Eyewitness to War

Confederate Captain Charles Bruce kept his father apprised
of conditions during the crucial Peninsula campaign.

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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

Dear 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

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.

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