Scope and Contents

Two page account book fragment listing Samuel F. Atwill's school expenses.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards exams, a request for money, and a story of students vying for the attention of a professor's "prettie daughters."

Transcription V.M. Institute Sept 2nd 1862 My dear Father- As I have holiday today I will dedicate a portion of it, at least, in writing to you although I scarcely know what to write about as I have written several letters since I received one from you. It has been upward of a month since I received a letter from you, and I am afraid the Yankees have hemmed you entirely in. You ought to have seen me yesterday when I went in to be examined; about twenty Subs and professors were sitting in a row; in the centre there sat "Old Spex" as big as life, resembling an old owl with a standing collar, and a pair of spex on; but I will not say any thing about the looks of this venerable gentleman for he certainly is as goodlooking as any monkey you ever saw; with a mouth sharp enough to pick peas out of a porter bottle. But enough of this; for you know how badly scared I was when I was in his presence, and while he was examining me. The examination is over now, and we have holiday until next Monday. I must now close for the present as the drum is beating for dress parade. September 3, 1862. How much better I feel now than I did this time yesterday! This evening when I was on one side of the Parade Ground, I saw someone come out of Old Spex house with Old Spex, and Oh Pa! I though it was you until I saw his watch chain, and then I knew it was Mr. Mayo. But really he looked so much like you that I could not drill any more for looking at him, and as soon as I was dismissed Claybrook and myself went out on the hill to see him, but we had only five minutes to stay so he could not tell us any news, only that you were all well, and that the Yankees had not troubled you yet. He is going away tomorrow on the eleven o'clock stage, and I am going uptown to see him tomorrow before he goes. I was certainly glad to hear from you all, as it has been upwards of a month since I heard from you, and especially to hear that you were all well. I would have written you some time ago but I could not get any stamps or money to get stamps with. It is not at all strange to see a Cadet faint in the ranks; this evening one of the fellows let his gun fall on his foot at dress parade and it hurt him so badly that he fainted. Two of the fellows picked him up and instead of bringing him to barracks which was just as near as Major Williamson's, they were very cunning and took him to the latter place as "Old Tom" (Maj. W.) has two very prettie daughters. As soon as they entered the house the young ladies put water in his face and bathed his temples with cologne &c; in about two minutes he came to and came over to Barracks. Just now a servant came in with a waiter in his hand with a white cloth over it and a note to Cadet_____ with the compliments of the Misses Williamsons. Now you can imagine what was under that cloth, besides having the compliments of two beautiful young ladies that you never knew before. Well, if this is the way one gets paid for fainting at dress parade I will certainly try to break my foot tomorrow evening and then fall down; but before I do this I will make a bargain with two fellows to have some chalk prepared for the occasion and as soon as I fall to rub it on my face and hands and then take me to Major Williamson's, or Col. Gilham's; it makes no difference which as both of them have prettie daughters and are equally distant from the Parade Ground; neither of them is over fifteen yards. If you have an opportunity to do do, please send me, together with the thing I have written for before, some flannel shirts and yarn gloves. I must now close as my iddeas are getting beautifully less. Give my love to Ma and tell her when she is eating peaches that she must think of me and eat enough for us both. I got as many as I wanted today but had to pay .25 per dozen for them so you see our monthly allowance ($2.00) does not last long when apples are 20 cts and peaches 25 per doz., and watermelon $1.25 cts. and very scarce at that price. Write very soon and by every opportunity Your devoted son, S.F. Atwill.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards family matters, cadet life, and an account of cadets stealing chickens from a local farmer in order to supplement the basic mess hall fare.

Transcription

V.M. Institute Sept 28th, 1862

My dear Mother- In vain have I been looking for a letter from you now for a long time, but have not received one since Austin arrived, and I am getting quite uneasy about you all; but I hope that nothing is the matter with you all. I wrote to you (or Pa I should have said) Sunday before last, and I would have written to you last Sunday but but "circumstances alter cases" and I could not get an opportunity. How is your health getting? Oh! I hope you are perfectly well by this time. Is Cousins Magie and Betie staying with you now? If they are give my love to them and tell them that I answered their letters when I wrote to Pa. If they do not receive them you must let me know.

I suppose you get the papers now, and have seen an account of our great victories in Maryland, therefore I will not bother you with an account of them. Have you heard from Rennie since he left? Please let me know where I can direct my letters so as he may get them. How does Pa get on with the farm since he left?

Yesterday one of my roommates (as it was his time) went out in the country foraging and about 12 o'clock he came in with two very nice chickens with their heads looking like some one had hit them with a rock; well I was not with Morgan but I guess the chickens tried to hurt him and he had to hit them in self defense. Anyhow we had a very nice breakfast this morning in old 45 (no. of our room) of fried chicken, butter, and warm biscuits which I assure you was not at all objectionable, and I think from experience that the old saying is true that "stolen things always eat the sweetest."

Austin has quite gotten over his homesickness now and is very well; he is writing home also. I am in excellent health and spirits and hope before this reaches you, you may be enjoying the same blessing. I must now close as it is time to go in to Bible recitation. Please excuse this poor apology for a letter for my room is crowded, and you know I never could write where there was a noise. Tell cousin Sarah that I intended to write to her this evening but really I have not time and she will have to excuse me this time. Give my best love to her and tell her that if she knew how I am pressed with my studies she will excuse me. Give my love to all the family and all my relations; remember me also to all my inquiring friends.

You must not expect many letters from me now as I can't find time to write. I must now close; please write by every opportunity. Tell Mollie that I will write to her the first opportunity I have. Your devoted son, S.F. Atwill.

Scope and Contents

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Superintendent Francis H. Smith wrote this letter to notify the Atwill family of Samuel F. Atwill's death.

Transcription

Va. Mil. Institute July 28, 1864

S. B. Atwill Esq. Montrose, Westmoreland Co., Virginia. My dear Sir, It is indeed with much pain I am called upon to announce to you the sudden death of your son. The intelligence has just reached me from my sister in Staunton. I copy that part of her letter

"Mr. Atwill died on Wednesday night and was buried on Thursday evening (21st). He was doing very well--went down to Harrisonburg on a visit, where he was thoughtless enough to take a cold bath, and returned here the next day, feeling quite unwell. He was taken with lockjaw--and notwithstanding it was feared and everything [done] to prevent it, nothing availed--and after three days of agony and suffering he died. In all his moments of quiet and reason, he expressed a perfect knowledge of his situation, and seemed to feel at peace. Ella Stribling nursed him day and night. Her father was away."

It is not surprising that he was at peace. The Sunday before the Battle of New Market, he united himself with the church here and had given evidence that he was indeed a child of God.

The Board of Visitors having directed that the remains of all the gallant youth who fell at the sanguinary Battle of New Market should be removed to the Institute, by the consent of the parents, it will afford us a mournful satisfaction to bury the remains of your son here, that they may be cared for, with the others to be deposited in our public cemetery.

With my heartfelt sympathy with you in your affliction. I remain very respectfully, Francis H. Smith, Superintendent

July 29. Cadet Brockenbrough the roommate of your lamented son has just handed me the enclosed letter from Miss Ella Stribling which I am sure will read by you with deep interest as it gies more fully the particulars.