.NDQ2.NjA2
& Smiley
love to all. Remember me to Mr. Harris ^ & to all the neighbors. I will answer Charley’s letter by this some mail.
Gloucester Point Apr 12th 62
My dear Nannie. I will take advantage of the little leisure & quiet which I have this morning, and write to you again. My com- pany is ordered out this morning, armed with spades & shovels to make an attack on some old breastworks which interfere with the range of some of our guns. As Doc & I were on guard last night we are exempt from all duty to-day until 3½ O.C. Our guard duties have been very heavy this week, owing to the fact that all of our infantry have been over at York, but they were sent back last night & now we have only to guard our guns, as before. Guard duty always exempts us from all other duties from 6 O.C. a.m. of the
we
day you are detailed, till 3 ½ O.C. P.M. of the next day – having only eight hours to stand during the time – four hours in the day & four at night. Yesterday I fortunately
POSTMARK
Gloucest[...]
AP[...]
14
‘62
VA.
Mrs. Nannie v.Watkins
(Care Mr. Jas. B. Daniel)
Townesville
N.C.
Marginalia – Left side of envelope
[Send by Sap Fort Mail?]
got what is called an “[adv?] post & had to stand
only 3 hours at night & none in the day. In
ordinary times we are detailed for guard
about one day in seven or eight, and
there is certainly no great hardship in
this. I would like to give you some ac-
count of the condition of things on the
Peninsula, but all the information we can
get is as contradictory & unreliable as if
the seat of [war?] [were?] 100 miles off in stead
of one. The Yankee forces first made their
appearance around Yorktown last Saturday
about 10 O.C. – there was heavy firing of
field-pieces and some large guns during
most of the day. We here could hear
the reports, see the smoke & the shells
bursting, but nothing else. There were
some ten on a [day...?] large steamer & sail
[vessels?] lying just out of range of
our guns during the whole day. We
heard Saturday night (& it has since been
confirmed) that they made a charge on
one of Magruder’s batteries at Wynn’s
Mill & lost nearly all of [their?]
regiment, with no loss to us. Sunday, all we
& see
could hear ^ was the occasional discharge of heavy pieces. About 2 O.C. two large war steamers came up slowly on the York side of the river occasionally throwing a shell on shore, as if feeling for masked batteries. We [then?] certainly expected a little fun, and were ordered to pull down all of the wooden tents under our guns (just outside of the Fort) In about 30 minutes our company pulled down at least twenty houses. The vessels were only a mile or so from us and could at any time have thrown shell in our midst, but their attention seemed directed to Yorktown. About this time when we were about being ordered to the guns, one of the rifled pieces from York threw two shot balls at the front vessel, one passing through her rigging. The vessels then hastily retired. One gun from York was fired without authority. It was the intention of Com. Page (our commander) & the authorities at York to wait for her to get a little closer &
then sink her, which I think could have
been easily done. Since Sunday there
has been little or no fighting – only
skirmishing & occasionally artillery duels.
The Yankees are said to number 150,000 &
Magruder they say has 75,000 – about as
many as he cares for I believe, as he
has sent our infantry back when we
had no immediate use for it. The Yankees
have several times sent up a Balloon
in full sight of this place & not more [than?]
so near we could see the cord which con-
nected it to the earth. Yesterday morning I
noticed it much higher than usual – too high
for any cord to reach from it to the Earth, &
falling slowing as if something was wrong. We
have since heard that it fell in the midst
of a Mississippi Reg. & was captured with
two men in it. But there is so much uncertainty
about everything we don’t know what to
believe, and what not. There was a very
pretty little charge made yesterday evening, by
two Regts from York on some Yankee skirmishing
which were shooting at our pickets. We could
Page 5
see our men from this side charging, but could not see the Enemy. Was interrupted just here by a message to come up to Col Crumps headquarters – found there Andrew [benalile?], who had just come on to join the Pr. Edward Cavalry. He said that he had heard that Bro. Dick had some idea of joining this company, but as they wished to make him an officer in his company, it is doubtful. [Jno.?] Daniel also thinks of joining us when he reenlists. Sunday morning 13th was stopped last night from finishing and will finish this evening. Just after roll call this morning, I heard one of our Sargents calling a list of names, in which was mine. Expected to be detailed on some ex- tra duty, but was agreeably surprised to find that it was a list of letters, and there was one for me from you – dated 5th Apr – the first letter I have received from any one since being here. Darn precious it was a real treat. I read it over
POSTMARK
Gloucest[...]
AP[...]
14
‘62
VA.
Mrs. Nannie v.Watkins
(Care Mr. Jas. B. Daniel)
Townesville
N.C.
Marginalia – Left side of envelope
[Send by Sap Fort Mail?]
and over & over again, and then took Abe
and walked off and read it over again to
him. Abe is a great comfort to me – is one
of the best men I ever knew – is a universal
favorite. I haven’t heard from Johnny Booker since
he went to Richmond – he was not sick muh
much – but as there was some danger of an attack
and Doc, thought he might have a spell, and thought
it best for him to go away for a while. I
am afraid I have lost my [box?] as I can [hear?]
nothing of it. If Mr. Booker comes down send
me a pair of light yarn socks – the coarse
ones I have are too thick for me. I can dress
here just a I can at home. I will tell you
how I have spent to-day (Sunday) – Had roll
call, as usual at 6 O.C., in the morning –
then breakfast – then roll call at 9½ O.C.
and inspection, the Capt. examining every
man to see that his shoes were cleaned, his
person clean & his shirt clean, he then
drilled us a few minutes. I then attended
a bible-class in the Capt’s room, one of
the officers (our 2’ Lieut) who has been profes-
sor in the Richmond College, conducted it,
1st prayer – then singing – then we took it
by turns to read a chapter. Each one reading
one verse, & the Lieut would ask him
some question on it. Every thing was per-
fectly free & easy, sometimes there would
be a general discussion of some point
in a conversational style – it was very pleasant
& instructive. At 12 O.C. I attended preaching. Mr.
Myatt (a baptist Minister) and a good man) preached
for us. I believe he is our chaplain. At 3 O.C.
went up to hear Maj [Wheelwright?] (ruling Elder
in the Methodist church & Col. Crumps Maj.)
preach, but he was sick. To night there
will be prayer meeting in the Capt’s tent.
Tuesdays & Fridays we have time in prayer meetings
in our Orderly’s tent, at night. This is an
entirely different state of things from what
any one would expect to find in camp.
Tell your Pa to do what he thinks best
with my bacon or anything of mine. I give up everything to Him & Mrs. Harris. I hardly even think of my farm – the thought did suddenly cross my mind the other day as I was standing guard
that it was about corn-planting time. But
I do often think of our happy home,
and all the time of you & the children.
I havn’t lost interest in my farm, but feel
that your Pa & Mr. Harris will do as well
for me as I could do. Is Minnie sick?
You spoke as if she had fallen off very much.
Wouldn’t it be best for you to leave her when
you ride in the carriage. Give my love to
all of the Negroes at Home – (& at your
Pa’s) I was as sorry as they that I didn’t
go by to see them. The report of our vic-
tories in the west has just reached us – but is
not yet sufficiently confirmed. Also that the
Virginia has taken several transports. We
have heard heavy firing all day to-day towards
Old Point, & hear that the Virginia is out. Gen.
Johnston is said to be at Yorktown this
evening. Everybody expects to give the Yankees
a terrible thrashing on the Peninsula soon –
whether or not we will have a hand in
it is uncertain. Dear Nannie write to me
often – tell me anything – it makes no dif-
ference how small, it will be of deep in-
terest to me. Our servant Henry suits first
rate – tell your Pa to make some arragmts
with Mr. Booker about his [hire?]. I forgot it
when I left. Your aff husband N.V.Watkins
POSTMARK
Gloucest[...]
AP[...]
14
‘62
VA.
Mrs. Nannie v.Watkins
(Care Mr. Jas. B. Daniel)
Townesville
N.C.
Marginalia – Left side of envelope
[Send by Sap Fort Mail?]
