[page 1]
Camp at Moseleys Church Apr
20th 1862
My Dear Sister
This is a dull
dreary looking Sunday morning and
with nothing to do no employment
my mind naturally reverts to Bright
Spot and its dear inmates. knowing
that in adversity and disappointment
I will ever find Sympathy with
Mother and Sisters. other friends may
forsake they never do I thank my
God that I owe so peculiarly blest
for no Soldier has a dearer Mother
and Sister than I have, and that
thought along under all circumstances
will ever [serve ?] my heart and arm
in the cause of justice and the right
Sister I have always felt proud
of being a volunteer. now I am a
Conscript without even the privilege
[page 2]
of choosing my company and Regt
I expected to stay in the Service but
I did want to exercise that privilege
Soldiering dont hurt as long as a
man does it voluntarily but you
just tell him he shall do it and
it stings. I dont think Conscript
branded on the brows of volunteers
an ornament. and all the Regt think
So too. its like a cold bath on their
patriotism. they say it was a military
necesity though and I surpose our
Congress knows what [they ?] are doing.
So we have to submit. we are here
for two years longer unless sooner
relieved by a musket ball and I dont
think there is any danger of that as
long as we stay here. we are entitled
to a furlough and fifty dollars bounty
but its hard to tell when we will
get either perhaps I can come
[page 3]
Home some time next Summer. Dr.
Williamson comes under this Law too
he must find some pretext to stay
at home if possible. you must not
let him leave you cant do without
him. I dont care what they say about
it. I am astonished at Uncle Clems
thinking he ought to come. tell him to
plead over age but if he has to come
if there is no other alternative he had
better join us So we can all be together
I dont like this company though.
and about 30 of us will get transfered
if we can. there is some nice boys here
though but we are in the minority they
can elect any body over us they please
Joe wrote you a few days [Since ?] all
the news I expect. I was in Town when
I got your letter to him Ed and my
self haveing a nice time I have made
some new acquaintances since I wrote
[page 4]
You last. Miss Selia and Kate Baker
Miss Selia has blac hair and eyes
mighty pretty and very fascinating
reminds me something of Cous Bettie
Miss Kate is beautiful medium size
Splendid figure. dark luxuriant
auburn hair fair as a lilly. She is
so sweet any description would do her
injustice. She treats me mighty kindly
when I call on her two always sais
come again. I think I will find out
before I leave here whether its for the
Soldier or the boy. in fact I am about
half way in love with her. I wish this
war would close. I think I would
stay in Norfolk for a few days just
as [susceptible ?] as ever and I did not
seriously hurt though Since I came to
think about it. I dont think I
would like to ask a married woman
for my [Watch ?] if I ever came home
[page 5]
[written sideways on page 1]
I expect Cousin Josie
is tired of it. You can
get Cousin Betsy Cobb
to get it for you. I
may be kilt. So Ma had
better have it. love to all
the children write to
me keep a letter on the
way all the time. I have
just finished a letter
to Cousin Mollie Griffin
all well
Your affectionate
Brother
Phil
[page 6]
[envelope front]
[stamp has been cut out, removing part of the postmark]
[remainder of postmark: [Nor]folk, [V]a. ; date can't be determined from what is left]
Mrs. M. L. Williamson
Line Creek P.O.
Montgy Co.
Ala.
[written sideways at left edge of envelope]
Private P.F. Mitchell
Company G
[page 7]
[envelope back, reverse of page 3]
[written sideways]
[Dr. S. T. W ??]
Fitzpatrick Mitchell Williamson Papers
