all absentees & is responsible for all trifling & talking in ranks &c. Frank Smith is in my section, he is on furlough at present.

What is the news? Our army had gone into Maryland & returned before I knew they were really in Maryland. Have you heard from Charlottesville lately? How is Miss McPherson & all our friends. I must close. With love to all, I remain Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

Please don't forget the cap cover & skates. A young fellow by the name of Waller came here from Lynchburg & was shipped in 5 days. Mrs. Brown knows him very well. I have moved over on the side of barracks towards Gen. Smith's, No. 75 with Henderson, Wright from N.C., White from this place, Griffin from Roanoke & myself. Very pleasant roommates so far except Henderson, but we keep him under. Tell Ma to write me all the news of her trip &c. Every boy in barracks has remarked how poor I am & you know how poor I was when I left Lynchburg.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

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V.M.I. Oct 5 1862

Dear Ma I recd your letter yesterday morning and would have answered it yesterday (Saturday) but I had a great deal to do before going on Battalion Inspection (the first time I have been on). I recd the cloth safely, also skates, cap cover & apples for which I am very much obliged. Gen. Smith told me yesterday morning that he thought he could get cloth in 2 or 3 weeks, but he would not have enough to give the cadets overcoats, only jackets & pants. If so I will keep the fine and only use the coarse for an overcoat & if he gives me jacket & pants I will send the other back. You say in your letter you send both cap covers. I recd only one. Please send the other for this one does not suit the cap & I can easily sell it.

Pa says in his letter "as to your freezing on post at night, it seems to me the woollen clothes you carried ought to protect you." I never brought any woollen clothes with me. The only woollen thing I brought was my cloth coat & that I put in the arsenal soon after I came here & there were about 75 trunks on top of mine but I went in yesterday & got some boys to help me & got my coat out. White, one of my roommates, has bought a very good overcoat which I can wear at night. It keeps me quite comfortable. I think I can get along as far as clothes are concerned. You need not trouble yourself about sending me anything to eat as probably in a box of cakes I would get 2 or 3 to eat (you need not send my file). I will see a servt. about getting me some thing to eat or apply to change my seat which I think I can easily do.

Maj. Shipp has not returned yet, when he does I will see about my demerits. About 30 cadets are going to be shipped for having over 100 demerits in six months, 5 were sent off yesterday. Adie from Leesburg, Helm from Warrn., Grant & 2 Williams from Richmond. Patton nephew of Geo. A Smith & Gilham son of Col. Gilham are amongst the number. Old cadets say they are more stringent now than they have ever been before. As soon as a cadet gets 100 he is sent home & somebody else comes in to fill his place. There is not one in the Institute who has not over 25. Tom Henderson has about 60 & if he don't get off from some he will be shipped.

I must close as I have to go to Bible class, which recites in a few moments. With love to all I remain. Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Transcription

V.M.I. Oct 12 1862. Sunday.

Dear Pa & Ma I recd your letter day before yesterday, also the box & letter yesterday, for which I am very much obliged. I was very hungry when the box came & I certainly enjoyed the sweet potatoes, bread & jelly &. But I am afraid I cannot eat any more because I have a rising in my ear which Dr. Madison cut yesterday. It is swollen up so much this evening that I can hardly open my mouth much less eat. I intend to try & keep my things until it gets so I can eat. The bread is the best thing as I can buy some butter & have very good eating.

If I had recd your letter about a week ago when I was sick I should certainly have applied for a furlough, but I have so far recovered that I think I can get along here, especially as it takes all the studying I can do to keep up with my class. If I go home I will be thrown back & will probably never catch up again. I would like very much to go but would rather wait till Christmas when we have 2 weeks vacation.

You need not be afraid of my being shipped for demerits as I have only 10. 5 for noise after taps, 3 for being late at Dress Parade (I had to go to the Surgeon's Office and as I came back stopped at the Tailor shop to be measured, the drum beat & before I could get to my room & get my gun my company had fallen in), & 2 for throwing water on stoop. One of my roommates threw the water on but denied it. I, as orderly, had to take the report. It has been some time since I got a report & I don't think I will get any more demerit.

Wm Gordon's son arrived yesterday. He is the greenest rat I ever saw--has no sense at all. I must close with love to all. I remain, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Transcription

V.M.I. Oct. 18, 1862

Dear Pa I recd your letter this evening and according to your request I answer immediately.

As well as I remember the report for Oct & Nov 1861 were put up in envelopes in bundles & were in the little box on the right hand side of the closet as you go in. They were mixed up with other months I think, but I am not sure. I know how troublesome it will be to find them. Undo the bundles and you will see marked on the backs of the envelopes the month & dates.

My ear has nearly gotton well but it pained me a great deal. The rising went up into my head & stopped up the opening so that Dr. Madison had to cut through the lower part, which gave me a great deal of pain. It is however now nearly well.

I have had my uniform made which makes me feel quite comfortable. Gen. Smith expected to get some cloth from near Winchester, but Gen. Lee pressed it for his army and Gen. Smith will have to do without it. I don't know what the Rats will do.

I went up town to day & had the pleasure of seeing Miss Cassy Reeder from Waynesboro. She says all were well when she left. I have gotten off from all my demerits & will try not to get any more. I must close. With love to all I remain, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

P.S. Please send me my old cadet pants, old gray ones, some Friday. Ma knows which ones.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Transcription

V.M.I. Oct 26 1862

Dear Ma I recd your letters and also the box day before yesterday, for which I am very much obliged. I enjoyed the bread very much and will have the potatoes cooked today. I enjoyed the bread very much. It rained very hard & I did not go to dinner so I came up to my room and eat nearly all of my rolls. I intend to get to the Old Judge (an old negro man who cooks all our Beef) to cook them this evening.

You may sell my Jacket & Overcoat if you want to, but don't you think my overcoat will make me a good coat or vest when cloth gets scarce, but you can dojust as you please. It is in the largest box at the office with my gun. My winter coat vest & pants will fit me a year, hence do not sell them. I have gotten entirely well and have to study hard to catch up & keep up with my section. I have had another rising in my ear but hope it will soon be well.

I have gotton off from all my demerits but 8, 5 for allowing visiting & 3 for loitering on post. The way I got the first was in this way. I was on Post no3 when the Inspector visited. I made all the rooms on my post report just before the Inspector visited. They all reported "all right" but the Inspector caught someone visiting & reported me as sentinel for allowing visiting. I told Capt. Semmes (who was acting commandant in Maj. Ship's absence) how it was but he would not let me off. Maj. Ship would have taken it off I am sure about loitering on post. I know nothing about it and will get off I think.

I have an opportunity of buying a first rate pair of high top shoes made something like the gaiters Pa got in Washington (which were the best shoes I ever had) for $15. Mr. White the father of one of my roommates who has a store up town had them before the war and offers them to me as a special favor (they do not fit his son). They are the finest calf-skin double soles worth $25 or $30 in Richmond or Lynchburg. I will need them this winter as my English shoes have proved a failure and have worn out already. If Pa thinks I had better take them he can send me a check or if he thinks not I will not get them. It is certainly a bargain & I am sure I will need them.

They have not commenced to heat up barracks yet. Some say they will not commence till Christmas. Gen. Smith has succeeded in getting cloth so I will have 2 uniforms. I have done without an overcoat & if I get a cadet overcoat I will send my cloth back home. It is very cold getting up at 5 oclk without any fire & going out & drilling an hour.

How do you get along with your envelopes. Write & tell me. I must close. Please excuse this hastily written eltter as I am writing in a cold room without any fire. With love to all I remain. Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid

P.S. I wish you could take a trip over here but it will cost a great deal I suppose and would hardly be worth while if I go home Christmas.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Transcription

V.M.I. Saturday 9 o'Clock a.m.

Dear Pa I recd your very kind letter on Monday evening and would have answered it before, but that I wanted to write you a long letter & thought I would wait till today (Saturday) because I had not time to write you but a very short one in a week day especially when we have so much to do.

Gen. Smith seems determined to pick math into our heads. He gives some 20 or 30 pages of Algebra every day and you may know how much I have studied when I tell you, that all the time I went to Mr. Kirk's, Mr. Smith's & Mr. Scott's, I only went through my Arithmetic and very little Algebra, whereas I have been here only three months and have gone through my Algebra and will go into Geometry in a few weeks or perhaps sooner.

I had worked my way up to the 2nd section math, but when I was sick I fell so far back that I could not keep up with it, and I was transfered to the 8th section. I make only tolerably good marks because whilst I was sick the class went over a great deal that I did not understand & I have to study hard to understand it. I however make good marks in French and make the max in Geography nearly every week. The way Geo. is taught is a very good one. When we go into the Section room, Colonel Williamson sends one of us to the Blackboard and tells us to draw the map of such a country or state with all of its rivers towns &. It was very hard to me at first but I can draw a pretty good map now. In French I have gone through the Grammars and will begin to read Gil Blas on Monday. I make the max or within a few tenths of it every week (you may not understand me when I say tenths. The way they mark us is this, if you make a perfect recitation they mark you thirty tenths or three whole ones & skin you by tenths according as you recite. On compostion they have not commenced to mark us.

I know the fare we get is not sufficient for this season. I have therefore made an arrangement with a servant to supply me with some chicken some butter and some good bread every five days in a week at $1.25. I intend to try and get him down to $1. If he furnishes it to me in Mess Hall they will report me for private dish. I therefore stay away from dinner and he brings it to me in my room. He has furnished me now for four days and I will owe him after today $1.25 and I have only 50cts left. I will get him to trust me and pay him at the end of the month.

I have made my money hold out right well. I brought $8 here with me, you sent me $10 which made $18. I paid $7 for a bed, 75 cts for a chair, 75cts for a broom, $1 for a water bucket, $1 to get my gun cleaned (It was so rusty I could do nothing with it and I was obliged to have it cleaned or I would have been reported every time I went on drill), $1 loaned to Tom Henderson and 50cts to the Soldiers Aid Society up town, which left me about $4.50 with which I have bought apples, cakes & at different times when I was very hungry. I have made my money go as far as I possibly could because I knew you had no money to waste.

I do not think I could have stood the fare much longer if it had not have been for your kind offer. I began to feel weak about the legs, a dizziness about the eyes, violent head-ache and a feeling of emptyness about the stomach. I had this feeling nearly all the time and still have it slightly, but I feel a great deal better since I have been buying from the old negro. But I have not regained my my weight by 15 lbs. By the time I eat some more of my dinners I think I will feel right well. There is a report amongst the boys that Gen Smith is going to give us coffee & ham, if so I will buy no more dinners. It may be only a rumour for all I know but I think it very probable for Gen. Smith certainly can have more feeling than to feed us on Bread & milk all the winter.

We get up every morning at 5 o'clock to Rev (before day), go on Squad drill at 5½ & drill til 6½ (You may imagine how cold is is especially our hands which rests against the butt of the stock which is covered with Iron), after we come off to find no fire in our room which is considered the coldest in Barracks (It is heated by steam through pipes). We intend to apply for another room or apply to Gen. Smith to have the pipes fixed so some steam will come up.

(3 o'clock p.m.). Your most welcome letter of the 29th is just recd (It ought to have gotten here yesterday) containing a check for $15 for which I am very much obliged. I will get my shoes this evening and make them last as long as possible. I have also recd the seven Examiners & will have a treat in reading them.

Dr. Madison says the risings in my ear were caused by the old cadets pulling them, he put some laudanum & sweet oil in them which casued them to run and they feel a great deal better. I still keep wood in them & will continue to do so until they are entirely well. May hearing is as good as ever when I take the wool out.

Gen. Smith's cloth was expected today. I will then have two uniforms. I will take care of the one made out of his cloth and wear my own every day because his will be much prettier. He will not let me have an overcoat because the cloth will hardly furnish all with uniforms. I cannot take an overcoat & no uniform because all are obliged to have uniforms alike to wear on drills, dress parade & so I will be obliged to use my cloth, besides an overcoat out of my cloth will not cost near as much as one out of his.

I am sorry to hear you are sick with the Jaundice (I do not know what it is but suppose it is something concerning the stomach). I hope it is not serious enough to make you lie down and hope you will soon recover. I know you are in good hands & wish I could have been as lucky when I was sick. I have a very poor opinion of Dr. Madison as a physician.

There is a disease in Barracks which I do not like. It breaks out on the hands & resembles the "Itch". You need say nothing about it as I am not sure of its being the "Itch."

I do not wish to disappoint you but I do not think the chances are very good for my getting a furlough Christmas. I intend to try very hard to get one & am almost sure I can with a recommendation from you.

I recd a letter today from Tom McRoberts. He is keeping books for a firm in Raymond, Hinds Co., Miss and is doing very well. He has been discharged from the army. Please let me know where Bro is & what he is doing. With love to all I remain. Your affectionate son J Henry Reid.

P.S. Ask Ma to look & see if I left my buck skin gloves with her. If I brought them with me they have disappeared in some way, altho I am more carefull of my clothes than any one in Barracks. If you have them please send them to me. What did hte cloth you bought from Flannagan cost per yard? Henry

Scope and Contents

Written from Camp at Carter's Station. Letter regards life at camp.

Transcription

Camp Carter's Station March 7th 1864

Dear Pa Having received no answer to my last which contained an account of my hardships in coming out and entering camp, I suppose you must be in Richmond and I having an opportunity write again.

We have had some very fine weather since I last wrote, but it is raining today which makes camp life very unpleasant. We have been expecting to move ever since last Tuesday, but the cars are without an engine and consequently we cannot go until one does come, which I hope will not be shortly as it is a great deal of trouble moving and making bunks etc. Although I like this life very well I am sure it it not as pleasant as in the Engineer service. We get wet one day, dry the next, get wet the next and so on. In the Engineer Corps we can always get to some house out of the rain and mud.

Besides the people out here are all Yankees and it is very hard to get anything to eat. They are the most ignorant set of people I ever saw. I have been for miles around and have not come across the first respectable looking man yet. The ladies call us Rebels, abuse us &. You seldom find that elegance and taste which belongs to a Virginia lady and especially Lynchburgers. Get the Detail if you possibly can and write me as soon as you hear.

I must close as I am lying on my side in a crowded bunk with my feet poking out in the rain writing this. With love to Ma, Miss Emma, Miss Annie, Miss Millie and all the ladies, I remain, Your affectionate son J. Henry Reid.

P.S. I wish if you can possibly do it to purchase me a large knife & send it by the first opportunity . It is one of the most useful articles to a soldier. What must I do with my large Confederate notes. I cannot pass them out here. I expect we will go to the front for Maj. King wants his battalion to do something for him to get promoted.

Direct Otey Battery, 13th Battalion Va Artillery, Longstreet's Corps.