1861 May 5 Fort Palmetto

                                       Fort Palmetto
                                                         May 5, 1861
My Dear Wife
                        As this is Sunday I propose to
devote the day to reading the Bible and also
to writing you a few lines.  This seems as a
day of rest because all duties are suspended
except guard mounting and dress parade.  Yet
there are numbers playing card and some
fishing.  The boat which plys between this point
and the city is about to leave and with it
a number of men from the different com-
panies go on their way home.  What a source
of pure joy it would be , if I were among
the number.  The news came here last evening
that we would be removed from this point
in two weeks.  I think I will go to the city and
forward the articles to you by express.  Do let me
know a day or two before you forward the box
that I may get it immediately.
                                                    I suppose Wm.
Creight is to-day in the enjoyment of every pleasure
that he could wish, and will no doubt sit up
to Marg like a sick kitten to a hot brick.
In speaking of the unpopularity of the Colonel  I cannot

say why it exists.  The commander of a regiment or
of a company must conduct himself very
circumspectly or his popularity is at an end.
Rion has done his best yet for some unknown
reason, he is very much disliked by a large
portion of the regiment.  Probably a concentration
of the regiment would remove many of the little
differences, yet this must be tried.
                                                 Do say to Cousin
Anna that I would like her to make some
of those shirts left with her.  You can get her a pattern
I am ^ ‘not’ positive yet  I may be up home the latter part
of this week.  The boys or a[t] least a number of them
are very anxious to go to Virginia, and wish
me to go with them.  I would prefer going
there to remaining at this post, where we are
subjected to an unhealthy location.  I am told
that a number of the boys from Winnsboro will
go.  I do not know how or what will be the result.
I see by the papers that 3 women are among the
volunteers from the North, dressed as bloomen.  Do you
ever hear from Aunt Phebe.  Write me soon and let
me know if communication has been cut off with the North
If not, I will write her a good long letter.
                                                              How is Nett’s
school getting on, hope she has several of the little ideas
teaching them to shoot.  I would like so much to
peep in upon you this afternoon and see those                                                                                

very dear to me.  We do hope that these matters will not
last always.  Hoping soon to meet you
                         I am your very affectionate husband
                                          J.M. Phinney
                   Write me all the news tell Will to
                pay the pew rent and I will settle with
                him.  Tell me how your funds stand

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

                                                             
James M. Phinney, 6th South Carolina Infantry

MSS 12661