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Charles refers to Andrew's release from Federal prison on August 5, 1862, as part of a prisoner exchange. He had been captured at Kernstown on March 23, 1862 (Robertson, Fourth Virginia Infantry, 41).

The events Charles describes are those leading up to the the Second Battle of Manassas, which began on August 28, 1862. At the time of this letter, Jackson's brigades had just fought the Federals at Cedar Mountain on August 8, during which General Winder was fatally wounded. Colonel Ronald took command of the Stonewall Brigade while Lieutenant Colonel Gardner took over the 4th Va Infantry. On the 10th of August, Jackson moved his men to Gordonsville, where they rested for five days, as Charles indicates. Late on the 15th, the men moved through Orange Court House and set up camp near Pigsah Church where they remained until the 19th. For the next two days, they marched in the rain across the Rapidan River and across the Bull Run Mountains, setting up the flanking movement which Jackson and Lee hoped would trap Pope's army and allow them to seize the Federal supply base at Manassas Junction. Although victory at Second Manassas was claimed by the Confederates, their losses were considerable: the Stonewall Brigade suffered over four hundred casualties. By the end of the fighting, the 4th Va Infantry's ranks had been reduced to one hundred (The Stonewall Brigade, 138-152 and Fourth Virginia Infantry, 16-19).

The First Conscription Act allowed a conscripted (drafted) man to hire a substitute to serve his term. This provision produced much division and tension between the poor and the wealthy. Often, a substitute would desert a day after appearing in camp, then agree to substitute for someone else. The First Conscription Act also allowed each soldier who enlisted for three years to take a sixty day furlough each year (Current, vol. 1, 396-99).

James J. White, or "Old Zeus" to his students, was a professor of Classics at Washington College from 1852-1893. He was commissioned as a Captain when Company I was organized on June 2, 1861, but he resigned on September 6 of that same year due to illness. He returned to teaching at Washington College (Bean 11; Robertson 1, 80). However, White's correspondence of 1862 shows that he wanted to return to the service: enrollment at Washington College was down, as only those boys who were both exempt from service and could afford the tuition were able to attend. White indicates in his March 20, 1862 letter to Colonel Reid that he was seeking a staff appointment with General Jackson. It is possible that he received some kind of temporary command, which would explain his presence in the Jackson Brigade in the summer of 1862 (Turner, 87-96).

From August 19 to August 24, as Jackson's army moved northeast across the Rapidan River, the wagons carrying food and supplies were mired miles behind the troops (Robertson, The Stonewall Brigade, 141).

Thomas Spottswood White was born in Charlottesville, Va in 1845. He joined the 4th Va Infantry, Company I in March of 1862, but transferred to the 1st Va Calvary on February 4, 1863. John and Henry Myers both enlisted in Company I in 1861. They were both transferred to the First Virginia Cavalry on September 20, 1862 (Robertson, 4th Virginia Infantry, 65, 80).

"Aunt Mary" may refer to Eleanor's younger sister Mary Stuart, born in 1828. According to the Augusta County 1860 Census data, she lived on property adjacent to the Brooks family.

General Longstreet's units joined Jackson's brigades on August 29 (Robertson, The Stonewall Brigade, 148).

On August 18, Jackson had four deserters brought into camp to be shot in front of the entire division. The men were blindfolded and told to kneel in front of an open grave. The rifle balls drove their bodies into the pit, and all of the troops were marched past the grave, driving home the consequences of desertion (Robertson, The Stonewall Brigade, 141). James Andrew Riddel of Augusta County, a private in the 5th Va Infantry, Company A, was one of the men executed. It is interesting that Charles notes this incident right after expressing his wish that Andrew put in for a substitute; three months later, Andrew would desert.

"Uncle Ben" is probably Eleanor's brother, born in 1820. The Augusta County 1860 census data shows that Benjamin Stuart lived next door to the Brooks in the same dwelling as Mary and Martha Stuart.