Please send my watch: I don’t think there is any danger of my losing it or being killed this winter or fall #cw150

HEAD QUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE,

HILL’S DIV., NEAR GUINEA DEPOT,

12 MILES FROM FREDERICKSBURG,

December 2^nd., 1862

 

My Dear Mother:

Once more settled in camp for a little while, long enough to write, at least, I thought I would let you know where we are and what we are doing.  We are on the railroad between Richmond and Fredericksburg, some twelve miles from the latter place.  What we are doing, one hasn’t the remotest idea.  We can’t tell whether we are going to fight here or not, or how long we shall stay here.  I think the most of our army is in this vicinity and some part of it is constantly in motion.  Ewell’s Division is now passing our encampment.  I’m in hopes we will stay here until our men get their clothing.  Ed Gordon has just returned, though he does not bring any news from home.  He says that Pat Simms will start back to-day.  He certainly has appointed enough times for starting to have been here long before now, if he is not able to bring the things, why doesn’t he let some one else come with them.  The men have been kept out of their clothing long enough.  May Warren, I understand, is willing to bring them.  If you should receive this before any of them leaves, please send my watch and chain by him, I need the use of it very much and I don’t think there is any danger of my losing it or  being killed this winter or fall, campaign is about over.  If both of them have left, please send it by the first reliable person coming to our company.  Please have a key fitted to it and send that also, also a piece of bucksin in my trunk.  Wrap them all up together and enjoin the one that brings it to be very careful with it, and not to lose it.  I have not time to write much more, as Major Miller, who is going to take my letter to Richmond to be mailed, is in a hurry to go to the depot, for fear of being left.  I received the things which you sent by Buck Hansill, also the gloves you sent by John Gorman, all I need now are the things which you are going to send by Pat Simms.  Give my love to all the family and believe me, as ever, your

 

Affectionate son,

 

WALTER

 

P.S. Write often and tell me all the news about home.  Wrap my watch up very securely and direct it to me.  Don’t forget to send me a key for it, as I have none.
Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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I bought me a Yankee overcoat, a very comfortable one, for $12.50 #civilwar150

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE

November 27, 1862

 

My Dear Mother:

I received your letter yesterday, and also one from brother by Mr. Gorman.  I was very glad to hear from you, as I had not received any news from home in some time.  He handed me the gloves also, which you sent by him.  Nothing ever came in better time in the world.  I had been trying my best to get a pair of some kind ever since cold weather set in, but could not, gloves such as you sent me sell for $3.00 in this country, and everything else in proportion.  The last letter that I wrote home, sent to Richmond by Capt. John Grimes to be mailed, was from our Camp near Strasburg, Va.  We left there on Friday, the 21^st, and arrived here on Tuesday evening, the 25^th, making a march of over one hundred miles in four days.  It is the best marching that we have ever done, it’s because we are going towards home, I reckon, that the men did so well.  There are hundreds of them barefooted and ice on the ground all day.  General Hill issued an order yesterday requiring all the barefooted men to make sandals of raw hides with the hair on the inside.  It answers the purpose very well.  It’s a wonder the idea had not been thought of sooner, before the men suffered so much.  Gorman says that Pat Simms will be here to-day with the things for the Regiment.  I hope he will be, for I need my boots very badly, also my pants.  I shall draw a pair of pants from the Regimental clothing, also a pair of shoes.  I bought me a Yankee overcoat, a very comfortable one, for $12.50, a better coat than our men draw at more money.  We are now on our way to Hanover Junction, some fifty miles off.  We have stopped here to transport our sick on the cars ahead of us, though we have been here going on two days, a longer time than would be required for that purpose.  We have no idea how long we will stay here.  From what you write about your exchanging farms, I think you made a very good bargain.  I wish I could be with you to help you fix it up.  The boys are all well as could be expected.  Virgil Stevens looks thin from diarrhea.  Tom Stith looks as fat as a pig.  Buck Hansill is the same old “Buck,” though Marshbourns, that is Sam, is well and tough, Jim I don’t recollect having seen for some time.  I really don’t know whether he is in the company or not.  I did write to you and intended to send it by Ed Gordon, but he left just before I carried my letters up to the Company to give him.  The next time any one leaves Wilson for the Company, please send me some kind of tonic bitters.  I need something of the kind.

Give my love to all, and believe me as ever,

Your affection son,

WALTER

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

 

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I would rather be dead than in the place of some of the Conscripts sent to our Regiment, they look like they wanted to die #cw150

HEAD QUARTERS, ANDERSON’S BRIGADE,

November 14, 1862

My Dear Mother:

As I have another good opportunity of sending a letter the other side of Richmond to be mailed, I thought I would avail myself of it.  One of our surgeons will leave in the morning for North Carolina, so that I can have my letter mailed very near home, it will stand less chance of being lost.  I have neglected to write to you longer than I wished, waiting for an opportunity of sending it by some one.  This is the first chance that has occurred.  The letters that are mailed here for North Carolina, not one half of them ever get there, so I made up my mind not to write except when I knew you would receive it.  We have been through a good many hardships sine I lost wrote to you, tho’ we haven’t had any fighting, that is, our Brigade has not, tho’ we have lain in line of battle several days and nights at the time, waiting for the advance of the enemy.  The strongest position I think our Division ever occupied was on the mountains behind rock fences, near Paris.  We stayed there one day and night, but the Yankees didn’t come.  We left there and marched to Port Royal, there we laid in the line of battle two days and one night.  Little after dark the second day we got orders to cross the Shenandoah River and take up camp some mile or two off for the night.  The men were cold and hungry and somewhat expecting the Yankees that night, when the word was given they started at a double quick for the river, some half mile off, and in they went, half waist deep, the water was freezing cold and the wind almost cutting you in two.  I guess you know something about the mountain winds in the winter.  For the next few days we had some rest, but we don’t lie idle in camp long at a time.  Night before last we marched seven miles, tore up and burned railroads all night, and marched back ten miles the next day.  To-day is a beautiful sunshiny one, and I hope we will remain quiet for the men’s sake.  We have had one snow some two or three inches deep, though it melted very soon, there are thousands of barefooted men in Virginia and I do hope we will have pleasant weather until they can get shoes.  We have a good many in our Brigade stark barefooted, and have not had a shoe on since we left Richmond some months ago.  John Burton, poor fellow, was paroled and came up with us some week or two back, looking dreadfully.  He has gone home on a furlough.  He was barefooted and almost clothesless.  My feet can just be said to be off the ground and that is all.  They are no protection from wet weather.  I hope Pat Simms will come soon and have my boots with him.  I am glad you sent me a pair of pants, as these are entirely worn out.  I have been patching them up for some time.  There is two big patches on the knees as large as your two hands, put on with blue cloth, you recollect the pants are brown.  I never thought to mention any clothes in my letter.  I hope you thought of them.  I need a pair.  I also need an overcoat, but I will have to wait until the Regiment get their clothes before I can get one.  I hope before one month more passes we will be on the railroad somewhere, so I can get something good to eat once more.  I think I will know how to appreciate something good after living on beef and bread for so long.  I want some oysters and sweet potatoes and other winter delicacies so much.  I hope, if we ever do get where I can change my diet, I will be able to stop the diarrhea which has been reducing me for some time.  I’ve fallen off considerable since we left Richmond.  With that exception I have nothing to complain of.  In a great many respects I fare a great deal better than the officers of the regiment do.  I have better fare and not half the duty to do.

The other night, when all the men were at work on the railroad, I was with our wagon and had as comfortable a night’s sleep as I ever do.  I very often get a chance to ride on the march, too, for the last several marches I have ridden Col. Grimes’ extra horse.  Since we left Richmond we have crossed twenty streams waist deep and very often in the night, and I have never waded one yet.  I always get a ride across, some way or another.

We will have a general change at Headquarters in a few days.  General Ramseur is assigned to this Brigade and I expect he will bring his own Staff with him.  I’ll stand as good a chance of remaining as any of them and I think I will be very apt to remain, at least I shall try to do so.  I hope he will be as clever as the other commanders have been.  I like Col. Grimes very much and I think he is more entitled to the promotion of Brigadier than Ramseur, who was only a Captain of Artillery, though they say he is a West Pointer, and a very good officer.  I hope he will prove himself to be as good as General Anderson was, though that his hardly possible.  I don’t think he had his equal in the Confederate Army.  I hope Dr. Harrell will pass his examination and get in the army as surgeon.  It is the easiest and most comfortable position there is in the Army.

Tell Mr. Rhodes if I was in his place I would try to get in a new company, one that has not been in long.  Dr. Bullock’s Company would suit him better than any other.  He thinks that we’ve got a good one and a picked company, but it is not what it was, and he would be out of place all the time if he would try to keep up with men who had been playing the old soldier for nearly two years.  I would rather be dead than in the place of some of the Conscripts sent to our Regiment, they look like they wanted to die, they felt so bad.  Please let me know in your next whether you ever received my watch or not.  I’ve asked in every letter and you’ve never told me yet.  Write soon to your

Affectionate son,

WALTER

 

P.S. Give my love to all the family, tell some of them to write.  I haven’t sent a letter home yet with a stamp on it, it is because we can’t possibly get them and I know it makes no difference with you.

 

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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I must sleep and stay at head quarters nearly all the time, as it is more convenient and I get plenty of something to eat #cw150

NEAR BUNKER HILL, VA., October 1, 1862

Dear Mother:

I have just received a letter from you, dated Sept. 2^nd.  It is the first word I have heard from home since I left Richmond (I forgot I did receive one letter down at Anderson’s station, 30 miles from Richmond).  It appears that you have not received the letter I wrote from the Potomac, opposite Berlin, though you must have gotten it before now.  I heard that Pat Simms will be in Wilson for a short time as detail for our winter clothing.  He can tell you all about that trip.  It has been so long that I have forgotten almost all about it.  I shall send this by Dr. Stith, as he starts in the morning.  You can get him to tell you a good deal of news if you choose.  Dr. Stith and Pat Wooten came up this morning.  I haven’t been up to see them yet.  I must sleep and stay at head quarters nearly all the time, as it is more convenient and I get plenty of something to eat, and often something extra.  If Pat Simms goes home, as I think he will, you may send me my two flannel shirts and my drawers, also two pair of woolen socks.  I reckon I will have to make out with shoes this winter, though if you can have me a good pair of winter sewed boots made (large 6s) you may send them also, and the price.  If I can’t wear them myself I can sell them for any price I may choose to ask.  See if Pat is willing to bring them first and if he is certain that he can get them here without being lost.  Write often by some of the boys that are coming.

 

Your affectionate son,

WALTER

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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The house, kitchen, trees and everything else was torn and shot all to pieces. #civilwar150

HEAD QUARTER’S ANDERSON’S BRIGADE,

MAR. BUNKER’S HILL, VA., Sept. 29, 2862

 

My Dear Mother:

It has been some time since I last wrote you.  I hope you have not  been uneasy about me, for I have never been in better health in my life.  During the past two months we have been on the march almost constantly, sometimes resting one or two days, but never longer.

On Sunday, the 14^th of September, we left our camp at 4 o’clock in the morning and marched some six miles to the top of the Blue Ridge and drew up in line of battle.  We were not long waiting for the Yankees, they came in very large columns and we fought until after dark.  That night our troops fell back through Boonsboro some few miles and drew up in line of battle little after sunrise, very little fighting was done that day, only some cannonading.  We continued in our position until the 17^th inst., when we had almost a general engagement.  The line of battle of our Brigade was some two hundred yards in front of a house in which General D.H. Hill and General Anderson had their Head Quarters.  The fight commenced in the morning before I awoke (long before sunrise), soon after light the wounded from the Artillery commenced coming in, pretty soon the wounded infantry came in by the dozens.  There wasn’t a surgeon on the battle field from our Brigade, but Gus Stith.  He stayed there to the last.  He, his two assistants and myself dressed the wounds until the Yankees got in 30 yards of the house.  General Anderson was anxious to get off before the Yankees got nearer.  He did not want to be taken prisoner by them.  He would prefer being shot through the head, so Capt. Gales, his A.A. General, myself and two other men of the Ambulance Corps carried him through a field that looked like it was impossible for man to walk ten steps without being killed, though we got out safe.    A piece of shell struck me on the knee, which occasioned some little inconvenience for a few days, but nothing else.  The house in which we were was the hottest part of the battle field, we were exposed to a cross fire of two Yankee Batteries and from the front by musket balls.  The house, kitchen, trees and everything else was torn and shot all to pieces.  We had a large pot full of chicken on the stove, cooking for dinner, when a bomb took off one-half of the kitchen and turned the stove bottom upwards.  That stopped the splendid dinner we had in preparation.  You must get Gus Stith to tell you all about our campaign, adventures, etc.  He can do it better than I can write it.  Every day’s march through Maryland I could write a long letter, but when it is all past and forgotten I can’t think of one thing that I wished to write.  If I ever live to get home I can think of one thing at a time, and tell you a great many little incidents of interest.  The Northern part of Virginia and some parts of Maryland is the most beautiful country that I ever saw.  I don’t know how it is in the winter, but from the looks of the soil, it’s as muddy as Manassas, I reckon.  We (our company) lost several in the two battles, none killed, but some badly wounded, others taken prisoners or have not come up yet, may be wounded and left on the battlefield and had to be left in the hands of the Yankees when we fell back this side of the Potomac.  We are now encamped on the Turnpike from Martinsburg to Winchester, some ten miles from the latter place.

I don’t know where to tell you to direct your next letter, Richmond, though, I reckon.  Our mail for this Brigade is at Winchester, we will get that to-day.  I hope to get some letters form home when it comes.  I must close this so as to have it ready when Gus Stith starts, he can’t tell when, so I must have it ready.  I may get something in the mail before this gets off.

Your loving son,

WALTER

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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All of our men had been buried, but the Yankees lay just as they were killed. #civilwar150

HEAD QUARTERS, ANDERSON’S BRIGADE,

SOUTH SIDE OF POTOMAC, OPPOSITE BERLIN,

LOUDON CO., Sept. 5, 1862

 

My Dear Mother:

I guess you are all very anxious about me, that is to know my whereabouts.  Since I last wrote you I have been through the most hardships that I ever have before.  Today makes eleven successive days that we have been on the march, without resting a day since we left Anderson’s station, the place from which I last wrote you.  We are now on the side south of the Potomac, opposite a place called Berlin, where there is some Yankees, don’t know how many.  We have our brigade and a tolerable good force of Artillery at this point.  What we intend to do or where we are going, it’s impossible to say.  The men are all very anxious to drop over in Maryland and I don’t know but what that will be our next move.  We have just stopped for the night, after a march of about twenty miles.  I’m in a hurry to finish before dark, as we have no candles or lightwood.  Mr. Ed Marsh will leave for North Carolina in the morning, he will carry our mail.  We have’t had a chance to send off our mail before, since we waded the Rapidan River.  Day before yesterday we marched over the battle ground that Jackson had his last fight on.  All of our men had been buried, but the Yankees lay just as they were killed.  I never saw such a scene before.  I saw just from the road, as I did not go out of my way to see any more.  It must have been nearly a thousand.  Our wagon actually ran over the dead bodies in the road before they would throw them out, or go around them.  The trees were literally shot all to pieces.  The wounded Yankees were all over the woods, in squads of a dozen or more, under some shady tree without any guard of any kind of guard them.  I recollect one squad on the side of the road with their bush shelter in ten steps of a dead Yankee, that had not been buried and was horrible mangled.  I don’t suppose the dead Yankees of that fight will lever be buried.  It will be an awful job to those who do it, if it is ever done.  There is some five or six of our company that have not come up yet.  Blake is among the number.  They are not sick, merely broken down.  The Second N.C. Regiment haven’t more than half of the men with them now, that they had when they left Richmond.  It has been an awfully hard march.  Two men died in one day from the sun stroke.  The weather is not so warm now as some days ago.  It takes two or three blankets to keep us warm at night, it is so cool.  The days are very warm.  I hope to gracious that we will stay here tomorrow and rest a while, it’s a beautiful place on the side of the Blue Ridge.  The sun will not strike the ground where our headquarters are during the whole day.  I don’t know where to tell you to direct your next letter.  Richmond, though, I reckon.  Give my love to all the family.  Goodbye.  I’ll now cook my supper.  I’ll have an excellent one tonight, chicken, and sugar and coffee and biscuit.

Yours, etc.,

WALTER

P.S. I bought sugar at 12 ½ cent per pound and coffee at 25 cents per pound this morning in a store on our way.

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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It’s no use trying to make a broken down man get up and march. #civilwar150

HEAD QUARTERS, ANDERSON BRIGADE, 30 MILES FROM RICHMOND ON MANASSAS RAILROAD, August 23^rd, 1862

My Dear Mother:

This is the first opportunity that I have had to write to you since we left our camp near Richmond.  Mr. Christman left us, or rather parted from us, in Richmond as we passed through on our march.  Blake and myself did not get the barrel that was sent by Mr. Christman, though we had just as much fruit and Irish potatoes (that the company received) as we could eat.  We left the very next morning after the night Mr. Christman arrived.  The first day we marched about 14 miles and camped in an open field, the next day we march all day until dark.  We stopped, ate our supper, spread our blankets and was just going to sleep, nearly every man exhausted, when the drum sounded and the order given for every man to be under arms.  In ten minutes the brigade marched off and we continued the march until nearly day.  The next morning, that is those that kept up, (the road for ten miles was strewn with men who had fallen out of ranks from exhaustion).  We are now encamped at the place we arrived at that night.  We have been here three days and it is impossible to tell when we will leave.  This is a very important position for the Aides of General Jackson.  The Yankees are about twelve miles from us and it was supposed that they would make an attack at this point, is the reason we were in such a hurry to get here that night.  We would have made a very poor stand if they had.  I don’t suppose we had more than one third of the men when we arrived here that night, when we came through Richmond.  I had a very good opportunity of judging as our company was detailed that day as a war guard of the Brigade, to prevent straggling, and I marched behind with them for company.  It’s no use trying to make a broken down man get up and march.  We didn’t know but what the Yankees were near or advancing on us, but the men would lie right down side of the road and swear they could not go one foot farther, Yankees or no Yankees.  They are still coming in though it has been three days ago.

You may say what you please about marching twenty or thirty miles a day in warm weather, but I don’t believe in it.  The last day we marched twenty-six miles, we started at daylight and didn’t stop until nearly day break the next morning, with about one third of the men, when we got to the end of our route, we had when we started and they were good for nothing, with their feet all blistered and sore.  Mine have just got so I can walk without limping.  You may direct your next letter to Richmond as heretofore, putting on the back “Smith’s Division,” and I reckon it will be forwarded.  We have a very pleasant place to camp.  I wouldn’t care if we were to stay here for a month.  General Anderson and his Staff are in tents at present, no house being near.  Col. Grimes arrived this morning.  The men are all very glad to see him return.  They all love him since the fights that he has led them in.  Give my love to all the family.  Tell sister to write.  I have written, I believe, three letters home and haven’t received but one.

Your affectionate son,

WALTER

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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Poor little fellow, I never thought that when I left home it would be the last time I should see him #cw150

HEAD QUARTERS, ANDERSON BRIGADE, August 15, 1862

My Dear Mother:

As Mr. Parker will leave in the morning for home, I thought I would avail myself of the opportunity to let you hear from me.  There is nothing new to write in the way of “War News.”  You hear everything that we do, and that’s in the papers.  Everything on our lines is quiet.  We were put under marching orders a day or two ago, with the expectation of making another march to “Malvern Hill,” but the Yankees left and it saved us the trouble of running them away.  Eight hundred of the Brigade are still working on the breastworks, some two miles below here.  I am in hopes the Yankees will never get near enough to Richmond for us to have to fight behind them.  The other regiment in the Brigade has received their conscripts, ours is the smallest one and we haven’t received a single one, and I hope we won’t.

General Anderson was making a calculation this morning and he says that we have lost 226 men, killed and died from their wounds, since the day before we went into the fight at “Seven Pines.”  The Regiment is now under command of Pat Simms.  All of our company are in very good health.  I don’t believe it is owing in a great degree to the good water we get.  It is the best we have had since we’ve been in Virginia.  I am getting along very well indeed, enjoying excellent health, and have a very pleasant time.

We have very little writing to do, not half as much as we had at Manassas.  General Anderson has no Adj. General yet.  I would not be surprised if he was not waiting for Dunham to get well.  I believe he likes Dunham better as an officer than any man in the Brigade.  He has one of his brothers (Walker) as one of his Aides.  I wish you would please to look in my trunk and send me that brown veil that you will find.  I want it to put over my face when I take a nap in the morning, to keep of the flies.  You never saw any flies yet, you can measure them by the bushel here.  The mosquitoes are terrible here, too.  I shall put it over my face when I sleep out of doors, and that’s every night that it don’t rain.  I’ve just learned from Mr. Parker that little Leon was dead.  Poor little fellow, I never thought that when I left home it would be the last time I should see him.

Give my love to all the family, my respects to all my friends.  Write soon, tell me all the news.

Your affectionate son,

WALTER

 

P.S. Please send the veil by the first one coming to our camp.  Give my respects to all the boys that you see.

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

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It looks right funny to see men so green, but I suppose all of us were so at first #civilwar150

HEAD QUARTERS, ANDERSON BRIGADE, RIPLEY DIVISION, August 11, 1862

 

My Dear Mother:

I am sorry I have kept you waiting so long before writing to you, but I thought I would wait until I could have a talk with General Anderson to find out what I was to do before writing.  I sent word by John Hines, also Dr. Barham, that I was well and for them to tell you all the news.  When I arrived at the Camp of our Regiment it was gone to Malvern Hill to have a fight with the Yankees.  They did not return in a day or two.  General Anderson went to Richmond immediately on business, so I did not have an opportunity for speaking with him until this morning.  He was perfectly willing for me to come back into the office, so I commenced duty this morning.  We have a very pleasant place for our quarters, a large two story house with plenty of shade, in an open field, where we have the breezes from every direction.

I don’t know yet, but I may come up here to mess and sleep, though I thought I would wait a while.  I haven’t slept in a tent since I’ve been in camp, but once.  That was last night.  It rained yesterday morning, and the ground was wet, and the air rather cold, so I thought I would go in the tent, as it was convenient.  I shall go in bathing tonight to cool off, and sleep out of doors.  We have an excellent place for that purpose, that is bathing.  It’s been awfully hot here today.  I believe it is warmer here than at home.

General G.W. Smith was to-day assigned to the command of our Division.  I understand he is an excellent officer.  Some of our regiments in this brigade have received their conscripts.  They are a very good looking set of men seen drilling in a field, as they were this morning.  It looks right funny to see men so green, but I suppose all of us were so at first, and we ought not to make fun of them.  Dossey’s Regiment is only about half mile from here.  He has been to see me twice since I have been here.  I went over to see him last Saturday.  He was very well.  I went up to see Dunham when I passed through Richmond, but he had gone home the week before, so I was disappointed.  Give my best respects to all friends, and my love to all the family, some of you write often and tell me everything that happens about town.

Goodbye, as ever,

Your loving son,

WALTER

 

P.S. I’ve got to endorse this letter for the want of stamps.  I haven’t written any in so long a time that my hand is as stiff as if I had been mauling rails, you can readily see the difference now and some time ago.  I hope it will soon get better.

I forgot to tell you that our whole brigade was throwing up breastworks every day, about two miles from here, that is the only duty they do now, no guard duty.

 

Source: Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010). See also Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).

 

 

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this is a sad reality … #civilwar 150

Manassas Junction,Va., January 16, 1862

Dear Sister:

            I received your letter some days since and was very much rejoiced to hear from you, but I thought that you were a very long time in answering my last.  It came at last and eagerly did I devour the contents and with what pleasure I lingered on every sentence, no tongue can tell.  The description you gave of your tableau interested me very much, and I regret very much not being able to have been there, as all such scenes always interest me so much, besides the desire of seeing you act.  I think, myself, that you should have had your face painted, and that would have set off the piece a great deal.  It is a pretty hard piece.  Didn’t you feel pretty scared?  What does Dick act?  Who was that sweetheart of yours that has been home four times?  I should like to know him.

            We have a hard time of it here now.  The ground is covered with snow and then a sleet over that, and it is nearly as cold as the frozen regions, the winds come directly from mountains and blow around us like a regular hurricane.  But we have now moved into our winter quarters, huge log hut, and we keep very comfortable, but it is nothing like home, home with its sweet recollections.  As I sit and write I cannot refrain from gliding back into the past and enjoying the blessed memories of yore.  But enough of indulging the imagination, for this is a sad reality and it will not do for my imagination to assume too large a sway.  Tell Miss Myra that when I visitWashingtonI will call on her parents.  I expect to go there soon, either as a visitor or captive, but I hope as the former.  We will have a tableau before long, I expect, but I expect the scene will be played in a larger place than a hall.  It will encompass several miles and will take several hours to perform it, but when it does come off it will end in a sad havoc.  I am very thankful to you for those socks you knit for me, and when I wear them I shall think of you.  All around me are asleep and the huge logs have sunk into large livid coals ever and anon emitting large brilliant sparks, that cast a ghastly hue around the whole room, and I know think it time to close, so goodbye. 

Your loving brother,

George

Source: Laura Elizabeth Lee, Forget-Me-Nots of the Civil War: A Romance Containing Reminiscences and Original Letters of Two Confederate Soldiers (St. Louis, Missouri: A.R. Fleming Printing Co, 1909).  See also Joel Craig and Sharlene Baker, eds., As You May Never See Us Again: The Civil War Letters of George and Walter Battle, 4^th North Carolina Infantry  (Wake Forest, NC: The Scuppernong Press, 2010).

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