Links to A. L. Peel Diary |
Dr. Robert Hunter Peel Civil War Letter Surgeon, 19th. Mississippi Regiment Letter From Robert to "Sister"
Camp of the 19th Miss Regt. Near Centreville – Oct. 6th 1861 Dear Sister, Your last letter was received a few days since, but I have been too much engaged to reply until the present moment. Our Regt left the camp near Bristowes Station ten days ago, and as we had no regularly appointed Surgeon, I was left in charge of 223 sick & feeble, both as Surgeon & commander of the post. As fast as the men were ready for duty I sent them forward to the Regt at this place, and those who were very sick I sent to the Hospital at Warrenton. The general health of our men is improved but still bad, and I am sorry for it as we are expecting a fight in a few days. We received orders this morning to send all men who were not able to fight, back to Manassas, with all our heavy baggage &c, and to inspect our arms and ammunition, and in short to put ourselves in perfect fighting trim. All of your acquaintances in our company are well and ready for whatever may turn-up. My own health is fine and I have never lost an hour from duty since I joined the army. Dutch & Add are very well, and are always at their posts Dutch [a comment by another soldier in A. L. Peel’s diary, appeared to refer to Albert Peel by the nickname Dutch]. I was in Richmond on the 3rd, but only for one day, as my services were needed here and I feared the fight might begin before I got back. I had gone to look after some of our sick in Hospitals, and also to ascertain what had become of a certain Petition sent up to the President, by the Colonel & All the Captains of our Regt, asking that I should be appointed Surgeon of the 19th. I found that the petition had been filed with a large number of papers, and had been overlooked but when the Secretary of War was informed of the circumstances, he said the appointment should be made at once, and I presume that my commission has been forwarded to the Col, though it has not yet reached us. Should I receive the appointment as promised, I will rank as Major, and all my aspirations will be gratified, in a military point of view, for I much prefer my profession, to Brass-Buttons & Epauletts. But be this as it may, I shall fight this war through, or die in the attempt. Much as I love you all Sis, and happy as I should be to see you again, nothing but Providential interfearance shall ever drive me from my post. Sis, I have been wondering where your gay, happy – little heart can be since you declared in your last letter that it was in the Old Dominion, is it possible that you would suffer it to stay so far from home, perhaps to dwell in the tent of a poor rough soldier. I imagine that you would call it back again, could you see us in our rude, dirty garb, with our unshaven faces, cooking and washing around our tents. I think that you should have no secret from me, and I would like for you to let me know, in your next letter, where the dear little heart is, for you must remember that I have an interest in its affection, and a right to enquire its whereabouts. Give my love to all and tell Mother I will write to her soon. I will write to Sis Martha soon – Heaven Bless her, and to my dear good sister Julia. Bob shall hear from me soon, would that he was with us now. Tell the Doctor that I will give him a long letter soon, with All the war news in this part of the world. If you see any one from home send Thom and sis Olivia word to write us how all are at home, as their letters are few and far between. If the expected fight comes on soon, and I survive it, you shall have all particulars at once. If I am kilt-enthirely you will excuse me. Write soon and direct your letters to Manassas Junction. ["Sister" is a nickname Robert used for Alice Maud Matthews. Robert was courting Alice after the death of his first wife, Virginia. Alice was Robert's Sister-in-law.] |
