This long, 4-page letter in nice blue ink was written by Marsh S. Bryson, who served in Company K of the Palmetto Sharp Shooters. Writing from “Camp near Rapidan River, Orange Co., Va., Sept. 25th, 1863”, Marsh writes a very interesting letter to his sister. He refers to “Mr. Meade” and “Daddy Lee”!  While a number of Civil War letters mention pickets talking to one another, this has about the longest description we have seen! 

                                            “The fellows who were there before us had been shooting at them and 
                                     they the Yanks were as shy of us as you please. We concluded we would talk 
                                     to them awhile. So we called them down to the river & had a chat about the 
                                     skill of our mutual generals, our past battles, etc. They said whenever old 
                                     Abe sent negroes into their army they would all go home. They seemed to 
                                     think however that they would succeed in conquering us.”

Other important content: 

            • “Well, Jude, the big fight has not come off here yet. Mr. Meade’s will seems to be good to come; but he remembers 
                that he will have to meet good old daddy Lee’s veterans - men who know nothing of defeat, I suppose his heart fails 
                him, or at any rate he doesn’t come. I do not say this as boasting in our own strength, for this army has long 
                since learned to trust in Him who ruleth the winds and seas, & who can, if he will, make us triumphant over our 
                enemies.”

            • “The news from Bragg in the west has sent rays of hope to many a desponding heart, & if true, it will illumine our 
                whole political horizon & restore confidence to the people in our final success.” 

            • “On Monday last we had a hard march to this place, about 17 or 18 miles below Orange C. H. Immediately after 
                our arrival we formed a line of battle & commenced fortifying. They are now completed & we are in camp again 
                close to the works & near the river. The line of fortifications are thrown up on a range of hills extending for miles 
                along the river on commanding ground. It is a splendid position & we all feel pretty confident that we can hold 
                against any odds Mr. Meade may send against us.” 

            • “Jude, a soldier don’t know anything ere I couldn’t finish my letter the drums were beating away & orders give to 
                pack up immediately & leave. The order was given late in the evening & we marched to this place that night – a 
                distance of about9 miles farther down the river.” 

            • “We are here now in a perfect Wilderness – nothing hardly but woods, brush & undergrowths for miles & are 
                fortifying opposite what I believe is called Germanna Ford. The position is not so good as the other, but we can 
                make it strong by sufficient digging. We are now about 8 or 10 miles from the great battlefield of Chancellorsville, 
                on the plank road leading from Culpepper Co., Va. to Fredericksburg. The Yanks are on the opposite bank of the 
                river and our men talk with them every day” 

            • “P.S. I forgot to tell you that I have been appointed Sergeant in our company.” The letter is in excellent condition 
                with nice eye-appeal and clearly read. A wonderful content Confederate letter!

#HC58 - Price $595 



                Transcription: 

                                                                                                                            Camp near Rapidan River 
                                                                                                                                                Orange Co., Va. 
                                                                                                                                              Sept. 25th, 1863 
                                    My loving Sister, 
                                                    After a long interval, my heart has again been gladdened by “good 
                                    news from home.” You cannot imagine how uneasy I had become. In the 
                                    next to your last, dated 30th ult., you stated that Pap was sick & just think 
                                    of it - I had to wait in anxious suspense three long weeks ere the welcomed 
                                    messenger came. Emory’s letter left the impression that pap was right sick 
                                    & was very uneasy until I heard from him. Well, Jude, the big fight has not 
                                    come off here yet. Mr. Meade’s will seems to be good to come; but he 
                                    remembers that he will have to meet good old daddy Lee’s veterans - men 
                                    who know nothing of defeat, I suppose his heart fails him, or at any rate he 
                                    doesn’t come. I do not say this as boasting in our own strength, for this army 
                                    has long since learned to trust in Him who ruleth the winds and seas, & who 
                                    can, if he will, make us triumphant over our enemies. The news from Bragg 
                                    in the west has sent rays of hope to many a desponding heart, & if true, it 
                                    will illumine our whole political horizon & restore confidence to the people 
                                    in our final success. On Monday last we had a hard march to this place, 
                                    about 17 or 18 miles below Orange C.H. Immediately after our arrival we 
                                    formed a line of battle & commenced fortifying. They are now completed & 
                                    we are in camp again close to the works & near the river. The line of 
                                    fortifications are thrown up on a range of hills extending for miles along the 
                                    river on commanding ground. It is a splendid position & we all feel pretty 
                                    confident that we can hold against any odds Mr. Meade may send against 
                                    us. We were on picket several days ago. The fellows who were there before 
                                    us had been shooting at them and they the Yanks were as shy of us as you 
                                    please. We concluded we would talk to them awhile. So we called them 
                                    down to the river & had a chat about the skill of our mutual generals, our 
                                    past battles, etc. They said whenever old Abe sent negroes into their army 
                                    they would all go home. They seemed to think however that they would 
                                    succeed in conquering us. Everything appears to be pretty quiet here now. 
                                    Orders came a few minutes ago to recommend a man for furlough from our 
                                    company. Bill Taylor will be recommended. Jude, I will give you a list of the 
                                    clothing I want you to send by first opportunity and those I want sent about 
                                    the first of November. 1st I want 2 shirts (nice checked), 1 pr drawers, 2 pr 
                                    socks. Then send me about November - my boots, one blanket & big yellow 
                                    quilt, a uniform coat & pants, another pr. drawers, & I expect as I have no 
                                    blanket of my own, you had better send me one by the first chance. 
    
                                                                                                                                                Sept. 27th, 1863 
                                                    Jude, a soldier don’t know anything ere I couldn’t finish my letter 
                                    the drums were beating away & orders give to pack up immediately & leave. 
                                    The order was given late in the evening & we marched to this place that 
                                    night – a distance of about9 miles farther down the river. We are here now 
                                    in a perfect Wilderness – nothing hardly but woods, brush & undergrowths 
                                    for miles & are fortifying opposite what I believe is called Germanna Ford. 
                                    The position is not so good as the other, but we can make it strong by 
                                    sufficient digging. We are now about 8 or 10 miles from the great battlefield 
                                    of Chancellorsville, on the plank road leading from Culpepper Co., Va. to 
                                    Fredericksburg. The Yanks are on the opposite bank of the river and our 
                                    men talk with them everyday. Today is Sunday – how I wish I could be with 
                                    you today. When would we go to preaching to Salle’s or to Zion’s Church? 
                                    Wow, dear sis, please favor me soon with one of your long & interesting 
                                    letters. My love to all. May heaven protect you all and grant that the day be 
                                    not for distant when we all shall meet again. 
                                                                                                                        Goodbye, Marsh 
                                    
                                                P.S. I forgot to tell you that I have been appointed Sergeant 
                                                              in our company. Marsh