The following letter was written by William Bower Simmons (1838-1917) who was enrolled as a student at Roanoke College when the Civil War erupted. He left school immediately and enlisted as a private in William T. Patton’s Blue Ridge Rifles (Co. A) of the 28 Virginia Infantry. This regiment was mustered into service on 16 May 1861 at Lynchburg for a period of one year. Muster rolls show him present for duty until the 2nd of October when he was sent to a hospital (consistent with his letter), and then subsequently sent home on sick furlough.

William reenlisted with his company in the spring of 1862 but never returned from his sick furlough until 26 March 1863, though he was still unable to perform duty and was sent again to the hospital on 3 May 1863. He returned to duty on 7 March 1864 and was wounded on 18 June 1864. There are no subsequent entries in the muster rolls but a note in his on-line ancestry claims that he was “shot in the back at Howlett’s House. Recovered in Richmond hospital.”

William had a younger brother that also served with him in the same company named Edmond Orleans Simmons (1843-1862). Edmond was seriously wounded in the Battle of Gaines Mill on 27 June 1862 and died at Richmond on 6 August 1862.

After the war, William became a lawyer and subsequently served as a Botetourt county supervisor and judge for many years. William was the son of Anthony Kessler Simmons (1810-1886) and Sophia Bower (1811-1885) of Boutetourt county.

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Blue Ridge
Botetourt, Virginia
December 16, 1861

Dear friend Bent,

I suppose that you think that I have forgotten you and all about former times and associations, but not so. Memory still holds on to her empire, but circumstances does not always allow her to carry out her wishes. This has been the case with myself. Since I last saw you I have seen many of the ups and downs of this uncertain world. Often desire would tell me that I ought to write to my different friends and associates but time and opportunities has not permitted me to do so. 

I certainly have seen the Elephant of camp life and the Tiger of acting the Soldier in all its different characteristics. I worked and fought on the Sabbath. Was exposed to all the fury of the storms of battle and the hazard of picket guard. Have slept upon the ground with no shelter save the starry vaults of the blue heavens. And as it seems that I should know all of the trials and sufferings of the soldier.

I was attacked on the 2nd of October with a most malignant spell of the Typhoid fever, which accounts for this sheet bearing the address of hime. I reached home on the 7th of October which is just ten weeks ago, very sick indeed. I remember of getting home and sending for the Dr. and of him bleeding me. But I told him then, just as I got in the house and laid down on a bed, that my mind was leaving me. From that time, I don’t know what I did or where I was for nearly four weeks. Then it seemed as if I was recovering for several weeks. In fact, I had gotten so that I could walk about in the house for several days but this was not to last long.

On the night of the 16th of November, I was attacked with Peritonitis which is a disease that sometimes follows Typhoid fever and is one of the most dangerous maladies to which man is heir. Everyone who saw me thought that I was about making my exit out of this world. In fact, I thought for several days that I would die; in truth, it was not much that I have to brag of that I didn’t die. My Dr. says that I never can get as low again with any disease. 

But now I am improving again tolerably rapidly considering that I have been sick so long. I am reduced to a mere skeleton. I can make out to walk about the house and out on the porch if the sun shines though I am still very weak and debilitated. The Dr.  says that it will take all winter for me to rally so I expect to be at home tlll spring. And when I do go to camp again, I expect to get discharged and exempted from military duty.

The other boys are all at home. They have all three been very sick but are all nearly well again and expect to go to camp in a month or two as they will be fit for duty in that time.

From all prospects I think that there will be a dull Christmas with us this year. Lock Obenshain is teaching school in the neighborhood. Don’t you think he is very sociable. He was to see me once since I have been at home. Jimmy was well last week. He is still in camp. I must close. Answer immediately. Your attached friend, — Wm. B. Simmons