Major Charles A. Davidson: Letters of A Virginia Soldier

MAJOR CHARLES A. DAVIDSON: Letters of A Virginia Soldier Edited by Charles W. Turner Charles Andrew Davidson, one of five sons of James D. and Hannah Greenlee Davidson, was born in Lexington, Virginia, in 1839. On both sides of the family he was ,descended from ScotsIrish settlers of the Valley of Virginia. His kin included the McDowell 's, Grisby's, Dorman's, and Paxton's—names distinguished in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. After growing up in Lexington, he entered the Virginia Military Institute and from which he graduated in 1860. He entered the University of Virginia Law School in the fall of 1860 and in the following spring he volunteered for service with the Army of Northern Virginia. He was commissioned a lieutenant by Governor John Letcher and assigned to the First Battalion, a command famous for hard fighting. As the war proceeded his rank increased and in 1865 he was in command of the Irish Battalion of the Army of Northern Virginia. His brothers all served the Confederacy and three of them gave their lives. All of them wrote letters home to their parents and sisters Mary and Clara. Most of Charles' letters have been preserved in the Rockbridge Historical Society files. Both Charles and his brother Albert ("Ollie") left for Northern Virginia when Virginia seceded in April, 1861 and his first letter was penned from Harper's Ferry. Harper's Ferry April 2, 1861 Dear Father, I suppose you have heard by this time that companies of University students have left for Harper's Ferry. Ollie and myself are now here, we are in very good quarters, the companies are treated to the best of everything, and are considered the handsomest and best drilled companies on the grounds. There are at least two thousand troops here at present, the surrounding heights are in our possession and we can resist the attack of any number of companies. 16 Tell Ma, not to be uneasy on our account, as I don't think we are in any danger of our lives. We did not arrive here in time to have the distinction of resisting 2000 arms and one of the skirmishes . We started from the University on Wednesday evening and after walking 18 miles from Strasburg to Winchester arrived at Harper's Ferry at 5 o'clock on Friday morning. Love to all. I have not time to write any more. In Great Haste, Your Son C.A.D. University of Virginia April 25, 1861 Dear Mother, I suppose you have found out by this time that Ollie and myself accompanied the University students to Harper's Ferry. I would have written to you before we left but we started off in such a hurry that I did not have time, we arrived there five or six hours too late to be of any immediate service, having been delayed ten hours on the way. We found two arsenals containing 15,000 of minnie muskets and rifles of the most modern pattern, a perfect mass of supplies and a machine shop. . . . We arrived in Winchester on Thursday evening at seven o'clock after walking 18 miles over a hard road in a burning sun. The people of Winchester distributed us out among them for supper and after we arrived at Harper's Ferry, they sent us a box of provisions every day and on our return last Monday, they were ready at the train at one o'clock at night to take us home with them. . . . We have received a letter telling us to come down to Richmond tomorrow. I shall endeavor to get a permanent military situation, as it very probable we will have a great deal of fighting to do. After we return from Richmond I shall return home for a short time. There are not more than 300 students here and they go to drill with their professors every morning. Love to all and excuse haste, Your affectionate son, C.A.D. P.S. The University companies were considered to be the best on the march and not one case of drunkness was reported among them. By June, Charles and...