Tag Archives: Robert W. Parker

20 January 1865: “more despondent than I ever was in my life”

Posted on 20 Jan ’15 by

Item Description: Letter dated 20 January 1965 by Robert W. Parker. Parker was a farmer in Bedford County, Va. He served as 4th Sergeant in the Virginia Cavalry for the Confederacy. He eventually was killed in action at Appomattox Courthouse, Va., … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 20 January 1865: “more despondent than I ever was in my life”

2 March 1864: “…news has just reached us the enemy are going in the direction of Lynchburg…”

Posted on 2 Mar ’14 by

Item description: Letter, dated 2 March 1864, from Robert W. Parker to his wife, Rebecca “Beck” Louise Fitzhugh Walker, about minor engagements, troop movements, and camp conditions in Virginia.  Parker mentions action and movement around several places, including Madison, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2 March 1864: “…news has just reached us the enemy are going in the direction of Lynchburg…”

24 November 1863: “for horses will be horses next spring if we live to see the time”

Posted on 24 Nov ’13 by

Item Description:  Letter, 24 November 1863, in which Parker informs his parents that his horse was condemned by the Army, and asks them about the possibility of him buying another horse and keeping it with them during the winter. Parker served … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 24 November 1863: “for horses will be horses next spring if we live to see the time”

18 August 1862: “as to a sick man’s getting home now, that is almost impossible, unless he is able to dodge the guard and run the blockade, as they are carried, as I am informed, by the doctors now.”

Posted on 18 Aug ’12 by

Item description: Letter, 18 August 1862, from Robert W. Parker of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry to his wife, Rebecca Louise Fitzhugh Walker Parker, at home in Bedford County, Va. Item citation: From volume 2 in the Robert W. Parker Papers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 18 August 1862: “as to a sick man’s getting home now, that is almost impossible, unless he is able to dodge the guard and run the blockade, as they are carried, as I am informed, by the doctors now.”

15 July 1862: “…We have been compelled by the pressure of our enemies to give up more of our mother state to their brutal army.”

Posted on 15 Jul ’12 by

Item description: Letter, 15 July 1862, from Robert W. Parker of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry to his wife, Rebecca Louise Fitzhugh Walker Parker, at home in Bedford County, Va. Parker wrote of his company’s retreat from Culpeper to Rapidan Station, … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 15 July 1862: “…We have been compelled by the pressure of our enemies to give up more of our mother state to their brutal army.”

6 July 1862: “It seems strange but nevertheless true that most of the boys from our neighborhood have either been killed wounded or died of sickness.”

Posted on 6 Jul ’12 by

Item description: Entry, dated 6 July 1862, from the diary of Robert W. Parker (2nd Virginia Cavalry, CSA), near Culpeper, Va., to his wife, Rebecca Louise Fitzhugh Walker Parker. [Transcription available below images.] Item citation: From volume 2 in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 6 July 1862: “It seems strange but nevertheless true that most of the boys from our neighborhood have either been killed wounded or died of sickness.”

25 April 1862: “tell him to write often for I really think three letters a year is but few he has ten times the chance to write I have”

Posted on 25 Apr ’12 by

Item description: Letter, dated 25 April 1862, from Robert W. Parker (2nd Virginia Cavalry of the Confederate States of America Army), near Gordonsville, Va., to his wife, Rebecca Louise Fitzhugh Walker Parker. Item citation: From volume 2 in the Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , | Comments Off on 25 April 1862: “tell him to write often for I really think three letters a year is but few he has ten times the chance to write I have”

9 February 1862: “…they are steady and prudent not partaking of the vices so common in camp – George told me he had been often begged to play cards – he told them he did not know how and never intended to know…”

Posted on 9 Feb ’12 by

Item description: Letter, 9 February 1862, from Frances Goggin Parker to her son Robert W. Parker, a soldier in the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. [Transcription available below images.] Item citation: From volume 2 in the Robert W. Parker Papers, Southern Historical … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 9 February 1862: “…they are steady and prudent not partaking of the vices so common in camp – George told me he had been often begged to play cards – he told them he did not know how and never intended to know…”

9 October 1861: “I don’t think there is half the excitement down here in the guard to the war that there is up in Bedford.”

Posted on 9 Oct ’11 by

Item description: Letter, 9 October 1861, from Robert W. Parker to his wife Rebecca, describing camp life. Robert W. Parker was born in 1838 in Pittsylvania County, Va. His father, Ammon H. Parker, and mother, Frances Goggin Parker, eventually settled … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , | Comments Off on 9 October 1861: “I don’t think there is half the excitement down here in the guard to the war that there is up in Bedford.”

29 May 1861: “we arrived in camp yesterday near 4ocl all our company are on foot.”

Posted on 29 May ’11 by

Item description: In this letter, Robert W. Parker tells his wife that he was just appointed officer of the guard.  He remarks on the status of troops present, portraying the typical conditions for cavalry soldiers. Item citation: From the Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Historical Collection | Tagged , | Comments Off on 29 May 1861: “we arrived in camp yesterday near 4ocl all our company are on foot.”