A letter from the Civil War camps

Camp Carson, 1861

Here is a transcription of a letter written from Jacob Will (pictured at right) to his father while Jacob serving in the Confederacy during the Civil War. This comes to us courtesy of Martha Lytton Van Trees.

12th July 1861

Dear Father

Having promised to write to you I now comply by imparting a few lines to you to inform you that I am well at present. We are now encamped on the fair-ground about nine miles below Winchester called Camp Carson. I can’t tell exactly how many soldiers are here. The reports vary from 25 to 50 thousand including Militias and all. All seem to be lively, faring well, and well satisfied. We have plenty to eat here though it is a little rough. The retreat of Col. Jackson’s Brigade from Bunker Hill, created considerable excitement. It presented a very sublime scene, and was performed with great military skill.

They have about 75 Yankee prisoners in Winchester. It was rumored here today that there will be 8000 volunteers in on tomorrow from Georgia. This is just the report, we don’t know whether it is so or not. I must close for the present, but will ever remain, your dutiful son,

Jacob Will

I will write soon. Direct your letter to Care of Capt. Peters, 2nd Regiment, Virginia Militia

References and Notes

  1. Jacob Will was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia on March 16, 1820, the son of Jonathan (John) Will (1786-1864) and Hanna Byrd (1788-1864). Jacob married Elizabeth Jones (1843-1890) about 1863. Jacob was 23 years older than Elizabeth.
  2. Jacob and Elizabeth were farmers and lived about two miles west of Moore’s Store, Shenandoah County, Virginia. (Harpine, p. 194). Their homesite is owned by their descendents and is known as Will Hill Farm, located just north of the county line on North Mountain Road.
  3. Jacob and Elizabeth are buried in Saint Lukes United Church of Christ (County Line) Cemetery, Moores Store, Shenandoah County, Virginia.
  4. In Klaus Wust’s Old Pine Church Baptisms, there is an entry for Jacob, son of Georg Will and Catharina, born March 14, 1820, and baptized April 8, 1820, by Rev. Paul Henkel. In Burruss’ The Rinkers of Virginia, it is noted that Jacob Will married Mary Rinker (born July 13, 1820), daughter of George Rinker (1792-1829) and Elizabeth Moore (born 1800), on November 19, 1841. This is another Jacob Will. He was the son of George Will (1781-1844) and Catherine Byrd (1783-1870) from Mount Clifton and was the first cousin of Jacob Will from Moore’s Store. The two Jacobs were born two days apart. Jacob, son of George, moved west; in 1850 he is living in Illinois and eventually settled in Texas. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War in Co. D, 16th Texas Infantry. In 1899, he was living in Waco, Texas, and he applied for a pension under the Confederate Pension Law.