CONFEDERATE CIVIL WAR LETTER - Abingdon, VA - 37th Virginia Infantry CONTENT !!

Description

CIVIL WAR LETTER
Civil War Letter to Soldier in 37th Virginia Infantry - Remarkable Content !
This Confederate Civil War letter was written by Susan (“Sue”) Ropp (1845-1915), the daughter of John M. Ropp (1800-1874) and Thyrza Parrott (1819-1884) of Abingdon, Washington county, Virginia.
In her letter, Susan expresses grave concerns for her older brother, William (“Will”) Harrison Ropp (1841-1897) who served in
Co. K, 37th Virginia Infantry
and was taken prisoner in the desperate fighting at Culp’s Hill on the 2nd day at Gettysburg. Will was taken to Fort Delaware and held there until exchanged on 18 September 1864—a full year after this letter was written.
She also mentions her older brother Henry (“Hal”) Ropp (b. 1834) who also served in Co. K, 37th Virginia, her sister Mary (“Mollie”) Ropp (b. 1832), her sister Emma E. Ropp (1838-1907), and her sister Jane Ropp (1843-1923).
Susan Ropp was married in 1879 to Henly Fugate of Tennessee and lived out her days in Abingdon, Virginia.
Transcription
Abingdon, Virginia
September 11th 1863
Fondly remembered friend,
Your very kind letter was received a week or so ago which I was more than glad to receive. It found our (little circle) enjoying fine health. Before I received your letter, I thought our good friend had forsaken us entirely and oh! we were so glad to hear from you all. I received the arborvitae leaves. I gave one to Mollie which she was very glad to receive to remember her friends by, and I gave one to Jane & kept the other myself. I shall keep it in remembrance of poor Bettie and shall treasure it as a precious memento.
I had a letter from Hal today. He was very well when he wrote. We are looking for the 48th and 37th Regiments to pass every day on the cars. All of Jackson’s boys are coming west to drive out the Yankees that have got such a strong hold on Tennessee. I hope the last Yankees may get cut all to pieces.
We have never heard from Will but once and that was by a wounded soldier that had come from where he was. Will was at Fort Delaware and was well when he left him and this soldier said that Mr. Merrifield had been to see Will and brought him money and clothing, and we have not heard from him since. I am afraid he is dead for they say the prisoners are dying upwards of 10 & 12 a day, but I hope he is not dead.
We all have been scared near to death for fear the Yankees would get in here but I was not at all afraid for I just thought they would do no more harm than our own soldiers about here are doing us for they are stealing everything they think worth stealing. We can’t keep our milk in the spring house. Someone stole 10 pounds of butter out of the spring house and 8 or 10 crocks last week and they have commenced stealing our bee [ ]. Someone shot two gunnies out of the yard at Mr. Wise’s. Mr. Wise has volunteered and left the family there by themselves and the soldiers just go and take what they please.
The sample you sent was so pretty. You had better mind or I will come down and hook it for I think it so pretty. I will send you a sample of our last cotton and make our [ ]. Emma is making up some mighty nice cotton dresses. I will send you a sample of hers too,
Oh, Mrs. Rees, one of the most dreaded accidents happened near Mr. [Robert E.] Piper’s that ever happened; two of the Foloys [?] and two soldiers belonging to the Provost Guard were struck by lightning. They were sitting by an oak tree and the lightning struck the tree and one of the men and the other killed dead too. Oh, they say it was awful to see them piled upon the top of one another. I did not see them but I would have given anything to see them. Well, I just know that there never was another person that hated to write worse than I do. I can’t sit still long enough to write anything.
I must bring my interesting letter to a close. Jane sends her best to you. Ma, Pa, and all join in love to you & Mr. Rees and Allen. Give my very best love to Ellen and tell her I would like so much to see her. We heard here that Mr. Rees got killed at Withville. My respects to him. I was glad to hear he wasn’t killed. Mrs. Rees, ain’t you coming out to see us soon? Do please come for we want to see you so bad. It would do me good all over to see you now. You must be sure and come to see us very soon. I will close hoping to hear from you.
As ever the same true, — Sue
Pleasant Hill
September 12th 1863
[to] Mrs. Martha A. Rees
Mrs. Rees, tomorrow is my birthday (18th). You must send me a birthday present. I wish you was here to put me under the bed and whip me.
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