Difference between revisions of ".NDQy.NjAz"

Latest revision as of 16:11, 11 August 2017

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Gloucester Point, Ap[ri]l 7th [18]62

My dear wife – I’ve no letter from you (or any one) yet. Daniel Booker received one from his Father yesterday – Why cant I hear from you – Oh! Nannie this is the hardest thing I have to undergo. The steamer comes day after day, and still the same answer – no letters. It makes me sick to see it now, With this exception I have faced more easily & better than I ever thought a soldier could face. They have been fighting on the Peninsula & over at York all day Saturday & Sunday, and are now hard at it. Yankee Gunboats and steamers (as many as ten or twelve at a time frequently) are lying in full view of us all the time. They came up yesterday and fired on York, but two guns shot from one of our big guns drove them back. Our men on the Peninsula

[Envelope]

Mrs. Nannie V. Watkins Townesville N.C. (Care Mr. Jos[eph] B. Daniel)

[Marginalia – Envelope] Please send by the Sass[afrass] Fork mail

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are being reinforced rapidly, and have killed whole regiments of the Yankees with a very small loss. It is going to be a desperate battle, but our officers & men seem confide[n]t of success. It is now thought that they will not attack York & this place with their gun- boats until the fight is decided on land – which I feel will certainly be in our favor – Yesterday we expected an immediate attack, & sent our baggage up the river, (except our beds) & pulled down a great many wooden houses (some of our tents) to keep them from being burned. The men were very little excited – were rather anxious for it to begin, & seemed confident of success. I had no idea that I would feel as perfectly indiffer[en]t on the eve of a battle – felt about as

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much so as I could to do any thing that required some considerable exertion & labor. The only thing I thought of was “Oh, that I could get a letter from my precious, before going into battle.” But I try to think of you a little as possible when I anticipate danger. It almost [unnerves?] me sometimes. Dear Nannie, dont be alarmed at any rumors you hear, or see in the papers – They are mostly false, some one of our party will always let you know, if any thing should happen – dont believe any thing till you hear from us. God is our only trust – pray to Him that He will increase our faith, and enable us to trust implicitly, & bring our wills in submission to his. I dont anticipate a fight here unless they whip us on the

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Peninusla – which is extremely in- probable. But I must close – I write in great haste & confusion – we have taken some eight or ten fellows in our tent who had theirs pulled down yesterday – as it hap- pened they are those who received us so kindly & now they are turned out of house we have an opportunity of returning the favor. They are fine fellows, but if de- prives us of any thing like privacy. We are all perfectly well ex- cept Johny Booker who is [grunting?] a little – The water though very fine effects us a little at first – I have gotten through with it very well – it seems to ef- fect Dabney right smartly. I would give any thing to see you & the children if only for five minutes –

Kiss Charley & Minnie – write every day, until I can hear from you. All send love & much love to all. Sam is in his [?] – perfectly happy. Abe is one of the best boys I ever saw. Your devoted husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]