.NjAz.NzY5

[1]

Chaffin’s Bluff Batteries Oct 1st 1862

My dear Wife: I would have written last night but thought I would wait until this morning and have time enough, but have been inter- rupted so much, will have to write much more hastily than I would like so that my letter may go off from R[ich]mond by to-morrow s mail. We got the box you sent us this morn- ing, the barrels are in Richmond & will be brought down to-day or to-morrow. It came just in time, as we were chewing on our last tobacco, and it is impossible for us to get any except the very meanest in camp, and that at [exorbi-] tant prices. Dr. F[lournoy] says it was the best thing you could have sent us. The marmalade & catsup were very nice & acceptable, & the potatoes fine. – Am obliged to Jos[eph?] Nat[hanel?] & Mary. Sam’s clothes all came safe. I prized the bundle of letters more than anything else, especially as there were two for me it. Oh, Darling, you dont know

[2]

how much I do prize letters from you all – Many thanks to Millie for hers. The mess, I think, were a little disappointed that there was no butter or hams. Butter adds more to our eating than anything you can send, and as you are selling it at 35 c[en]ts, & we have to give 80 c[en]ts, please send some in the next one. If it takes up your butter pots too fast, (as it is too far to return such things) you can pack it in a close wooded box, especially as the cool days of Fall is now set[t]ling in, and send it safely. Dear Nannie, it doesn’t [need?] to re- mind me that we have been separated six months. I try to forget it, I try to keep from thinking of you and our children, - I have tried so often and perseveringly to get a furlough, that I am almost ashamed to to say anything to our officers about it. I have hoped against hope, and see that the refusal of our Generals to approve the furloughs which my Capt[ain] has [give?] me is so unreasonable that I now de-

[3]

spair of getting one before the winter sets in and makes it impossible for the troops to be moved, & puts an end to this campaign. I know way it is so difficult to get one, and this makes me a little more reconciled. I see of no way for us to be to- gether, unless you adopt the plan I proposed in my last. – You & Aunt Judy, or Aunt Mary come & take board for a month or so in a country family about a mile from camp - & bring the children with you. Every letter makes me more anxious to see you & them. Nothing has made me feel & write so cherfully, but the change of our company to its present place, & the con- stant change of scenes & occupations. I was right sorry your Pa did not sell Tommy at $1350 – I would have taken $1000 for him, un- der the circumstances. The knowledge that he is at Home keeps me uneasy all the time. I have lost all faith & confidence in him. There is no telling when he may get into diffi- culties, or of what kind they may be.

[4]

Of course, as you all know all the circumstan- ces of his misconducts better than I do, I leave it with you & you[r] Pa about keeping him, but if I were at Home, & the circumstances such as I now understand them I would sell him to-morrow for what I could get. He will be another Billy Wilson, if not worse [?] [come?] are slowly build- ing our winter quarters. Have been unable to get a wagon to haul the logs. Monday morning our Capt[ain] determined to wait no longer for a wagon, & took the whole company out to tote & drag them. We have to get them a quarter or half a mile off, over a very deep ravine. We brought enough in two days to build two houses – Understand will get wagons to-morrow. The boys quarreled a good deal about it, but finally concluded to make a frolic of it. Fortunately I was on guard and escaped two days work, but will have to lend a helping hand this evening. I shall do a great deal of grunting and very little lifting. Sam too had escaped on account of a slight attack of Jaundice *

[Marginalia – Pge 4]

*pretty much such an one as I had – not quite as 

bad as toting logs. Daniel continues to improve. I gave Dr. F[lournoy] Aunt Mary’s letter. He says he will take pleasure in attending to it, & will answer it soon. I wrote to her seve[r]al days since. I cant for my life see that there is any thing wrong about his health. He saw the letter come

 accidentally 

to Dr. F[lournoy] ^ and asked me who it was from, but did not I think suspect anything. [Dear?] Nannie, I would like to write more, but [cannot?] now. Will write again this week. I wish I could tell you how much I love you. I judge from what you write sometimes, that a good many others see my letters, and they might think me silly. Am afraid they think so now, but cant help it, & dont care much. You dont, I know. May God soon restore us to each other. Y[ou]r aff[ectionate] husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins] Give much love to all – Kiss Charley & Minnie