Dr. Robert Peel Links to A. L. Peel Diary |
Dr. Robert Hunter Peel Civil War Letter Surgeon, 19th. Mississippi Regiment Letter From Robert to Julia Letter from Robert Hunter Peel to Ms Julia Matthews, Holly Springs, Mississippi Camp Lamar, Richmond June 23rd/61 Dear Julia, I regret that circumstances have prevented me from writing you so long, as you were kind enough to send me the papers from Holly Springs and what was much more importance, your love, and your present success. This is the holy sabath day and I am up soon in order to write you before the noise and the duties of camp life disturb me. I have not received a line from any living soul since I left home, except a half dozen lines from you and Sis Martha, written upon the margin of some newspapers. Oh! Sis, if you could only know how a soldier appreciates a letter from home, when he scarcely expects to see the dear spot again, or to grasp once more the hands of kindred and friends, you would certainly find time to write me often if you could only know how deeply I feel the disappointment, when each eavening our post-boy returns to camp without a letter or a word for me, while all others around me are made glad with kind words from the dear ones, from home, You would write something, if twas only a line per weak. I have been here two weaks, and have become pretty well used to camp-life. I am in only tolerable health, having had a severe cold and cough since leaving home, most of our men have suffered from the same affections since we left, and several are unable to do duty now, though none are seriously unwell. We have to work without ceasing, to acquire our men, and when one of us is made officer-of-the-day, we have no time for sleep or rest for twenty-four-hours. Richmond is and old looking place, and remarkably quiet, considering the excitement that generally prevails in the neighbourhood of an invading enemy, and around a spot where thousands of soldiers have congregated. Nought is heard but the sound of the drum, and the shrill note of the fife accompanied by the regular tread of hundreds of soldiers, as they pass through, or leave this city for Manassas gap, Harpers ferry, Norfolk, or York-town and if yankee troops could only witness what I have for the last thirty days, they would never entertain a hope of conquering such a people, South Carolina & Mississippi are well represented in the old-dominion of this time, and virginians believe them the best fighters in the south, as indeed in the world. Ere another month pases over our head, we will be called to face the enemy upon the bloody field of battle, and you may be assured that our boys will send back a tale to dear old Marshall, that will not disgrace her former reputation , as the home of the brave and the free. Give my love to all, and believe me ever, Your affectionate brother [Julia Matthews is the Sister of Robert's first wife, Virginia Matthews; and later (just after the Civil War) his second wife Alice Maud Matthews] |
