Letters From Ferdinand J. Dunlap

The following two letters were written by Ferdinand Dunlap to family members. Each is dated in 1863; one in March and one in June. He enlisted in Company D on 10 May 1861. Ferdinand was promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant in April of 1862 and died the following year on November 14th. He is listed as dying of "heart disease" in Staunton, Virginia and is buried there. He was 28 years old.

Camp Winder Caroline County Va March 30, 1863

Dear Father & Mother brothers & sisters,

I take this opportunity of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am tolerably well at present, and hoping these few lines may find you all well and in one piece. I was sick about two weeks in the Valley at Joseph Tisingers near Columbia Furnace. The same man that you were letting get about six letters from Columbia Furnace doesent (_?_) have when you was over to see me at Seithwood. He was telling me that he recollected you. I was very well treated there. I was with Imbodens men till I got able to go on to the Army. I heard that you was get afraid that I was going to that Army but you need not fear. I left Imbodens command tuesday 24th and rode to Staunton with Elius Lafolett and stayed all night there then took the cars at 7 1/2 o.clock the next morning and arrived at Hanover Junction about 5 in the evening, waited about one hour, then took a baggage train to Guinea Station and reached there about 9 o.clock in the night, and stayed all night, then left for camp about 8 a.m. and walked there, distant from Station 8 miles.

The trip on cars and bill of $3.00 in Staunton cost me $10.00 only. I reached Camp about 3 o.clock and found the boys all well with the exception of Levi Spaid, and he was bad with the fevers. We sent him to the hospital. I think he will not recover. This looks like a fever country where we are now. The land is level along the river and sandy and the hills about a mile back where we are camped are equally found with white pebbles and black pine timber. We was down on the river drilling this evening. The first I have drilled since being sick. The yankees are on the other side camped. Our line of battle on this side extends up and down about twenty miles with rifle pits and fortifications. Orders was read out on battle parade that we was to be ready for active campaign by the 1st of April and to send off all extra baggage which we did today. We have a large army here as they are camped all about the country & would not like to live down here for there is too many frog ponds and swamp about here for health or peace. I found nearly all of my baggage that I supposed was lost and sent to the company in time to pack it up and send it off again. I heard of the yankees being at home and looking after me. But they need not trouble themselves about me, I'll take care of myself. I saw the Colonel about Atwell Miller and he said that he was certainly dead. As to knowing about the length of time he substituted for and how much he was to get he did not know as he came out of the militia and he made no inquiry. If he had joined his company at the first he would have to know the exact time he could hold him for the war. I will write about him again when I can find out more about him and how much is coming for him. The Captain and George Anderson got in yesterday evening and gave us all the news.

Sharpsburg Md June 22/63

Dear Sister,

I take the present opportunity of dropping you a few lines to inform you that I (_?_) trust that you all may be the same. I have been trying to get some Cotton and Calico or something to send to you all but everything can not be got at as Mr. Marker will tell you. The coat and blanket I sent home wash and put away. I would like Joseph to send me some socks when Mr. Marker comes down again. He is going to make me a little box and bring down (_?_) you to send me something to eat that is nice. If Mr. Marker wants some of my brace bits let him have these to make that box. Tell mother to send me some home made sugar. I reckon Mary is satisfied about the Yanks leaving town. We took them out of there by suprise. In haste my love to all. Write soon.

F.J. DunlapCo. D 33d Va InftyStonewall BrigadeJohnsons DivisionEwells Corp

I will write some more. We are expecting to move further on in Maryland and are cooking two days rations. I think we will clean the Yankees out this summer and whip them into secession. Some of our Army is in Pennsylvania and about 700 have joined our Army and we have taken about 1300 militia.