5 April 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from camp. Notes he still refuses to join the volunteers. States that he fears the army will put him in a company from another state if he does. Says he misses the mountains of Floyd County, Virgina and hates being in the valley. Informs Mary that one hundred forty three wounded from Winchester are in Richmond.

GLC02715.004

9 April 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from camp his appreciation of his wife's encouragement not to join the volunteers. He still is not sure if he wants to join them. Closes with discussion of prayer and a religious exhortation.

GLC02715.005

14 April 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from camp that he believes his unit may be released if General [Joseph E.] Johnston's army defeats the Yankees at Yorktown, Virginia. Mentions the reported size of the forces now engaged at Yorktown.

GLC02715.006

22 April 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from General [J.E.B.?] "Stewards" [Stuart's] encampment, five miles from Yorktown. Notes that his company is attached to General Stuart's Horse Artillery, under Captain Pelham. Says he thinks they may have to stay with this unit until the end of the war.

GLC02715.007

27 April 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that they are five miles from Yorktown, Virginia and seven miles from Williamsburg, Virginia. Says his unit does not see close action like an infantry unit does. States he is unhappy with his regiment's assignment. Notes he would now give fifty dollars to join the volunteer unit of his choice. He thinks a large engagement is coming and hopes the Yankees will withdraw some men so he can go home.

GLC02715.008

1 May 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Notes his unit has not received any tents and the men are using blankets that they brought from home. Says he hopes it is not too late to volunteer and join "Trigs Regiment."

GLC02715.009

12 May 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Describes the Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia.

GLC02715.010

16-17 May 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Discusses the damage the armies have done to the local farms, crops and livestock. Continues writing on 17 May 1862 that he ran out of money and borrowed some from a man who is going home. Tells Mary to feed the man as repayment.

GLC02715.011

22 May 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Says the Union has control of the James River all the way up to Richmond, Viriginia. Believes that the Yankees will take Richmond soon. Reminds his wife to pay back the man whom he borrowed money from and asks her to sell his watch.

GLC02715.012

31 May 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that his unit is camped nine miles from Richmond, Virginia. Says he hopes to get a furlough and visit his wife at the end of June. However, Captain Pelham has been very hard on the regiment since one man deserted.

GLC02715.013

circa June 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Says he cannot get a furlough. States he wants Aunt Peggy to move in and nurse his wife who is pregnant (see GLC02715.031). Date taken from the content of the letter.

GLC02715.014

3 June 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes that his unit missed a recent battle (likely the Battle of Fair Oaks) because the muddy roads made it impossible to move the artillery. Believes the casualties are in the thousands. Says the wounded are being moved to Richmond, Virginia.

GLC02715.015

13 June 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to: Mary Epperly

Describes himself as a cannoneer who helps to load the guns. Notes that three of their guns have been ordered away, probably to join General [Stonewall] Jackson. Mentions that men of a nearby infantry unit offered members of his regiment $50 to switch places. The infantry regiment thinks the artillery units have it easy since they do not fight in close combat. A note at the close of the letter is addressed from Joseph H. Phleagar to Harry Phleagar.

GLC02715.016

22 June 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Mentions his regiment has been paid. Notes he paid back the money he borrowed from a gentleman since the man never went home to collect the money from Mary. Says he will keep $15 for himself.

GLC02715.017

29 June 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Mentions the battles on 26 June (Battle of Mechanicsville) and 27 June (Battle of Gaine's Mills). Says he managed to miss the battles but mentions the fate of friends and relatives who did fight. The top quarter of the third page is missing causing text loss.

GLC02715.018

5 July 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Says his legs are swollen. Reports that the Confederates drove the Yankees back to the Chicahominy River. Believes they fought five or six battles in the last eight to ten days. Says his unit still has not fought in a "regular battle." He believes this series of battles will end the war. Contintues 6 July noting that his legs are better.

GLC02715.019

10 July 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Reports that the Yankees are thirty miles from Richmond, Virginia and believes that they are reinforcing for another attack.

GLC02715.020

20 July 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Discusses the price of various food items.

GLC02715.021

23 July 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Requests Mary sends him butter and soap.

GLC02715.022

27 July 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Complains about the cursing, drinking and card playing in camp. Says he will apply for a furlough. Adds that he will understand if Mary is unable to send him the butter and soap. Discusses his sister Margaret being ill.

GLC02715.023

2 August 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Discusses his sister Margaret's death. Comments, "Wee would all be a grate deell better off if if [sic] wee could as she did and bid farewell to this proud and wicked world and mount on eagles wings and fly to the mansions above whair there hant [pronounced "haint"] no distress of nations nor wars but all is pease and love . . . ."

GLC02715.024

9 August 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Describes a march toward Fredricksburg, Virginia where his unit encountered and engaged a large number of Yankees (Massaponax, 5 August 1862). Wrties of his appreciation of his wife's offer to raise money to hire a substitute, but says that General [J.E.B.] Stuart will not accept any substitutes.

GLC02715.025

20 August 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

Writes from North Ames Creek that he wants to hire a substitute. Says he believes the army must accept a substitute, if one can be found. Mentions the Yankees are heading toward Manassas, Virginia.

GLC02715.026

7 September 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: five letters to his family

There are five letters on one folded sheet. Includes two letters from Epperly to Mary Epperly, one letter from Epperly to Harvey D. Phleagar, one letter from Epperly to his "Mother" Catharine Phleagar, and a letter to his "Brothers." Mentions a recent battle (likely the Battle of Chantilly fought on 1 September 1862) and comments on the large number of wounded. Also discusses the Second Battle of Manassas (28-30 August 1862). Notes that General [Stonewall] Jackson has moved into Maryland. Tells her to find someone to plant the crops. In his letter to Harvey he notes that his unit cannot…

GLC02715.027

26 September 1862

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Epperly

States the army returned to Virginia (likely referring to the men who fought in the Battle of Antietam, which his unit did not.) Asks Mary to write to him the moment anyone becomes ill so he has an excuse to come home.

GLC02715.028