~Pvt. James McCutchann relates stories of leaving Winchester, and marching through Strassburg, Edinburg, and Woodstock, and of how difficult it was to leave the women in those towns.~ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kate Camp near Mt. Jackson March 17, 1862 Dear Kate; We left Martinsburg on the 11th of this month and fell back to Strawsburg; we stayed there a few days, & we are now about middle way between Edinburg & Mt. Jackson. Our encampment is a very pretty one, in a beautiful pine grove on the bank of the Shenandoah River. The surrounding country is exceedingly beautiful rivalling any in natural charms that I have ever seen. I felt sad when we left Winchester, although it is a very corrupt place in my estimation still there are a great many there who as true & loyal to the South & it was hard to leave them to the mercies of those who have no hearts to feel for themselves or other. Some were laughing & some crying as we came through town & there were many sad partings too. Two companies in our regiment were principally made up in Winchester & these were (forced?) to part with those near & dear to them. They were compelled to have Mothers & Sisters & Wives & little ones, who were all they had on Earth to love & leave them too, without a hope of seeing them again & no prospect of hearing from them. I had to cry myself when I came through Strawsburg. The doors & pavements were filled with Ladies old & young & even the little children some weeping, (forced?) to do so by the tears of their Mothers & Sisters. Our last stopping place was between Woodstock & Edinburg; we stayed there one night. It was the most romantic place I ever saw. Right on the edge of a high cliff on the side of the Shenandoah River. The cliff is on one side of the turnpike & the railroad on the other side crosses a deap chasm on trussel work 130 feet high. I will send you some spruce Pine that I goth there. I must write some to your Ma. Yours truly, J. R. M. ~James Robert McCutchan was born in Augusta County, February 1, 1841. He enlisted in Company D of the 5th Virginia Infantry on April 17, 1861, in Augusta County. After serving in the 5th for a year, he enlisted in the 14th Virginia Cavalry. He survived the war and became an engineer and surveyor. He died July 4, 1915 and is buried in Staunton. His cousin, James Buchanan McCutchan, was born on October 21, 1839, and enlisted along with James Robert into the 5th Virginia Infantry, Company D. McCutchan was wounded in the head at Chancellorsville and returned to service in August of 1863. He was captured by Union soldiers at Mortons Ford on February 6, 1864, and sent to Old Capitol Prison and Fort Delaware. He died on June 13, 1920, at Chestnut Hill.~ Image: Banner of the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:01:19 +0000
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