The following letter was written by Lt Andrew Jeter Leftwich (1836-1905), the son James Leftwich (1807-1882) and Elizabeth Eubank (1813-1852) of King William county, Virginia.

Andrew entered the Confederate service as 1st Sergeant of Battery G 2nd Battalion of the Virginia Artillery and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Co. G in the 22nd Virginia Infantry Battalion. He was taken a prisoner on 24 May 1864 at North Anna River and sent to the Old Capitol Prison in the District of Columbia where he remained until 15 June 1864 and then sent to Fort Delaware. He was not released from Fort Delaware until 17 June 1865. He was described as standing 5’8″ tall, with light hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.

Andrew married Sarah (“Sallie”) Thomas Tuck (1840-1923) on 1 May 1866. He was a farmer in Mangohick district, King William County, in 1870 and 1880.

Transcription

Culpepper Court House
July 31st 1863

Miss Sallie T. Tuck
My dear friend,

Another opportunity being allowed, I will attempt to write you a few lines though I have written to King William [county] so frequently of late and have not received any letters from there since the Yankee raid through the county, I have almost despaired of getting any letters at all. I have come to the conclusion that none of my letters go to King William and I will write a very few more letters before I shall give it up as a bad job and cease writing until I get letters from there. because it is no use for me to write and then my letters not go where they are sent.

Your letter of the 26th of June was the last that I received and that came to hand a few days since (out of date, you may say). Notwithstanding it being of such a remote date, it gave me a great deal of pleasure though one portion of it gave me pain—that part in which you said I had broken my promise in regard to drinking intoxicating liquors and by that act I had caused you to break your promise in regard to dancing. Sallie, if I had known that my example was going to make you do wrong, I never would have broken my promise though I did not break it on account of a beverage but because I thought that it was good for my health as I think I have told you previously, it grieves me much to know that my examples (which ought to be that of a christian) is so much christian-like as to lead others far away from their Maker and from the path of rectitude. May the Lord help me in future to be more circumspect in my words & actions so that instead of leading anyone astray that I may be able by my words and actions to lead many into the fold of God. I see everyday that I live more and more to convince me of the fact that life is but a bubble which is liable to disappear at any moment and that all of the time that is allowed us here on earth is scarcely time enough to prepare for the next.

God has been more merciful to me than I could have any reason to expect (of late) during the recent battles in which I have been. One man was shot in my front, shielding me from the ball, and a few days ago not far from this place in a skirmish, on man was killed about three feet in front of me, being shot with two balls. He was so near that he bloodied me up when he fell back (there were four of us together). The other two, one was wounded, the other a part of his gun stock was shot off. I have been on a skirmish [line] most of the time in these battles and I think at [least] 100 balls have been shot at me alone and not one has ever touched me. Don’t you think that I have a great reason to be thankful to God for His mercy toward me in preserving my unprofitable life while he has taken those from my right and left?

You said that you had left out in your previous letter what you intended putting in the one of the 26th inst. and you left it out in that for the want of space or the lateness of the hour. Don’t leave it out in your next as you have raised my curiosity now and you thought I have my full portion of that.

I am now left alone in command of the company (I expect that is what makes me so low spirited). I told you in my last letter that Capt. [Alexander F.] Haynes, Lt. [Thomas C.] Jeter & [James E.] Johnson, were taken prisoners at Falling Waters by Yankee cavalry. May the Lord deliver me from Yankee cavalry in future—especially when I have marched all night in the mud and rain. I hope that you have a good time of it at the singing school. I want you to learn me some new Sunday School hymns when I come home (if it should ever be my privilege to do so again).

I complained in the first part of my letter about not getting letters from King William. I don’t attach any of the blame to any of my correspondents—not in the least, but to the mail. You spoke of R. Garnett’s writing to me. I wish you would tell him for me that I have not received his letter yet and that he must write again as I am very anxious to get a letter from him. Write to me soon and let me hear what they did in that part of King William and whether you caught the Yankee officer that you used to speak of in the way of jesting. You must excuse the tone in which this letter is written for I am in no humor for jesting at this time on account of our recent reverses.

Excuse all mistakes of every kind as I have not read this letter over to correct the errors. Give my best regards to Miss Sue, Lou & Charles. I must close this uninteresting letter. Believe me ever your sincere friend, &c. — And. J.

P. S. Direct your letter to Walker’s Brigade, Heth Division