.MjA.MjI
[1]
Rockey Gap May
23th 1862
My Dear Aunt
As this is a beautiful
day and I hav some
lesure time I will devote
it in writing you a short
letter. We left East mountain
on last wensday, and came here and am
now, waiting orders. Our other two detachments
are under Heath, and gone to greenbrier Co
and, we are under Col Whorten who is as brave
and as kind a man as I ever saw. Our other
gun was in the fight at Prinston and done
good work for the Yankees, while our detachment
was left to whole East mountain and we done
so with onley fifteen Infantry to back ous
and while thaer I had the plesure of being
the onley one from our detachment to
go on that trip to take that Yankee wagon
and bagage, and my part of the spoiles
was worth a bout fifty dollars but I gave
most of the things a way to my comrades who
was not so fortunate, and as for our selves
but very fiew of ous care for we are willing
to fight at eny time and eny place, but
som fiew in our detachment turned very
pale when the order was given to place
our gun in position the morning of
the Expected ingagment but I think every
[2]
man would hav don his duty. As for my
self I felt as calm as if I was goin
to sit down to a good dinner. All these old
mountain soldurs has taken a great
liken to me and when thay go out
on a scouting Expedition thay all ways
beg the Sargent to let me go with them
thay say that thay know that little
Richmond, as thay call me will fight
because thay hav [tried?] me, but it is
not right for a canoneer to be absent
from his post and so I hav never
gotten off but once with them.
Thare is a major from Richmond
came threw last night as[written over] and he says
that the people of Richmond has desided
to burn the place if the Yankees get
thare but I hope not for, thare is a prospect
if thay to get thare to drive them out
one of these days, but If thay burn the place
it will ruin so meny thousan people and
and not gain a thing for the Southern
cause, but above all Aunty stick to
your home as long as you can. As for
my self I entin to fight them as long
as breath is in my body, and I
hope to lay meny a one low be fore I part[struck-through]
depart from this life.
[3]
in fact I dont believe the Yankee
ball was ever made that will kill me,
and as for my self I feel not the least
uneasiness but for my home and my
dear Aunt and Sisters I mus confess
I do. the fight at Prinston you [hav?]
hurd from [?] this and I want mention
that but that is the way we [are?] going to
do them all the time, up here, that is if
thay giv ous a half a chance. I hav
not received a word from youall,
all this month, with the exception a short
note from Mary written the sixth and
I got that on the 20th of this month. I expect
I hav a good meny letters at dublin
but hav no chance to get them so when
you write a gain direct your letter
to wytheville, and I hope I will get
them much [quicker?] I hav not ben
the least sick since I left home and
I hav ben sleeping on the open ground
in the rain most of the time for it raines
most every day and strange to say
hav not had as much as a cold as yet
and hav gained seventeen pounds,
and sunburnt as bad as I posiably
can get, in fact I look very much
[4]
like and old soldur. tell dumpie
and Mary thay mus write soon
and give my love to all the girls
Bennie P, Sallie Austin Isa and Mary &
in fact all the girls I kno, and
be sure and write soon Aunty your
self for I wish to receive a letter
from you but but [struck-through] the drum
is a bout to beet and I mus
close. good bye for the present
and write soon to your affecenate
Son George M. Waddey
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