When The Peaches Get Ripe - Softcover

Tombes, Robert M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967507405 ISBN 13: 9780967507408

Publisher: Tizwin Books, 1999

Synopsis

Letters and Journal of Robert Gaines Haile, Jr., 55th Va. Infantry, CSA, 1862. 140pp, 47,000 words, 28 illustrations including 3 maps, 154 footnotes, original cover art work by Thomas H. Tombes. Foreword by Robert E. L. Krick. Letters to wife Mollie and 3 daughters describe life in Confederate army stationed along the Rappahannock and around Fredericksburg and Richmond. Details include escorting Mrs. Robert E. Lee back from behind enemy lines, observing Prof. Lowe spying from his balloon, shooting at Yankee sentinels, sharing coffee and whiskey with Union officers, and the loss of a friend from Essex, William Latane. Haile expressed insightful opinions about fighting for the Confederate Army. His letters were filled with affection and concern for his wife and three daughters back on the farm. Time line and maps allow reader to follow the 55th Va. from Fort Lowry to Malvern Hill.

About this title

About the Author

Robert M. Tombes, Ph.D., is author of 30 scientific papers, but this is his first historical work. He was educated at the Universities of Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin and has been a professor at Clemson University and Virginia Commonwealth University. He is married to the former Mary Elizabeth Snyder of Vienna, Va. and they have two daughters, Emily and Rial. The cover illustration includes an etching by Thomas H. Tombes, brother of Dr. Tombes. T. H. Tombes is a free-lance artist, was educated at the School of Visual Arts, NYC, and at Virginia Commonwealth University. He lives in Richmond, Va. with his wife and three children.

From the Back Cover

Robert and Mollie Haile had been married five years in May 1861 when he left Beavers Hill plantation for good and reported for duty at Tappahannock. His youngest daughter, Betty, was only three months old. During the next year, while stationed along the Rappahannock River and around Fredericksburg and Richmond, Haile escorted Mrs. Robert E. Lee back from behind federal lines, watched Professor Lowe spy from his balloon over Richmond, shot at Yankee sentinels and shared coffee and whiskey with Union officers. He watched men die, bemoaned cowardice and lamented the loss of a friend from Essex, William Latane. Haile expressed strong and insightful opinions about fighting for the Confederate Army during the Civil War, but above all, his letters were filled with affection and longing for his wife and three daughters back at the farm. Robert M. Tombes, a Haile great-great-grandson and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, compiled and edited these letters and documents - along the way re-discovering his past and present Virginia family heritage.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

It seems to be the impression of all that we are on the eve of a great fight. Beauregard & Jackson are giving the Yankees particular fitts in Tenesee & Western Virginia. Jackson has asked for ten thousand more men, he says give him that number and let him alone is all he asks. If they are sent to him, he will be soon into the very heart of the North. I wish our brigade were ordered to join him. It would do me good to see the war carried into the enemys own country. It would soon bring them to their sences and give us peace. We are here as a guard to the Central Rail Road Bridge which crosses the Chickahominy near here. God grant that we may succeed in defeating the Yankees. They are represented to be fighting desperately. The great struggle has commenced in earnest. Many many thousands of poor fellows will be killed and wounded before it is ended. I am glad to say our soldiers are in good spirits and are determined to conquer or die. I can see the Yankees balloons up every day spying out our positions and movements.

Our pickets and the Yankees are very friendly, that is they don't shoot at each other. I had not been on post long before two men came riding down waveing a white flag. They told me they came down to pass Mrs. Gen. Lee across to our lines. I had a long conversation with them. They seemed to be nice, intelligent men. One of them took a small flask out of his pocket, and said it is a cold wet dissegraible day, take a drink with me. I took a good pull at it and found it to be excellent whiskey. I then told them I had seen one of their late papers and to my surprise saw that they claimed a great victory over us in the late fight below Richmond. How was it we drove them back two miles, captured a great many guns and other things. They said we did whip them Saturday but they made up for it Sunday, said they buried twelve hundred of our dead for us. I told them they never would take Richmond. I asked them how was General Jackson getting on, they did not like that subject one bit. Said his career would soon be ended. I had not then seen to days paper. From that I learn that Old Stonewall has given them a severe blow again.

I knew that his brother was dead. He seemed to be so much distressed. I learned that Capt. Latane had command of a squadron of Cavalry, the Mercer and Essex companies, and that some where near the old Church they were ordered to charge the enemy who were drawn up in the road ready to receive them. Capt. Latane gallantly led the charge. He fell shot through by two balls. The devil that shot him was killed immediately after wards by one of the Mercer Cavalry named Ashton. In Capt. Latane's death I have lost one of my best friends and Essex one of her worthiest sons. I have known him ever since we were children together and a more noble, brave, generous, correct man never lived.

I look at yours and my childrens likenesses every day, it is a right smart source of consolation for me to take a look at it every now and then. How I wish I could see you all at home once more, especially little Susan, I never shall forget her crying when I left home. It seems as if I can hear her now. Give my love to Mother, Father and all. Tell the children that I will come home when the peaches get ripe. Kiss them for me, may God guard you and them is my prayer.

Edition details

• Publisher: Tizwin Books
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0967507405
• ISBN 13: 9780967507408
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144