Richmond Via
June 23rd 1861
Sunday
Dear Father
I resume
my pen this pleasant
Eavning to drop you a
few lines in the form of
a letter: which will inform
you that we arrived safe
and sound this morning
at 7 Oclock when we were
called into lines and marched
through the city about 3 miles
out into an old field of
about two hundred acres where
I am informed that there
is about 5 thousand troups in
camps. I am inmormed [1] that
there is about 30 thousand
troups in and around the
City. We have our tents all
[page 2]
spread out and have eat one
meal under them. Our crackers
and bacon has just come
We all got along finely for the
first 24 hours the livelyest
croud I ever saw but after that
a great ma[n]y of us were quite
civil though cheerfull: While
passing though S C we had
very bad water but the Ladies
treated us so finely that we
got along very well at one
little town where the train
stoped 15 minutes the Ladies had
assembled their with large tubs
jars and cans ful of the
best butter milk with tea cakes
by the basket full.. we chered
them loudly and thanked them
kindly for their charity. I rec-
eived a beauquett and a
Palmetteau leaf from one of
the prettiest young ladies
immaginable: she told me her name
[page 3]
We left Columbia a little to
the right: strait on to Wilmingt[on]
N.C. on to Weldon where we
remained 10 hours then on to
Petersburg Via: where we had
to march about one mile through
the town from one Depot to the
other we then took the train for
Richmond; We are all as well
as could be expected under
the circumstances: so long
a ride and so much dust;
you would not have known
us if you could have seen
us this morning: but we have
washed off and put on some
new Cloths; Pat says tell he is
doing very well a slight head-
ache Tom sends the same word
John wilson says he is just
as happy as a pig in the sunnsh[ine?]
the best water immamable [imaginable?]
excuse me. direct your letter
to Wm Batts in care of Capt
[page 4]
Willis A Hawkins of the
M Geo Richmond Via —
I have seen a great many
boys here that I am acquain
ted with The Rifle company from
Americus is here: they are
ordered to be ready to leave
tomorrow but they know not
where Our colonel will be
here tomorrow we know not
how long we shall remain
here som think two weeks
and some thing four,
and as to fighting evry
one thinks that we will
have to go home with out
it I heard the capt of three
companies in counsel this
morning they say that we
will make peace in two mo
nths. Wm Batts
Richmond Via.
In care ofCapt W A Hawkins of M