Camp Troup Artillery “April 27”

                                                                        Racoon Ford, Va.

 

My dear Mother

                        Your very welcome letter of the 19^th inst. came safely to hand yesterday, and remembering your injunction, to write every opportunity, I hasten to reply. I was very glad to learn that Bea was convalescent and hope soon to hear of total recovery. Before writing to Mr. Doyle I would write to W. S. Stribling or some other person in Pa’s old co. to find out from the Regimental Qr. Master to what time he was last paid—& by the time you obtain the desired information the Government will be prepared to pay the money. It would be useless at the present time to try & get the money as a sufficiency of the new issue has not been struck to meet the pressing demands on the government. But as soon as you get this information I would send on immediately to Richmond c/o Mr. Doyle, in order that the claim may command the early attention of its agent. In regard to a visit to Mississippi I will say not with any desire to prevent her from enjoying the trip it will be in my opinion, ill-timed unwise disagreeable and very unpleasant. The cars will be crowded with dirty drunken & in many instances unprincipled wretches in the Confederate uniform. Mississippi has been overcome to a great extent by the enemy, She will not at the time present a favorable impression to visitors. Ladies should not under any circumstances except on pressing business, be found on the cars during the war. They are subjected to insults and have undergo many hardships which even a man dislikes to undergo. If she wtill insists on going it will be her own fault, if she regrets having gone on her return. I do not think that Pa’s remains could be brought from Johnsons Island at this time nor until the war is over. I coud give many reasons why it cant be done, but I suppose it will be unnecessary—as some will present themselves to your mind. I am always sorry to hear of soldiers committing depredation in their own country, as they say they did in Clark Co. Whenever an army of any size marches they necessarily destroy many things. I fear that many of our citizens removed from the theater of action, do not take this into consideration. Sometimes a body of men will pass through a country and behave as gentlemen, yet the country is injured more or less. I do not approve of horse stealing and I hope every man guilty of such a crime may be sent to the other world, the next fight he gets in, if he is ever forced in one.

 

Today is one of those beautiful spring days, which we all welcome after the close of fickle winter. Such weather will bring the enemy over soon. I am looking daily for an advance of Grant by two routes one land and a move up the James River to cooperate with the forces on land. As I wrote some days ago at length on our army, its spirit etc. I will not re-iterate here. A French fleet that has come up the James River at City Point, to get the tobacco belonging to that Government stored in Richmond, was ordered to depart, by “Beast” Butler. It is surmised that this indicates an early advance up the Peninsula. Burnside is at Fortress Monroe with 60,000 men. Grant has double that number to move from other directions towards the Capital. Lee has not got a million men under him, but Grant will think they are as thick as bees or as brave as “Julius” before he gets out of their hands. I will close. Give my love to all.

 

                                                            Your affectionate son,

                                                                        Calhoun Cooper

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