Civil War-dated ALS in pencil from Maj. Richard Channing Price, aide-de-camp to Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.5 x 8.25, February 11, 1863, less than three months before he was fatally wounded at Chancellorsville. Addressed from “Hd. Qrs. Cavalry Division,” a lengthy handwritten letter to his sister, in part: “As an opportunity is now presented of a letter probably reaching you. I will try to scribble a few lines, though Thomas has also written today. I was sitting in my tent yesterday about 1 o’clock having a pleasant talk with Hugh Powell, who had called to see me, when going to the General [Stuart] in answer to his call, I got a short note from Thomas saying he was at the crossing I was very much surprised, thinking of course he would telegraph me when he was coming not having come Monday as he wrote on that day I was at the Depot with a horse & wagon to meet him. I soon started Ephraim [his servant] with my horse & wagon from Capt Hanger to bring him up & just about that time I got Mama's letter, written Sunday evening from the mail. Thomas got up safely between 3 & 4 o'clock having had a tiresome time at the Depot, but all right in other respects. Hugh spent the day with us dining, etc. the Battery is only a mile or so from us now. I was sorry to hear that my letter written last Thursday I believe had not reached you, and you think no doubt I am degenerating into bad habits is this respect as my letters do not go straight. Tell Mama she need give herself no uneasiness I think about Thomas, as he will get along very comfortably I have no doubt.
Last night Capt White who is occupying Eliasons tent took care of him & has kindly offered to share his tent with him: he had sent to Charlottesville for his tent, etc and this evening they arrived. Tomorrow it will be pitched, the chimney finished and Thomas can then fix himself. Of course it would be more pleasant to me to occupy the same tent as he, but at present this can't very well be done, as I am with Chriswell Dabney & Capt White has his own Tent, to which he invited Tomas, we all mess together however and in case I get a Tent (impossible now) & think we will stay here long enough to warrant it, will arrange to suit ourselves better. Mrs. Stuart surprised me very much this morning telling me she was going down tomorrow, having gotten orders to that respect from the General he is very anxious to go to Richmond for a few days & said this morning he would see whether he could not go with her tomorrow. He rode to see Gen.Jackson this morning & has not returned yet, though it is getting into the night & raining steadily. I tried to encourage him in his idea of going & laughingly asked he to take me with him. He has to go to Culpeper C. H. in a day or so, and said he could go from Richmond as well as here. Gen. Fitz Lee's Brigade reached there today I suppose to relieve Gen Hampton & Gen Stuart is going up to see Fitz Lee settled down & Hampton placed in recruiting camp. I am expecting to take this lon and muddy ride with Gen Stuart in case he does not go to Richmond, as from what he said yesterday I thought he intended me to go with him. Major Von Borcke went up yesterday to inspect General Hampton's command.
All is perfectly quiet since the little flirt the Yankees made last week to burn the Rappahannock R. R. Bridge in which they failed most egregiously. Tell Mama her corned beef was most acceptable, as we are living worse now than I ever did as a private. For several days last week were entirely out of meat, Major Johnson not having any & no other commissary willing to sell to the cavalry. It looks like squally times in the provision line. Thomas told me that girls had reached Richmond from Dundee before he left and I suppose the festivities are now all over. I had a letter from Nannie several days ago in which she told me of their trip (contemplated) to Richmond & begged me to try to come down while we were there: tell her if you see her soon, that nothing could please me more, especially to have gone with them to the Bluff (which you know I have neglected when in Richmond) but it is out of my power I fear. Tell her also that I shall answer her letter in a day or so. How much longer does John Fontaine expect to be absent from the Army? Tell Mama, in case Thomas did not write the same thing, that I think we had better get the grey cloth from the Bureau (say 4 yards) for each of us, which is all they allow I believe as it can not be bought cheaper at any time I reckon. Maj Hairston took orders for it from most of the staff but I did not send thinking you would get my letter & Thomas would buy it. I got a very nice pair of English Boots (fair leather) from our Qr. Mr. A day or two since which I shall let Ephraim have if they will allow me to but another pair as probably will be the case; they are short boots something like Thomas has, the very thing for using in camp as we now are to save the Cavalry Boots & cost 8 dollars they came in the Giraffo (a large quantity I believe) I wrote a long letter to Henry Carter (Lieut in Howitzers) the other day, partly to find out where they are exactly: I want to go and see them if I get an answer to my letter I have been extremely interested yesterday and today in reading ‘Quits’ which I found some staff had borrowed. I have just finished it before writing this letter. Mrs. Stuart is going to stay only a few days with you she says before going to Danville. Why did you not persuade Mayor Von Borke to go and see Miss Nettie Powell when he was in Richmond as he was so much pleased with her at Dundee. I could get no satisfaction out of him on the subject when he returned.” In fine condition.
Major Richard Channing Price joined the 3rd Virginia Howitzers at the outbreak of the Civil War and fought with them during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. On July 29, 1862, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General J. E. B. Stuart, serving in that capacity during the Antietam Campaign. While serving under Stuart's command, he made the acquaintance of Fitzhugh Lee and guerilla leader John Singleton Mosby. He was fatally wounded at Chancellorsville on 1 May 1863.
