The author of the letter is John W. Anthony of Co. B, 11^th Virginia Volunteers. Letter is written in pencil on three pages that meas. approx. 8.00 x 9.75 inches and is dated May 5, 1861 from Richmond. Anthony is writing to his older sister, Callie.

In his opening lines Anthony optimistically calls soldier life  "...one of the most happy lives a man could spend if he just could see the dear ones at home sometimes..."

The 18 year old Anthony then mentions to his sister that someone in his Company has a photo of a girl he likes. He writes “I could not bring her picture along but as luck would have it I met with one in the company which I have and you know I look at it very often. It looks prettier every time I look at it and I love her the more but dont say any thing about it for I can’t help it. God bless her”

He also writes about his Company arriving in Richmond. He says “Cap knew nothing about what we had to do so he marched up to the Capitol square...he had the roll called...and sent us to an old Hotel where we stayed three dayes the worst hole you ever saw...now we are in the new Fair-grounds..." He refers to himself and five of the other men he shares his “stall” with as “…the six best looking boys in the camp. S. E. Mooreman (later killed in Pickett’s Charge), Haden (2 by that name in Co.B, both wounded), White (died of disease that Sept), Vermilin (2 in Co.B, both went into the CS Signal Corps), Perrow (wounded twice. Also went to 2^nd Va. Cav.) and Bob makes seven”

Anthony then goes on to discuss camp life and food "...We have not gotten any guns as yet and don't know when pretty soon tho I guess. We go to bed at 9 o'clock and up at 4 and drill at 5 eat at six and so on throughout the day..." For food they eat "...much fried meat and bread..." and the bread is "...so hard six mules could not pull it apart." Apparently camp life suits him as he asks Callie to "...tell ma that I weigh at this time 220 a gain of 20 pounds I can't account for it unless eating so much meat..."

Desertions had already begun by this point as "...One of our men run off. I guess he is at home by this you know him very well. Gill the boy who stayed with Capt Porter I think he ought to be taken up. he pretended to be sick for two days and he sliped off before day the morning we left Richmond."

The letter is signed “J. W. Anthony.”

All the writing is very clear and legible. The paper has one main horizontal fold and two vertical. There is some very light staining along the bottom edge and on one of the back panels but nothing that affects any of the text.

John W. Anthony was born November 12, 1841 at Evington, Campbell County, Virginia. He enlisted in Company B, 11^th Virginia Volunteers on April 23, 1861 as a Private. He was wounded at Seven Pines May 31, 1862 and is listed as absent wounded on September 15, 1862 but no place is given. He was discharged after hiring a substitute named Patrick Murry on February 26, 1863. He then joined Company I, 2^nd Virginia Cavalry. At some point he was promoted to Sergeant. On April 1, 1865 he was wounded in the right thigh and was sent to the hospital in Petersburg where he was as of April 25, 1865. When and where he was finally discharged is not stated. He died November 18, 1920 at Evington, Campbell County, Virginia and is buried in the Anthony Family Cemetery there. A wartime image of Anthony in uniform found on the Internet comes with the letter.

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