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Richard C. Bridges to his sister, 25 April 1864

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Identifier	bridges_23
Title	Richard C. Bridges to his sister, 25 April 1864
Author	Bridges, Richard C.
Date	25 April 1864
Location	Orange County (Va.)
Subject	Confederate States of America. Army. Mississippi Infantry Regiment, 11th. Company A
Broader Subject	Confederate States of America -- Archival resources Confederate States of America. Army -- Military life
Description	Letter from Richard C. Bridges to his sister thanking her for a letter hand-delivered by Alford; relates the turn many soldiers have taken towards religion; asks her to check whether his name is still in the books at church.
Transcript	Camp near ©range C.H. April 25th, 186f Dear Sister, Jas. Alford arrived in aamp a few days since and brought me a batch of ^letters, one of which I am glad to say was from you. I have written to you KSO often that it seems like a fruitless eflfort to get a letter to you. 2.But I will not be discouraged. And as we are noWon the eve of an active t^ ^campaign and do not know what hour we will march, I will write now for now I fear I do not have another chance. Yes, everything goes to show that this army will very soon be in another1 + great battle. The sounds of busy preparation can be heard in the whistfe £."of engine and the rumbling of the ordnance and provision wagon in camp you would note no change except now and then an old veteran can be seen -osunning his cartridges or brightening his bayonet or reading for the nj (ulast time some letter from home which he intends to burn for fear of "* ^ an accident. The troops are in high spirits and I believe there is a s +-general enthusiasm to deprive Mr. Grant of his commission. I never saw o> a more determined set of men in my life than the troops of this army. "5 ^There s no talk of being whipped in the next fight, but a dogged i* determination to be free or perish in the attempt. Nor do we rely 2 ^solely on our own valor or our general's skill, but carry our cause to m 5tne Great Ruler of the earth. You would hardly believe that the rough 0 hardened soldiers of our noble old army have become the praying people xm of our country. But I think it is true that today there is more of the § spirit of prayer and earnest piety in our army than there is with our < 'citizens. To me there is something sublime in this earnest devotion <u u of our veteran troops who while risking their lives in defense of our gS <£ cause; carry that cause in prayer to the God who hears the prayer of '"His people. When we first entered the service there was but few pious 4-* men in our Reg't, but now there has been a great moral change. Since we have been in our brigade about one hundred have processed religion and ^ gin any are now seeking pardon. What a source of it should be to our people to know that when our army goes forth to battle they will % 'ago trusting in the God of battles and in His name will draw the sword. You warn me in your letter not to marry during the wajr. This I will o shardly do from many reasons. First I will hardly have the chance of xrtselecting my partner while I scarcely ever see one of the gentler sex, ^M- isecondly supposing that fate should throw such a one1 in my path, she tu ^J would hardly consent to marry a poor private whose only possession is a suit of Con fed. gray and a musket, and thirdlysaid private would be a little choice in his selection and would conseitt to bind himself to CtnMiss Anyone, besides afore-said private has not the spunk to so much as think of courting anybody and does not want to marry in the least, so make yourself easy on that point. Sister, I have a favor to ask of you. Will you inquire whether my name v wis on the church books at Providence or not. If it is, please see that •H^cit remains. I know that I have be,a unworthy of a membership in the J ^ church, but by the grace of our Lord, I will try to disgrace his cause no more, and if He in His mercy has forgiven this erring one. the church ,Zt pmight show the same clemency. Attend to this for me,Sister, and '£ T3 a great favor. Your kind advice to me has not been thrown away. I will try with the Grace of God to lead a better life, so that in life or death " g I will always have "that friend that sticketh closer than a brother". £ "5 Pray for me that I may hold out faithful to the end and meet our sainted parents in a better world. Give my love to Sister Carrie and all other enquiring friends. Yours, R. C. Bridges
Type	text
Original Format	correspondence
Original Collection	Richard C. Bridges Collection
Collection Finding Aid	http://purl.oclc.org/umarchives/MUM01789/
Citation	Richard C. Bridges Collection, Special Collections, University of Mississippi Libraries
Rights	This item is free from copyright and may be reproduced without prior consent.

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Richard C. Bridges to his sister, 25 April 1864

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Richard C. Bridges to his sister, 25 April 1864

Richard C. Bridges to his sister, 25 April 1864