Letter to James Henry Reid, Sr., 1862 November 1
Item
Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.
Dates
- 1862 November 1
Extent
From the Sub-Series: 14 items
Transcription
V.M.I. Saturday 9 o'Clock a.m.
Dear Pa
I recd your very kind letter on Monday evening and would have answered it before, but that I wanted to write you a long letter & thought I would wait till today (Saturday) because I had not time to write you but a very short one in a week day especially when we have so much to do.
Gen. Smith seems determined to pick math into our heads. He gives some 20 or 30 pages of Algebra every day and you may know how much I have studied when I tell you, that all the time I went to Mr. Kirk's, Mr. Smith's & Mr. Scott's, I only went through my Arithmetic and very little Algebra, whereas I have been here only three months and have gone through my Algebra and will go into Geometry in a few weeks or perhaps sooner.
I had worked my way up to the 2nd section math, but when I was sick I fell so far back that I could not keep up with it, and I was transfered to the 8th section. I make only tolerably good marks because whilst I was sick the class went over a great deal that I did not understand & I have to study hard to understand it. I however make good marks in French and make the max in Geography nearly every week. The way Geo. is taught is a very good one. When we go into the Section room, Colonel Williamson sends one of us to the Blackboard and tells us to draw the map of such a country or state with all of its rivers towns . It was very hard to me at first but I can draw a pretty good map now. In French I have gone through the Grammars and will begin to read Gil Blas on Monday. I make the max or within a few tenths of it every week (you may not understand me when I say tenths. The way they mark us is this, if you make a perfect recitation they mark you thirty tenths or three whole ones & skin you by tenths according as you recite. On compostion they have not commenced to mark us.
I know the fare we get is not sufficient for this season. I have therefore made an arrangement with a servant to supply me with some chicken some butter and some good bread every five days in a week at $1.25. I intend to try and get him down to $1. If he furnishes it to me in Mess Hall they will report me for private dish. I therefore stay away from dinner and he brings it to me in my room. He has furnished me now for four days and I will owe him after today $1.25 and I have only 50cts left. I will get him to trust me and pay him at the end of the month.
I have made my money hold out right well. I brought $8 here with me, you sent me $10 which made $18. I paid $7 for a bed, 75 cts for a chair, 75cts for a broom, $1 for a water bucket, $1 to get my gun cleaned (It was so rusty I could do nothing with it and I was obliged to have it cleaned or I would have been reported every time I went on drill), $1 loaned to Tom Henderson and 50cts to the Soldiers Aid Society up town, which left me about $4.50 with which I have bought apples, cakes & at different times when I was very hungry. I have made my money go as far as I possibly could because I knew you had no money to waste.
I do not think I could have stood the fare much longer if it had not have been for your kind offer. I began to feel weak about the legs, a dizziness about the eyes, violent head-ache and a feeling of emptyness about the stomach. I had this feeling nearly all the time and still have it slightly, but I feel a great deal better since I have been buying from the old negro. But I have not regained my my weight by 15 lbs. By the time I eat some more of my dinners I think I will feel right well. There is a report amongst the boys that Gen Smith is going to give us coffee & ham, if so I will buy no more dinners. It may be only a rumour for all I know but I think it very probable for Gen. Smith certainly can have more feeling than to feed us on Bread & milk all the winter.
We get up every morning at 5 o'clock to Rev (before day), go on Squad drill at 5½ & drill til 6½ (You may imagine how cold is is especially our hands which rests against the butt of the stock which is covered with Iron), after we come off to find no fire in our room which is considered the coldest in Barracks (It is heated by steam through pipes). We intend to apply for another room or apply to Gen. Smith to have the pipes fixed so some steam will come up.
(3 o'clock p.m.). Your most welcome letter of the 29th is just recd (It ought to have gotten here yesterday) containing a check for $15 for which I am very much obliged. I will get my shoes this evening and make them last as long as possible. I have also recd the seven Examiners & will have a treat in reading them.
Dr. Madison says the risings in my ear were caused by the old cadets pulling them, he put some laudanum & sweet oil in them which casued them to run and they feel a great deal better. I still keep wood in them & will continue to do so until they are entirely well. May hearing is as good as ever when I take the wool out.
Gen. Smith's cloth was expected today. I will then have two uniforms. I will take care of the one made out of his cloth and wear my own every day because his will be much prettier. He will not let me have an overcoat because the cloth will hardly furnish all with uniforms. I cannot take an overcoat & no uniform because all are obliged to have uniforms alike to wear on drills, dress parade & so I will be obliged to use my cloth, besides an overcoat out of my cloth will not cost near as much as one out of his.
I am sorry to hear you are sick with the Jaundice (I do not know what it is but suppose it is something concerning the stomach). I hope it is not serious enough to make you lie down and hope you will soon recover. I know you are in good hands & wish I could have been as lucky when I was sick. I have a very poor opinion of Dr. Madison as a physician.
There is a disease in Barracks which I do not like. It breaks out on the hands & resembles the "Itch". You need say nothing about it as I am not sure of its being the "Itch."
I do not wish to disappoint you but I do not think the chances are very good for my getting a furlough Christmas. I intend to try very hard to get one & am almost sure I can with a recommendation from you.
I recd a letter today from Tom McRoberts. He is keeping books for a firm in Raymond, Hinds Co., Miss and is doing very well. He has been discharged from the army. Please let me know where Bro is & what he is doing. With love to all I remain.
Your affectionate son
J Henry Reid.
P.S. Ask Ma to look & see if I left my buck skin gloves with her. If I brought them with me they have disappeared in some way, altho I am more carefull of my clothes than any one in Barracks. If you have them please send them to me. What did hte cloth you bought from Flannagan cost per yard?
Henry
Dear Pa
I recd your very kind letter on Monday evening and would have answered it before, but that I wanted to write you a long letter & thought I would wait till today (Saturday) because I had not time to write you but a very short one in a week day especially when we have so much to do.
Gen. Smith seems determined to pick math into our heads. He gives some 20 or 30 pages of Algebra every day and you may know how much I have studied when I tell you, that all the time I went to Mr. Kirk's, Mr. Smith's & Mr. Scott's, I only went through my Arithmetic and very little Algebra, whereas I have been here only three months and have gone through my Algebra and will go into Geometry in a few weeks or perhaps sooner.
I had worked my way up to the 2nd section math, but when I was sick I fell so far back that I could not keep up with it, and I was transfered to the 8th section. I make only tolerably good marks because whilst I was sick the class went over a great deal that I did not understand & I have to study hard to understand it. I however make good marks in French and make the max in Geography nearly every week. The way Geo. is taught is a very good one. When we go into the Section room, Colonel Williamson sends one of us to the Blackboard and tells us to draw the map of such a country or state with all of its rivers towns . It was very hard to me at first but I can draw a pretty good map now. In French I have gone through the Grammars and will begin to read Gil Blas on Monday. I make the max or within a few tenths of it every week (you may not understand me when I say tenths. The way they mark us is this, if you make a perfect recitation they mark you thirty tenths or three whole ones & skin you by tenths according as you recite. On compostion they have not commenced to mark us.
I know the fare we get is not sufficient for this season. I have therefore made an arrangement with a servant to supply me with some chicken some butter and some good bread every five days in a week at $1.25. I intend to try and get him down to $1. If he furnishes it to me in Mess Hall they will report me for private dish. I therefore stay away from dinner and he brings it to me in my room. He has furnished me now for four days and I will owe him after today $1.25 and I have only 50cts left. I will get him to trust me and pay him at the end of the month.
I have made my money hold out right well. I brought $8 here with me, you sent me $10 which made $18. I paid $7 for a bed, 75 cts for a chair, 75cts for a broom, $1 for a water bucket, $1 to get my gun cleaned (It was so rusty I could do nothing with it and I was obliged to have it cleaned or I would have been reported every time I went on drill), $1 loaned to Tom Henderson and 50cts to the Soldiers Aid Society up town, which left me about $4.50 with which I have bought apples, cakes & at different times when I was very hungry. I have made my money go as far as I possibly could because I knew you had no money to waste.
I do not think I could have stood the fare much longer if it had not have been for your kind offer. I began to feel weak about the legs, a dizziness about the eyes, violent head-ache and a feeling of emptyness about the stomach. I had this feeling nearly all the time and still have it slightly, but I feel a great deal better since I have been buying from the old negro. But I have not regained my my weight by 15 lbs. By the time I eat some more of my dinners I think I will feel right well. There is a report amongst the boys that Gen Smith is going to give us coffee & ham, if so I will buy no more dinners. It may be only a rumour for all I know but I think it very probable for Gen. Smith certainly can have more feeling than to feed us on Bread & milk all the winter.
We get up every morning at 5 o'clock to Rev (before day), go on Squad drill at 5½ & drill til 6½ (You may imagine how cold is is especially our hands which rests against the butt of the stock which is covered with Iron), after we come off to find no fire in our room which is considered the coldest in Barracks (It is heated by steam through pipes). We intend to apply for another room or apply to Gen. Smith to have the pipes fixed so some steam will come up.
(3 o'clock p.m.). Your most welcome letter of the 29th is just recd (It ought to have gotten here yesterday) containing a check for $15 for which I am very much obliged. I will get my shoes this evening and make them last as long as possible. I have also recd the seven Examiners & will have a treat in reading them.
Dr. Madison says the risings in my ear were caused by the old cadets pulling them, he put some laudanum & sweet oil in them which casued them to run and they feel a great deal better. I still keep wood in them & will continue to do so until they are entirely well. May hearing is as good as ever when I take the wool out.
Gen. Smith's cloth was expected today. I will then have two uniforms. I will take care of the one made out of his cloth and wear my own every day because his will be much prettier. He will not let me have an overcoat because the cloth will hardly furnish all with uniforms. I cannot take an overcoat & no uniform because all are obliged to have uniforms alike to wear on drills, dress parade & so I will be obliged to use my cloth, besides an overcoat out of my cloth will not cost near as much as one out of his.
I am sorry to hear you are sick with the Jaundice (I do not know what it is but suppose it is something concerning the stomach). I hope it is not serious enough to make you lie down and hope you will soon recover. I know you are in good hands & wish I could have been as lucky when I was sick. I have a very poor opinion of Dr. Madison as a physician.
There is a disease in Barracks which I do not like. It breaks out on the hands & resembles the "Itch". You need say nothing about it as I am not sure of its being the "Itch."
I do not wish to disappoint you but I do not think the chances are very good for my getting a furlough Christmas. I intend to try very hard to get one & am almost sure I can with a recommendation from you.
I recd a letter today from Tom McRoberts. He is keeping books for a firm in Raymond, Hinds Co., Miss and is doing very well. He has been discharged from the army. Please let me know where Bro is & what he is doing. With love to all I remain.
Your affectionate son
J Henry Reid.
P.S. Ask Ma to look & see if I left my buck skin gloves with her. If I brought them with me they have disappeared in some way, altho I am more carefull of my clothes than any one in Barracks. If you have them please send them to me. What did hte cloth you bought from Flannagan cost per yard?
Henry
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository
