1861 July 7 Fort Nelson near Norfolk, Va

My dear Mother

I received your welcome and affection-
ate letter yesterday together with those of Mr Page and Mary Ann
and was very glad indeed to see that you were more cheerful
and contented, and I hope dear Mother you will remain so, until
this glorious war of Independance is finished, and the North conquer-
ed, my motto now is, "Death! oh death to the Yankee band! Hurrah!
Hurrah! The north will soon be conquered! Hurrah! Hurrah"!--to
the tune of Dixie. I suppose you have already seen the account
or rather the notice of the last glorious battle near Martinsburg.
I sincerely hope that Johnson has "licked" them, as the saying is,
from the face of the Earth. I see also that Connecticut is com-
ing out all right, but New York, and New York City especially,
is as obdurate as ever, my prayer for her is, may the grass
grow green in her streets forever. Every dat that I live my
hatred towards the north grows stronger and stronger, and I
sincerely hope this war will be carried on vigorously against them,
and that each day may be a day of terrible retribution to them
and that this may last for moths aye even years to come, I
only wish I was at Manassas, or with Johnson so that I could
take a more prominent part against them I have made a
Solemn vow against them, the very day I left Annapolis, when they
were cheering their fellow cut throats on to subgugate the south,
that I would never ask quarter of one of them, and that I never,
never, would give any, and that vow I hold as a Sacred duty
and will to the utmost of my ability fulfill it.

You seemed to think that if I was to get really sick that I would
not let you know, now dear Mother you are very much mistaken
as I should certainly let you it, as I think it very wrong to deceive
any one about such a thing as that, because I do not think
that it would do any good, but rest assured that there
is not danger about my getting sick here, as it is the most

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healthy and delightful climate I ever saw, and moreover I
am not very easily made sick, and I take good care of
myself, I have not been sick in the slightest manner, since
I have been here, in fact for the last 12 months, and about
chills and fever, the climate is the very place to prevent such
a thing but if I were to come up in the mountains about
Lynchburg I would have them, as you doubtless know from
the short time I stayed at home. It is needless to say that
there has been no fighting here, as Old Picayune and his
crew are scared to death, and would not budge an inch
from New Port News for anything in the world, I wish they
would put some body in his place and let us have some
amusement any how, as everyting is getting very stale
down here and not enough exictement hardly to keep one
alive. There is a beautiful Confederate Gunboat here which
will go to sea sometime shortly via the Swamp Canal and
the Officers on her want me to go with them, which also pleas
es me exactly, and I hope they will succeed in getting
me ordered to her, she is a perfect little beauty, and
will make the Yankees howl. If I succeed in being ordered
to her I will let you know. I am very glad you sent me
Mr Pages letter, and I hope you will always send them as I
take great interest in reading them. what did you mean
or rather Mary Ann's by bands ready for me? Give my
best love to all Aunt Mary's family, and Aunt Eliza's also when
you see them. what did you mean about Uncle Ben had no
right to expect any thanks for me as he had taken ten times
that much from me and that you would tell me all about it.
Do pray Ma write me all about it as I know nothing
at all, and never have been told anything about my Father
or his transactions, do pray Ma write me all about it.

Kiss the children for me, and tell the Negores howdy--and now
dear mother farewell, a bientot---
Your Affectionate son
R. A. Camm

Robert A. Camm, 1842-1892, was a midshipman in the U.S. Navy before resigning his postion (an incident he describes in this letter) to become a midshipman on the CSS Ellis. He lost his left arm in action at Roanoke Island in February 1862, but returned to service. He resided in Lynchburg, Virginia, after the war.

There was no commander, Union or Confederate, known as "Old Picayune." Historian Robert K. Krick suggests that Camm's derision may have been aimed at Benjamin Huger, CSA, not at a Federal: "Huger was oft-scorned with some cause, and was in fact stuffy, starchy, old, and uber-picky (or Picayune, if you will)" but qualities that that context of the letter may suggest a Yankee target

MSS 8937