My Dear Creek

I received your very welcome letter of the 21st inst-
I am truly happy to hear that you are well and getting along as
with the crop &c. you say you think that you can spare
three of the Hogs, I think you had better feed them first as
corn is very low this year, and Bacon is going to be very high
I have no doubt you will make most of them by doing so.
I have just got home to camp today from another visit to
our Yankee friends in the neighbourhood of Falls Church
where we have been for several days, so you must excuse me
for the letter being a little longer between times, I wrote you
before I started by Sam Langston, who was to have started
for Anderson, but on my return to camp I found him
still here, he having failed to get his Furlough as soon
he expected so I will send you this by him also as he
starts in the morning.

I am very sorry to hear since my return that Billy
Holland is dangerously Sick of Typhoid Phneumonia
he is at a house about three miles from camp where a
number of our sick are, I went to see him the day we left
here for Falls Church he was than very sick but said he was
a great deal better and as soon as I came got back to camp to write
and let his Father know, but when I got to camp the drums were
Beating to arms and I had to march with the Regiment, so I had
not time to write myself, but told his cousin Elijah (who was
left at Camp) to write to him which he says he did I also left
Sam McCulley behind to nurse him as Billy and him were
always great Friends, But I am very much afraid no earthly help
will now save him, I have not seen him since my return which was
only a few minutes ago, but will go to night if I can get leave from

[page 2]
camp as long as go [?] I have just seen Dr. Cooley and he says he
has no hopes of his recovery whatever, Elijah Holland has come
from their also and says the same thing, and that Sam McCully
has gone to the Station to Telegraph to his Father, had I been
here myself, I would done so sooner, for I know he will be
very anxious to hear from him, I will however do all in my
power for him and see that he has the best attention that
I can furnish him. Our company has been very lucky
so far but I am afraid that death is going to thin our ranks
at last Another of our men John Hawkins is very low but
Dr. C says he thinks he will now recover several more of them
have been very sick but are all recovering and I think will soon
be able to be about again though it will be a long time before
they will be fit for duty, In the midst of all this sickness
I am still enjoying the best of health which is a great
blessing. Should I be taken sick I will let you know at
once so you can come and stay with me, For I know
you could nurse me better than any one else. I hope
however that you will not be required to come here on such an errand.

I feel like I could write you a long letter but I have not the
time to spare at present; I will write you one tomorrow night
should nothing prevent and send by mail.

Kiss our little angel Maggie and tell her not to eat
to many Chinkapins and make Papas baby sick
William is well he says he will write you some of these days
he is going to write Papa tomorrow, he has just geen in my
tent getting a drink of Brandy after the long march
Good Bye Dear Creek May Heaven Bless and protect you
and grant us a long a speedy and happy meeting

Your affectionate Husband

William

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

MSS 10366

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale, Co. F. 34th Ohio Zouaves]

we was woke up this
morning by the cry of
water water we got
up a bout 2 o clock
and the water was
at the lower part of
our tents and a raising
at day light it was
all over the tents so
that we could not
get to them with out
wadeing we left our
tents you can see
the boys ridind round
on big boards and boats
get ing things out we
left our cooking utensels
in our tent we could
not get them out so
we left them there the
Kanawha is about
40 feete high there is
hay stacks drift an
old boats going down
all the time there
is two boats at the
landing now we will
etheir go to gauly or
to Charleston I do not
know which
the Major went up to
Gauly to see where we
should move to we are we are
hemed in now in about
two akers but the river
is quit raising I gess
now but our tents are
all covered with watter
we can only see the
tops of some of them
we got a flat boat to
take us a crost to
a mountain a crost
a brake it look very
gloomy here to day and
we have a sad pros
pect be fore us for to
night for we have not
got our tents they are
all under watter
we are here yet and it
is dark and the water
is a raising but there
is a way for the boat
is coming back we
got on an land over
a bout 8 o clock I
never felt so bad
as I did at dark
I thought I may
not see any body
of my kindred a gain
for things looked scaly [scary?]
for we had water
on both sides 3 or 4
hundred yards wide
we got a crost and fix
for the night it was
very cold and we
had to get up to
the fire and warm
in the night I do
not care for to be
in sutch afix again
while I am a suldier

MSS 13405

[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

We are still on piquet–and must stay on until to-morrow morning–has cleared and we have a promise of fair weather–skirmishing has been kept up for the last few days–9 P.M. Nothing worth noting has occurred to-day–we are cautioned to be very watchful–all very hungry–have not had a good meal since we have been posted here

MSS 38-221

[From the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virginia Infantry]

Come up with to the Regt. Take break-
fast with two old schoolmates – Regt.
marches 11 miles – Cross little Scratch’
‘mt. and 2 other small mountains Cross
Muddy Creek. Mt. Brushy Mt. and Cheomo[?]
Mt. Road muddy – wade Meadows River
come up with a part of Floyd’s Brigade
Camp at Meadow Bluff – Day cold
Read 3 chapters in Bible.

MSS 5526

My Dear Wife
Your kind and affectionate letter
was received to day and as Billy Boggs leaves to –
-morrow for home I will write you a few lines.
You will have received letters by Mr. Sloan and Rosboro.
Nothing of interest has occurred since I last
wrote only that of our having been out since
last Tuesday. An attack was expected and our
Brigade with several others were called upon to
sustain our Pickets. The enemy showed himself
in some force and engaged one of our Regt.
Col Kershaw, killing one man and wounding
one or more. You must overlook bad writing
etc as I have [been] on the march nearly all
of last night. Some thing of interest may
be looked for soon, as we infer from many
incidents and movements now taking place.
On Thursday and Friday while out (bivouacking
as before) we had a blow approaching the gales
prevalent during the season, and today is
quite cool. We cannot think for a moment
what we can or do pass through, but as

you remarked we could not at home think
of subjecting ourselves to such exposure. This
will no doubt (should we live) tell on us in
after years. With sadness we note the death of
another of our boys Mr. F.C. Nelson. Billy
Boggs carries his remains home. He (Mr. Nelson)
was kind and affable and our Company loses
one of its first and best members. This will
be a severe shock upon his mother as she is
not aware probably of his being sick. He
was a warm friend to me and I felt quite
sad [‘at’ lined out] ^ ‘over’ his loss. He was a cousin of Mr. Robin-
son whose remains were sent home some
time ago. How dearly would I like to see the
loved ones and the little jewels. My imagination
often leads me home, but [-] I find I am
not there. If should get an opportunity send
me yours with the childrens pictures. I feel
gratified as you do that “Abram” is not
on hand. I hope your winter may be a pleasant
one, and that I may not be far from you.
When I get home then we will talk of our
home. Say to Mr. Creamer that for as
much as I know he will be able to
get the bake loner [?]. He certainly should give
$4 per month mention this as coming from

me, and if $ 4 is not to be had, we will take
$3, write me in your next, you may make
the bargain try to get $4. You did not say
anything of your funds Wm. Creight is [to]
leave $90 with you. I will probably send
you $50 soon again. I must close as I
feel quite wearied. Give much love to all
and accept the purest affection of
Your husband
J.M. Phinney

Write soon direct to Fairfax C.H.
excuse the scrawl
Say to Will I will write soon

James M. Phinney, 1st Lieutenant from Winnsboro, S C., in the Boyce Guards Militia and the 6th South Carolina Infantry.
MSS 12661

My dear little Nannie:
I did not carry out my purpose
of writing to you yesterday and the evening of the day
before because of the rain and wind that have ren-
-dered our Camp so disagreeable – This morning we have
no rain but the equinoctial storm still rages while
I am writing in my hut of leaves ^ ‘on’ and a rustic table
^ ‘and’ while my sixteen year old companion from Mississippi
puts fuel in the rusty old parlor stove, that Church
Chinault [Churchwell Chenault]found in a deserted house down about Munson’s Hill & brought to me – We had retired to bed
and slept very comfortably night before last until a-
-bout 1 o’clock when the rain found its way through
our roof of leaves and we had to “pick up our beds &
walk” at double quick time to the tents of our friends
who laughed loudly at our discomfiture and application
for shelter from the storm –
It is reported here that the Yankees are advan-
-cing to day; and although our horses are harnessed & we
are ready to move I do not expect to leave here for some
time –
These unfounded reports are of too frequent occurrence –

[page 2]
I have had your nice letter of the 23rd for three days
and have not replied to it for the reasons aforementioned
in this – Of course we will have a one horse Carriage &
Oh! what a nice time when Choctaw gets home again –
You were misinformed as to my having the command of
the Battery in the absence of all our Officers except
Clark – Clark was the legal & very acceptable next in
command until the return of Lieut [William J.] Folkes who superseded
him – I have not heard of the whiskey frolic among the
Officers to which you allude – If such an one came
off, & I should not be surprised if it did Clark was
not present at all – I delivered your Ma’s (my Mothers)
message about the Coat to Clark – He sends none in
reply – He is very anxious to raise an Artillery Company
from materials at Lynchburg & in Mr Dillard’s neighbor-
-borhood & speaks of going home with that view in a
few days – Citizens sometimes experience trouble in get-
-ting passes at Manassas when they are not able to
identify themselves satisfactorily but I presume that Mr.
Dillard could get here very easily – If he will write
to Clark or me in advance one or the other of us could
meet him at the Junction – We are supplied with dishes
& plates – I am much obliged to you for your kind
offer to send us more –
If possible I would take it as a very great favor
if my Nannie will have one pair of my old Boots
mended in heavy style and send them to me by
some person who will promise & execute the promise
to deliver them to me in person – If I shall want
other winter apparel I can get them ^ ‘it’ when I am
at home in November –
John Williams called to see me
a day or two since – He seems to be unfixed in
his employment and purposes – If he is going to serve
the Country he ought to attach himself to some corps
permanently –
Grey Latham has not yet returned but is
looked for this evening – I saw Tom Claiborne a day
or two since – No new command has yet been assigned
him – He is employed at the Head Quarters of General
Johnston in connexion with the Muster Rolls –
Woodie Latham has left the Junction & is
lukewarm about the Company Command to which
he has been elected.
Nannie always fills her letter sheets but the
want of items to communicate renders it impossible to
be done by her own Choctaw
My love to all at home

William A. King, Captain of the Saltville Light Artillery
MSS 6682

[from the diary of Harrison B. Jones, 4th Sergeant, Co. H, 33rd Virginia]

quite a rain last night
& to day, accompanied
by high wind. our tents
haveing been blowing
over

MSS 13407

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virignia]

Read 2 Chapters in bible
Day tremendous rainy – Marched 6
miles – Pass through Lewisburg – Take
up lodging in a Blacksmith shop
Regt. goes 2 miles further – have our
supper given us – [-] fine load of ap-
ples. and a comfortable bed of straw

MSS 5526

[from the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

9 A. M. We are still on picquet–it still rains–have had a dreadful time–have to stay on duty another night and day at least–9 P.M. Took some prisoners to-day–

MSS 38-221

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale, Co. F, 34th Ohio Zouaves]

it is still raining
this morning and is
pretty cold we can not
fin any place for
to make a fire for
to get Breakfast
there is some body steeles
our wood every morning
if we do not put it
in our tent
we had for breakfast
butter & sweete potato
& beefe & corn bread
and it a raining like
every thing our tent
is gettin pretty well
filled we will have
to go to ditching
soon if it dose not
quit raining soon
it did not quit raining
till late at night but
we slept very well for
2 of us had 5 blankets
to sleep under and on[e]
had 3 which mad 8
for three of us we
slept warm enough

MSS 13405