.NTQ3.NzE0

[1]

Cone’s Farm, July 1st 1862

My dear Precious! Our company is again on pricket duty about four miles below our camp on the James River. It is a delightful place – scenery most beautiful – a cool, shady grove near a fine opening, and just in front of the overseer’s house, which is situated on the edge of the River low-grounds. Doc & I are seated off from the company, writing to our respective [dears?]. It is such a treat to be off from the annoying duties and bustle, & monotony of the camp, - if I only had you & the children with me I should be perfectly happy. There was a great battle fought two or three miles below here yesterday – the pickets, whom we relieved this morning, could see the bursting of the shell in the air, and the smoke of the musketry, and hear everything distinctly. All of [General Henry Alexander] Wise’s Brig- ade, except our reg[imen]t was sent down to it – haven’t heard that it participated – think it was held in reserve. Our Reg[imen]t was kept back for picket service. Thus have

[Addressed Envelope]

Mrs. Nannie V Watkins Care Mr. [Ja[me]s?] B. Daniel, Townesville, N[orth] C[arolina]

Send by Sass[afrass] Fork [North Carolina] mail.

[2]

I again by a kind Providence been kept out of a battle, though fighting has been going on in my hearing now for nearly a week. We hav[e]n’t received any reliable intelligence yet from the fight, but a member of our brig- ade has just told that we took over 1000 prisoners & had succeeded in cutting them off from their gun boats & [move?] them over seven miles. From the fact that there is no fighting this morning, we infer that we have been entirely successful. Oh that we could succeed in entirely demoralizing [General George Brinton] McClellan’s army and that this could be the last blood shed. Whenever I come out on picket I take my meals with the overseer’s family - this morning we had the nicest breakfast I have seen since joining the army. Nice biscuits & butter, nice broiled [lamb?], coffee & milk – You have no idea how I en- joy such a meal, after living on hard] crackers & fried meat for several days. [?] [di...ly?] [?] [fare well?], do tolerably well but during such times as these it is

[3]

right hard. My health during the last two weeks has been better than at any time since being in the service – and while our company has been reduced down to fifteen or twenty fit for duty Sam & I have been free from all the camp [?], and al- ways reported for duty of [anytime?] – our men are now improving rapidly & we will soon have forty or fifty men in ranks. Joe Daniel didn’t return as he promised to get Abe’s sick furlough, and we have heard nothing from him or Abe, but hope he succeeded in getting Abe off home. Joe was the most impatient man I ever saw to get back home – said if Abe didn’t get better he would go back and send Him. I was disappointed at not getting a letter from you yesterday, but hope to find one at camp when I get back tomorrow. It seems that whenever there is any danger of my going in a fight I am always more anxious about you & more disappointed at not hearing from you – We have so far beat- en the enemy back so successfully, that

[4]

I think our Reg[imen]t which is still right sickly and almost as raw as Militia will not be called on, unless some unforeseen reverse should happen. I would state more about our losses & successes in the recent series of battles but know that you have the same sources of in- formation that I have. Dont be uneasy a- bout me – let us try & trust each other in God’s hands; He has so far been as kind and watchful over us – cant we do it? I fre- quently read over & think of the 91st Psalm, you suggested that I should. I too am glad that I mentioned to you the bargain which Aunt Fanny & Aunt Nancy had made. [?] much [  ? ] you – You never say anything about your Ma, her health, what she thinks & says about the war now – You write about the neighbors more than about the home folks – I love [‘I love’ underscored] the home ones best. Any little everyday occurrence is news & interesting to me. Much love to them all – And to you & the children dear darling, more than I can write or express, May God bless & protect you. Y[ou]r devoted husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]