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Richmond [Virginia] June 1st 1862

My dear wife – We are still all well. Last Wed- nesday evening I had a little spell which caused me a good deal of pain & which left me so sore that yesterday they gave me my choice of going back to the old camp, or coming to R[ich]mond for a few days. As some of our boys needed a few things I came here – My sickness was caused by the passage of a gravel from the kidneys to the blatter which the surgeon says is a very common thing in the army, & except the temporary pain is of no danger, & accompanied with no serious consequences. I am now well again & will report back to my company tomorrow. You will see an acc[oun]t in the tomorrows pa- pers of a fight which took place yesterday on the Chickahominy [River], in which so far as we have heard, we whipped the Yankees terribly. When I left our company Gen[eral] [Robert Emmett] Rodes’ Brigade was all under arms to be ready to march at any moment, but when there is even a skirmish on any part of the lines the whole army is always put under arms it indicates nothing, & I have ascertained [pretty?]

[addressed envelope]

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

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

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certainly that not only [‘not only’ struck-through] Gen[eral] Rodes’ Brigade was not engaged. In fact, our Brigade has been put under arms & had marching orders every day for the last week, & sometimes we have actually marched a short distance & then returned to camp again. Met Mr. Howison yesterday & got a pass from the Hospital sur- geon to stay at his house – will go there to- day & see him & may be spend to-night with him. He says that Aunt Judy is very much disturbed about Sam not getting enough to eat etc. – She is very much mistaken – it has been only two days since we left Glo[uce]st[er] P[oin]t that we couldn’t get enough and that was caused by forced marches – there was enough in the commissary wagons, but we didn’t have time to cook. We get enough flour & meat always & some- times other things – The only difficulty is that we got tired of having the same thing for every meal – We frequently get Coffee & sweet cakes, & butter crackers, & loaf bread of[f] wagons which move daily to & from R[ich]mond. But we have to bring such

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things ourselves & of course they come in as [?]. Sam & Abe are the best contented of our whole mess, & Sam about the best contented & happiest of the whole army: I dont write this to make Aunt Judy feel easy, but have always made it a point of conscience to write things home, just a I think they are. We are all beginning to need some money, I will borrow $50 of Mr. Howison to-morrow for our boys & as we have daily com- munication with R[ich]mond, Mr. H[owison] will get such clothing for us as we need. I will borrow the $50 in my name or in Sam’s & Mr. H[owison] will look to your Pa or to Aunt Judy for the money. & we [‘& we’ struck-through] I may give him my Bond, & then di- vide with the rest – just as Mr. H[owison] thinks best. I would write you some news I have collected about the battle of yesterday, but know that you will see much fuller & more satisfactory statements in the papers – We all feel confident of holding R[ich]mond, & feel to that the tide of victory has finally

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turned in our favor – and that in a short time this [?] & unholy war will end. We have seen some rough times, but nothing like some of our men have seen, & we have all excep[t] Doc & Dabney who were well provided for, been spared our health & strength. If we could but be thankful enough to our Kind Protector, & put all of our trust in Him, & submit pa- tiently if not cheerfully to His will. I do not see but that every thing in connec- tion with us (our home boys) is as well as could be. Mr. H[owison] told me yesterday he had sent a letter for [Me?] & Sam to Gen[eral] [Henry Alexander] Wise’s Brigade thinking our company was there – so we have lost our last two letters from home unless Gen[eral] Wise will take the trouble of sending them back to R[ich]mond. Direct your letters as before - Mr. N. V. Watkins – King & Queen Artillery Care Capt[ain] Bagley, Gen[eral] Rode’s Brigade, Richmond, & I will always get them. Send me two colored shirts by Doc, made just as my white ones are, & such as will not fade if you can get the material – Much love to all, oh that I could see you soon, My God bless you & our dear children Y[ou]r devoted husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins

[Marginalia at top of page]]

[Came near?] seeing Bro[ther] Dick yesterday he was well.

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Sunday June 1st 1 o.c[lock]

I am at Mr. Howison’s – We have just received positive intelligence, [‘positive intelligence’ underscored] that all our boys are safe. Daniel Booker gave out before our Battalion

                                                                                      and is safe,

reached the battle ground & was not in the fight ^ Sam & Abe were in but were not hurt. This I learn from a wounded man of our company who saw them after the fighting was over Send this [if...?] to Mrs Booker [‘send...Booker’ struck-through]

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Monday morning – I have seen Abe & Sam & Daniel – they are all unhurt – Mr. H[owison] & I heard yesterday that our Battalion was in the fight & got in an ambulance to look for the boys – we got separated but I found the boys in an our old camp near R[ich]mond] – They were all three in the fight – Our artillery boys distinguished themselves, & took a fine Yankee battery – Our company lost 5 killed & 23 wounded (only 1 or 2 mortally) – 28 in all, they en- tered the fight with 58 – nearly 1/2 killed & wounded – [Captain] Bas- kerville is unhurt – [?] killed – B[askerville] is the only Capt[ain] in his regiment unhurt [?][struck-through] his Col[onel;] was badly wounded. Daniel B[ooker] had the top of his cap split by a ball. How thankful we should feel that our little party escaped – Y[ou[r devoted Husband – N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]