Camp Allegany .. Virginia
Nov 30th 1861
Dear Father
I am now seated to write
you a few lines in the form of a
letter althoug I have written to you
seince the reception of your last
letter: which I sent by the politeness
of Shep Pryor: but thinking that probab
-ly you might not receive it in due time
I concluded to write this morning and
send by the next mail: This will inform
you that I am still in good health and
getting along as well as could be expected
for it never was nor never will be
tha a Soldier whould be comfortably
situated: We are in winter quarters;
but not possitively decided that we
will remain here during the winter
so I learned from my Capt to day.
He says that it is very probable that
we will be ordered to the rear, as soon
as we compleet the fortifications at
this place; and compleet all the necessary
building for Commissary stores &c.
[page 2]
Consequently; if that be the case, there
will be no more furloughs granted
untill that time; which will be about
Christmas or probably the first of
January next;
I hope by the time this reaches you; that
you will have seen Mr Pryor who could
if he did not give you a true statment
of our misserable condition; Last night
after Supper (I say after Supper; but we
frequently cook and Eat but twice a day)
we called our mess together consisting
of 15 men and held a meeting: in which
we made a great many by laws: by
which the mess all decided to be govern
and if we will only carry then out
we will get along tolerably well; The 1st
rule was: that each and evry member
of the mess must keep as clean and
as neat as possible; and the
cleanlyness of the hut as much as possible
and a great many others too tedious to
mention; We are going to rebuild our
chimney and redop our hut as soon
as we have an opportunity: but our
leisure moments are but few,
[page 3]
Our huts afford us but little more comf
-ort (as they now are) than a tent, We can
by a great deal of labor make them toler
able comfortable; The weather is moderating
very fast; the snow is all gon or nearly
so and the rain is falling slowly ass
the time; which makes the weather very
disagreeable; When it is not snowing
it is very apt to be raining:
I would be more comfortable if I had
my extra clothing: that I sent to
mo[n]terey [1]: Capt says he will send after
them as soon as he can get transpor
tation to bring them; But rest assured
that I will never backout from any
thing that falls to be my lot;
There were three men left camps last
night all three were from Capt Rogers
camp 12th Ga; this morning a squad
of men were sent in search of them
two of the squad were from my
mess they have not returned yet;
Those men were all three yankies
from the City of Macon; we suppose
that they will Endeaver to make
there way to the yankee camp;
[page 4]
Well pa; I must close: as it is
very near mail time: Give my love
to my Dear mother; tell her that I
think of her often and would: would be
proud that I could meet her sweet
Embrace once more; Give my love to
Brothers and sisters all: and receive
a devoted sons love yourself
your absent son
W. Batts