J.B. Stanard: "I will Take Care of Myself"

Jacquelin Beverly "Jack" Stanard had been sent to Virginia Military Institute, much to his annoyance since he wanted to be a soldier in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. However, in May 1864, the Cadet Corps was ordered to join a Confederate force to defend the Shenandoah Valley. Stanard wrote this letter to his mother after two days of marching, expressing his excitement and trying to reassure her. Tragically, Cadet Stanard would be mortally wounded during the Battle of New Market, dying of his injury on May 15, 1864.

Spelling and punctuation in this letter is original, though paragraphs have been added for easier reading.

Staunton May the 12^th 1864

My darling Mother

No doubt a letter written from this place will take you greatly by surprise. Well to relieve your anxiety I will tell you before going further and keep you from uneasiness. On Tuesday night an order came from Gen. Breckinridge calling us immediately to Staunton. In obedience to his orders we fixed up and left on Wednesday morning at half past 8, marched 18 miles by half past two, when we camped. The roads were very good but were quiet dusty and then it was very warm. This morning we left camp under quite different circumstances, it having rained during the night and has continued to do so all day, the roads were awful perfect loblolly all the way and we had to wade through like hogs. We came 18 miles from 5 to 12 however and are tonight encamped one mile out of town. I have run the blockade and come in to take tea with Cary Taylor, and that I might write this letter. Am I not good?

I have a strong notion of staying in until 2 tonight with him so as to dry of[f], for I have been like a wet mouse all day[—] so disagreeable in camp. We will leave in the morning early and expect to have to march to Harrisonburg (down the Valley) a distance of 26 miles. The Yankees are reported coming up the Valley with a force of 9000 strong. Our Corps will run Gen. B[reckinridge] up to 5000 may be more. I hope we may be able to lick them out. 

I have suffered more with my feet this march (so far) than I ever did on all the others together. I hope to get me a more comfortable pair of shoes when this will be remedied. I got my trunk the evening before I left all safe. It was in the nick of time and my biscuit and ham for my rations. If you want to write to me direct your letter to me at this place Care of Edmond M. Taylor, Staunton, he will send them to me. I expect we will be down out this time for some weeks. I told you that you had better let me join Lee at once that this could be the way, but you must not make yourself uneasy about me. I will take care of myself. One of my messmates from this place is going to fill my haversack with something better than what we draw so I wont suffer for some days at any rate, though I hope not at all.

Well darling Mother I have written enough I suppose to relieve your mind as to our destination so I must stop and go into the parlor. Some young ladies there. You will have a hard time trying to make this out I shan’t undertake it. Saw T. this evening. Give my love to all acquce [acquaintance] & friends. Hope Bob come out all right and all the Berry Hill friends & visitors. I shall write when ever I have an opportunity. And now dear Mother that I may be spared to see you again, and that you may continue in good health will be the nightly prayer of

Your darling boy

Bev

Source:

Letters of a New Market Cadet, Beverly Stanard, edited by John G. Barrett and Robert K. Turner, Jr. (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1961).