38th Virginia Infantry - Killed while carrying the Regiment's Colors at Malvern Hill - NEW

Item CON-11702

Description

Original Civil War Confederate letter, 4 pages written in period ink.



Camp Edmonds [near Centreville, Virginia]
 
September the 20^th 1861
 
Miss Mollie H. Swanson
 
Dear Friend,
 
I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines in reply to your very welcome letter, which I received a few days since. I was much pleased to get a letter from you.  As none of you has thought enough of me to write since I left.  I had just concluded the day I received your letter that you girls certainly must be the worst girls about writing in the world.  As none of you would write at all and I had laid up a quarrel for every one of you.  But none that you have written to me.  I will not quarrel with you any.  But tell the rest of the girls to look out for twelve months ain’t always.
 
I will now try and give some of the news of the day.  There is a great deal of sickness in camp at present.  Our Captain [Ralph Clement Herndon] is complaining some but nothing serious.  Lieutenant [Napoleon] price is very sick.  He has the fever.  Our company are improving some.  We have only 24 on the sick list, if I ain’t mistaken.  Sam [Swanson] is well and hearty and looks better than I ever saw him.  It is hard for me to decide which is the best looking – myself or Sam.  We both look so well.  It is hard to make a decision.
 
You ask me if I had a chance at the Yankees heads yet.  I am sorry to say I have not.  For every time they hear of the 38^th, they put out.  We went out at Winchester to give them a round and why did we?  There was not Yankees there.  They fought over the left shoulder.  They had better travel when the 38^th breaks out – more particular, the Whitmell Guards [of Company D].
 
You said you think that I would like very well to see a certain young lady.  I will admit to that.  I would like very well to see you all.  I would be pleased to know the secret you and Miss Patsy found out.  For I am anxious to know it.  I want to know what you all a secret.
 
Well, I know you will get tired of my nonsense; therefore, I will try and write something else.  You told me to give your love to Oliver and take good care of him.  I have given him your love and also have taken as good care of him as I could possibly do.  I have to stand guard every day or two from the fact we have so much sickness in our company.  I went to see him as often almost as one of my own brothers.  I am happy to say that he is improving and if no bad accident happens to him, he will soon be able for service again.  
 
I will now close my madly written letter.  As I expect to send this by Captain Hall and he will give you all the news.
 
Write soon to your friend,
 
L. P. H. Tarpley
 
P.S. Please excuse bad writing and spelling.  Give my love to your father’s family, Captain Hall and also Mother’s family.  Goodbye until I hear from you again.
 
L. P. H. T.
 
P.S.  Tell old man Cook I would be pleased to hear from him.  – Doc