| Letters from Samuel C. Jones |
| Letters of Samuel C. Jones. Copies of his letters home were provided by the late Fred Linger of Buckhannon, WV in 1994. September 25, 1862 Wheeling, Ohio Co., Va. Dear Mis, it is with great pleasure that I seat my self to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present and hope that thes few lines may find you enjoying the same. The boys are all well except Stilman Young. He is at the hospital. I think that he will be well in a few days. We are encamped on what is called Wheeling Island. It is a very pretty place. I have nothing of importance to write. I would be glad to have the opportunity of seeing you again. I will not forget what peaceful ours I have enjoyed in your company. There is some very pretty girls here. We have very easy times here. We have not been on perade yet, though I think that we will get our horses and cannon in after a few days. There was too houses burnt right close to our camp yesterday, it is not known how it got a fire. I here that there has been two companys joined the army since I left Upshur. I was glad to here that. I must bring my letter to a close for I must help to get dinner. Give my love to all the pretty girls. I would like to see them though I do not no when I can have the pleasure of seeing them again. You must let me no when you and Billy is going to marry, then I will try to get a furlow, to go home a few days. Write to me soon. I have not heard a word from home since I left. So nothing more at present but remain yours truly. Give my love to enquiring friends and receive a portion of it for yourself. Direct your letter to camp Wiley in care of Capt. Moore Lite Artillery, Co. E. 1st Va. Regt. Samuel C. Jones Please excuse bad writing and all mistakes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 5, 1862 Clarksburg, West Va. Camp Hewes Dear Miss Wright - with feelings of the most profound respect and esteem I address you. You have long been the object of my warmest and truest love. Nothing but the most devoted affection could induce me to commit so bold and act as that of writing you. During the long intimacy that has existed between us, I have come to a knowledge of the fact that your presence and the posession of your hand and heart has become essential to my happiness. The letter you were so kind as to send me in reply to mine has afforded me the greatest pleasure. It found me well and in good spirits, I hope thes few lines may find you enjoying the same. I respect you for your prudence and lady-like conduct and love you for yourself alon - for those excellencies of character, and individual worth which render mortals but a little lower than the angels. E.V. Shobe was taken sick a few days since, the Doctor says he has the numonia. You stated in your letter to know whether I got any apples to eat, we got apples though they are tolerably scarce. You said if I got none I must stop in some night and get some. I would be glad to do so though I don’t know when I will get the privilage of doing so. I think if we stay here this winter I will get a chance to go home about Christmas. I have heard since I have been writing that the Rebels have taken Beverly though I don’t know it to be a fact, if it be true, I suppose they will try to get to Buckhannon. I also here that Jenkins has captured three companys of the 2nd Va. Regt. on the Big Kanawha. I hope it may not be true. It is snowing here now. I will have to bring my letter to a close for this time, write to me for I will be glad to get a letter from a friend and I always regard you as such. Pleas look over bad writing and spelling. No more at present but remain your friend good by Samuel C. Jones --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarksburg Va. Camp Hewes December 28th (1862) Kind friend I received your letter of the 21st inst. I am not very well at this time though I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines in answer to yours which seemed to me as though you had taken an offense at the last letter which I writ to you. You seemed to think that I was rather hasty in the manner in which I wrote to you. Well I suppose I did write a few lines that I had as well not wrote, though I hope you wont think me audacious for I wrote those few in a jesting manner not thinking it to cause any hard feelings whatever. Now I do and will consider you a friend. I hope that I have not written any thing that will cause you to think me audacious if I have I hope you will forgive me and let gone bys be gone bys. You said there was to be a protracted prayer meeting at the Beech town Church, I would like to have been there, though I don’t know when I will get to a prare meeting. There was one of our men died yesterday and was buried to day, his name was george Harvey, he was not sick but a few days. There is no news here of much importance. The secesh seems at this time to be uplifted they think that they will gain the day. I think the Battle of Fredereicksburg caused them to think they would soon have the ruling power but I don’t think they need fret them selves. Well I suppose you think I am scarce of time writing on semday well I will quit for this time for I have a chance to send to the office. I hope thes few lines may find you well and enjoying good health. I will close by leaving you my wishes and regards. Write if convenient for I am always glad to hear from a friend. No more at present but remain as a friend. Samuel C. Jones Please look over bad writing and spelling. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarksburgh, Harrison Co., Va. Jan. 10, 1863, Dear Friend I take the opportunity of writing you a few lines. I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. I am not very well at this time. I am now at the hospital. I have been here for most two weeks and was sick at camp a week before. I left the company, left here the 4th of the month. They was not expecting to leave here so soon. They got marching orders in the night and left in the morning. There was twelve of the boys that was not able to go with them. I think the most of us will be well enough to go to the company in a few days. As news I have none of much importance for I have to stay in the house all the time and don’t know much news. As for war news I suppose everyone hears enough of that. I was glad to hear that there was such a fine meeting at Beech Town and to hear of so mane souls being converted to God. I have not been at meeting but one since I have been here. Meeting is played out with the people at this place. Of a Sunday the citizens will take their guns and go squirl hunting you may know by that that they don’t care for Sunday or anything els. I heard the guearillas made the folks skedadle from Beech one night. We heard the day after that there was about 60 of the guearillas there that night, though I guess it was mistake. The people was a little alarmed here the other nite, they heard that Jenkins was coming with six thousand cavalry. The secesh was in fine spirits though the old rip did not come. I think it was some secesh lie. There is very few soldiers here at this time. Well I will bring my letter to a close for my hand trimbles so that I don’t expect you can read what I have written but hope that these few lines may find you well and enjoying good health. I will close by leaving you my best wishes and regards and expect you as a friend until death. No more at present but remain your friend. Samuel C. Jones Please look over bad writing an spelling and write to me soon as convenient. Good By ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Camp Near Romney Hampshire Co., Va. June the 9th, 1863 Dear and much respected friend. I take the pleasure this evening of writing you a few lines, not knowing whether thay will be excepted or cast into the fire, however I think it none else than a respect I owe my friends. My health is good at this time, hoping these few lines may find you all well, the health of our company is good at this time, better than ever befor since we have been in the service. Well Katherin, I suppos you got to see some of the Dixie people though I guess you would as soon or little rather not of seen them. Though they tolde some of the Frenchcreek girls that thay would never get to see any more Yankees that west Va. Was theirs, but it was theirs, but it was only for a short time. I heard that Samuel Peterson was at home, I was not expecting to here of him being in Imbodens Company though I had not heard of him for some time. They passed within about 30 miles of where we are in camped. I writ a letter to you some three weeks since but I suppos the Rebs captured it for thay have captured the mail several times lately, it was for some time that we could not send or get any letters from West Virginia. I am glad that the way is so that we can hold correspondance with our friends once more. There is some talk of our company going to the Potomac though I hardly that we will be sent there. I will bring my letter to a close for this time hoping to hear from you soon for I allways like to hear from my friends and I allways regard you as such. I will close by leaving you my best wishes and respects until Death. No more at present, please write soon if convenient and you will oblige your friend. S. Jones Please pardon bad writing and spelling. Good by --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More letters yet to come!!! |