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Camp “Stonewall Jackson” [Virginia] June 19th 1862
My dear Nannie –
Doc & Sam & I have come out a little way from camp in a nice, cool, shady grove to write letters. I received yours of June 12th, containing one from Millie to Daniel, yesterday evening – Sam also got one from his [?] – I always love to read Aunt Judy’s let- ters & wish she would write oftener. We have moved our camp about a mile since I wrote last, in order to get a better place –Are now camped about a half-mile from James River, opposite to & 1 1/2 miles below Drury’s Bluff [Chesterfield County, Va.] – in a beautiful oak forest, with good water near by – We expect to re- main here, or about here for some time, unless driven back by the enemy – which I think is improbable. I like our officers (I mean Regimental & Brigadier) very well, except their profanity. We showed Col[onel] [John Thomas] Goode [Captain] Baskerville’s letter & he has treated us kind- ly. We showed the letter in order to get a
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June 20th – all well –
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sick furlough for Abe Daniel, and a discharge for Johny Booker - & he aided us so that we have succeeded in both. Abe was sent to R[ich]mond Sunday quite sick – hav’n’t heard from him since – am afraid he may have the fever. Daniel B. is still in R[ich]mond, and ought, by all means, I think, be trans- ferred home for several weeks. I sent Johny’s discharge this morning to Mr. Howison, by private hands as the safest way of getting it to Mr. B[ooker]. Hr. Howison has been very kind to all of us, & I would be glad, if I could, to do something to repay him – to show him that we appreciate & feel grateful to him for his kindness. There are a good many little things, such as rice butter – eggs – fresh meat – vegetables – fine game etc etc which it is almost impossible for private families to get in R[ich]mond – Should you every have an op- portunity please send him something of the kind. Corry Graham & [Helen?] home with you & try to [?] them have a pleasant time
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Col[onel] Goode’s Reg[imen]t is made up of heavy artillery companies changed to Infantry. [underscored] You seem to think that I write low-spirited. I have been very much disturbed about the condition of our company, as long as we were un- organized, we suffered for proper com- missary, quarter-master & medical at- tention. This is all done [struck-through] remedied now that we are in an organized Reg[imen]t. We had a great many sick men, and had no surgeon on medicines or ambulance – This caused great suffering. Our officers were too ignorant, or to self-indulgent & selfish to do anything for their men. We are independent of them now as regards such attentions. This about our officers though harsh is true, and I wish you to say nothing about it to anyone. I wouldn’t write it to any one but you. Yet I believe them to be pious men, & as we have more religious privileges here than we would have elsewhere I am content to remain - Gen[eral] [Henry Alexander] Wise & Col[onel] Goode
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are both very kind to their men & attentive to their health & wants. Our Surgeon, D[octo]r. Mason, seems to be a gentleman, a good, kind man, and a good physician – and very [underscored] attentive to cleanliness about the camp. Our duties are comparatively light, and our discipline strict. [underscored] I like this too – it al- ways make the men happier, though they complain at first . I am as happy and con- tented as I can be in the army – I cant feel very [underscored] cheerful when there is so much uncertainty about the length of time I may be separated from you. I can stand the Infantry service very well as long as I am not required to carry my knapsack – on all my marching I have carried my knap- sack only 3 miles - & this worried me more than all the other. It seems to af- fect my head & spine – if I can manage to get it along as I have done, I like Infantry very well. My spirits depend very much on the letters I get from you, and
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as they are generally cheerful – I generally manage to keep in pretty good spirits. I know I dont love you & Charley & Minnie more
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than you deserve, darling, but I do some ^ think that I have set my heart too much on you – and then when I think of my Negroes & farm & the condition of my matters at home, (though I have perfect
& Smiley
confidence in your Pa & Mr. Harris & feel very grateful to them for their kindness) I cant always feel or write cheerful; and you must excuse me if I write a little low- down sometimes – and dont think any- thing of it. [‘dont...it’ underscored] I am getting on much much ‘[much much’ underscored] better than I ever thought I could in the army. I dont write any of this in com- plaint, but only in answer to your gues- tions. God has been so kind to us, and has blessed us in so many ways since we separated, that I hav’n’t the heart to complain of anything – I feel every day filled with praise & gratitude to Him
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in His merciful kindness to us and ours If you cant understand some of my letters it is because I am frequently forced [to] write very hastily, and sometimes sur- rounded by a [?] boys talking loudly, not only to themselves, but constantly to me, And now about my farm – Tell your Pa to sell as much of my bacon & corn & oats as he thinks I can spare, at the price & time he thinks best - & to pay all the money he doesn’t need to Mr. Speed. I wish him to sell [every?] thing pretty closely. Take great [underscored] care of [?] salt – I had settled with D[octo]r. Wilson before leaving – but owe him for Sarah’s sickness – I like to be strict in my act’s with [him?] – I mean, [underscored] to have everything right, [underscored] [fir?] I understand he keeps no acc[oun]ts. [It?] is my wish to pay off my debts as quickly as possible – I do [underscored] wish to avoid the necessity of selling our dear House. I am always delighted, Nannie, when I [read?] that you are cheerful, & I suffered
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much for two or three days after the latest thinking how anxious you would be for me. You have doubtless seen an account of the daring exploit of Gen[eral] [James Ewell Brown "Jeb"] Stuart & his Cavalry Brigade – We are in such a retired place here, entirely cut off from any other Reg[imen]t, off from any road, except a small country path, & nine miles from R[ich]mond, that we get no news except from the pa- pers. I like this retired place. I went down in the deep oak woods a few days since about day, - it was a beautiful morning - & hundreds of birds were singing – the first birds I have heard since leaving Glo[uce[st]er P[oin]t [Virginia] – I felt for a long time as if I were at home – I had a long waking [struck-through] dream while awake -Oh darling, you cant imagine how happy I was until the old drum beat for roll call, and dispelled the bright [dream?]. Frequently when
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I think of how long we have been, & how long we may still be separated, I spend almost an hour, as if in a bad night-mare, - and it is really a re- lief to be called off to duty. We have now only two hours drill in the morning, and one in the evening, a great many of our men are sick, but only with diarrhea or dysentery, and are I think getting better of it. They give us now a little [underscored] molasses & vinegar, and fresh beef occasionally. My mouth is watering now at the thought that we will have nice beef steak for dinner. But I must close – Always mention in your letters how they all are at Aunt Judy’s. Sam always feels disappointed when you fail to do this – Much love to all – Kiss Charley & Minnie for me – When you tell of their little ways it makes me more anx- ious then even to see them. All of my letters wont do to show – in fact I doubt if any will – May God bless you – Y[ou]r husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]
