Difference between revisions of ".NDQ5.NjE0"

Latest revision as of 16:18, 11 August 2017

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[Marginalia - Top]

Tell me all about the children – how is & Sister, Mother your Ma! Tell don & Millie ^ to write to me. Tell Millie to write me a little private note

Gloucester Point Ap[ri]l 15th 1862

My dear Precious, I have just written a letter to Ma, and though it is late, will write a short one to you – Nothing of any great interest has happened since my letter of Sunday. We were all aroused about 1 o c[lock] Sunday night by very rapid & heavy firing of big guns at Yorktown – it sounded more like a bunch of pop-crackers let off (only, of course, much louder) than anything else.

We all, except Doc. [‘except Doc’ underscored] dressed & ran out, but it ceased, in about five minutes. -found out next morning that the enemy had made an attack on all of our lines mainly to annoy and wear out our men. Yesterday two steamers came up to within about two miles of us, and seemed to be aground – we hurried up to our guns

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and fired a few rounds at them, but before we could range our guns accurately, they drew off, firing slowly, -nothing much. To day they have been throwing shell at us constantly, at a distance of I suppose four miles. We have not returned the fire at all as the distance is too great to do any harm, but have gone on quietly strengthening our breastworks and drilling at our guns in full view of them. They have thrown several shell entirely over us, and some of our men have succeeded in digging up three, which failed to explode. They are ugly looking things, I can assure you, - about 20 inches in length, tapering at the end where the cap is, like an acorn, and weighing one hundred pounds. We first see the smoke from the guns, then in about 30 seconds hear the report, and then listen for the peculiar whissing of the shell, and if near drop down behind our breastworks or into a bomb-

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proof if one is convenient -unless they come rapidly we can always dodge them. It is a beautiful sight, and has afforded us considerable amusement to-day. Just as I finished this sentence one of the old things came whissing almost over our house, which is meant, I suppose to disturb our slumbers. It seems to amuse Henry very much – at first he was frightened and was very anxious for [Danil?] to go home: but now he spends all of his spare time watching out for them. Here comes another. There cannon [‘There cannon’ struck-through]

Dear Nannie, if anything can make one feel his entire dependence on God, it is a situation like this. It makes me feel much nearer to our kind Heavenly Father, and consequently I have enjoyed religion much more during the last few day than I ever did. It is indeed a great comfort to feel that we are in His hands and that He always watches over us.

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Wednesday Morning 15th Ap[ri]l. Felt so tired last night, didn’t finish – Had been spre[e]ding sand the day before and a part of yesterday – Your letter about serving my country [con...ly?] came at good time, and I thought frequently while working about it. I wondered if you would have given the same advice had you seen me with coat off throwing dirt for life. It certainly had the affect of gaining about 1/2 hours work for the confederately. Dear Nannie, can’t you write me such let- ters oftener – it cheered me so much to find that you were liking such right views of every thing – that letter was worth more than money to me – more than anything. But I must close. Much love to all – I never knew before now how much I loved you all I wrote to you & to Charley Sunday – I try to write three times a week. Write how everything is coming on at home – my oats, wheat, clover lot & orchard. Always give my love to the Negroes – I can’t help feeling that I will be at Home in about 6 months for good – Your aff[ectionate] & devoted husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]