General Notes

From an E-mail filed by commander@@inetone.net on April 5, 2002 regarding
60th Regiment,Virginia Infantry, Civil War Deaths:

The first letter by which a date can be determined is October 30, 1861,
from Meadow Bluff in what was then Greenbrier County, Va. The rest of
these words, except a little editorial comment when applicable, will be
Gordon Thompson's.

"Dear Wife,

"I take my pen in hand to in form (inform) yew (you) that I am well at
present, hoping that, when these few lines come to hand that they may
find you all in joying (enjoying) the same Blessings.

"I have nothing of interest to night (tonight) to (tell) yew more th
have had a good Deal of sickness in hour (our) Company (Company H of the
60th Virginia Regiment, CSA). We have lost 7 out of our Company that has
died, L. hicks and Callard Dillian (Dillon?) and Joseph Martin and Login
(Logan?) Shrewsbury and Napoleon Dee (D?) Shrewsbery and Wm. (William)
Croford and Luis (Louis?) Trule. They died with the Camp fiever (fever)
the wor (were) taking with a (n) acheing (aching) in ther (their) limbs
and a Sevear (severe) headache and got weaker and weaker until they got
so weak they cood (could) not help them Selves (themselves). Those boys
all died at the hospitle (hospital) with the acceptions (exceptions) of
Hicks"

Edotor's note: As you can see, the English language used in western
Virginia is considerably different in terms of word form and spelling.
In fact, many words are probably spelled the way they sounded to Gordon
Thompson. These letters were written in cursive, so there's a few places
where i guessed wht the words were. "Camp fever" was, most likely,
typhoid fever, still feared today and a more dangerous killer, along wi
other diseases and infections, in the Civil War era than bullets.

The letter continues:

"Thomas Shrewsbury is sick and gone to the hospitle. Ellis Lusk is very
Sick. James Saddler is at the hospitle sick. I have had a little
sickness since I left home but my helth (health) is good, but i (I) can
tell how long it may be sow (so).

"I received your lettar (letter) of Oct. the 7. I was glad to hear from
yew that yew war (were) all well. I have ondly (only) received one
letter from yew. This makes the 6 (sixth) lettar that i have rote
(wrote) to yew. i would like to hear from yew onst (once) more.


We are now at the meddow 9Meadow Bluff in Greanbrier (Greenbrier)
County. Thear (There) is a heap of talk a bout (about) taking winter
quarters hear (here) in camp but i can't asertain (ascertain) whare we
wil take them yet.

"We haven't made any draw of mony (money) yet but we axpect (expect) to
make a draw before many days. I would like to come home and See yew all
one more time. if i live and have my helth, i axcept to get a furlow
(furlough) about Christmas and come home a few days but times is verry
(very) brickle (?) here. We can't tell hoo (who) will live ar (or) dye
(die). If piece 9peace0 is not made this winter we all sand (stand) but
a pore (poor) chance to ever get home accept (except) by furlow. I wish
you wood (would) righ (write) more, it is all the Satisfactin i can see,
so don't for get (forget) to right (write). I would like to here (hear)
from yew at least onst (once) every 2 weeks, So i must bring my lett
a Close."

"Gordon participated in action in Virginia, North Carolina, and South
Carolina. On May 21, 1863, Gordon's Regiment, wile encamped at Raleigh
Court House, Virginia (now Beckley) was subjected to direct artillery
fire from Union forces stationed on a hill is now known as Maxwell Hill.
Apparently both forces were reluctant to make closer contact. The
Confederate forces quietly evacuated the town, and moving south about 2
1/2 miles they set up Camp Pina, in vicinity of present-day Glen Morgan
where Beaver Creek connects with Piney Creek, thereby forming Piney
River. On May 24, 1863, Gordon wrote to his wife, Louisa at Princeton,
and mentioned action, places and engagements his regiment had encounter
recently, and asked her to write to him in care of Captain Bailey at
Camkp Pina, Virginia.
On May 9, 1864, almost a year later, Sergeant Gordon Thompson was killed
during the Battle of Cloyd's Farm in Pulski County, Virginia, and yet t
Civil War was to drag on for almost another year before ending April 9,
1865."