Rude's near Mt. Jackson

April 12^th 1862           

 

My Dear Nancy

                        I received your letter yesterday and am obliged to you for it I am sure. For I begin to feel as if the enemy were closing in around us, and actually getting near my own dear home. The mails are so irregular I never can count on a letter going or coming straight. But I am going to send this by Col. Reid's overseer Wallace, who goes tomorrow & carries up my big sorrell horse to Mr. Saml. Campbell to take care of for me, & try to get him fat. I have had to ride him so hard, and been unable to get him attended to, so that he is as poor as a snake. But he is a fine horse and I want him to be gotten in good condition so whenever you see Mr. Campbell ask him about him for me, and tell I say he must take good care of him, for that same big, ugly sorrell horse—as he is now—has carried me in many a dangerous place, and I want him to do so again. One reason the horse looks so badly is that / my boy Buck has been sick for some time and unable to do anything, so that as soon as he can go I am going to send him home to Lexington.

 

I have heard that Pa has been made a Brigadier General of Artillery. I do not know whether it is so. I wrote to him yesterday to ask if it were true. I hope it is so. For I am certain no honour was ever better deserved. And how you all will put on airs, the big folks now you are daughters of a Genl.

 

We have been rejoicing for two or three days over the news of a grand victory gained by Beauregard over Buell—But the joy was mingled with sorrow at the fate of Gen. A. S. Johnston, and is now almost changed to mourning at the news of the second day's fight in which our men seem to have been driven from the field. However, we must still trust in God, that he will bring us to victory at last and save us from our enemies.

 

I wrote this far last night (Saturday) and then got so sleepy, that I had to go to bed, and so I was too late to send my letter by Mr. Wallace. I am now writing on Sunday morning in the office, as there is nothing to do. I hope you are all well this / bright spring morning, and I would like, Oh! more than I can tell—to be able to walk in the garden with you all today and look at the flowers and see how things are getting along. I am going to try and get a leave after a time, if at any period there seems any likelihood of the Yankees letting us alone for two or three weeks. I think I deserve a short furlough for I have been doing all the work of the office for a long time. I wish Col. Preston would come on, for then I would have less to do.

 

And so Miss Agnes Reid is married. I hope she will have a happy time with John Ross. Henry Douglas was here when I got the letter and seemed quite surprised at the news. What has become of Ned Lee? I have not heard of him & none of you says anything about his movements. If he has gotten well, he ought to come to his regiment. It is down on picket now, where we have two regiments of Infantry, 4 pieces of Artillery, & all Ashby's Cavalry. The Yankees are about 7 miles from us just at Edinburg, in Shenandoah County. They have about 15 000 but I don't think they will advance shortly or if they do they will have a hard fight of / it. Speaking of fights, did you get my letter of with the account of the fight at Winchester?

 

Tell Mary & Rose to write to me, for I intend to do better in future, & write oftener than I have done. Letters come quite regularly now, and are a great treat I assure you. Tell Leila to write too, for although this letter is in answer to yours, it is intended for you two. As I looked out of the window just now I saw a railroad car travelling up the turnpike—showing what war can do. But it does worse things. There is not a fence any where around here for miles, and all these beautiful fields are left open to the stock. Love to each & every one.

 

            God bless you        

                

Yr. fond brother

A. S. Pendleton

 

My Dearest Mother

                                    If you send a letter to me for Aunt Fanny I can send it through to her, & possibly get an answer, tho' I don't know. I am sadly in want of drawers. Can you get me some of the same sort I got last fall—I will send some money as soon

 

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as I can draw it, which will be shortly. Ask Sam Campbell to take good care of my horse if you please—with fondest love

                                               

yr. Son             A. S. Pendleton

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