.NTk1.NzYx

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Camp Chaffin’s Farm Sept[ember] 10th,1862

My dear Wife: -

Since the reg[imen]t has been gone, the facilities for sending letters have not been as good as before, and I have therefore been more irregular in writing; but it returned, and things will [‘and...will’ struck-through] yesterday, and things will soon be going on as usual again. Col[onel] Goode intended that the Reg[imen]t should not re- turn again to the old camp, but move higher up the [James] river, & nearer Drewry’s Bluff, and prepare for building winter quarters; - but he failed to find water at the place he had selected, and be brought them back, He says, we will begin to build our houses in the course of a few weeks. While I

  sometimes

feel ^ as if I should like to be connected with the army which is achieving such glorious victories around Washington; I am thank- ful, Darling, that I am left so near you.

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burn in the winter, & it is always very muddy in [hauling?] wood. I hope Mr. H[arris] will find time to do it this Fall. There are many other things I cant think of now, & couldn’t write if I thought of them. –

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Where, if we cannot see each other, we can hear so promptly and regularly How anx- ious would you now feel about me, if I were in [General ‘Stonewall’] Jackson’s Army, pressing on into Maryland, fighting almost every day bloody battles; & exposed to hardships & privations such as we had the week we spent in the Chickahominy [River]: - with no way scarcely of getting letters from me. And this knowledge, that you were so anxious and concerned for me, would necessarily make me too very unhappy. The papers continue to bring us, slowly, glorious news from all parts of our lines – success every where – the enemy driven back and dis- pirited – our armies crossing the Potomac [River] & Ohio [River], and threatening their own country with the desolation which they have spread so cruelly & so widely over ours. Surely, Darling, our prayers have been signally

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crop if everything was going on as usual. If Mr. Harris would select some good spot for my plant beds & have it ditched around now, & have the wood cut, & got ready it would make the labor of burning next winter much lighter. I had selected a spot near the one I burnt last winter on [ad...?] branch, & showed it to Smiley. Also the place between Smiley’s & the new barn. It is hard to get either place dry enough to * [continues on page 1 Marginalia]

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answered, and God is giving strength & energy & success to our cause. Should we not, with thankful hearts, pray ever more earnestly that these successes may speedily be crowned with the long-desired peace. A good many people seem disposed to feel uneasy for that portion of our army which has crossed over into Maryland. But I do not – [General Robert E.] Lee & Jackson have always been too prudent, to undertake any step rashly now, which may throw a damper on our recent suc- cesses – and I believe that time has come when we will have no more, or, if any, but very slight reverses. And then soon, if nothing happens to our Armies – Oh! it cannot come too soon! – will come the glad, joyful ti- ding of peace [struck-through] propositions for peace – of troubles in the North – of a glorious peace, & recognition of our Southern Confederacy. And then, darling, we will come Home to our

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precious ones; - and begin to live [underscored] again, and love & be happy as we have never done before. I can not keep my mind from following this train of thought; and I so often & so con- fidently predict this [struck-through] peace in a short time, (6 months has been my time since the battles around Richmond,) that the boys laugh at me, & are constantly asking me – “Well! what do you say about peace now?”) But if all this should not be so, - it is much better to think & feel thus; and I would be miserable in- deed, if I thought or felt otherwise.

I was very glad to hear that your Pa had suc- ceeded in getting salt for us; even at $12. a bushel. David Flournoy went to R[ich]mond yes- terday, & saw Isaac [Overly?] from Charlotte [N.C.], buy- ing about $700 worth at .30 c[en]ts a pound. Had I known it a little sooner, I might have bought Liverpool Salt in Maryland, & had it delivered in Richmond at $10 a sack, but it is too late now – cant get it at less then $50.

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I would like to have [?] killed for the Negroes, as soon as the weather is cool enough. Write what Mr. Harris thinks about my tobacco as it ripens. I frequently think, how hard I be working now in saving my tob[acc]o: * [continues on page 2/3 Marginalia]

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We are looking for Dan[iel] B[ooker] every day – I hope if he is well, Aunt Mary will throw no ob - sticles in the way of his coming back – even if she thinks he is not quite strong enough. If he is well [underscored] enough, he can acquire stre[n]gth [underscored] more readily here than at home; and the of- ficers & soldiers wont be as much prejudiced in their judgement about his absence as Aunt Mary is. Am looking for a letter from you to day – hope it will be a good long one. I do enjoy your letters so much

  yourself first [underscored] & 

-everything about ^ the children & your Pa’s folks & House & the neighbors. I forgot to return my thanks to Mrs. Davis, for her kind message. I said in my last that I liked the plan of employing Mr. Harris as your Pa proposed. I would be very glad if your Pa would get me a hundred more apple trees & have them set out this Fall. By looking in the book I used to keep in the secretary draw[er] (a small blank book like your receipt book,) you can find the varieties I have. You might also get Mr. Harris to set out some trees in the yard.

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ask Y[ou]r Pa if he has sent Mr. Howison the check for $75, with int[eres]t from 1st day of June, to the time he sent it. I al- ways forget to ask Mr. H[owison] about it. Poor Bob Mc_ please give him my best love if he is living, & to all at Mr. H’s.

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I will send Lou to-morrow a copy of Frank Leslie’s Pictorial (N.Y.) which Sam Graham cheated a Yankee out of, when he went down to [Vienna?] to see the Exchange of prisoners. He was the only one of our men who were fortu- nate enough to succeed in getting a paper. He had the half of an old Petersburg Express, which he traded for it, & the Yankee did not find that is was torn until Sam had gotten off the boat. Sam called back to him & told him the other half would be issued tomorrow. Only one half a day on account of the scarcity of paper. Sam is a [?] boy – he finds out more, & hears more & sees more than any other two men in the Reg[imen]t. – Enjoys excellent health & is always in good spirits. Abe Daniel is the same old slow, a little better, & a little more ab- sent than every. Dr. F. is a fine fellow & adds very much to the pleasure of our little mess, but will soon be detailed, I think as ass[istan]t Surg[eon]

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Kiss my precious little ones for me. – I must stop as it is now dinner time, & we are going to have roast duck [‘roast duck’ underscored] for dinner. May God bless you all my Precious onee – Y[ou]r husband - N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]