1861 Sept[ember] 23 Camp near Germantown, Va.

My Dear Wife
As Mr. Rosboro leaves to-
morrow morning for home I will again
write a few lines, although I sent a letter by
Mr. R. B. Sloan a few days since. In your note
sent by Mr. Whitier you stated that you had
not received a letter in two weeks. I can
only account for it in this way. We were
absent on Picket duty for one week and
when about to start I had written a letter
but would not send it, until my return.
Wm Creight has probably delivered the letter
some days since. I sometimes think that I
write so often, their certainly must be
some very uninteresting and nonsensical
letters. If this is the case take the will for
the deed. I received the haversack and
am very much pleased with it. I have
written a note to Wm Creight directing
him to leave with you $90, ninety dollars.
As I before wrote you do let me

Direct your letters to
Fairfax C.H.

know from time to time the state of your funds.
Do write me soon, and let me know if
the clothes etc came to hand. Within the past few
days, the weather has been quite cool and I have
felt the need of another pr. of blankets. Last
night I slept with 3 Shirts on and part of
the time with my breeches on. This however is
only a cool spell as we some times have
at home. Matters are still quiet, something
is however brewing an there is considerable
activity among the troops. We expect soon ^ ‘again’ to
go on Picket duty at Munsen’s Hill or
some call it Munson’s Hill. In this event
I will again write you. Say to Nett that McGin-
-niss is said to be the ugliest man in
the Legion. Gen Jones has his wife with
him. It makes me feel that I would like
to have mine with me. When I get to be
a Genl (now don’t) Probably somebody else’s
wife wont be with them. You see what
kind of paper I have to write on. Send
me three or four packs of good yellow
envelopes with the paper. The sick are getting
well and the health of the Company much
better. Give much love to all, Your ^ ‘husband’ in purest
Affection JM Phinney


James M. Phinney, 1st Lieutenant in the 6th South Carolina Infantry

MSS 12661