Item No. 8481159

This fascinating June 1862 letter was written by Captain Mann Page of the 21st Virginia Infantry. At this time Page’s regiment was detached from Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Army, having escorted 2,300 prisoners captured at Winchester on the long trek up the Shenandoah Valley to Lynchburg. The letter describes the cocky prisoners, a close call with the yankees at Port Republic, and Page’s promotion to adjutant. Writing to his uncle David Copeland Randolph, Page expressed his regrets at being unable to get away to visit the family while at Lynchburg. They had arrived there the previous week:

after a long and tedious march from Winchester, with about two thousand prisoners, and I can assure you that it was no child’s play for our little Regt (not over 300 strong) to guard so many yankees for these weeks, up every night and marching all day long, and from the time we left Winchester until we crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rock Fish Gap, they could hear the firing and knew that the fight was goin on between old Jack & the yankees, and they were just as certain that they would be recaptured, for they saying to us that we were marching them along now, but by tomorrow, old Shields & Fremont would have the whole of Jackson’s army marching to Fort McHenry. When we crossed the bridge at Port Republic they could see their Cavalry just across the other branch of the river, which made them feel so certain that some of them refused to go any farther, but I let them have it with my sword, right & left, and they soon found out that we were not to be frightened by the prospect of being attacked, but I can tell you that it was ticklish times with us and if they had southern men they would have all gotten away, but prudence protected us.

Page then mentioned encountering fellow 21st officer Virginius Dabny (who later served on John B. Gordon’s staff). Dabney “informed me that I had been appointed Adjt. and my commission sent, so I had to buy a horse, saddle, & bridle….” After discussing some other financial matters, Page turned his attention back to their regiment’s movement. The regiment was then at Charlottesville. “A part of our army is here now,” he wrote, but “where old Jack is going no one knows, but I expect you will hear before I can tell you.” Where they were going was the Peninsula, where Robert E. Lee hoped Jackson’s Valley Army would come down on McClellan’s exposed right flank.

Page closed the letter unsure of how the weeks ahead would play out. “I hope this war will end soon, although I don’t see how it is to be accomplished, for the yankees are very confident that they will conquer us, although I think that their soldiers are very anxious to get out of service and great many are taken prisoners that if they wanted to could have gotten away.”

The letter was written on three pages of a four-page bifolium stationery sheet measuring about 7 1/4” x 9 3/4”. It is in excellent condition with very light foxing and toning. Creased at the original mailing folds.

Page enlisted in the 21st Virginia as a private in April 1861, was promoted sergeant major in February 1862, and was made captain and adjutant in March of that year. He was wounded at Cedar Mountain later that summer, and later served on the staff of General John R. Jones. Page survived the war and was later a Grand Master of Masons of Virginia (1894). He died in 1904 and is buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery. The letter’s full transcript follows:

Camp near Charlottesville
June 19th 1862

My Dear Uncle
I cannot tell how disappointed I was in not being able to get to see you and my Dear Aunts, for I was certain that I could get off for a day or two while we were in Lynchburg and that is the reason why I did not write while I was there, but Col. [Richard H.] Cunningham could not give me two days, so I had to return with the Regt. We got to Lynchburg yesterday week after a long and tedious march from Winchester, with about two thousand prisoners, and I can assure you that it was no child’s play for our little Regt (not over 300 strong) to guard so many yankees for these weeks, up every night and marching all day long, and from the time we left Winchester until we crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rock Fish Gap, they could hear the firing and knew that the fight was goin on between old Jack & the yankees, and they were just as certain that they would be recaptured, for they saying to us that we were marching them along now, but by tomorrow, old Shields & Fremont would have the whole of Jackson’s army marching to Fort McHenry. When we crossed the bridge at Port Republic they could see their Cavalry just across the other branch of the river, which made them feel so certain that some of them refused to go any farther, but I let them have it with my sword, right & left and they soon found out that we were not to be frightened by the prospect of being attacked, but I can tell you that it was ticklish times with us and if they had southern men they would have all gotten away, but prudence protected us. Virginius Dabney met us in Lynchburg and informed me that I had been appointed Adjt. and my commission sent, so I had to buy a horse, saddle, & bridle and some other things, so I telegraphed to Danville to find out if I had any money to my credit. Got answers from Coalling Asst Cash ($510.10) so I draw a check for three hundred (300) Dollars the evening before we left Lynchburg (Tuesday June 17th 1862).

Archy Page spoke to me about that draft of his for 300 Dollars and says if I don’t want the money he does not want me to collect the draft of Gibson, as he does not want to sell his tobacco, and if I want the money he can pay it him full. I told him I would write to you and get you to collect the draft, and if you want the money let me or him know and he will send you a check. Do not write to me soon, for I have not secured a letter from you for nearly two months and it seems like a year. I do not know when I been so much disappointed as I was at not getting to Cumberland, for we were at Lynchburg and a week, though we did not know what day we would be relieved of our charge. We got here yesterday on our way to Staunton, but found orders to wait here. A part of our army is here now. Where old Jack is going no one knows, but I expect you will hear before I can tell you. I wrote to Aunt Holly from Staunton and told her that we were going to Richmond, and so we were ordered to Rich. at first, but afterwards countermanded.

I hope that this war will end soon, although I don’t see how it is to be accomplished, for the yankees are very confident that they will conquer us, although I think that their soldiers are very anxious to get out of service and great many are taken prisoners that if they wanted to could have gotten away.

You must excuse this as my pen is so bad that I can hardly write. Give love and a kiss to my Dear Aunts, little Mary & Julia. Oh how I would like to see them. I saw cousin Robert Randolph when I was at Winchester: all well! And he sent his love to us all. The yankees had not done him much damage. Goodbye your devoted nephew
Mann Page

Love to John & Ned & family