Confederate Stonewall Brigade Letters from Private John W. Middleton, 27th Virginia Infantry, WIA & POW Pickett's Charge, Get

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• Lot Description

  Lot of 7 letters written by Private John W. Middleton (1835-1907), Co. H, 27th Virginia Infantry, WIA & POW Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg July 3, 1863.

  The Confederate war experience changed quickly from one of revelry to near revulsion for John W. Middleton, a private in the 27^th Virginia Infantry in the Stonewall Brigade. Despite being under the command of purportedly one of the greatest military tacticians in US history, Stonewall Jackson, Middleton did not always have a high opinion of his leader. After marching for days, going 36 hours without food, and camping in the snow without fires or tents, John Middleton wrote home, General Jackson has over done the thing this time and…he cannot undue them now (Camp near Unger's Store, January 9, 1861[2]). Conditions did not get better a few weeks later, and a dreadful drop in enlistments (experienced on both sides of the picket line) forced Jackson to find creative ways to keep his men fighting and combat desertion. One way was to grant furloughs after the men promised to reenlist...I do not think any man ought to sell his privileges for the next two years merely to see home for a few days, commented Middleton (Camp in the woods, January 30, 1862).

  As time passed, Middleton became less optimistic of the South’s chances of victory. He wrote, I am convinced that the south will be overrun this summer…I hope they will defer any active measures in this section till my time expires as I do not care about being a martyr for the south. I do not covet the glory gained by battles (Camp near Winchester, [VA], February 28, 1862). He continued to fight under his commander and increasingly felt that he would not survive. I dread the next fight for a great deal…are sure to be killed, he wrote. If it has to be done why not now? Let the worse come and end this suspense. I would rather know my fate…then remain in this painful suspense…I would rather have peace as we once had than the best farm in Virginia (Camp Elk Run, April 29, 1862).

  The pull of home and the desire to live rather than die for a cause he no longer supported forced him to desert the Confederate Army on December 20, 1862. He did; however, return to his regiment on February 24, 1863. Two days after his return, he commented:

  The soldiers are poorly shod and clad. Things look…to be tending downwards…we [do not] have any thing like such an army that we had ten months ago. The officers are more strict now than they ever have been which seems to have no other affect than to make the men reckless…I have some doubts about a transfer to [the] cavalry in Va. but I am determined to get away from here (Camp Winder, February 25, 1863).

  Middleton never got away from the regiment. He remained with the 27^th until he was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and captured by the enemy. A month later he attempted to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Union. People believed his father to be a “Union man,” but his brother was an officer in the 4^th Tennessee Volunteers (John and Travis Bussey, Confederate Casualties at Gettysburg: A Comprehensive Record, p. 1653). Regardless, the Union denied him the chance and confined him at Fort McHenry until May 15, 1865.

  Refer to cowans.com for additional transcribed letters included in the archive.

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  Camp near Unger's Store, Jan. 9, 1861[2], in part: …we left our camp at Winchester…Dec. 30 and marched down near Martinsburg where we camped…before proceeding…our company was taken from the Regt. with one company from each of the other regts in the brigade. It was these tow companies under the command of Major Paxton that went to Martinsburg. The next day we were joined by [Turner] Ashby's Cavalry and two pieces of artillery when we went to Dam No. 5 where we worked all night. There were several shots fired at us but no one was hurt. Next day we moved back about 3 miles and cooked our rations…next night we went back to the dam and our company was on picket. The workmen on the dam got done about 1 o'clock when we all left. (Having been first ay one hundred times yet no one was hurt.) We came two miles up the river where we cooked one day's rations…we took up the line of march (under he command of Col. Ashby) by Hedgeville across the mountains and creeks…the road runs up the river all they way. We marched till dark when we halted…we put up our tents…when we heard that General [Stonewall] Jackson had surrounded the Yankees at Bath when we put out marching 9 miles in 3 hours arriving at Bath about one hour after our men had taken possession of the place, but the enemy had all gone across the mountains running the militia back and crossing the river at Capron Bridge. That night we slept in the hotel at Bath without our blankets. Next day we marched down to Hancock where we lay in the woods all day…it snowed all night and was dreadfully cold…I never suffered as much…nothing to eat for 36 hours, wood to cut, fires to build and no blankets…we left…and came back here to Unger's Store…we have about six hundred wagons along all heavy loaded and ground as slick as glass. I saw horses fall hard enough to kill them. Half the horses in our train are crippled in some way…since we left Winchester. We are here between the mountains with heavy loads, bad roads, creeks to cross and the snow melting…the prospects of getting out from here are very gloomy and I do not know how we are to get provisions from Winchester…we are here between the mountains without he enemy at Hancock (20 miles in our rear) at Romney and at Williamsport…suppose they should march upon Winchester which way are we to get out?…General Jackson has over done the thing this time and…he cannot undue them now...J. W. Middleton…

  Camp in the woods, Jan. 30, 1862, in part: …when I wrote to you from Winchester I did not intend to come out to camp but finding that it would inconvenience some that were worse than I was I concluded that I would try camp…I came on Sunday. When I joined them they were encamped two miles from town on the Romney road from which we moved yesterday…it is the most gloomy prospect for comfort…the ground is soft and spongy and when full of water it becomes very muddy…we are ordered to build huts to winter in…the artillery are building huts just across the road from our company…Arthur and me have…a very comfortable bed in our tent. We lay two logs on the ground, then split timbers and lay [them] on them. The [we] put a good supply of straw upon it making it a dry and comfortable bed. We have a stove in our tent…I would much rather stay in our tent than build a shanty for I do not fancy living with 8 men in a cabin especially as I cannot choose my associates…some of the boys were expecting to get home on furlough. The Capt. gave his approval but the General would not as he had orders not to grant any more unless they reenlist. That they will not do. I do not believe one of our company will enlist under the present arrangement…I am perfectly willing to stay here the balance of my term. If I can then get home…I intend to stay out of [the] service…tell Gennie Pettigrew that her uncle Andrew would have been home before this…if the new order had not been given…he will not reenlist for the sake of a furlough and I do not blame him for I do not think any man ought to sell his privileges for the next two years merely to see home for a few days...J. W. Middleton…

  Camp near Winchester, [Va.], Feb. 28, 1862, in part: …we were surprised yesterday evening by an order to load our wagons and get ready to move as quickly as possible…we came closer to town and…are lying here yet…the enemy came to Charlestown last evening from Harpers Ferry…but i heard…that they have gone back…all our men have left Martinsburg and all the points below here…the teams are all busy hauling guns, ammunition, military stores etc from here to Strasburg. I do not suppose Gen. [Stonewall] Jackson will try to hold this place if attacked by the enemy. I do not believe we could raise five thousand men all told it would be sheer madness to try to whip 15 or 20 thousand Federals with this handful, but madness and fanaticism reigns supreme now…there is no telling what will be attempted by our leaders. They do not care…what becomes of the men so that they get off safe…I am of the opinion that all the fighting we do now will only make things worse…I am convinced that the south will be overrun this summer…I hope they will defer any active measures in this section till my time expires as I do not care about being a martyr for the south. I do not covet the glory gained by battles…J. W. Middleton…

  Camp Elk Run, Apr. 29, 1862, in part: …it has rained everyday for 6 days …we have had to take it as it came no tents…we have sent off all our baggage except one blanket and a change of under clothes…[Stonewall] will give the enemy a fight. They are distributing ammunition, shoes, canteens, haversacks & Ewell's division is coming over. They are about 6 miles from here…there are about ten thousand of them and there is about ten thousand here…so Jackson will have some 20,000 men. It is reported that the Yankees have about 25,000…if they do fight it will be a hard one. I dread the next fight for a great deal…are sure to be killed, but if it has to be done why not now? Let the worse come and end this suspense. I would rather know my fate…then remain in this painful suspense…I would rather have peace as we once had than the best farm in Virginia. It is reported…that the Yankees have whipped us at N. Orleans and now have possession of the city. It does seem that we are doomed to defeat on all occasions. The Southern cause looks gloomy and I am afraid that we will be overpowered. If we are the South will se a great difference between being governed by the North and being in the Union. The men who have charge of affairs are determined to fight while they can get a man to fight…it is reported that the Yankees have all their forces at Harrisonburg and are on the road out here. If they come here to attack us in the mountains they will certainly get whipped…this is the strongest position I ever saw...J. W. Middleton...

  Staunton, [Va.], May 6, 1862, in part: …in the last…I told you I never expected to see this beautiful valley again, but was agreeably disappointed this morning…if I was not so tired and sore I would be happy…I looked for uncle until dark…I do not expect to see him as we are ordered to cook two day's rations and be ready to march in the morning. I have no idea where we are going or what we are going to do but suppose we will move toward the Allegheny Mountains as Loring's men have all gone that way. The enemy have advanced their pickets as far as Mount Crawford, but their main body is down below Harrisonburg. General Ewell's Division is at Elk Run where we left them…the Yankees are afraid to come above him for fear of being cut off…we are going to try to capture the army in Western Va., but…they will be two sharp to be caught napping. I your last letter you say I must not be discouraged…but since the fall of Fort Donelson disaster and defeats have followed each other in rapid succession the last of which is the defeat at Norfolk. Our men have fallen back towards Richmond. The enemy's gun boats ran past our batteries scarcely making a halt. Our men had to leave all their heavy guns in the enemy's hands…we will be the worst whipped set of people [that] ever was. I would be glad if our leaders would do what they are going to do then let all who survive go home and help raise something for those at home to eat. If something is not soon done poor people at home must suffer…those times had continued but some though they could increase their business by getting others to fight. This has been proved by all the officers who failed to be reelected [who] have gone home and are going to stay there if they can...J. W. M.

  Camp Winder, Feb. 25, 1863, in part: I laid over at Hanover Junction till Monday evening when I took the train for the station…there is considerable [concern] about rations. They have about half enough to eat. They only get one fourth Ib. of pork per day and all goes to grease…they live very poorly…the Confederacy is nearly gone by the board. The soldiers are poorly shod and clad. Things look…to be tending downwards…we [do not] have any thing like such an army that we had ten months ago. The officers are more strict now than they ever have been which seems to have no other affect than to make the men reckless…I have some doubts about a transfer to [the] cavalry in Va. but I am determined to get away from here…the Federals are moving their army towards Washington and our troops are going south…[Stonewall] Jackson will stay here to protect Richmond. I am tired of camp life already...J. W. Middleton…

  Condition

  Typical folds of the paper, some with deeper toning than others. Some letters have their original envelopes. 
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