[page 1]
Oct 5th 1861
Intrenched Camp
Near Norfolk Va
My Dear Uncle
To day is sunday
and some of the boys have gone
fishing others to the Creek
and as I have nothing to do
I dont think I can employ
my self better than by writing
you a letter. When I first
arrived here I was sick
and felt very badly but
since I have improved
and I am now gettting to be
as fat as any of the boys.
Ben was the proudest fellow
to see me you [ever saw?]
We have had us a bunk made
and both sleep to gather.
We have a fine time here
and I am very well pleased
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We are side by side in [illegible]
and we will be very apt to
stand up to one an other.
Ben had a Chill the other
day but is well now and
is writing a letter to Mr Ca-
mpbell on the other end of
the mess chest. we are going
to be moved from here next
week about three miles off
they say it is a very pretty
place. it wll take a bout three
weeks before we can get every
thing moved, we can hear cannon
shooting every day down at
Sewills Point, and if the Yankees
ever attack us here they will
be very apt to return home
a badly whipped set. It is
reported here that twenty five
hundred Georgians whiped
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five thousand Yankees in
the north western part of
Virginia I think that was
good fighting
Uncle William none of you need
not be uneasy a bout us for
we are well fixed and when
we move from here we are going
to have fine [pale ?] cabbins.
How is mother and all of the
children Uncle William I
have never heard from home
only through a letter that
Mr Littlepage received from
Mr Godwin and he said
that mother was very sick
God knows I hope she may
get well, that is all that
pesters my mind. How is
Aunt Lizzie and the children
are well as your self how
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all will I hope. How is the
crops going to turn out better
than you expected, Dr. Lamar and
Troup Randle are standing by my
side talking to Brother Phil
they all send their love to you
all, they called by to get Toby
to go a visiting with them,
Give my best love to Cousin
Phil and Cousin Fred and tell
them I will write to them
before long, Toby Ben Buddie
Phil and Mr Littlepage all
send their love to you all
give my love to Aunt Lizzie
and the children.
Uncle William you must
excuse all mistakes for
there is so much noise around
me that I cant half write.
Write soon to your Nephew
Joe
Fitzpatrick Mitchell Williamson Papers
