Mention of the first Confederate field officer killed in the war!

3 pages, 7 3/4 x 9 3/4, in pencil, written by Lieutenant George McNeill.

Camp Beauregard, Va., July 6th, 1861

My Dear little Niece,

I see you are possessed of a large show of one characteristic peculiar to feminine vices, therefore I will satisfy your curiosity at once as to what was the evil genious that gave me the fright spoken of in my last letter. It was a very large pet coon which belonged to one of our neighbors and had gotten away with his chain around his neck & by some means into our house. Our wharehouseman had been sweeping the sample room & had left the tin watering pot on the floor. Mr. Coon being thirsty inserted his head carefully in the small hole near the handle to drink some water that was left, but in his haste to get it out when he heard me coming, got fast and went rearing around the room with the tin pot on his head among the grand like piles [of] tobacco samples, rattling his chain and looking to me in the moonlight dim like a sure enough young de[vil]. When I found out what it was it was so very funny. I had to laugh up there by myself until my sides were almost sore and now are determined to keep up with the times and have joined a military company. Miss Ada Cummings, Commander, but what are you? I am sure you ought to be entitled to some office and what is the name of your company? If you have none I will suggest that you call it the Fairy Invincibles. As I came on to Va. I saw a similar company at Knoxville with which I was so much taken that I noted down the names of the officers, Miss Sallie Crowier, Capt., Miss Sophie Kennedy & Fannie Wallace, first & second Lieut's. They styled their company the Fairy Light Guard. The officers especially were very pretty. Old Va. is a great old state. I like the old Va. girls particularly. They are so sociable & patriotic. It is whortleberry time and of course every one is fat and saucy. Tell Grand Ma the people talk here just as they did when she was a school girl. Ask the price of any thing and its 4 pence, ha[lf] penny, eighteen pence or two and three pence, and the little Scotchy looking one horse carts are never out of sight. You would not have written to me except to let me know that you were mad if you had not wanted to know what that was that frightened me. Did Ma never tell you that was ugly? How is it you will not allow me the same privilege, but say I must not show yours. Come its a bad rule that will not work both ways. I suppose you have all seen the beautiful comet. I will have plenty of time to look at it tonight as I am on guard and as I gaze on its long trail will think perhaps you at home are looking at it also at the same time. Our Second Division of artillery will move forward to nearer Manassas to join the First Division tomorrow. I must close and prepare to pack up. Kiss Grand Ma and all those sweet little babies for me.

Your Uncle, Affectionately,
Geo. McNeill

I have just heard of the death of one of your Uncle's old K.M.I. school mates, Col. Charles Dreux. He was killed in a skirmish fight near Norfolk. I knew him very well. Mrs. Dreux, his lady, is niece of Mr. Givin that called to see you. He was brave to a fault.

Light age toning and wear. Washington Artillery items are always in demand. Very desirable content with the mention of the death of Colonel Dreux! [see info below]

Lieutenant Colonel Charles D. Dreux, commander of the 1st Louisiana Battalion Infantry, was killed on July 5, 1861, at Young's Mill, near Newport News, Va. He was on a mission to capture Union officers who often ate breakfast at Smith's Farm. He was the first Louisiana soldier to be killed in action during the War Between The States, and was also the first Confederate field officer to be killed in battle! Over 30,000 mourners attended his funeral in New Orleans.

The Washington Artillery was an elite unit organized in New Orleans, La., and was mustered into Confederate service, May 26, 1861. The 3rd Company, Army of Northern Virginia, of which George McNeill was a member, fought at 1st Manassas, Seven Pines, Drewry's Bluff, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and in the Appomattox campaign, to name a few places.