J. S. Walker's Letter (25 Dec.1861)

Camp Deas, Christmas Day,

1861.

My very dear Wife:

            I duly received your letter written on the house top at the prospect of immediate peace. It may be so and may not. To us it would be a great aid to have England, but we would not be worthy of our liberty if we depended upon foreign aid to obtain it. That the hand of the Lord is in it, none can doubt. That He will work it out as we would have it, may not be, having so long favored us by his protection, unless we implore it more than we have done, by honouring him in all our ways as a nation. He may chasten us in love, and turn his face from us and his frown upon us, just as we think we are free of our enemies. I pray Him to hasten the day of honourable peace, when a national thanksgiving will proceed from the hearts of the people

            Well, it is a season of family reunion and festivity, and our camp is frolicking, and whiskey is making brutes of men. I have no head for the enjoyment of it as a gala day, for it is as out of place as a jester at a funeral, while I do feel thankful for the strong arm of the Lord and the love of that dear Saviour, which enables me to withstand the temptations of the occasion. Our Colonel, I am happy to say, has for the past three or four months abstained entirely from drink and I believe truly repentant, is trying to live trusting in God above Temptation. As a shield to him I have invited him to dine with me today, also Dr. Scott, Lt. Col. Crenshaw, Capts. Tucker, Atkinson and Warren, all of our Regiment. They will have nothing to drink but coffee at my table. I reckon you would like to know what I am going to have for dinner. Well, I will give you my bill of fare: a roast turkey, boiled ham, beefsteak and oysters if they can be had, sweet and Irish potatoes, and for desert, sweet potato pie made by Parson Hardie, and cake. Won’t that do, considering I received no box from home?

            I should like to look in upon the little ones today, and how thankful I am that Providence does not cast a cloud upon their young spirits by reason of the war. I hope their little hearts were made glad by finding their socks full of knick-knacks, and that the old will give the day to their enjoyment, for I think the children are peculiarly entitled to the day and its enjoyment, and that it may be my blessed privilege to be with my family happily reunited at its next anniversary.

            Today is as mild and balmy as spring and not like Christmas weather, and it does not seem strange to me that in midwinter sleeping as I still am in a tent, that I enjoy such remarkably good health. It is the Lord’s protection. I sleep as sound as a top and wake next morning to break the ice to wash my face. I will be in my house in a few days, as it is now ready and I only await to let it dry a little, being made of green pine logs and green timber throughout and mud in the cracks. With the first unfavorable change in the weather I shall go in. I have to go on picket duty with my company next Saturday, and as I have twenty-four hours of out doors duty, I think it best not to go into the house before then, as I might take cold. My boys are all preparing their Christmas dinner, cooking turkies, making pies, puddings, etc. It would amuse you to see them. It is quite a frolic for them.

            Two or three of our Regiments went down yesterday within two miles of Newport News and saw the enemy, and they saw us but they would not come out and give us a fight, so our men had to return.

            I have no news, and must close with a happy Christmas to all friends and an earnest prayer to my Father for his protection over them.

                       

                                                Yours very affectionately,

                                               

                                                            Jno. S. Walker

J. S. Walker's Letter (22 Dec. 1861)

Camp near Youngs Mills,

22d Dec., 1861.

My very dear Wife:

            Your last announced the sickness of little Norman and I felt for Georgie with Norman away. I regret that they do not improve the experience of Norman when a child and see the origin in the disordered state of his stomach from something he has eaten which disagreed with him.

            I was thankful that the same letter brought the tidings that our little ones were well, and that you were all getting on well, tho I fear you have had some anxiety about me growing out of the thousand and one rumors which reach the itching ears of Richmond. I heard that you had sent Col. Geo. W. Randolph through Mrs. Jones to enquire after me, my whereabouts, my health, etc., and I fear you have not received my several letters in which I advised you not to give heed to rumors.

            We have been kept in a continual state of suspense for the past ten days, our General expecting an attack, our heavy baggage sent to the rear, and every activity to prevent the enemy overpowering our comparatively small force, but up to the present time there has been no advance movement of the enemy, and so far as we can judge, none in contemplation. These annoyances have of course stopped our preparations of winter quarters, and while my men are comfortable in their log huts, I am equally comfortable in my tent. We have been blessed with remarkably mild weather, and winter cannot be said to have visited us yet. With the little stove and the buffalo robe I keep very comfortable and in perfect health, for which I hope I am grateful to a kind Heavenly Father, who has done so much for me and is willing to do still more.

            There are a great many of our officers and men who are very anxious and pressing to be allowed to visit their homes during the Christmas, and with the absent, sick, and those sent on duty to other places, our Regiment is not half its accustomed strength, and our camp wears rather a quiet, melancholy aspect. My military duties are light, so I have a good deal of quiet to myself for meditation and self examination, and as I have no reading but the Bible and “Rise and Progress’, I have improved the time for my good, I trust. I have no one that I esteem as a sympathizing, close Christian friend, though there are very many pious good men in the Regiment. While I cannot say that I enjoy the blessings of Christian joy and happiness at present, nor do I think I ought under the pressure and dampening influence of war without. I am truly thankful to say that I have peace in believing, and that with all the anxieties surrounding me that I am able to pursue my Christian course smoothly and hopefully. I am satisfied that this is not the hour for Christian joy, but that the Lord as it were veils his face for the tie even to those whom he owns as his children, that in love he would try their faith individually and thus perfect them in holiness, while collectively as a church he would humble them and show them that worms of the dust they stand in danger of the judgment by reasons of the very blessings by which He in His bounty has placed at their disposal in a time of peace, and that neither riches nor worldly goods can purchase peace of mind and soul either in this world or that that is to come.

            I believe the day has come when the Lord proposes to draw a line between His and the worlds, that the barriers which his religion would place between the lives of His children and those of Satan having been broken down by profession and the world, and those that profess to be His followers wear no longer the sign of the cross in their foreheads, that He will separate between the sheep and the goats and again either one prove vital godliness in His Sanctuary, that self deceived professors having in their hearts still the gown of sin but for want of a congenial air and favouring circumstances have remained dormant, not being tempted have consequently not give place to sin openly; now surrounded by evil and temptation, under favourable circumstances for its development, it brings forth fruit to the surprise of its possessor, and seeing and feeling its presence with true penitence, he turns a confessed sinner to his merciful Heavenly Father and it received with open arms, ransomed from his own blinded self and sin.

            There is more hope for the perpetrator of open sin than the possessor of secret sin, for the one is seen while it is felt, while the other indulgence is neither seen nor felt, the conscience being too often blunted by its continual presence. I know there is nothing in this life comparable to the inward sense of right, of God’s approval, and that while it cannot be purchased by silver or gold, maybe enjoyed by all who with honest hearts turn their face to God and at the same time their backs to the world, for it is impossible to serve God and Mammon.

            It is a hard thing to be a compromise Christian, while it is an easy thing “for the wayfaring man tho a fool cannot in” to be a whole souled Christian, provided we give our hearts wholly to God. The difficulty is we seek to enter the holy of holies with defiled hands, we would withhold part of the purchase money and not consecrate the whole to God, we would seek to secure a place in Heaven while we hold with a firm grasp this world. We express strong faith in God’s promises, while we show strong faith in the things which perish with the using, we dream of Heaven while our conversation is of the earth, earthy, the secrets of our hearts, are sin, while our outspoken virtues, which the world commends, are deceits. These characteristics make up the present day Christians, but not the Bible Christian, as I pray the great national calamity of war may prove to many self-deceived ones and be to them the greatest blessing of their lives.

            The Lord worketh and none can hinder, and in a wonderful way for to the many evidences of His Providential interference in our behalf if the signs of the times are an index, He has given our enemies over to their lusts and blindness and is raising up in our behalf a strong alley in England, which will be to us, I hope, a speedy deliverance from war, while it will humble our proud oppressors. The prayers of God’s people are more powerful than a ____________ arm, and we should be encouraged to pray more earnestly and continuously for his favor, and that in granting that favor our people may see and realize that not by their might and strength but the power of God we are delivered, and seeing it may acknowledge him in all their ways. Then will war have brought a great good to us as a people.

            It is Sunday, the Lord’s day. It has been to me a day of rest and peace, and though I have not heard a sermon I think when you get through this you will say I have written one. I have put my thoughts and feelings on paper. I fear it will impair your eyes to read them, for I have still to write on one knee.

            I was officer of the day yesterday and last night about midnight had to put your friend, Roach, in the Guard House for drunkenness, riot and disorder, fighting and cursing and straining at the Guard. Poor fellow, like too many others liquor will prove his ruin, and while he may aid to gain liberty for his country, in the chains of intemperance he will be dragged down to eternal slavery unless rescued by the blood of Jesus. I must talk to him when sober. It may be that the Lord will open his heart and divine truth take the place of hellish lust.

            Kiss the dear children for father and tell them to be good. I pray God that with the approaching spring peace may be vouchsafed to us and the sword turned into the pruning hook and we return to our own better prepared to be truly thankful to God for our daily blessings.

            May the Lord give us strength for every hour of trial and we be at all times able to say: “Thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ”. Love to all, especially Amandus, and try to help him. Let me know how he gets on. So soon as we have quiet I will write him.

                                   

                                    Yours very affectionately,

                                                Jno. S. Walker

J. S. Walker's Letter (21 Dec. 1861)

Camp near Youngs Mills,

21^st Dec . 1861

My dear Wife:

            I have not written for a day or two for want of something to write about. We are kept in a state of constant excitement, expecting the enemy up, but they have not yet made their appearance, and I doubt whether they will, as it is now threatening falling weather. We are all very much elated at the idea of having England with us to attend to the sea while we put them through by land. I will have stronger hopes that the Lord will show his almighty power to save and direct, and that all people will have to confess it.

            Mr. Morris goes up to take charge of a boat and will probably remain several days, and can bring anything down you may wish to send. I think by the time he comes you may safely send mattress, meats, etc., as we will be quiet by that time.

            Dr. Parker will go up on Monday and will call and see you and give you all the news. I am thankful to say that I have stronger confidence in God and have been living nearer to him, with consequently more comfort to myself, than for some time past. My desire is for holiness of heart and consistency of life, that I may be useful in my day. My prayer is to live contented with the Lord’s will, while I feel that he allows me to pray for everything. Write me often and let me know how the children get on. I have received a letter from you advising that they are all better. Kiss them for father, and give love to all friends. I am in fine health and spirits.

                                    Affectionately yours,

                                                Jno. S. Walker

The Sword of John Stewart Walker

Because John Stewart Walker was killed early in the war, in Virginia, and in the same unit as his brother, his body was carried home. Hence everything that he had carried with him in the war was returned to his family. One of those items was the sword he was holding when he died. This is a photograph of the sword, taken by my aunt some years ago. At the time, it was hanging on the wall of my great uncle, David Walker Jr.

I am told that I met Uncle David Walker when I was a boy, though I don't remember the event. About a year ago, another member of the family suggested that I write to him, since I was so interested in the family's Civil War history. In reply, Uncle David sent me a package with a very nice letter and a portrait of John Stewart Walker, that had obviously once been framed. It is the same image that I've used at the top of the John Stewart Walker page. In fact, the one on the blog might be a photograph of the portrait he sent.

I believe the sword has now passed on to one of David's children, and I am hopeful that I might be able to get some more pictures of it in the future.

J. S. Walker's Letter (23 Nov 1861)

Camp Deas, near Youngs Mills,

23d Nov., 1861.

My very dear Wife:

            I am in receipt of yours of the 20^th covering Kirk’s affair. Let him have the furniture in your third story room and invite him to make my house his home. Tell him why you do not take the furniture from Lynchburg, that your mother will not understand it, and that her age, affliction and peculiar disposition and prejudices, should make her children cover with the mantel of charity and forgiveness any and everything which detracts from their happiness. You ought to advise her that since Kirk and Lucy have to determined to marry that since she cannot prevent it, and tho opposed to the union probably on the ground of consanguinity, that she should sink all these prejudices and in the hour of trial as it is to them to act without her approval, yet to remember that they have souls to save, and that if she would exert a good influence over them it must be not by estrangement but by conciliation, and that what she may regard as an evil may by the kind interference of our Heavenly Father be to them not only a seal of maternal love but of eternal happiness. God grant it may. Let your position be not that of a partisan, nor a judge of others’ motives, but the more heavenly one of a peacemaker, go to your closet and let God direct you that you may be able to lead to a happy result these family feuds. In this distracted world, convulsed by wars and rumors of wars, we can alone find peace in the discharge of the higher duties of our Christian faith and in the living to do good to others, we get good to ourselves, our own souls is refreshed by the comfort we world afford others.

            As Dr. Parker says, I am now very comfortable and will be more so when I get my hut built. I thought last night at 12 o’clock when awakened by a terrific bombardment that we were today to battle for our rights, but beyond a Federal vessel or two in the river nearby shelling our picket, when nobody was hurt, all is quiet. They may come at any moment.

            I went day before yesterday to see Mr. Wheelwright and found him the same warmhearted Christian friend, comfortably fixed, and having the entire confidence of his officers and men. I regretted that I could not have him alone to myself to talk over our trails and temptations, but it was a pleasant and profitable visit. I then went to Williamsburg to see my sick and found them all improving. The sickest man I had was kindly taken by Mrs. Dr. Williamson to her house. Mrs. W. is a sister of Mrs. _________, and I am very grateful to her for her kindness to young Briggs.

            I shall be glad to see Willie Hays, but he is too young for the temptations of camp and his constitution not sufficiently matured, I fear. It makes my heart bleed to see how the youth of the land are losing their souls eternally while they would patriotically save their country. The price of a soul, the death of Jesus, is too great to thus be squandered. May the Lord throw around the youth of our land his strong arm of protection and save them from the temptations of the evil one. You have no idea how homesick the old nursery carpet, the likenesses of my family, etc. make me. But thank the Lord I am content and will hope and pray to be speedily returned to them to be in the future a better husband, father, master and friend than in the past. But should the Lord see best to take me hence either by disease or violence of the enemy, I hope his mercy may cover my sins and my Saviour’s blood cleanse my foul spirit, and that in his hands as their protector my wife, children and servants may be so kept and directed as to insure that eternal, peaceful union which is beyond the grave. We are too apt to become so familiar with danger and death as not to fear the one or live prepared for the other, and it is well to bring ourselves face to face with both frequently, that we may see ourselves as we are. We know not what a day may bring forth and why should I believe all others mortal but myself, and see death without realizing that I have to grapple with, and submit to it, even if in its grasp, by grace divine, I come off conqueror.

            Kiss the dear children, and feel the solemn responsibility which rest on you to train them now in their youth as they should live hereafter, and your reward will be in a peaceful happy life with them.

            Love to all friends who I am vain enough to believe are too many to mention. Pray for our army and our cause.

                                    Yours most affectionately,

           

                                                Jno. S. Walker.

            I fear you cannot make out my scribble. I have to write on my knee. I find I am getting too careless and must do better.

J.S. Walker's Letter (16 Nov 1861)

No. 3

Camp Dea, near Youngs Mill

Saturday 16^th Nov., 1861.

My dear Wife:

            After waiting for an opportunity to send for the box containing the stove, etc. I received it at last yesterday, and I am now seated in my tent, with a plank floor, carpet and stove with a fire in it, and tho the wind outside blows cold, I am quite as comfortable as I would be in a house. Please return thanks to David for the cassimere shirts, which were the very things I wanted, also to Coz. Amanda and her little girl, with Luly, for the socks, all of which will contribute largely to my comfort this winter. You have no idea how the old carpet reminded me of home and the nursery, and it would require but little encouragement to become homesick, but orders are that leaves of absence are not to be granted till 1^st January and it may be that I will not see you all before that time. I will come home in the event I am taken sick, but shall not otherwise unless Gen. Magruder relents.

            I have a great deal to do in having log huts built for my men as well as myself, for tents will not stand snow storms. Then I will have a great tax on me to attend to my sick when I lose Dr. Parker, who has resigned and expects to go up on Monday. He will be a great loss to the whole Regiment and from intimate acquaintance with him and seeing his success as a physician, I have great respect for his ability, and while I dislike to lose him I cannot blame him and think it would be selfish to wish others to be forced to share with me the troubles of our disorganized Regiment, while they have not the same responsibility to look after as the Captain of a Company. I am very uneasy about the health of my Company, as the winter is now coming on and they have not a house to go into on account of no tools to build them with, and the exposure to cold I fear will give them pneumonia, rheumatism, etc. I wrote to Col. August an official letter upon this subject the other day, calling his attention to the necessity of at once attending to the health and comfort of this Regiment, and requesting him if he could not remedy matters to send my letter to Gen. Magruder, and if necessary to the Secretary of War.  I have heard nothing more of it, but there is evidently a disposition to provide tools at once and hasten the building of winter quarters, and we may yet get in them by Christmas, tho I doubt it very much.

            I have more sick now than at any time since I have been in service, 10 at Hospital in Williamsburg and 16 unfit for duty in camp. I hope the Lord will temper the storms of winter and not let its severity carry them to an early grave.  Oh, that through the dark clouds of war peace could shine upon us, that God, our God, should become the God of our Nation and be acknowledged in all their ways. Then will war have proven and blessing rather than a curse. (I am writing it being so dark I cannot see the lines).

            Yesterday was a fast day, and in fasting I hope I found it profitable to my soul. We had no military duty to perform, and it was the best day of rest and prayer and private mediation that I have enjoyed during the last six months, and while I find sin in my heart and feel self condemned that I have not improved the time allowed me to entirely root it out, I behold at the same time the boundless mercy of the Lord, the great love of the Saviour, and I determine to keep on relying alone upon them for salvation. I hope that the great national chastisement of war may make us individually better Christians, and a united Christian effort will tell upon the world around for the Glory of the Redeemer, and that the close of the war may be followed by a more vigorous onslaught upon the kingdom of darkness. But the end of the war is far distant, it may be, and since all things are possible with the Lord, let us improve the present and do good while we would get good.  How unfortunate that at a time when an unusual number of human beings are being ushered into eternity, both in battle and the disease incident to camp life, Christians, yes good people, allow themselves to be so entirely absorbed in war and rumors of war, who have itching ears for the result of the latest victory, whether we conquer or they conquer, and forget for the time the great warfare, which is to tell in eternity in which they engaged as soldiers of the cross, they allow themselves to sleep at post, and the great final Court Martial will consign them to an ignominious eternal death unless the executive clemency of a kind Saviour interfere in their behalf.  If the occasion does not present itself to do good, let the quiet  example of Christian consistency like leaven make for God’s glory.

            I am expecting orders daily for our Regiment to march towards Hampton to be absent twelve or fifteen days, sleeping out without tents, to gather corn, etc., from all the farms between this place and Hampton, all the farmers having deserted their farms early in the summer.  After that expedition the weather will be so cold and the roads so bad that the campaign will be closed for the winter, and we will then build winter quarters and remain in them till spring opens. In this expedition my buffalo robe will be invaluable and will keep me warm in spite of the weather.

            My dear, if I have not before told you, I have been guilty of neglect in not advising you that this is a land of sweet potatoes, but not Irish. I know you send them because you know I am fond of them, but just put something in the place of them.

            Kiss all the dear children and let them know that I want to see them just as much as they do me and that six months or more and I hope our little home circle will again be made pleasant by a happy continuous reunion.

            Give my love to the Stewarts, Uncle ______, and all friends when you see them, and remember to pray continually for God’s favour on our arms and his direction of our affairs and a speedy peace.

                                                            Yours most affectionately,

                                                                        Jno. S. Walker.

J. S. Walker's Thirty-Seventh Letter

Camp Deas, near Youngs Mills,

9^th Nov., 1861.

My dear Wife:

            It is Saturday night, it is raining and the wind getting around to the north admonishes us that it is going to be cold.  We began yesterday to cut logs to build huts for our winter quarters, and as we have no tools but axes and have to split out slabs to cover our huts, to make doors, etc., I cannot hope to be in a house before Christmas, at which time I should like to have the pleasure of yourself and the children at Christmas dinner, but the state of roads, the roughness of the country, and the proximity of the enemy would not justify the trip for such a dinner as a soldier would serve on his tinware.

            I am anticipating great comfort and luxury upon the receipt of the carpet and the stove and have no doubt I will get on first rate.  I am very thankful that military ambition nor worldly glory led me into this position.  Had it, I would have been cured, tho I confess the hardships of the campaign have not equalled my anticipation, for I had counted the cost and prepared myself for greater, and my chief complaint has always been the inefficiency of my superiors and the flagrant neglect on their part of the comforts and health of the troops under their charge.  In this connection, I have sorrowfully to record the death of one of my own men, Joiner, at Biglows Hospital, of Typhoid fever on the 4th inst., the first I have lost, and he a victim to the necessity of sleeping on damp ground without straw or plant to protect him.  I have some ten now in Hospital, none seriously ill and all but one in Williamsburg, where I think they will be attended to.  They are sent when at all seriously sick to Hospital 20 miles from our camp, and I have been trying for three weeks to get to see them, without success.  I shall try and get up next week.  Tom Minnow is a perfect lightwood knot, keeps well and fattens all the time.

            The continual changes of position of our camp and the bad arrangement of the camp with the cold weather, has broken in upon our prayer meetings for some time past, but as soon as we get our winter quarters completed I shall resume them, and want to adopt some plan to make the longer winter nights pass profitably to my men.  To that end, I want to have a select library of standard attractive reading for them, which will interest and at the same time improve them.  I will get them to build a house about 25 feet square for a chapel and sitting and reading room, in which I will have  a stove to make it comfortable, so that after supper and a smoke, at sunset we can meet and have prayer meetings and then reading, etc., and thus if not disturbed by the enemy or ordered somewhere else, spending the evening  more profitably than it is generally spent in camp, but we know not what a day may bring forth, so I plan with no disappointment if some order breaks in upon all my plans.

            The probability of my resigning having gotten to my men, they protest and I cannot think of leaving them to the mercies of others, and for the present give it up.  They with all honest patriotic persons who have enlisted have been so imposed upon by the officers put over them that I do not think they ought to reenlist at the expiration of their year, and I have made up my mind to let some of the “stay at homes” take my place unless circumstances at the time make it my duty, which I must discharge, but I still hope the year to 14th May, 1862, may find us at the end of the war and peace  restored, with our rights established and the glory of God shining brighter and brighter to the perfect day.

            I wish you would ask Bro. David to have me a military vest made at Wm. Ira Smith’s of Crenshaw grey cloth, and send it down by Lieut. Willis, who will come down Monday week, 18th November, with whatever else you have to send.  If you have time, have a daguerreotype taken of yourself and the children and send that also, that I may see you all without a leave of absence.  Kiss the dear children for father and tell them to be very good and obey mother.  Love to all friends, pray for me.

                                    Yours very affectionately,

                                                Jno. S. Walker

            Miss Sue Archer _______ is down here 6 miles below this and near Newport News.  She is a spy in our cause, romantic and heroic.  She has made the acquaintance of Yankee Officers down there and will probably be useful.  Keep dark.

                                    Yours,

                                                            J.S.W.

At a guess, the woman referenced by J.S.W. in his post script is ‘Sue Archer Tally’, a writer and a friend of Edgar Allen Poe who was arrested during the war for being a Confederate spy, though later released.