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Camp 6 miles from Richmond [Virginia] May 26th 1862

My dear [wife?] –

Our Brigade is now stationed about 6 miles from R[ich]mond – a little below the place we staid at last Saturday nite – on picket duty. We were marched down here yesterday (Sunday) – left camp about 8 o.c[lock] and was under arms until almost dark – but not marching all the time. Just before getting here I saw our Capt[ain] give a man a letter, which I immediately determined in my mind was for me – and sure enough it was from you, written from our own dear home &of very rece[n]t date (May 2) – containing one from Smiley, for which you will please give him many thanks, as if contains a great deal of just such infor- mation as I had been wishing for some time. I had received before, those letters from you directed to Glo[uce]st[er] P[oin]t [Virginia] – one from Pattie, and one from Millie to Doc. which I took the liberty of opening & reading. Dear Darling, you have no idea how it made me feel to get a letter from you, at home, with Charley & Min- nie, & then to hear Smil[e]y telling of home things just as he used to. I [wouldn’t?] give one quiet hour of peace & love & happiness with you all at home, for all the military fame & glory & honor which has been won by all generals from time im- memorial. Just to be with you & our little ones again will repay me for all the anxiety & suf- fering I have had, & were it not for the hope of being again with you, I dont think I would care much to outlive this war. After getting my feet wet in [to?] days march, & am broken down & tired, it is my love for you & not of my own life, that makes me take the time and trouble to dry them carefully before sleeping & so with every other precaution which I take for my health and life. I sometimes fear I am [?] [?] of

[Postmarked 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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you & the children – and that my happiness is too much dependent on you, & wonder if other mar- ried men whom I see around me constantly, sim- -ilarly situated as I am, feel in the same way about their families at Home. Saturday Mr. & Mrs. Haweson came out for a little time to see us, with their three little children – [Litt[l]e?] Mary looked very much like Charley, I thought, her eyes very much in- deed. Just after they left I laid down for a short nap & you & Charley & Minnie, were hovering around me the whole time in my dreams. I dont know how I felt, but it was the sweetest sleep I have every had – But enough of this. There has been an order from the Sec[retary] of War [George Wythe Randolph] to attach our’s or two other Glo[uce]st[er] P[oin]t artillery companies to Col[onel] Good’s (Mr. Baskerville’s [?]) regiment, which will as soon as practicable be placed again in the artillery service. As soon as things become a little more settled, our Capt[ain] says the transfer will be made – if this is so we will remain in the same company. – if not we will be transferred to Baskervilles Co[mpany]. Capt[ain] B[askerville] made us a short visit Friday evening, he was getting on very well, and seemed quite cheerful – had been a little

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sick though with diarrhera [diarrhea], just as all of us have been. In fact, I doubt if there are fifty soldiers in our Brigade of five regiments who haven’t either diarrhea or dysentery – but they all seem to stand it very well & it rarely makes them very sick. Mr. Baskerville had told me three [struck-through] 2 weeks ago of Willie Wilson’s intended marriage, and I was not surprised to hear it – where will his wife stay? – and will he again return into the service? I shall never stop thanking your Pa for the efforts he made to keep me out of the army last spring & summer – I cant help

                                                                not

hoping & thinking that the war will ^ last longer than five or six months - & will try to stand it for that length of time, but if it continues lon- ger I will make almost any effort or sacrifice to get out of the Army. When I wrote to your Pa to try to get me a substitute, it was under the impression that our company would be divided & a part made artillery & a part made infantry. I immediately determined if I was placed con- trary to my wish in the infantry branch I would substitute. And if your Pa has been successful I may still wish to substitute for a months

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furlough & that is if I cant get a short one without. I send you a letter printed in the Presbyterian which Ma sent me in Patties last letter – I wish I could feel exactly like the writer of the letter. You will see a short piece in the Saturday’s (24th) Dispatch, headed “A thrilling [No...t...?]” about the March of a Brigade from Glo[uce]st[er] P[oin]t. It was the Brigade in which we were – and though a little highly colored is very nearly true. We had enough to eat until we passed Hanover C[ourt] H[ouse] [Virginia] when sometimes we didn’t have time to draw or cook rations – instead of two

                                                        for one day

we had four or five crackers a day ^ , and one day the men poached a little corn just to say they had [lived?] on poached corn, they were not compelled to do this – I have just succeeded in getting the [?] & will send it – Much love to all – Rem[em]ber me to Mr. Harris. I leave the tobacco to you & him. Thank Smiley for his letter, would answer it fi I had the time – No [mail?] [is?] [?] [str...?] so I must close Y[ou]r Aff[ectionate] husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]