A Yankee Horseman in the Shenandoah Valley: The Civil War Letters of John H. Black, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry

Chapter 3: 1863 [Image Plates]

Chapter 3 1863 When John Black returned to the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry in December 1862, he found the regiment encamped at Kearneysville , Virginia, guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. For most of the remainder of the war, the regiment served in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The fighting there was very different from that in the major theaters of the war. Although the valley witnessed extensive combat and several large campaigns, much of the fighting was on a smaller scale, with scouting, patrol, and guard missions the most common type of activity. The year 1862 had been active and not terribly successful for John Black and the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Little military activity involving the regiment took place during the winter of 1862–63. Until April the unit remained encamped at Kearneysville and then near Winchester.1 * * * The Civil War Letters of John H. Black 38 Karneysville, Va2 On the Baltimore & Ohio R. Road Camp Owl’s Misery January 8, 1863 Dear Jennie: Snow has been flowing pretty freely all day and the weather is pretty cold for once, and has a tendency to make soldiers sit pretty close to the tent stoves. Our quarters are pretty comfortable. . . . So our friend Sue is married at last, and no doubt is well pleased with her choice, and all the harm I wish her, is that she may live a happy life and never have a word out of the way in the Union, and that health and prosperity may be theirs both here and hereafter. Give my best wishes to them if you see them, and my Love to Lue and tell her to take good care of Skyles, and stick close to him, but tell her not to marry until I get home, for I want to see the knot tied. No news of any importance with us, for we hear of no rebels being about our outposts, But there is no telling how soon they may show their grey clothes on our path. If they do we will fall in line and meet them as best we can. . . . So Good by while I sign myself yours alway[s] to be and forever shall be. John H. Black Co. G 12. Pa. Cav. Martinsburg, Virginia Address at present * * * Karneysville, Va. Camp Owl’s Misery January 16/63 Dear Jennie: . . . By the heading of the letter you will learn that I am still at the same old place. My health and so forth, same as usual. Mud and rain is abundant and our Camp is in a miserable plight. Mud is deep and plenty to spare. Still we soldiers take it all as cool as a “cucumber” in harvest time. On last evening we received marching orders, to leave this morning at 6 o’clock, but ere the time arrived the orders were countermanded and so we are still here yet. Our duty is not getting any lighter yet, but we are the boys to stand it. I am pleased to hear that Bartley3 has such a 1863 39 good opinion of his wife, and who wouldn’t so soon after marriage. Let one year pass away and the second year passes and then we will hear the news of them and if the same Love exists there can be some confidence be placed in the reality of it. No doubt he will always think as much of her as he now does, and if so she has made a happy choice indeed. The next two years will tell many tales, to some they will be favorable and to others unfavorable with a reality. To you and myself I trust it will prove favorable. The signs and times so far do not have a tendency to close this horrible war, and God only knows when it will end. The sooner the better for everybody I would say. . . . You speak of people sleighing. We have no snow, and if we had we could not sleigh for the reasons that we have no sleigh and could not get permission either. If you get any opportunity of taking a sleigh ride be sure and take advantage of it, and enjoy yourself, and I will find no fault in the least, For with you I never have found fault and hope I never may. Do not stay at home for fear of insulting me. But improve every opportunity to enjoy yourself and to it I...