.NTU2.NzIz

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Camp near Char[f]in’s bluff. July 24th 1862

My dear wife

I received yours of 13th Tues- day, and would have written yesterday but fell asleep in the morning a slept till dinner, & the rain in the evening prevented. – When it rains very hard it beats through our tent a good deal & makes it too damp to write. Our tents are very old and [indifferent?], but we have made requisition, & hope soon to get new ones. I am writing now just after roll call in the morning (4 o.c[lock]) – most of our men go to bed again, this makes camp much more quiet, & it is so cool & pleasant, I generally take this time to read or write. – and to think of my dear, precious ones at home. I called on Col[onel] Goode again yesterday evening, to beg [underscored] for a furlough – he seemed anx-

[Marginalia] My Lieut[enant] to me if he were in my place he would get a substitute.

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ious to give me one, & said he had seen Mr. Baskerville in Mecklenburg, who told him that my presence at Home for a short time was much needed, & he thought I ought to have one, -but said he had positive orders to give no more for the present. I also judge from your letter, which was such a good long one, that my [matters] at home might be improved some by my presence. And then my great anx- iety, [‘great anxiety’ underscored] Darling, to see you & our children. You cant imagine how it affects me. I frequently am compelled to get up & walk off, or seek a crowd of sol- diers to keep from thinking of you. [to...you’ underscored] My happiest moments are spent al- ways in sleep for then I am either entirely unconscious, or having such dreams of being at home. I heard yesterday that Mr. Coleman was in Richmond looking for a substitue.

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Tom Boyd has a substitute, also Buck Daniel - & a number of my friends whom I [could?] mention – Why may not I get one. If there was [?] [struck-through] a prospect of being permitted occasionally -once in four or five months, when the army is doing nothing, of spending a week or ten days at home, I might stand it pretty well. I met with a good looking, intelligent soldier a few days since – a member of our Reg[imen]t from Bedford – who told me he had been in the service four months, and in that time had lost his wife and two children, & had not been per- mitted to go home. Oh, Darling, if such a thing were to happen to me it would make me to [struck-through] hate my country & for sake its cause. But if you or Charley or Min- nie were sick & they should refuse to let me come to you – I would come in spite of them. Please let me know as soon as

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possible what chance there is of my get- ting a substitute, what it would cost, and what do you [underscored] and your Pa think of it. He must be a good man, exempt by the conscript act. Doc has been detailed temporarily, on account of the sickness of our [ass[issant]?] surgeon, in his place. This I hope will open the way for his permanent appointment. Henry, our cook, is right sick. I am afraid his is going to have the fever. If he does I will write to Mr. Booker as soon as I am satisfied of it, as we will be unable to attend to him as we ought. Everything is very quiet in the army now. We are busy cutting ditches & building redoubts & strengthening our lines. Cant find out what the Yankees are doing. Doc & Sam & I are very well. Give much love to all – May God bless you, my dear wife & our little ones. I would write more but the mail leaving soon. Your aff[ectionate] husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]