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<html>[1] Camp Chaffin’s Farm. Aug[ust] 13th 1862 My Dear Wife; I write hastily to you this morning, as I will be busy to-day & for several days and may not have an opportunity of writing except short notes. I have been detailed as recorder for a General court Marshal which is sitting in Gen[eral] [Henry Alexander] Wise’s brigade. This business will be to copy off the pro- ceedings, as they are taken down by the Judge Advocate, (who is Lieut[enant] Ryland.) Gen[eral] [Nathan George “Shanks”] Evans is president of the court, but didn’t attend yester- day, as he wasn’t well, & his Brigade was un- der marching orders. Unless the court is broken up by a general movement of the troops, a- round here it will keep me employed for sev- eral weeks. – and more pleasantly than I have heretofore been. There has been considerable move- ment of troops around here in all directions but we hav[e]n’t heard yet what it means. There [2] are various rumors about Old Jackson’s [General “Stonewall” Jackson] suc- cesses & reverses but none of them reliable. You will see the only reliable ones in the pa- pers. Just as I was starting off to the court yesterday, Capt[ain] Baskerville rode up. I was very glad to see him, I got back to dinner, and he spent the evening with me at my tent, - told me a good deal about you all in Granville – about his wife & children, and about mine – how you looked & what you said. He seems anxious for us to come to his company, but they are so pulled & hauled a- bout I feel better satisfied here. He was compelled to march nearly twelve miles one of those excessively hot days last week, when a half hours drill would make some of our men faint. He is now [pleasantly?] camped on the York River R[ail] R[oad] about three miles from Richmond. I feel more & more con- vinced that this Brigade will remain here [3] and are looked upon as stationed troops. We never receive orders to cook provisions & get ready to march – while other troops around us are getting them every day or two. Yesterday a batch of 140 Yankee Officers, from Gen[era]ls down to Lieut[enant]s came by here on their way down to be exchanged. I went out to have a close look at them. They were generally fine looking men, in nice, dress- blue uniform – were all perfectly silent & looked down cast. I took my place in front of the line, & would catch the eyes of the highest officers as they pass & look the rascals out of [countenance?]. I didn’t see one that could look me full in the face. You have no idea, Darling, how it affected me. It made my blood boil with anger, I could scarcely [seen?][struck-through] keep myself from picking up the rocks that were lying around me & hurling them at their heads. I can now [4] understand the feeling which forces our men sometimes to refuse quarter in battle. I have al- ways thought that I could never be induced to murder a man who had surrendered in bat- tle, but now fear that such might be the case should I have an opportunity. I pray that I may never have it. Our men gave them no insult, but looked on in perfect silence. Not a word was spoken. One of our Lieut[enant]s (Haynes) who had been home on a sick furlough, & while there ar- rested a Yankee Col[onel] & Lieut[enant], who had escaped from prison in R[ich]mond, saw the two men, & they ex- changed cards. But I must close – there is a pleas- ant change in the weather this morning. Give much love to all [underscored], Darling. Capt[ain] B[askerville] said something about your Pa’s health – how is he? Sam & Doc well. Dear Precious, I love you more & more every day – Kiss our dear children for me. The [barrels?] & [?] you sent have done us great good. Capt[ain] B[askerville] enjoyed the Gran- ville apples – they are the nicest I have seen anywhere. May God continue to bless & watch over you all, Darling, & soon give us peach & happiness. Y[ou]r dev[oted] husband N[athaniel] V. W[atkins]</html>
