.NTM2.NzAy

[1]

Camp 6 miles below R[ich]mond [Virginia] June 5th 1862

My dear Wife –

I received yours of May 26th Tuesday – wife [struck-through] filled with encouragement & home news, for which I thank you so much. [‘so much’ underscored] If I do get low- spirited & discouraged sometimes you needn’t think anything of it, but only write another such letter & I will try & be all right again. I had to many reasons for wishing to know if I could get a substitute, to tell them here – the main one was the fear that I could not stand the infantry service & to have one ready in case I should fail – You pursued the right course in not mentioning it to anyone except your Pa & Ma – Again if the fight here doesn’t end the war, or hasten its end very much I cannot afford to stay in the ser- vice, if I can have a man to take my place. You have doubtless seen the newspaper state- ments about the fight on the 31st [May] & 1st [June]- & I can give nothing more. Our Battallion lost about 100 killed & wounded out of 250 who entered the fight. This is as near as I can come to it. Our Brigade lost about 1000 out of 2500. Oh how thankful we should be that

[Postmarked envelope]

Mrs. Nannie V. Watkins care Mr. Jos[eph] b. Daniel Townesville N[orth] C[arolina]

send by Sass[afras] Fork [North Carolina] mail

[2]

all of our little party escaped. I saw Bro[ther] Dick a few minutes Tuesday – his company were going to camp a few hundred yards from the place I had just left – he was and had been well. Got a good letter from Ma & Sis[ter] Sue, enclosing one from you to Pattie yesterday; all of which did me great good . You saw your Pa had sold my bacon – please write me how many lbs. he sold & if he can sell any more corn – I wish everything sold that can be, or that your Pa thinks ought to be, & all the money that he hasn’t use for paid to Mr. Speed. I am well of my last weeks sickness & with the company again. Dan Brooker is at the old camp a little unwell, but not seriously. Abe & Sam are well & with me. I have gotten the Capt[ain]’s signature to a petition for Johnny’s discharge & sent it to Mr. Howison to get the surgeon General’s signature – hope he will succeed – I write this in haste in order that you may hear from me by to-days mail – if I have an opportunity will write more. My God bless you & ours, dear darling, and [?] that we may all again be soon united – Your devoted husband Nat[haniel] V. Watkins

[3]

June 6th I failed to get my letter off yesterday & will write again to-day, a little – cant write of- ten & if my letters come irregularly it is the fault of the mail from here to R[ich]mond. Tell Beverly to bring some chewing tobacco & an additional blanket as we have lost some of ours. I saw Rufus [?] in R[ich]mond right badly wounded, but not dangerously –

[4]

He was walking about and seemed cheerful. Saw a great many friends & acquaintances in R[ichmond] but enjoyed my stay there very little. Have heard from my trunk; it is safe at Mr. [struck-through] Capt[ain] Bagley’s fathers, but the Yankees are be- tween here & there – I must close – we are still all well – Much love to all I am impatient for another letter from you – N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]

[5]

June 5th [18]62

If you can, please have me a good strong pair of shoes made & send them by Daniel Booker. I had rather not have them made as your Pa has been cutting them for the [‘for the’ struck-through] but with regular [?] and Vamps. Send several pairs of shoe strings & a box of blacking. They ask $1 per box for blacking. Perhaps I have a p[ai]r of shoes at home – if they well do send them – Y[our] husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]

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Tell Charley to write me another letter [5 w 19 h 11 nun?]