1861 Sept[ember] 11 Germantown Va

My dear Creek

As it is now night and every thing
comparatively quiet I though before going to bed I would
write to you as I may not have a chance of doing so again
in a few days, we have recieved orders late this evening to
hold ourselves ready to march at a moments warning
and have two days cooked provisions with us, I presume
we are going to pay our Yankee friends a short visit,
but in what direction or manner I am ignorant--as
yet--I do not anticipate however that anything like a
fight is going to take place as yet, we will have to
fight them again, but it will be some time before
we are ready to do so, and when it does take place
we will not have such a hard time of it as we had
before as their is a great many troops between us and the
enemy, and you know before their was not any in front
of us, and our Regiment, had to fight them almost alone
for two hours. Now you must not get alarmed at our moving
as I know it is nothing of importance, as we are going to
leave all of our tents standing where they are now with
only a corporals guard, t take charge of them till we
return, whereas if we were going to attack the enemy we
would have to strike tents and pack them on the waggons and

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send them off to the rear in the neighbourhood of Manassas
so that none of them might fall into the hands of the enemy.
L. A. Osborne reached camp today, we were all glad to see him and
hear that you were all getting along smoothly about Anderson
you dont know how it cheers us all to see any one direct from
home and get all the little details from them, they have to
answer almost fifty questions at once, every one is so anxious
to hear from their friends, he told us the vigilance comitee
had run Heldman off from Anderson, they ought to have
done so long ago. The health of our Regiment is still improving
the men are returning from Hospital every day. Col Mattison
has been sick for some time something like a Billious attack
he is not able for duty, but has never been confined to bed altogether
he is recovering now and will resume his duties in a few days.
Major Whitmer I believe has got a Furlough and started
for the springs. I suppose he has had enough of the glories
of war. I am afraid the move has made him unpopular in
the regiment, as most of the men thing he is feigning sick
more than anything else, do not spread this however as coming
from me, as he is my Brother officer and Superior in rank,
and it is unbecoming in me to cast any shoes on his
character as a soldier, whatever I may think of it.

Their has been some talk here this last few days of our Regiment
and three others from south Carolina being sent to Charleston
soon for winter Quarters, I cant say as to the truth of it but
sincerely hope it may be so, we would be much nearer home
and in a much better climate for spending the winter in
and we may also do good service for our state at that place

[Page 3]
in case the enemy should attempt to land, which is not improbable
but I am stuffing your head with a great deal of nonsense and
I am afraid nothing that will interest you much as I will quit
writing about the wars, as I know it will only make you feel bad.
How are you getting on with the crop you had better try and hire
some one a few days to help gather the corn and Fodder as they
get ready, and not depend on any one helping you to do it as
you might get it all spoilt by rain in waiting. put the shucks
up in the old stable and lay some fails in the floor to keep them
of the ground, it will soon be time also to pen the fatening
hogs: if they are poor now get them up as soon as possible, how
many young pigs have you got now, if you think you have to
many of them sell some of them of[f] as it does not pay to feed away
corn to them all winter unless it is very low in price, but I
need not be telling you all this for I reckon you are a better manager
in that respect than I am myself, and Papa will advise you better
than me, I wish I was back again to take all these cares off you
hands for I know it puts you to a great deal of trouble I often
think I see you walking about home and Maggie and Polly runing
after you, Mag stopping to pick up all the pretties she come across
and showing them to you does she know the road to the apple
orchard yet, you must watch her very close now that she can
run about, or she may fall into the Creek and get drowned. Kiss
the Litle darling for me and tell her Papa Lovers her dearly.
William is well and sends his love to you all. Give my love to all the
Family, Good night Dear Creek. May Heaven guide and
protect us both, and grant us a speedy and happy meeting,

Yours, William

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366