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[1]
[Envelope]
Mrs. Nannie V. Watkins, Care Mr. Ja[me]s. B. Daniel Townesville, N[orth] C[arolina]
Send by Sass[afras] Fork [North Carolina] mail
[Letter]
Chaffin’s Bluff Batteries, March 7th, 1863
My dear Wife: - I sent off a letter this morning, stating that there was a pretty good prospect of my coming home to stay a few days, & asking that you would send a horse to meet me at Townesville [NC], Monday [even[in]g?] March 16th. Please tell the boy who brings the horse to come to the cars as soon as they stop so that I may see immediately whether or not he is there – as, if I do not see any one, I will go on a little farther, & get a horse at Aunt Susan’s, or at Mr. Bookers. And I will again caution you against being too much disappointed if the boy shall come back without me, as there are several things which may prevent my coming. I hope you may not get these let- ters until the last of next week, that you may be spared the impatience and anxiety from which I will suffer until I am a- gain safe with you. If I come I will be able to stay only five days, and if there is any business which your Pa thinks it nec- essary for me to attend to, I will be very glad for him to have it so fixed that I can do it without being separated from you any while at Home. I also think it will be well for us to spend a day or two of the time, down at our Home; if it will be [prudent?] for you to go down. I mention all of these things that you may be ready in case I succeed in getting off. But don’t, Precious, fix your heart too much on seeing me then
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though I feel pretty sure I will come some- time during the next month, - and that Sam G[raham] will also be able to come in a few weeks. While in Richmond yesterday, I very unexpectedly met with (our) Lieut[enant] Ryland dressed off as “fine as a fiddle” in a splen- did new confederate artillery uniform, his head a few hairs slicker, & his face a few shades cleaner, & his boots a few degrees more brightly polished. I was obliged to ask him the meaning of all this – and he told me that his wife [underscored] was the cause of it. He had just a day or two before married his old “sweet-heart of seven years standing, and he seemed to be as happy as if he had just heard read out a proclamation of peace. He married a Miss Thomas, the daughter of a wealthy tobacco- nist of Richmond. He gave me a very cor- dial invitation to visit them – Said he was coming down to -day to find a good place to board his new wife, & would return to camp to duty in a few days. He has been detailed for 30 days in the recruit- ing service, - and he told me that his wife was the only recruit he had found. To be detailed as recruiting officer, is the way the officers have now of getting fur- loughs of any length, as every one knows that after the conscript act, there are no soldiers in the country to be recruited. Cousin Sam Vaughan left us this morning He promised to send us a box occasionally and to come to see us next summer as soon as fishing season commences. He is a fine fellow.
[3]
After getting you letter yesterday, I am still anxious to get the back ones. None of your letters between 19th Feb[ruar]y & 2d March have come This just after I had been boasting that not a letter written by or to me since I joined the army has been lost. But I don’t think they will be lost – they have been only delayed by the carelessness of some of the mail agents. The splendid March weather – windy and drying – makes me think a great deal of my farming [‘ing’ struck-through], & what they are doing at home, & how busy I would be if there, & how much I would enjoy it. As it is a- bout time to begin to prepare for corn, I wish you would caution Mr. Harris to have my land prepared so that there will be no danger of my corn suffering from too much wet. All of the field which he is now cultivating should be well [listed?] with two-horse plows, if he has time – if not with the one-horse plow. I am certain that the main cause of my failure last year was the want of attention to the, & the con- dition in which the corn was left after the first plowing. You had said nothing about the planting out of any trees in my orchard or in the yard. I hope this will be done if pos- sible, tell also about the sowing of oats & of the clover seed – and of my chance for [?][struck-through] plants. Don’t let the thought of my coming home keep you from writing; as if I do not come, I will wish still more to hear from you – and if I do, your letters will be kept for me
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(Sunday night) As I couldn’t send off my letter till tomorrow, didn’t finish it. This evening as I was taking a nap to make up for lost sleep on guard last night, two gentlemen came in and waked me up. They were [Jeremy?] Boyd & a Mr. Jones (member of his comp[an]y). They are camped about six or eight miles from here, & rode down to spend the evening with us. I liked Jeremy Boyd very much with one ex- ception – he is very [profane?]. He spoke very affectionately of his Granville friends – said he intended getting a short furlough to make you all a visit. I tried to get him to come with me next week if I should come. He teased Abe very much about his Carolina sweet-heart, & all before Sam. Sam was about as much teased as Abe. Tell Sis[ter] Martha I wanted very badly to ask him a question about that “strange idea” but was afraid. If I can I intend calling on him this week. He abused his cousin Boyds of Mecklenburg for acquiring substitutes; but said he was very tired of the war, & nothing [ke[e]ps?] him in the army but pride – An order came down to-day [relieving?] our Col[onel] Page of his command. We do not know whether he will be sent to Charleston, or put on a gun-boat. We are sorry to give him up: but think it a sign that they are not expecting a fight here, or they would not take the old Col[onel] away. Much love to all – I hope, Darling, that I may be with you soon. [God?] bless you – Y[ou]r devoted husband – N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]
