1. The document contains 3 letters written by Confederate soldier Charles Bruce Jr. to his father during the Civil War between January and June 1862. 2. In the letters, Bruce describes the cold conditions at his camp, updates his father on the status of his brothers, and discusses the poor morale among Confederate soldiers due to contradictory orders and the debate over extending their service terms. 3. Bruce also recounts skirmishes and picket duty, including an incident where Confederate troops mistakenly fired on each other. He speculates about a possible upcoming attack on Union General McClellan's entrenchments. 4. Tragically, the epilogue notes that Captain Charles Bruce was killed in action at Malvern Hill on

1. [ T y p e t h e c o m p a n y a d d r e s s ]
2012-2013
Civil War Letters &
Memoirs
Seiler, Sara
Ms. Seiler-History

2. Civil War Letters
1.1 – Introduction-Soldier Charles Bruce-18 years of age............................................................................2
Submitted by Faye Royster Tuck...............................................................................................................2
1.2 – Letter 1.................................................................................................................................................3
1.3 – Letter 2.................................................................................................................................................4
1.4 – Letter 3.................................................................................................................................................5
1.5 – Epilogue................................................................................................................................................6

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1.1 – Introduction-Soldier Charles Bruce-18 years of age
Submitted by Faye Royster Tuck
On March 29, 1859, two years before the beginning of the Civil War, Charles Bruce, 18, was attending the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Little did he know then how much the terrible war would soon change everything. The letters Charles Bruce,
Jr. (he was a "Jr." even though he was named for his uncle), wrote to his father, James, in Halifax County, Virginia, after joining the
Confederate Army offer firsthand accounts of the war.
Lands End [Va.], Jan. 7, 1862

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1.2 – Letter 1
Lands End [Va.], Jan. 7, 1862Dear Father,
I arrived here last Saturday in safety but very cold from having to ride 18 miles in an open wagon & that too on a rainy night. The
change from a warm room to these board-covered houses is tolerably severe, almost sufficient to bring on an attack of rheumatism. I
have been suffering with sore throat but am better today.
When I came through Richmond I went up to the Spotswood Hotel to see Mr. Seddon & give him your letter, but as he was not in I
left it for him at the office. I heard nothing at all of Ballard [Charles' brother William Ballard Bruce]. I did not go to Staunton [the
plantation that James Bruce owned in Charlotte Co., Va.] to see him because I heard that they had become very severe about absence
without leave and my furlough was out on Saturday. I would have called on his wife at Mr. Morson's but I was suffering with
headache all the time I was in town. If you have heard anything from him or his trial I would like very much to hear of it.
I heard today that there was a fleet of 200 vessels in Hampton Roads with an army on board but these sensational dispatches have
become so frequent that we pay no attention to them.
When I got back here I found that our regiment had received orders to fall back at 1 o'clock at night & that they were countermanded
before morning. By the way, these contradictory orders from headquarters are not improving the spirit of the soldiers much.
Capt. Claiborne went up yesterday on furlough. If there are any socks at home to spare I wish you would send them to Mr. Claiborne
so that he may be able to bring them down with him when he returns.
Wilkins [Charles' brother, who was three years older than Charles] has been complaining a little but is some better this evening. I shall
send you a mouton by the first man that goes up on furlough, to be left at Boston for you. Tell Kate that Wilkins had hardly been here
a day before he was wishing to be at home again.
Give my love to Kate and my sister Nannie & believe me,
Dear Father, Your affectionate son, Charles Bruce, Jr.
Lands End, Jan. 21, 1862

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1.3 – Letter 2
Lands End, Jan. 21, 1862
Dear Father,
I wrote to you three or four days after I got here & as I have received no answer I suppose it must have been miscarried. Our mail is so
uncertain that Wilkins even has not heard from his wife for a week.
I was very glad to hear that Ballard had gotten out of his scrape so well. I always had great faith that Ballard would not get himself
into a difficulty out of which he could not talk himself. I was very much amused at his idea of bringing charges against Colonel
Harmon for an illegal arrest.
I heard the other day that Uncle Charles had been sent to Charleston with his company. I suppose he is very glad to go there for the
winter so as to miss the cold weather & snow.
I see there is a bill before the legislature to force the volunteers now in the field to remain for the war. If it is passed it will ruin our
army completely. If they will let the soldiers alone they will come back within a month after their term of enlistment is out. They will,
however, go home at the end of the year in spite of everything that can be done. I think that the volunteers would be much better
satisfied if the militia were drafted. The weather has been horrible ever since we got here. I do not think that we have had a clear day
for a week. We had a snow a few days ago which bothered us a good deal. It drifted under the slabs & almost covered the floor. I think
if the yankees are as tired of this war as we are, peace would be made in a very short time. Capt. Claiborne & Logan went a short time
ago with the intention, I understand, of making a regiment for next year. I do not know when I shall be able to get off again as I have
just heard that the General has said that he would not grant any more furloughs to officers.
Give my love to Kate & Sister Nannie.
Your affectionate Son, Charles Bruce.
Camp Randolph, April 21, 1862

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1.4 – Letter 3
June 8, 1862
Dear Father,
We are doing nothing today but lying in our tents waiting for something to turn up. There was some heavy skirmishing on the lines last night after
midnight. There was quite an unfortunate occurance during the fight. One of our regiments coming up to reinforce the pickets met another one
coming out of the woods & mistaking them for yankees fired into them & killed 5 men & wounded some 20 or 30. I think something ought to be
done to put an end to this picket-firing. It is of no use and besides being very disagreeable it is no use to either side. One day we drove in the
enemy's pickets & the next day perhaps he drives us back to our former position. The other day when I was on picket they sent us word to advance
on the enemy. We were ordered to advance till a signal was passed from the right for us to halt. My company being the left company was
seperated from this regiment by a pond with thick bushes around it so that I could not see any signals at all. I continued to advance with my
company however until I got to the edge of an old field in which there was a battery with a regiment of infantry to support it. As soon as some of
my men appeared on the edge of the field they were fired upon but fortunately they dodged behind some large pines that were near at hand. As I
was not ambitious of distinguishing myself by storming a battery with a single company. I halted & sent back word that I was about as far as
circumstances would permit me to go at that time. The enemy continued to fire on us for 15 or 20 minutes but without doing us any injury as we
were all lying down behind the biggest pine trees we could find.
It is reported throughout camp that we are going to attack [Maj. Gen. George B.] McClellan in his entrenchments in a few days, but with what
truth I do not know. If we do you may look out for the bloodiest battle that we have had yet. I expect that we will have to do it sometime for
McClellan has not advanced his pickets a hundred yards in three weeks.
They say that the mortality amongst the sick & wounded in Richmond is terrible, amounting I understand to a hundred a day.
I hear it stated also that McClellan's army is less by 68 thousand than when he left Yorktown.
I should like very much to pay you a visit at home now but I suppose that is impossible for a long time as yet, for I can not even get a pass to go to
Richmond for a few hours to look up my sick men. I am better than when I last wrote but am still far from well.
Give my love to all at home.
I am Dear Father you affectionate
Son, Charles Bruce, Jr.

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1.5 – Epilogue
Captain Charles Bruce was killed on Tuesday, July 1, 1862, at 5 p.m. at Malvern Hill. The entry in James Coles Bruce's Bible says,
"Alas for thee my dearest, dearest son."