University of Virginia Library

In this letter, written just after Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862 and immediately before the Seven Days' Campaign, Charles Booker describes the punishing marches that the troops endured as they rushed eastward towards Richmond, where they were to reinforce Lee's army. Given the broiling sun, lengthy marches, and dusty or muddy trails that the troops faced, Charles' desire to take a train from Gordonsville, which is on the Virginia Central Railroad line, to the Richmond area is understandable (Robertson, The Stonewall Brigade, 113-115; Robertson, 4th Virginia Infantry, 15). But, as Charles remarks in his penciled postscript, his wish for a train ride did not come true and his company indeed had to march toward Richmond; by June 25, they made it as far as Ashland, which is approximately twelve miles from Richmond (Bean, 123).

In acknowledging his family's disappointment that he had not come to Waynesboro with his brother Emmett, perhaps Charles is referring to their hopes that he would be able to find a substitute and return home. See also Schyler Trible's letter of July 2, 1862. Perhaps in referring to "Dryden," Charles Booker meant Captain T. A. Dryden, who is listed as a nominee for magistrate in The Staunton Spectator, May 22, 1860. Alternatively, he could be referring to Thomas H. Dryden of Augusta County, a farmer who joined the 5th Virginia in March of 1862 at age 41. Thomas Dryden was listed as absent due to illness on May 14, 1862 and never returned to service (Wallace, 113).

While the troops were moving toward Richmond, Captain Hugh White fell ill at Charlottesville (which is southwest of Gordonsville), so he went home to Lexington on sick leave (Bean, 124). Perhaps here Charles is referring to Captain White's attempt to take sick leave.

In late June of 1862, Moffett Brooks was in all likelihood at home sick with typhoid fever. He died of typhoid fever in Waynesboro on June 29, 1862, a week after Charles wrote this letter (Robertson, 4th Virginia Infantry, 40).