Item No. 1286644

In this 1891 letter, Samuel N. Collins, who had served during the Civil War as a musician in the 1st North Carolina, writes to his former brigade commander, General George H. Steuart. The letter is a sort of rambling bit of nostalgia as Collins seeks assistance in traveling to Lexington, Virginia, to attend the unveiling that July of the monument to Stonewall Jackson at the Virginia Military Institute. Seeming bashful at approaching the general, Collins takes a round-about way of getting to his request. “I hope you remember your old Drum Major S. N. Collins of the 1st N.C. Regt. State Troops, Stuart’s Brigade, Johnson’s Div., A.N.V.,” Collins writes, adding that Steuart “will remember Col. Allen Brown anyway of the Sharp Shooters.”

Collins continues inquiring about Steuart’s whereabouts, and then mentions “living in Danville at the time of the Riot,” referring to the racially motivated Danville Massacre of 1883, which killed five. “Shortly afterwards,” he writes, “Col. Lightfoot came there to drill the Danville Grays.”

Reminiscing further, Collins writes:

Well General: this letter may never reach you but when I go out on the roads leading to Mechanicsville, where the old 1st and 3d & 6th in Pickett’s Div. turned Gen. McClellan’s flank (he was a good Genl. too), that any one but an Old Soldier would think I was “cracked,” or as the phrase now goes, a little “off my nut.”

He then gets to the point:

If could just be at Lexington, shake your hand and hear you call me “Collins,” and see Genl. Early, with Col. Allen Brown as Comdg “Div Sharp Shooters” as he did at Fisher’s Hill 2d stampede, don’t think life would have much left worth living for.

Now Genl., if this reaches you in time will you please help me to get to Lexington the 21st, and I don’t mind telling you but my clothes are not such as you would like to meet me in. If it could be so arranged I would like to go with the Drum Corps from here, but they are all strangers to me, and 59 years old the 8th this month, so you need not expect to see a boy.

The monument to Jackson, dedicated in 1891, was removed in 2021 and relocated to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War at New Market.

The letter was written on two sides of an 8” x 11” ledger sheet. Excellent condition. The full transcript follows:

Richmond Va. 7-12-91

Genl. Geo. H. Steuart
Balt. Md.

Sir.
I hope you will excuse my writing to you. But seeing your name in connection with the unveiling of the monument to Lieut. Genl. T. J. Jackson at Lexington Va. (and Lexington Rockbridge Co.) being my native place, and having made so many inquiries after you, and no one could tell me anything about your, have ventured on writing you. Before proceeding farther let me say, I hope you remember your old Drum Major S. N. Collins of the 1st N.C. Regt. State Troops, Stuart’s Brigade, Johnson’s Div., A.N.V.—you will remember Col. Allen Brown anyway of the Sharp Shooters.

Now General, this I know is presumptuous in a poor old drummer like me in writing to you. Of course it’s not like meeting you on the street & saying “Howdy Collins,” &c., but Genl. let me tell you I have been not long from North Carolina & have talked with what is left of the 1st & 3d North Carolina Regts, & they all want to know where is Genl. Stuart? I have wanted to know that myself for a long time. Was living in Danville at the time of the Riot. Shortly afterwards Col. Lightfoot came there to drill the Danville Grays for a trip to Fort MaCow. He got me by the arm & would not part with me until he left. He said “God Bless an Old Soldier,” and I say so too. Need I tell you I helped to mount every gun there, when Col. Long or Judge Ruffin & Gov Graham’s sons were privates in the Orange Guards. Thank God my name was on the roll, third on the list.

Well General: this letter may never reach you but when I go out on the roads leading to Mechanicsville, where the old 1st and 3d & 6th in Pickett’s Div. turned Gen. McClellan’s flank (he was a good Genl. too), that any one but an Old Soldier would think I was “cracked,” or as the phrase now goes, a little “off my nut.”

Please excuse all the _____s. I can’t help it. They are for the honor of the Old 4th Brigade, Johnson Div, Jackson’s Corps. If could just be at Lexington, shake your hand and hear you call me “Collins,” and see Genl. Early, with Col. Allen Brown as Comdg “Div Sharp Shooters” as he did at Fisher’s Hill 2d stampede, don’t think life would have much left worth living for.

Now Genl., if this reaches you in time will you please help me to get to Lexington the 21st, and I don’t mind telling you but my clothes are not such as you would like to meet me in. If it could be so arranged I would like to go with the Drum Corps from here, but they are all strangers to me, and 59 years old the 8th this month, so you need not expect to see a boy. Ah, Genl., my heart goes out to you. I can’t help it. Poor Col. Lightfoot, he dropped dead in his mother’s house at Warrenton. Soon after he left us, or left me rather, for but few knew him as I did. He was indeed a “Noble Gentleman” of the Old School. Nice language for an old “Drummer” you say, but Genl if you just help me to reach Lexington & shake your hand once more, you can have the Brig. Guard changed left in front, & have nothing but Irish Potatoes for your Xmas breakfast, as I think you will remember.

Hope you will not feel offended at all this rubbish, if you could see to read it. My address is:
S. N. Collins
1841 Venable St
Richmond Va

I get so full of what I want to say & want to say so much. Be ___ & bring all of the 1st Md. Battalion you can with you.