.NTQ4.NzE1

[1]

July 2[n]d Have just returned to camp – [Opened?] letter from you – after finishing yours yesterday the fight commenced again just below us – We could see the smoke & shells burst & at night the flash of the cannon. It was terrific – our Col[onel] is very anxious to get into it & sent to Gen[eral] [Henry Alexander] Wise yesterday for permission to bring his Reg[imen]t [?] – the Gen[eral] sent him word “if he did he would court martial him.

[2]

The battle raged from 9 A M. to 9 P.M. with short intermissions – most of the time there was a continued roar of cannon & musketry You have never heard anything like it – As yet we have not heard the result – but I dont think we gained much –

May we meet again soon, dear darling, is my earnest prayer

Y[ou]r aff[ectionate] husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]