Upperville, March 15, 1909

M^r L. W. Hopkins

 

            My Dear Old Comrade—

In reply to your letter please do not write anything as coming from me. I thank you very much for the compliments you have paid me and also for your friendly feeling toward me. When the company first started the Officers were R. H. Dulany Cap^t and as well as I remember he was in command for more than one year. Harry G. Dulany was 1^st Lieutenant. Robert Carter, 2 Lieutenant D^r Plaster 3. Lieut. After R. H. Dulany was promoted Lieut Dulany was Captain when he resigned, Bruce Gibson was Capt. Then I was made Capt and served as such during the war. Joseph Gibson was 3 Lieut. when the war ended we were the only two as commissioned Officers. If you could get the book / see on page 102 & 103 how I became Capt from 1 Lieut. I feel sure that Tip Peake has the book. I send you a paper to day about the Battle of Gettisbury please read it. I am pleased that you take so much intrest in the horses and that you have mentioned Tom. he was a fine horse and the most affectionate one but gave one trouble at times he had a way of slipping his halter and roaming around looking for any thing to eat that he could find and nothing he enjoyed more than hard tack. I have often divided with him when I was starving. When he would get loose at night he would go around looking for crackers. One night I heard one of the men yell out that some horse had pulled / his haversack from under his head and had taken most of his hair with it. I knew it was Tom. I whistled and he came up to me and would lay his head on my shoulder and look very innocent he would follow me all about like a pet dog and would also come when I called him. Kindness did it all. I do not live in the country but in the Villiage of Upperville and I have not a farm. I would be glad to hear from you at any time.

 

Please excuse the errors in this letter as I am in great haste

 

                                                                                    Yours Most Truly

                                                                        Bowles E Armistead

 

P.S. Peake was correct about the Field Officers.

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