CONFEDERATE SOLDIER LETTER—MAJOR SAMUEL S.J. MOORE, STONEWALL BRIGADE / WIA AT KERNSTOWN--SECOND MANASSAS--THE WILDERNESS

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Dated “Camp near Centerville November 1 1861.” Addressed to wife Ellen Scollay Moore. 3 pp. In ink on unlined paper, 12.75 x 7.75.”  Exhibits fold marks & slight smudging while remaining entirely legible. In protective sleeve.

Born June 26, 1826, Samuel Moore attended the Charleston, VA (later W.Va) Academy, became a lawyer and later at judge in Berrytown, before entering Confederate service as a First Lieut. of Company I, Stonewall Brigade, leading his company through Jackson’s 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, on through Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas. Promoted to Captain and Major, he was appointed Assist. Adjt. of General Jackson’s old division, and participated in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Mine Run, and entered the 1864 Wilderness Campaign where he was wounded in the first day’s fighting. On recovery he was assigned to staff duty with Gen. Jubal Early and served with him at the battle of Winchester, after which he was promoted to Adjutant General and Chief of Staff. In this capacity he took part in the Battles of Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek and Waynesboro. In the post-war he became mayor of his home town of Berryville, served as Clark County Judge and was first commander of the J.E.B. Camp of Confederate Veterans. He passed away, December 19, 1908, honored as Clark County’s most distinguished Confederate veteran.

This remarkable letter to wife Ellen, was written in November 1861 at a time when the Union fleet was descending on the Carolina coasts. At age 35, Moore writes optimistically of Confederate hopes and cites the farewell speech of Gen. Jackson to  his old “Stonewall” Brigade. Text as follows:

 

“My Dearest Ellen…..I have been so much engaged since my return to Camp, in preparing the pay rolls of the Company to draw their money, that I have not been able to write you a single line. The rolls were ordered to be gotten ready a short time after I wen to the valley, but on my return after three I found them unfinished...the fact is that the job is very troublesome, so that our Sergeant found it somewhat difficult to do without me.

The storm of Friday night and Saturday was a most terrible one here—it rained torrents, and blew with some much violence that many tents were overturned….mine I’m glad to say, stood the storm all night, and until the middle of the day, when it broke loosed from its mooring, and but for my efforts and those of the men, would have fallen down.

Our great hop and expectation is that the federal fleet on the seas, has been scattered and destroyed. If this has occurred I should think that it would go very far in ending the war;so many men would be lost, and so large and amount that has been spent in fitting out the fleet wasted, that it would doubtless greatly discourage the Lincoln administration in Washington, and have a tendency to rest on their long lost senses. I trust we may hear that their boasted armament has shared the fate of the famous Spanish Armada which was to conquer England and sweep the seas, but which was rendered powerless by the blasting of the breath of the Almighty.

General Jackson left us to day for Winchester, but took no troops with him, so that we may for the present at least, give up our hopes of Winchester Winter quarter; The General made our Brigade a stirring little speech at parting, in which he paid it a great compliment. He end by saying in substance as follows: “In the Army of the Shenandoah, you were the first Brigade. On the bloody plains of Manassas, you were the first Brigade and I trust that you will continue to deport yourselves, so that I shall hear when the conflict is over that you always the first Brigade in our second War of Independence.”

He is succeeded in the command of the Brigade by  Genl. Ewell by Genl. Ewell, who I believe is the gentleman you have heard me speak of as the Cousin of the Scollays and an old beau of Lizzie Scollays. If so, he is an acquaintance of mine, and I shall in due time present myself to him.

I missed quite a a grand affair which came off the day I left Berryville; Gov. Lethcer was here and presented each Virginia Regiment in the field a banner, inscribed with Virginia’s proud motto and her coast of arms. He made a presentation speech, which wa s briefly responded to by each Colonel as the flag was place in his hands by the Governor, the Regiments standing in line before them. I got here in time Thursday to be present in command of the Company at a review by the Governor of the Virginia Army, and a noble looking army it is. It looks when all in the field together it might alone be a match for Lincoln’s Army of Yankees. The old state is surely up and a doing, and has thus far acquitted herself nobly. I trust she may never weary in well doing until the last insolent invader has been driven from her borders, or put under her soil, or into the broad Potomac.

Since my return to Camp, I have heard but little about the election. I have learned that Deahly became quite popular while in command, because he let the men have their own way pretty much, and for that reason, he was requested by some of them to run for Captain, which he declined, and is doing all he can to secure my election. I cannot speak, of course, with certainty, but so far as I can see, think I will receive the promotion...when it is over I will write you at once, the result….

It seems like a dream that I have been home and indeed I am most thankful that I have bee permitted once more to see you all. I am longing, longing for the day when we can be, as we once were, together in our own home, wherever that may be, in Battletown or any where else so that you my beloved wife, and all my little ones are with me again….

Genl. Jackson is anxious to have the First Brigade with him , and as soon as it is ascertained we are to have no fight here, which point will soon be settled, as the roads here will be in a few weeks impassable, I think we will go over the Mountains for the Winter, at any rate we hope so…

Give my love to Scollay [his son], and tell him I was much pleased to see him take so great an interest in his school. If he keeps on as he has begun, he will make a man that Papa will be proud to own as his son…

Kiss all the little folks for me. I hope they are better than when I left. You must take care of yourself. My darling, and remember to keep the promise you gave to walk and take exercise—you need it and you owe it to your husband and children to to spare no efforts to keep well and stout as possible. [ Evidently wife Ellen was sickly, and following her later death, Moore would marry another Ellen [Kownslar], by whom he would have another son and five daughters.]

Give my best love to you Father and Mother….Write me by mail if you see a good opportunity, direct to the junction—care Col. Jas. W. Allen 2nd Va Regiment., 1st Brigade.

Did you put up my Guncoat or not? If you did I lost it on the way. I hope you have it at home. Write soon./ Yours Fondly/ Saml. J.C. Moore

 

An utterly superb early-war letter from a polished civilian lawyer-soldier who participated in numerous engagements, survived numerous wounds and would serve as a highly capable high level ANV staff officer (at least through the 1864 Wilderness Campaign). By any yardstick Major Samuel J.C. Moore certainly earned his laurels as Clarke County’s most distinguished Confederate veteran. Invites further research. In protective sleeve, accompanied by full letter transcript.  [jp][ph:L]

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