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Camp “Stonewall Jackson” [Virginia] Sunday June 22[n]d 1862 My dear Wife: -
Yesterday morning about 2 1/2 o.c[lock] our company was marched off for picket duty the first time we have served in this ca- pacity. We carried all of our well men, about 30 – and reached the place where the pickets are posted at sunrise – We where sent to watch the Enemy’s gun-boats & prevent their landing troops, or give no- tice in case of an attempt to land any. The Gun boats are lying about two miles below us. We went directly opposite to them & kept ourselves concealed in the woods during the day, near the [James] river, divided into two parties, & posted a half mile distance from each other – keeping a sharp look-out from the tops of trees, so that we could see everything on their boats, & they could not see us. As soon as it was dark enough for us to go out into the
[Marginalia – at top of page]
Monday Morning – all well – Direct to “Richmond – Care Capt[ain] Bagley 4th V[irgini]a Heavy Artillery - Gen[eral] [Henry Alexander] Wise’s Brigade”
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open low-ground. We sent out eight parties, with three men in each, station- ing them up the river bank & on high [?] in the low-ground so that we could observe every thing that happened for a mile along the river. Doc & Sam & I were stationed in the middle of a large clover-lot [where?] we could see down to a landing just above the boats – two of us kept watch & one slept – taking it by twos. You would have been perfectly astonished to see us sleeping with two blankets, in clover as high as the knee, & perfectly wet with dew, as soundly & sweetly as ever we did at home, & getting up well [underscored] & re- freshed, after a tow-hours nap. Some of our men were so near the river that, had the boats moved up they could have shot the men on board. It was a beautiful pleasant night & everything passed off quietly – This morning we were relieved by another company, and came back
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to camp. We have spent this morning making up for lost sleep, & are excused from all other duties until dress parade at sunset. There were four gunboats when we reached our posts, but they soon disap- peared. It was a great relief for me to go out from the quiet [struck-through?] crowded camp & spend a day quietly in the cool beautiful woods. The scenery too was beau- tiful – very large, fine wheat fields, clover lots, & corn – the farmers were culling wheat & it made me think often of my home, and my harvest field – and while sleeping in the clover-lot I had the sweetest dream of being at home with my dear ones I have had since being in the army. I sometimes felt it to be a dream & was afraid to wake for fear it might prove so. When I did wake I al- most felt as if I had been home. I have frequently seen pictures & read little po- ems about the soldiers dream of home
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and shall never see one again with- out deep emotion. In all my dreams Charley & Minnie have changed so that I scarcely knew them, but you , darling, are always the same. I was much di- appointed on reaching camp at not finding a letter from your – please write in your next, if it is best for me to send my letters to Townesville [North Carolina], or change them to Sass[afrass] Fork. [North Carolina] Also if Mr. Booker has re- ceived my letter about Johnny’s discharge and how they made out in my har- vest – if the wheat proved as good as it promised. I didn’t understand wheth[er] your Pa has sold any of my bacon. Write if I got a good clover stand from last spring’s sowing, and caution Mr. Harris against [graying?] the [young?] clover too closely. Tell him to haul as much litter into the stable & lots as possible. that I may have a good stack of manure by fall, as I wish to top
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dress some next winter [struck-through] Fall & Winter. I made a great deal of manure last summer. Try & have my wheat stacked & threshed as soon as possible. Oh! darling, I wish I could be there. Haven’t heard from Abe since he left for R[ich]mond – heard this morning of the death of Bolivar [L...p..ier?] , one of my mess ( we have 15 in a mess) who was wounded in the battle – Making nine of our company & two of our mess – the other one of our mess who died from wounds was Bob [Harbing?] of whose death I have before written. Another of our mess, Mr. [Seganey?] is now in R[ich]mond – badly wounded in five places but is said to be [recovering?] well. Four others are quite sick ( in- cluding Abe & Daniel) and are away so that there are now only eight of us. Sam & Doc & I manage to keep well.
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I was right sick with the diarrhea before going on picket yesterday, but crossed a black heart cherry tree with half[underscored]-ripe cherries, (such as I would have whipped my negroes for eating) - [?] feasted on them for 1/4 hour and was entirely cured. Such cures have been frequent in our company, and I am convinced that 3/4 of our sickness is for want of vegetable food. Whenever I can get out from camp I try to get a meal at some private house, so that I can get buttermilk or vegetables, pay- ing always [20?] c[en]ts a meal - this, though a costly remedy, has I am convinced. saved me much sickness. I frequently think of the big [bags?] you had sunk below the spring. Dear Darling, I must close, please [underscored] write oftener – May God, as He has done, continue to watch over us. Much love to all – Y[ou]r devoted husband Nath[anie]l V. Watkins
