[Transcript of Letter from Mrs. Watts to John Watts, August 2, 1861] Page: 1 of 2

                                
[Letter to Dr. John Watts in Texas from his mother in Virginia}
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On the other it was very great with the loss of upwards of 60 cannon and many thousand of the
finest arms, munitions and equipment of all sorts, among the spoils were 30000 hand cuffs to
handcuff the rebel prisoners I suppose
A great many sick soldiers are here now and a great many of the wounded have been
brought up since the battle. There are between 1500 and 2000 sick and wounded together here
and at the University. The ladies are very attentive to them. I have been with them a good deal.
About 40 or 50 have died. If our people had been defeated the Yankees would have been upon us
before this time. My little Effie is safer with you at present. I sent two letters to you of different
dates, which you had not received when you wrote. I hope you have gotten them.
I feel thankful to the great giver of every good and perfect gift that our grain crop is so
abundant and that the horrors of famine will not be added to those of war. May we praise His
Holy Name for all His mercies to us.
August 2nd 1861
From VA - to Dr. Watts in Alum Creek [written in blue pen beside date probably added by
someone else later}
My dearest Son
Your letter and my dear Effie’s dated June, but post July 11th reached us on the
21st at dark, as the mail just then came in for a month to two past the mails have been very
irregular - the trains are continually going and coming, bringing troops or taking them away,
there never was such a time hardly in the History of the country.
We have had several conflicts with the enemy in which our troops were almost invariably
successful and the Federals routed, but never on this continent was such a battle fought as was at
Bull Run on the 21st ult [month passed}
The “Grand Army” came on from Washington in flowing spirits - their motto was ‘on to
Richmond in five days.” They came in the full tide of glory expecting every thing to give way
before them, but oh what a reverse. Our brave soldiers completely defeated them after hard
fighting. The battle commenced about 8 in the morning and lasted 10 hours. The loss on our side
was about 500 killed and from 10 to 1500 wounded.
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The militia was called out in mass and Annie was dreadfully distressed about Perry’s
having to go but the order was countermanded, and he will stay. The call caused great excitement
here. Albemarle has 18 or 19 companies in the field fully one tenth of the white population. It
would be bad to take all off. I hope you will have no such times as we have here. Should
your Brother in law come to Virginia I hope he will certainly make Charlottesville in his way and
if possible spend a few days with us, it would be a great gratification to us all. If the war
continues Virginia will want all the men she can get. The Federals have a [pop—ion ] of all the
Ke —wa?} Valley Wise is out there doing what he can - the Union men are very strong were it
not for that there would be no trouble
Heard George Noel was killed in the battle of Bull run. I hope it is not so. Many poor
fellows bit the dust that day. there are many interesting incidents connected with the battle I
would tell you if I could - You have heard of it already or soon will