Item No. 2029602

In this February 1864 letter written from Orange Court House, Virginia, Confederate soldier W. F. Scott writes briefly about the previous day’s skirmish at Morton’s Ford on the Rapidan River. He writes:

I have got back to camp. We have been down on the river to meet the yankees. We started yesterday morning and got back today. There was some fighting close to us, but we wasn’t in it. There was some shelling and skirmishing. They say that they took 50 prisoners from the yankees and killed some few. I reckon they went back by us coming back to camp. The weather is very cold here now on the mountain. Is white with snow. But if I could stay in camp I could do right well. We have got very good quarters now to stay in. We draw corn meal, a little meat, and sometimes a little flour.

In the rare winter action at Morton’s Ford, troops from the Union 2nd Corps surprised rebel pickets on the Rapidan and attempted to probe Confederate defenses. Confederate General Richard Ewell’s Corps responded, driving the federals back to the river. Scott was very likely a member of Ewell’s Corps. His estimate of the number of federal casualties is very close to the number listed in General Robert E. Lee’s report on the skirmish.

The letter was written on both sides of a single sheet of paper measuring about 5” x 8”. Very lightly toned. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript appears below:

Orange C. H., Va. February 8, 1864

Dear sister
I seat myself this morning to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well, hoping these few lines may find you well. I receive your kind letter the other day and was glad to hear from you. I have got back to camp. We have been down on the river to meet the yankees. We started yesterday morning and got back today. There was some fighting close to us, but we wasn’t in it. There was some shelling and skirmishing. They say that they took 50 prisoners from the yankees and killed some few. I reckon they went back by us coming back to camp. The weather is very cold here now on the mountain. Is white with snow. But if I could stay in camp I could do right well. We have got very good quarters now to stay in. We draw corn meal, a little meat, and sometimes a little flour.

You wanted to know what I thought of your new dress. I think it looks very well. I was very much surprised to hear that Lucy and Frank was married. I never dreamed of such a thing. I wish she had a married when I was at home, and let me been at the wedding. I have wrote all that is worthy of your attention, so I will close. Give my love and respects to Uncle John’s folks and tell Lucy the next time you see her she must write to me. And you must write soon.
W. F. Scott