Smithfield Virginia
September 14 1861
My Dear Father & Mother
I avail my self of the present opportuin of droping
you a few lines to let you know how we ar getting
a long Jacob & I have had the chills an fever for the last
five or six days we were tolerable sick a few days but
are about well now We expect to go to drilling in the
morning Our company has had a prety good threw of the
chills for the last week or too but all are getting better
there were only about twenty men of our co able for
duty for several days There is a greateal of sickness
in our regiment now it is mostly chills an fever
and mumps We are station in thre miles of james
river and too company of [???] regiment are detailed [1]
to go to the river and wah for the yankees every
week the doctors think that is what givs us the
chills for ever company that goes takes the chills in
a bout a week after they come back The river is only seven
miles wide at burwells bay it is a rite pretty site
we were at the boat landing at the stone house wharf
a little a bove the bay we could see old Abes war
vessels at newport nuse We received a few lines from
you when the Boyes returned also when W P Fortune returned
we orto of answered them before now I sent you a few
lines by captain Vance also a due bill in the letter on
A. F. Harris for fifteen dollars we tole him to pay
it to you we received the clothes you sent we
did not need them yet but it was a very good chance
to send them our coats we did not cear about for if we hafto
march our clothes will be very heavy I think I have enough
to last me till our time is out I have not wore out any
of my clothes that I start with you need not send us any
more clothes til we write for them
[page 2]
we are still waiting for the yankes but
they have not come to see us yet nor we
cannot tell when they will wet [2] had orders
to weeks ago to keep to days rations cook[?????]
and be ready to march at any moment for
they were expecting a figh ever our or too but
the yankees have not landed any place yet
close about here nor we do not intend for
them to come about without a whiping
We have herd of some fighting the yankees took the fort
in [????] but close about our side has whiped
all we have had of since the We have heard that
Cantuckey has orderd all the southan solders of ov her soil
They are making great preperrations for war on boath sids
from what we can hear we have been Throwing up
entrenchments for a week or to and are at it yet
to fight behind we do not know when we will
have any fighting to whether soon or not we
want to be ready at any time I suppose you
heard that our captain [3] had left us he was elected
Colonel over the twenty Sixth reg of N C volenteers
while at home he came back to raleigh and his
had started onto the forts wher the yankes had
he would not except of the offices u[n]les he got the promise
of his company going to him he did not get to come
for they expected to go rite in to fight We are glad that he
is promoted so hily and very sorry that we had to
part with him for he treated us so kindly I would
rathe be under him than any man in my knowing
lieutenant Roberts will be our captain I must close
I hope these lines may find you all in good health
Mr Columbuss Cooper sends his best respects to yo all
G N Penland [4] says the chills like to s[h]ook his back bone out
so nothing more W.M. Patton