My Dear Wife

I recieved your very welcome letter by W. D.

Wilkes yesterday, and was very happy to hear of your welfare, I also

recieved the socks and shirt &c all right, you ought to see me with

my hat trimmed off with the palmettos you sent me, I have the

brim of it looped up on the left side with the star, and the cockade

on the front, I could not decide which of the two was the

prettiest and so put them both on, I have also a nice black

Feather which Dugan found on the Battlefield and gave to me

every body wants the palmettoes from me they all say they are the

prettiest ones they ever saw, I wrote you some days ago aabout the

new uniforms for myself and company let me know as soon as

possible whether you think there can be enough of jeans got for

it or not, Mr. Breazeale is busy now taking the measures of

all the men and will start home this week, he will cut my

suit for you and make the coat My Drawrs were very hard

up some time ago, but the day after the Battle I found a large box in one

of the yankee waggons filled with fine grey woollen drawers

and home knit woollen socks, so I helped myself to two pairs

of each so I am very well of for them at present, they were all new

and never had been unpacked the men got the balance of them

I told Sloman to tell you what kind of shirts I wanted if you

cant get the flannel at home, I will tell Breazele to get some

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of the right sort at Richmond and bring it to you I think I have

socks enough to do me all winter, make me some kind of a warm

cap to sleep in, in the cold weather, should I think of anything

else before Breazeale starts I will write by him.

Their is nothing new in camp today except that A part

of Genl. Longstreets Brigade had a skirmish with some

of the enemy yesterday in the neighbourhood of Falls

church, killing two of them wounding five and taking

ten prisoners, when they retreated towards Alexandria,

there was two killed on our side, our Brigade were ordered

to hold themselves in readiness but did not march our

services not being required, we have very disagreeable weather

here at present it rains nearly all the time and our camp

is getting very mudy and comfortless but the men who

are here are all in fine spirits, and anxious to give the

yankees another sound thrashing and get back home

I think if we could do that we would all get home pretty soon,

The health of our Regiment dont improve much, but I dont

think it gets any worse, I dont hear of many dangerous

cases, all that I can hear from of my company are improving

and expect to be at their posts soon, William is in good

health and stands it finely, he got his box all safe

the wine was a most acceptable present and we shall keep

it in case of sickness, it is very much needed here at present

as soon as you kill any Beeff I want ou to dry me some

and send it by some one who is coming out, it would be a

fine thing to cary when we are on the march and cant

get our provisions cooked, and you know I am very fond

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of it anyhow, their is a great many little nick nacks

that I sometimes want but I have to console myself that I

fare as well as my fellow soldiers and as without them, it will

teach us all to appreciate the comforts of home when we get

back, and think more of our wives and firesides,

I am so happy to hear that our dear little Maggie is getting so

smart, how I do long to get back to you both and assist you

in teaching her her little lessons, I often look at your likenesses

till I fancy that you are both beside me, I dreamed last

night that you were here that I saw you standing with her

in your arms on a high Piazia in front of a House and as I

walked up the street you pointed me out to her and she stretched

out er little arms, and called me so sweet, that it woke me

up, only to be disappointed, by finding it all a dream, I

do hope this war will soon come to a close and let us all back

to the loved ones at home,

I wrote Jink a few days ago which I hope he has recieved

tell him to write me soon, and give me all the news, I have a

pretty good supply of paper and envelopes yet which I got

from the yankee plunder but it is pretty scarce in the camp

Give my kindest Regards to all of our friends and

neighbours, kiss our little angel, for me and reserve my

kindest love for yourself, and believe me your

ever Devoted Husband,

William

William sends his love to you all

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366