The following letters are not all written by George Bedinger. You will see some written by his brother and sister (Virginia/Diddy). Also, this is only a portion of the letters available. Bedinger was killed at Gettysburg leading his men in a third charge up Culp's Hill. His body was never recovered or identified afterwards.
I am much concerned to hear by your letters to Diddie of your sickness and I now write to beg that if at any time during your residence at the University you should be sick enough to be confined to your bed and require nursing that you will immediately acquaint me with it that I may come to you unless serious illness here should prevent me. I can always get someone to take charge of the house and children in any absence. I sincerely hope that you are now recovered and that you will take care of yourself. We shall feel anxious until we hear from you again. Diddie has written to you so lately that I suppose she gave you all the news (if there was any). We have all been so confined with the Influenza that we might be thin desert for all the news we hear except through the public papers. All the family are now convalescent. Entire recovery is impossible while such weather continues. I think this has been the blackest dark most incompatible winter I ever remember in this county. Yesterday Diddie and I dined at Beasford where we met Colonel Thompson and Nannie Boteles. I was glad to have an opportunity to hear conversation on the State of the Country. Mr. Lee is at _?_ at last aqauith South Carolina. I cannot and will not yet believe that Civil War is inevitable. I think that some plan will be adopted to insure the rights of the South in the Union or if that should not be the case, that the United South will be allowed to peaceably form a separate Confederacy. This is the all absorbing topic of the thoughts and conversation. Write to us at once upon receipt of this if you have not already done so. Take care of your self until your cold is entirely removed. God bless you and watch over you.
Your attached brother
CB Bedinger
Lexington July 27th 1861
Dear Ma - It has been so very long since I have either heard from or written to you that I scarcely know how to commence. I now write at a venture with very little hope of your ever seeing the letter, however I will do my best & if you do not receive this it will not be my fault. I should have written to you long before this but as I could receive no letters from you, I very naturally concluded that you could receive none from me & therefore it would be worse than useless to write. You have of course heard before this of the battle on Sunday last but I think it very doubtful if you know any thing about it for as far as I am able to judge with its price as scarce in the Northern press as ever, & I suppose the mass of the people as much deceived; the battle was truly a terrible one, it lasted from eight in the morning till five in the evening. George was in the thickest of the fight but thank God he did not receive a scratch. He is a member of Col. Pendleton's Artillery. Our loss was great but to be compared with that of the enemy, We lost between four + five hundred killed + fifteen hundred wounded. The enemy left seven thousand dead + wounded upon the battle field, beside a thousand taken prisoner. We captured over thirty pieces of Artillery, six hundred tents, + a most incredible supply of arms + provisions. Truly it was a great victory + I pray God to make us thankful to Him for his great love + mercy towards us in delivering us from the hord of our enemies. My anxiousness about George was great indeed. I could learn nothing of or from him until Thursday morning, except that the regiment to which I supposed he belonged had been cut to pieces. You may imagine my suspense + anxiety. On Thursday I reced a hurried line from him assuring me of his perfect safety. My hear overflowed with love + thanksgiving to my Heavenly Father for having spared my brother. It was indeed a great victory but there were many _?_ hearts in our country. Measuring our friends loss in that victory, poor Mr. Willie Lee was wounded desperately + when we heard it was thought he must die. God have mercy on his poor young wife. Tucker + Homes Conrad of Martinsburg were shot dead side by side, the only sons of their father. Mr. Peyton Harrison of Martinsburg (Mr. Conrad's nephew) was killed. Also Lloyd Powell of Winchester (Nina's closest brother). When we think of all the sad + stricken hearts throughout the land, I am afraid there is danger of our forgetting God's kindness towards us in causing us to triumph over our blood thirsty enemies. But I pray that he will give us humbly thankful hearts. I should think if the people of the North will possibly _?_ as the North in this battle it would prove to them the utter folly of attempting to conquer the South. _?_ have men fought desperately against fearful odds. Cousin Edwin Lu (who was in the midst of the fight as Gen. Jackson's Aide) says we had never more than twenty thousand engaged at one time, while the number of the enemy as stated in the papers was fifty-three thousand. I am most pleasantly situated here with Cousin Lu + his family. I met with nothing but kindness + affection from all + it was not for this horrible war, I should be quite happy. I am convinced now that unless we forget our God in the pride of our victory + thus cause him to forsake us that we have nothing to fear from our enemies for our men will fight till the last man is killed rather than sustain a defeat by such foes. This outrages + atrocities committed here, are outrageous of course you hear nothing of them where you are. Cousin Lu heard from _?_ the other day. She is in Middleburg with Nita. Aunt Chatise, Grandma + Uncle George's wife all well. Aunt Ginnie is near Upperville. Uncle Armistead + Uncle George are in Leesburg Col + Lt Col of the militia. I have a long letter from Trent the other day, all well at Bedford. He had just heard from you. It is perfectly outrageous about Aunt Susan. I give praise she is wholly lost to us. I think she knows how I feel towards her Nation + _?_ shameful. I am glad we have no connection with it, but, I will endeavor to control feeling + not give you the benefit of them. I do wish you would come home. I expect you can do so with perfect safety. Thence _?_ to you mother + sisters. Cousin Lu sends love. I wish you could come home.
Write _?_ your found daughter.
V Bedinger
August 1861
My Dearest Sister,
I this meanes received your thick letter dated June 27th. Yesterday in reply to a message which Col. Allen gave me I wrote you a few hasty words, entrusting the note to Capt. Pendleton. This morning he informs me that has P do in the greatest haste (we expect to march in a moment) I write a line or two more. We are now seven miles from Martinsburg at Darksville on the Winchester turnpike. The enemy is in M. It is the impression with us that we will attack him to day. I have no doubt of victory. Our men are in excellent opasity. You will have heard when this reaches you that on the day before yesterday, Col. Harpers regiment and a pair of Capt. Pendletons camp was engaged with the enemy for nearly an hour. Killing as far as we can leave. This is three hundred. In the same engagement cost Ymots cavalry took fifty prisoners. Of course I can tell you nothing about Genl I's plans. It is now nine o'clock and still we make no advance toward Martinsburg. I cannnot account for the delay. There are all kinds of reports. That the enemy have retreated &e &e &e &e. You are a capital girl and I thank you with all my heart for your kind gifts and letters. Henry Douglas means to return his _?_ for a havlocks - I will write to you. When I came through the difficult all very great. Send me a word very often.
Love to cousin, love and respect to Mn P + family.
Yr aff brother
GR Bedinger
Camp near Winchester June 16th 1862
Dear Diddy,
Rejoyce in the glorious victory which, to use our good old chieftains expression, God has given us. We arrived before this town on 13th and surrounded it, bombed the Yankees during the 14th. Had a sharp battle with others yesterday (16th) as they tried to escape and killed or captured two thirds of their force. We have taken between two + three thousand prisoners, over twenty pieces of magnificent cannons, wagons, horses + mules, innumerable stores + plunder of every description to an immense account. I think we shall move to the Potomac today as we are order to march at eleven. I shall endeavor to get home for an hour. I suppose you will come charging down bag + baggage before soon. I have seen the girls in Winchester. Give my love to Wes + the rest.
Your brother
GR Bedinger
I did get the socks you sent + they suit me perfectly. I also got you lost letter written in answer to mine from Camp Paxton. I lost one more yesterday very badly wounded.
GRB
Centerville Sunday Morning [ed:likely late 1862]
My dear Diddy,
Your last letter written in Upperville arrived two days ago. I cannot tell why it should have been so long on the way. I learn from Uncle Armistead who was here this morning that you had returned to town with Mr. Lee. I regret exceedingly that you have taken this step. Why did you go to Lexington if not to escape the annoyance perhaps the gross insults of these based invaders whom we feared would overrun our Country, and now that they have actually crossed. Next that a battle has been fought at the Ferry, and when Martinsburg is full of the murdering villains & you take it into your head that Upperville is too dull and allow Mr. Lee to pursuade you to go into their midst. Now that the step is taken it is not worth my while talking about it but I shall now be continually uneasy about your _?_ the only _?_ of _?_ I have had during this war. I thought you were safe in Upperville and felt satisfied and easy about you and I did think that unlike most women, you would exercise some judgment, and know when you were best off. It was a foolish hope. I now exclaim with Golemn of _?_ "A wise woman have I never found". I thank Mr. Lee for all he has done for us, and know that he insulted your _?_ and as his thoughts, safety, but don't you know him well enough to believe that he had just as _?_ take you & Aunt Heurltia a pleasure ride over Arlington Heights as Charlestown. But I hope you may be safe and I beg that you will relieve my anxiety by writing every opportunity. I have not gotten the clothes you sent by Mr. Faisful, most likely I never shall. Don't you know by this time that Mr. Fade & O might be in the same army and never see each other for thirty years. Do you think he is going to take any trouble to find me, I am a thousand times obliged to you for the articles you have made but I think we rather misunderstood each other. I thought I expressed it as my wish that you would procure two very heavy flannel shirts to be worn near the body, two blue cotton shirts over these, one of each with a thick jacket was to be my winter dress. But Pendleton tells me you have made shirts of Cassimere of course these cannot be worn next body and at the same time are too thin to serve as jackets. However it makes no difference, one thing is as good as another. Write to me often, give my love to Aunt Haud, Netta.
Your affectionate brother
GR Bedinger
Camp 12 miles from Fredericksburg
Near Guinea Station & R.R.R.
Dec 23rd 1862
My Dear Ma,
A soldier and rather doubtful character promises to convey a note to you and I am too glad to find the opportunity not to run the risk. Your letter, sent out with Diddy, having got a few days ago, but as we are separated by our enemies as well as distance it seemed good news from Home to me. I beg that as your promise in the letter, you will seize every opportunity to send me a word. Visitors are constantly coming to the army and by being on picket you will often find chances of sending letters, and when you know how much satisfaction, how much comfort a word from home gives to us soldiers you will spare no pains to let me hear from you. I fear you must have been uneasy on my account when you heard of that fierce battle at Fredericksburg. But our loss is small compared with that of the enemy. It was severe to us but most terribly to them. Gen'l Lee reports eighteen hundred as his entire loss. I am confident the enemy's is fifteen thousand in killed, wounded, and missing. They crossed on Thursday 11th under cover of their immense battery. All day Friday they were landing troops and on Saturday they made a desperate attack only to be beaten at every point and hurled, routed back to the river. Five different times they advanced against Longstreet (our left) and every time he mowed them with his artillery and drove them back with his bayonets. On our side AP Hill was entirely successful and their slaughter was tremendous. Sunday night, beaten, baffled, routed, they sneaked back to Stafford. But I suppose "On to Richmond!" is still the cry. How much harder is that road to travel than was _?_ of olden song. Our brigade was only partially engaged but I never saw men in more glorious fighting condition. We lost very few. Our sufferings, preceding and during the battle were considerable. Marching and tramping or lying upon the frozen earth, but not a man deserted his post. I am very much pleased with the conduct of my Irishmen. They are enthusiastic and brave and at the same time obedient. I think they are fond of me, at least they are very attentive to my comfort. You will be sorry to hear Maj Edwin Lee has been compelled to resign on account of his health. He left yesterday provided with letters of the highest recommendation from all the Generals which will secure him some position with good pay in which he will not be obliged to express himself. Tell Aunt Heurltia this but make her understand that he is not weak than he has been for months. I think Diddie is with Aunt Efattie at Charlottsville. Mr. Lee and Edinund in Lexington. I presume I shall hear from Diddy very soon. My Christmas will be a dull one but I hope yours may be pleasant and happy. Give much love to Aunt Heurltia + Loretta, Mrs. Griffith and the children.
With affectionately your
GR Bedinger
Camp Winder Feb 8th 1863
My Dear Diddy,
I wrote you a letter about a week ago directing to Charlottesville at the Baptist Institute. I hope it will be forwarded to you. Captain Orrick brought me your last letter yesterday. I was glad to get it, mothers came more than a week ago announcing the death of Grandma. Poor old lady, but for the terrible accident I could scarcely mourn her death. I got a letter the other day by some means or other from Ma dated 20th December. She was complaining the lest were perfectly well. Chief Griffith was expected to return daily from the North. This is about all the information it contained. I sometimes find opportunities of sending letters to _?_ and have written several lately informing them of your movements & ecte. The weather is beautiful just now, this is like a spring morning. Tho lately we have had it terribly inclement and cold. I am extremely comfortably fixed, have an excellent hut and stove, and would rather prefer bad weather as it precludes the possibility of our marching until more favorable season. As to the "Fighting Joe Hooker's" advancing, I don't fear it at this time, he comes to his destruction, and he knows it. I saw Maj. Pendleton this morning. It is thought he is in with Miss Corbin, who lives at the magnificent house where Gen'l Jackson has his H'd Qtr's. I have made an application for leave of absence for twelve days but have no progress of getting it, as I learned yesterday that no Captains were to be permitted to leave. My papers have not come back yet. Of course I should like to see you and Ida but my desire to visit Lexington is very much diminished at learning that Ms Puston is not in town, where has she gone and when is she expected to return? You must give a great deal of love to Ma, ask her to write to me, what sort of a looking baby is hers! Present my respects to Mrs P, cousin Lia and the family. Tell Chip Rosa I can never forgive her for driving me to the Army. If you ever meet Frank Puston, say that I desire to be _?_ to him and would be glad if he'd write to me. You had better not mention to the family anything about Gasndy's love affair, Love to Aunt Chather.
Your affectionate brother
GR Bedinger
Lexington March 7th 63
My Dear Ma,
As I have heard of an opportunity - re - Clark, I will again make the effort to get a letter to you. I am at times very anxious to be at home again + would give a great deal to see you all. But as we have no prospect of peace (that I can see) + have only to look forward to more fighting this summer, I think I shall have to remain where I am. I can not bear the idea of all of us separated from George while he is thus exposed. It would not be so terrible if we were where we could hear from him but with the situation as you will in all probability be (within the Yankee lines) is too much. I should go distracted with anxiety. All that we can do is hope that we may be able to hold the Valley and then we can all be together. I can not say that I am enjoying myself so very much for of course as I do not you all, I have a very quiet time. This however I would mind if I could hear you occasionally. I know that you must have written but no letters have ever reached me. I have written to you frequently. I can very easily stay here some months longer if I can get some clothes for the Spring or Summer. I have nothing in the world black to wear, and can get nothing here. I don't suppose I can get a tolerably decent summer dress for less than thirty or forty dollars. As I told you in another letter, I had to give thirty three dollars ($33) for a calico dress and a most indifferent one at that price. If you could get me any kind of a black dress to Clark (to the care of our friend who carries this letter) I might be able to get it and I assure you I shall be very much obliged for anything you may be able to procure for me, no matter how indifferent. I hope you have received my letter informing you of dear Grandmas death. I sent it several weeks ago. We are looking forward with a great deal of pleasure of having Aunt Ginnie here and we have engaged board for her here + suppose she will arrive about the first of April. This will be very pleasant for us all particularly Aunt Chatty as she is often now sad and lonely. George made me a short miss week before last. This was just as fast as he could possible but I can not say that his good looks were helped Kurcby. We had his likeness taken for you while in Staunton, he left it in my care. You would hardly know me. I have fattened so much since I left home. I weigh no less than one hundred + thirty four pounds (134). Considering the Yankees intend to starve the rebels out, I think George and I are pretty fir specimens. Please give a great deal of love to all at Bedford + tell Aunt M that her little grandson is the joy of the whole house and is as lovely as the babies are ever made. Please give much love to all the girls, especially Leila Yippie + the Robinsons.
With much love to Miss G and the children
I am yours affectionately
R Bedinger
In line of Battle near Chancellorsville
Monday May 14th 1863
My dear Virginia,
Yesterday we fought the most terrible battle of this war, attacking the enemy in his chosen position and driving him at every point, our Brigade behaved magnificently but lost very heavily. Our brave General's remains will reach Lexington before this gets to you. Today we are in line and throwing up breast works, whether we will attack or the enemy retreat further, I cannot say. I'm pretty certain if we are fighting. Thank God I am pured to write you this note, tho half of my little company were killed or wounded. Uncle Genge is safe, so is John Boldoin, both send love to you. Mr. Pendleton and Henry Douglas are well.
I do not know how I am to send this to you.
Your devoted brother
GR Bedinger
Love to all
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