Denson, Virginius S. (fl. 1842) to Mr. Denson
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03135.02.07 Author/Creator: Denson, Virginius S. (fl. 1842) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 June 1864 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.3 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy
Writes to his brother discussing a shortage of clothing.
[draft]
My Dear Brother,
I received your letter last night it was dated May 24th, it went out on that day and has just came to hand, it was the first one that I have wrote when you wrote it you did not know that I was wounded. I wrote to you a few days ago asking you to come over here about the tenth of June, if you can probably get off and come please bring a pair of old pants and one boot or shoe, let it be the left one as I am wounded in my wright leg, my jacket is very good but my pants was torn and shot all to pieces and drenched in blood and my shoe came off my feet whil a going through the mud but that did not stop me from as the cryan we went until we had halted me to much cannot be of nor have
...... poor fellows have gone to Genl. Lee and they will strike at them again, our whole division is there now, I can lay in bed and hear the guns at a distance, I will make the best one in the Regt., we did not heave more than 250 engaged no you will see that we suffered, Co. H. and Co. I was not there, our Regts. was in the center of the brigade and the Yankee's tryed to brake the center but they was to much for them.
My wound is healing and I am going to try and work on drilling next week so anytime next that you can get off, I can hasten my sorry state if you think that I will be of any trubel to you or Mrs. Cowain I had be sure stay here but it bothers me to think that I will have to stay in bed on the account of having no pants, no shoes, they are sending all out to the army, we expect the great fight soon, all that I regret is that it maybe the demise and I will not be there to help the boys but perhaps it is best as it is. I hope Pa will not hear that I am wounded until I get well and return to the country next month come to see me and see the son he was proud of. The boys has fought so well, he says that they have a splendid Portsmouth and I plan to think that he has ... out so my land, a how it cheered me up so he told me that I am satisfied now if he takes it now .... it shoes that he is true to our cause. Write to Sis Matilda and give my love to her and all and Miss Mary so my .... that he cannot walk. Good by. I am your aff. Brother.
V.S. Denson
I have someone at my side all the time mosely ladies, all say the same a ..... time with the ladies. I have ladies at my bedside all day long ............
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.