| July 7th 1862 Dear Parents: I am truly thankful to Almighty God that I am once more permitted to write to you. My health, hertofore has been very good, but I am not very well at present. I was very sick last night but feel something better today. We are now in a low and wet part of the country, but I think that we will not remain here much longer. I wrote you a letter by Dr. Johnson whilst we were yet in the Valley, but whether you received it or not I do not know, in it I gave the particulars of the battles in the Valley. Since that time I have undergone hard and long marches. We crossed the Blue ridge and made our way towards Richmond, in the direction of McLellans army. I had the pleasure or riding thirty of fourty miles on the cars which was quite a treat, having done so much traveling a foot. McLellan and his army said, and were certain, in their way of thinking, that they would celebrate thye 4th of July in Ricmond, but were as sadly disappointed as when they expected to whip us at Manassas, and celebrate the 4th of July in Richmond last year. Our forces attached McClellans outposts on the evening of the 26th of June and succeeded in routing them. For six days we fought them and fought them hard, there being a large loss of life on both sides. We drove them as chaff before the wind. We charged their breast-works and batteries, routing them in every charge capturing several pieces of artillery, etc. We have taken, in all, about five thousand prisoners. The enemy has succeeded in getting back to their gun-boats on the James River. In their retreat they burned their commissary stores, wagon, pontoon bridges, etc. besides leaving behind them wagons loaded with ammunition etc. also a number of ambulances, medical stones etc. their cannon, caison boxes and burned them with their contents. In this expedition the 25th has not fired a gun, but has been exposed to heavy cannonding. On the 1st of July we were exposed to the heavy fire of the enemy cannon the whole day until 10 o'clock at night, and it seemed as though their fire would sweep the surrounding country, none of us hurt. We slept on the battle groudn that night. I would very much like to see you all, or at least some one from that section of the country. C.W.D. Camp near Liberty Mills Orange Co., VA Dear Parents: I am thankful to Almighty God that my unprofitable life has been spared to write to you once more. I am happy to inform you that I am well and hearty at present, and have been taking all things into consideration. I hope when you receive this , it may find you in the enjoyment of good health, and living in peace once more. I received a letter the other day from Jas Keller, stating that you were all well, which was gratifying for me to know. He says that you would like very much to see me. I do not doubt that in the least, though you do not want to see me worse then I want to see you. I would give almost any amount to see you at home once more, but God only knows whether we will meet on earth again, but I hope, that if I am not permitted to meet you here on earth, that I may be permitted to meet you in Heaven. May God be with you and I through the troubles and privations that now surround us, and that the time may soon come, when peace shall have been restored to our once happy, but not troubled country, and deserted homes; that we may be permitted to enjoy ourselves as we have done in days that have passed and gone. I belive that there has been a general exchange of prisoners, and that soon I will see some of the Riflemen & Blues coming over to join us in fighting for freedom and their homes. Bud Hill has just arrived from Fort Delaware where the Federals had him in prison. He is well and hearty; sends his respects to you all. I have been lucky enough not to be taken prisoner by the "yanks" or hit by any of their well aimed bullets, for which I am thankful. I am still with the "Franklin Guards", and have been getting along with them very well, so far. Some two months ago I was elected fifth Sargeant. Today we held an election for Second and Third Lieutenant. I was elected Second Lieutenant by a majority of the company. On the 9th inst., in Culpepper County, we had a fight with the enemy, that is "Old Stonewall" lit down upon them and gave them a "panic-pill", whipping them completely and driving them for several miles. I was in the engagement, it was hard fight but by the assistance of the God of the Battles we succeeded in routing them. The enemy's shells & bullets flew thick and fast over my head but I was not struck by any of them, while by comrades in battle were being wounded on my right and on my left. I am still the spared monument of Gods amazing mercy and goodness. On Monday the 11th Gen. Pope of the Federal Army, sent Jackson a flag of Truce in order he (Pope) could get his wounded and bury his dead. I was with the yankee privates and officers all day carrying guns off the field, which they did not like to have done, it went like pulling teeth with them and saying that we would take all of their good guns. P.S. I sent, by Lieu Vanmeter, to Uncle Daughterty, one hundred dollars of my money, you can, if you need it, apply it to your own use and comfort. You will pay James Keller what I own him. If you have a chance I would like you to write to me. Your obt son Chars W. DeLay Note: This letter is written 10 days before Charles death at the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, MD. Camp near Frederick City Frederick Co., MD. September 7, 1862 Dear Parents: After my love to you and all enquiring friends, I will attempt to write you a few lines, informing you of matters and things in general. Through the goodness and mercy of God, my unprofitable life has been spared to write to you once more. I am happy to inform you that I am well at present, and have been except two or three days, since I left home. I have been doing very hard marching since the fifth day of May, not having camped one week at one place, since that time. We march from fifteen to thirty miles a day, especially when we have the enemy on a run, which has been the case with the "yanks" ever since Jacksons raid down the Valley. We whipped them on that trip and below Richmond and almost every place else. We attached the enemy on the twentyeth of August, in crossing the Rapidan, they then feel back, and crossed to the north side of the Rapahannock. We fought them from the 20th of Aug. to the 1st of Sept. every day, and whipped them on every occasion, driving them as stubble before us, and taking a large number of them prisoners, with their arms and accountrements, also thirty or so pieces of Artillery, baggage trains, ect. Gen. Jackson forces got in behind the enemy at Manassas junction, captured several trains of cars, I think at least a mile long loaded with Goverment stores, to the amount of several millions of dollars burned engines. Having no way to get them to Richmond, the trains with their contents, were destroyed, also the depots, that were filled with Commissary-stores were burned and the railraod bridge and track were destoyed. All this was accomplished while the enemy was between the Manassas junction and the Rapahannock. The next day after we captured their trains, they pounced down upon us like a thousand o' bricks, and of course we returned the fire. "Old Jack", out-generaled them at this point by shifting his position. We crossed Bull Run the next morning, (after having supplied ourselves with four days rations of "yankee" crackers and pork). Having crossed Bull Run we took stand on the road leading to Leesburg, on which the enemy expected to make good their retreat, but they butted against the "Old Stonewall" , that has not as yet been butted down. At this point we had a very hard fight, the enemy having got in the railroad cuts and hard to get them disloged, but after two days fighting, or exchanging Rebble and Yankee pils, the enemy was routed. The 4th Brigade to which me and my company belong, rushed to the assistance of one of our brigades that had been fighting the enemy but could not route them. We marched up to the enemy loading and firing as we marched, then charging on them they were routed. I was in the charge, the bullets flew thick and fast around me, but providentially escaped hunhurt, and I am today, Sunday, on this side of the Potomac. I dont know where the "yanks" are , but I suppose that they have gone to defend the City of Washington. I would like you to write to me but you would not know where to write. (PS) Give my love to everybody, Your obt. Son Chas. W. DeLay, Lt. Co E. Note: This final letter was written to Charles's parents , William and Mary DeLay, by H. H. Propst 2nd Lt. E. Co. 25th Virginia Regiment, to inform them of their sons death on 9/17/1862, at the Battle of Antietam, in Sharpsburg, MD. Jefferson County, Virginia Sept the 19th, 1862 Kind Sir, I take this present opportunity of writing you a few lines of Deep sorrow to let you know that your Dear son Charles was killed in the Battle of the 17th, he fell dead shot through the head. I am truely sorry to have to write to you such unpleasant news and you will no doubt miss him very much at home and his death is very much felt in the company. He was Senior 2nd Lietenant of my company and you have no idea how I regret his loss as he was one of my warmest friends and associates in the company and as brave a boy as ever lived. He was indeed a gentlman a word of comfort I have never no never hear him sware an oath nor do the least thing amiss and belive him to have been a good christian and done with the sorros the toiles the fatigues and cares of this world of sorrow and is now resting in peace with his Savior in heaven wheir their are no wars nor trials to contend with and their I hope to met him again,. I will now tell you that I buried him myself and I buried him as well as I could and I enclose you a lock of his hair which you all will be glad of to remember him. I will now close my unpleasant letter by remaining your Devoted Friend. H. H. Propst 2nd Lieutenant Comding Company E 25 Regt Va Vols Mr. George Johnson got his watch and his pocketbook with two Dollars in money in it which was all the money he had with him for he has not drew any for sometime and Mr. Johnson now sends them to you except his pipe he wishes to keep to remember him by Mr. Valentine Bouers. _________________________________________________________________________________________ These letters were submitted by Denese Alvis. Mr Charles DeLay was her GreatGreatGreat Uncle.. |
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