James Henry Reid

Birth.

Apr 28, 1839

James Herny Reid was born in Ireland.

Moved to West Virginia

Apr 8, 1848

James and his family moved to West Virginia.

First letter written

Aug 10, 1862

James Henry Reid wrote his first letter to his dad. He explained that he had a headache and wanted to lay down to rest. I can tell he is homesick because he says he had just seen his parents a few days before.

Sent letter to parents asking for cloth for his uniform.

Aug 14, 1862

James sent a letter to his parents to ask for cloth to make his uniform.

Buys a matress.

Aug 14, 1862

James came with 10 dollars and bought a mattress for 7 so he would have one for his barracks. He is low on money so he asks his parents to send him more.

Parents send him money to buy a desk.

Aug 18, 1862

Field deskJames gets a letter that contains $ 0.50 which he buys a field desk with to write letters to his parents back home.

Was almost starving to death.

Sep 20, 1862

He described in a letter than he was so hungry he ate a peice of rotten beef and has been throwing up for the past few days. He didn't get any milk with his dinner because by the time it reaches him it is all gone.

Is very hungry but gets package with food.

Sep 30, 1862

James recives a package that he needed greatly, His parents had sent him apples and cakes so he could survive. He didnt ever get much to eat because he was near the end of the line.

Dad told him he was going to have to join the army.

Oct 10, 1862

James dad told james he was going to have to go into the army.

Joined the Army.

Oct 12, 1862

James Henry Reid was enrolled into the Virginia Military Institute in the Fall semester of 1862 by his father. He was going to be fighting for the South.

Talks about drilling.

Apr 13, 1863

James sends his parents a letter asking for socks because he gets up tp drill at 5:30 am, and his feet become so raw he can hardly walk.

Gets socks.

May 13, 1863

James gets a few new pairs of socks that he had needed because his feet were starting to fall apart, and get raw.

Killed his first man.

Feb 5, 1864

1850 ColtKilled a man with a 1850 Navy colt revolver, James shot the man in the heart and he bled out.

Asks for Knife.

Mar 4, 1864

Combat knifeJames asks his parents for a combat knife, so that if he ran out of ammo he could go hand to hand combat.

Served the 13th battalion

Mar 7, 1864

James served the 13th Battalion, Virginia Light Artillery, Company A.

Last letter written

Mar 7, 1864

James Henry Reid wrote his last letter but to the last one his parents didnt respond. The railroad cars that they were going to move positions with had broken down and without engines, So they couldn't go anywhere yet.

Went to fight in the Battle of New Market

May 4, 1864

Battle Of New MarketHis Squad had to go out into the battle of New Market.

Hadn't slept

May 9, 1864

James hadnt slept in days, He couldnt he was too paranoid. He wasnt the only one other people near him couldnt either.He just layed in their trench.

Wounded at the Battle of New Market

May 15, 1864

James Henry Reid Was wounded at the Battle of New Market. He was shot in the arm.

Gets into a fight.

Aug 14, 1864

James gets into a fight with a cadet who ordered him to carry his bag of cloths for him, James didnt want to so he got angry and started hitting the cadet, He says the other cadets didnt blame him.

James plays fiddle with uncle

Apr 9, 1919

James played the fiddle with his uncle a while before his death. His uncle has taught him how to play it.

Plays Famous Civil war song

Apr 10, 1919

Asoken FarwellPlays the famous civil war song asoken farewell on the fiddle with his uncle.

Died

Jan 1, 1921

Jamres henry died in 1921 circa and was burried at Manassas Cemetery.