.NDUw.NjE1

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[Marginalia – at top]

Excuse the manner in which my letters are writ- ten – I write most of them with boys talking to me half of the time

Gloucester Point Ap[ri]l 18th 1862

My dear Wife – Again have I been made happy by the receipt of another letter from you – the second I’ve received since being here – In fact, last night was a perfect feast for our men – all of us got letters, from Millie, [?], [Clenine?], Bella, Fannie, Sis Martha, Betti [Center?], & Jno. Daniel – crossed & recrossed – such joy, such reading of letters, each changing and communicating, and telling news, you ever saw. I know if you all could have seen us you would write oftener. There is nothing that cheers the poor soldier’s heart so much as the sight of a letter from his dear Home, and from those whom he loves better than all else in the world – to hear that you think of us, and talk about us, and pray for us. The hardest part of my life here is that I get so few letters from home so seldom – only two in three weeks – I know this is not

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your fault, but owing to the irregularity of the mails; but, dear Nannie, cant you manage so that I can get a few more letters – write any thing, write at any odd time, of only a few lines – make some of the girls help you – write [many?] so that I can get, at least, three [underscored] letters a week, even if two should come at the same time.

The steamer between West Point [Va.] & this place had some of its machinery broken by the Engineer, the first day we commenced receiving reinforcements, and this makes the mail much more irregular, as we are compelled to trust to sail boats, but still I mail letters regularly three times a week – whether they go or not. I have forgotten in all of my letters to tell you that I failed to have my Photograph taken, there was no one in Richmond [Va.] taking them, and I had so much to do. I put off having my [?] taken till it was too late. Will have it taken for you a soon as I can get a good one. In the mean time if you can have yours & the children’s taken, send it to me – you

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couldn’t send me anything which would do me more good. We have been having right quiet times here this week, though there has been some hard fighting on the Penin- sula – Wednesday there was heavy firing of artillery all day, and some pretty sharp musketing. The Yankees made an attack on a position of our breastworks & were repelled, our loss 17 killed & 30 or 40 wounded, theirs about 400 killed & wounded – The report about [General] Magruder cutting [three?] regiments to pieces & about the balloon was falce. Last night again we heard heavy guns & a good deal of musketing, but have heard nothing from it to-day. The 5th N[orth] C[arolina] regiment was in the Wednesday fight, and had its Col[onel] (McKinney) killed; they are said to have been thrown into a little confusion at first, but afterwards to have fought des- perately. The Yankees occasionally throw shell over amongst us, but have hurt no one yet, and we rather enjoy it than otherwise. We can hear very little from the Peninsula – much less than you hear. I mean of

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reliable news. There are hundreds of vessels [circulated?] for armaments, and there are always enough men who are green enough to believe anything & half to cir- culate it. We are very rapidly strengthening our batteries, are to-day throwing sand bags in front of our [underscored] guns to protect the men. It is perfectly astonishing to see the great amount of work which has been done during the last two or three weeks. The whole face of things has been changed since I first came here, and our fortifications are I think twice as strong. It will be a most beautiful place when finished – the batteries are laid off so regularly & some of them turfed over so beautiful[l]y. I was standing guard this morning on the highest point of our works where I could have a full view of York town, all of our works, York river, and the Yankee fleet. I often wished that you could be with me, and enjoy the beautiful scenery – I must stop now as dinner is about ready.

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(5) Will give you our bill of fare for the day. For breakfast – coffee, nice biscuits, butter- bread, fried meat and gravy. – for dinner – cornbread, beef, fried meat, eggs scrambled, and raw oysters (first rate) – supper, same as breakfast, substituting [struck-through] with stewed oysters. We get fresh shad & other fish whenever we wish it. You would be amazed to see me eat, sometimes six or eight large biscuits for breakfast & other things in proportion. My health better than it ever was – Noth- ing seems to hurt me, and all the boys say I look much younger than when I came down. Haven’t seen a man yet who didn’t think me five years younger than Abe or Doc. Ap[ri]l 19th. Received a letter yesterday evening from Pattie. She spoke of Ma’s continued bad health. They had heard nothing from Bro[ther] Dick for some time. I can hear nothing of him here. From all the information I can get, am inclined to think that Jimmy Watkins & Nat Gregory’s company

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are on the Peninsula. Large reinforcements are still coming from the army of the Potomac. Gen[eral] Hill is in Yorktown. I went out last night about 3 o c[lock] and stood on our batteries & looked over the whole Peninsula – it was a bright beautiful, mild moonlight night. Only our little light was to be seen any where Everything was as still and quiet and peaceful as I had ever seen it at home. I couldn’t realize that there were over two hundred thousand men, lying there in a half-mile of each other, prepared to engage at any moment in deadly con- flict. From the same place, nearly, I saw a large schooner burn in the river a few days since – everything on it lost except the crew, who barely escaped. See a great many new & beautiful sights, which help to make time pass off less heavily; but nothing can keep me from thinking continually of you all and of home and I would willingly exchange all that I have seen and learnt and enjoyed here

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for one short day with you & the chil- dren at our dear house. Aunt Nancey’s caution about forgetting my children was as telling a man to forget to breathe. There is another married man in my mess – named [Heat?], of my age, and been married twice, with a little girl & a boy of the age of Charley & Minnie. A first rate fellow. Our mess number sixteen – the ten had their tent pulled down because it was in the way of a gun – four or five sleep with us and all set [sit] at our table – They have a fine cook & we use their cooking stove. Tell the girls I think they might have written me some of the letters they wrote last week – where is the letter you spoke of [Louis?] writing – Tell Millie that Doc would not even let me see her letter to him – I dont think she ought to write any more to such a selfish rascal – she promised to write me all of the news. [‘all...news’ underscored] Doc says I must correct the tale about his sleeping with

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Henry. It wasn’t as bad altogether as I told it, and several other of our boys were with him. when we tease Doc about it he looks very much excited, and quotes Solomon thus “A wise man foreseith the danger and fleeth therefrom, but a fool” [underscored] & making a personal application. We havenot heard from Johny Booker since he left us – I know not why. The other boys are all well. Sam enjoys every thing mightily. Think he is rather anxious for the war to continue – or rather for this kind of life to continue. Daniel Booker also stands it remarkably well – haven’t heard him complaine since being here. All [...ing?] it more than Doc & I [‘me’ overwritten] and I would enjoy it too were it not for what I have left behind. All join in much love to you and all. Tell Mr. Heins, to try if he plants tobacco to get as early a stand as possible, and to have my hogs & sheep especially attended to. Much love to all the neighbours – Your aff[ectionate] & devoted husband N[athaniel] v. W[atkins]