Friday, September 23, 2011

1861 Sept[ember] 23 Germantown, Virginia

My Dear Creek

I returned late last night from Manassas
hill and forgot all of my troubles (caused by the long march)
by finding a letter here from you and also a box with my
shirts &c with a letter enclosed, you dont know how much
it revived me, after a march of twelve miles in the dark.
I recieved the letter you sent by Emerson on tuesday last, just
a few minutes before we were ordered to march to march[sic] to
Munson's hill, or Falls Church, which is close to manassas,
where we have been ever since, we have been doing picket
duty, but I dont suppose you know what that is, so I will
tell you, we were sent in advance of the whole army to watch
the movements of the enemy, we were than sent out by compinies[sic]
for that purpose, some of the posts had to be defended by two
compinies, Col Sloan kindly gave me the privilege of choosing
my own post. So I chose the one where two compinies were
required and asked him to let me have the Pelmetto[sic] Riflemen
with me, which he did, and we had a very pleasant time
of it. The Pelmettoes and my company being great friends.
We had no difficulties with the enemy during our stay none
of them ever came within range of our Rifles, although we
could see them very plainly all the time, and they could
also see us, but no shots were exchanged between us

[page 2]
and after a stay of six days a Georgia Regiment came and
Relieved us of the duty and we marched back to our old Camp
which was all left standing as we took no tents with us, but trusted
in providence for good weather to make us comfortable, we
also found houses at Falls Church for the men who were not on
duty to sleep in, my company slept in a new church (which
has just been built) when they were off duty, when on duty
we slept--or rather watched under the blue Canopy of
Heaven, with the silvery moon for a candle, you will
think this was very hard fare, but the boys enjoyed it
finely after being cooped up in camp so long.

I send you this by Sam Langston he is going home on
sick Furlough, whether he is sick or not I dont know,
but he is the fattest sick man I have seen lately.
You will find two pieces of Evergreen enclosed, one of them
arbourvitiae and the other Silver Fir. I send them as relics
from Munson's hill. I plucked them both with my own
hand from the top of it, and in sight of Washington City
and within six Hundred yards of the enemy's pickets.
I have no doubt but you have heard a great deal about
Falls Church and Munson's hill as they have become
celebrated places lately, so you can show the little sprays
as having come from their[sic], if I had any means of
sending you one of the silver firs without its dieing
I would send you on or two of them to plant in our
yard, it is a very pretty tree and grows about the same
size as the cedars in our co[u]ntry, but is very hard to grow
after transplanting if I can secure any of the seed I will

[page 3]
bring some with me. You ask do I want any
undershirts. I have still the two red ones you made me last
winter, which are still good, and are all I need, the new
Flannel shirts you sent me are the very thing I wanted
and I had the finest dinner of dried Beef to day that
have had in some time Dugan came and had some of
it with me, he eat his raw, me and billy Major had
ours boilled, when I got here last night I was teasing
Billy Major about having no wife to write to him and
send him shirts &c when he got the dried Beef today
he said he believed he would get married when he
got home and told me to send his kindest Regards
(through you) to Jullia Webb and for you to do all you
could for him, I think Julia is a great deal to good
for him, (which I told him). When you make my pants
fix them as Evans told you I expect it will be much
better than lining them. I do not need any of the money
I sent you here, as soon as we are paid off again I will
send you some more home as it is to much for me to be
carying loose about me, and you make any use of it
you think proper, do nt want for any Comfort--it
you can get it for money. I would like to write you
more but Sam is hurying me, as he wants to start. Dugan
says he is going to send a few lines inside of this, give
my Kindest Regards to all Kiss our Little Darling
for me and tell her Papa will bring her something
nice when he comes home. Good Bye Dear Creek
would that I were with you
William

[page 4]
P. S. You say you dont get many letters from me
I make it a rule to write you every sunday and Wednesday
and sometimes I write you oftener but never less than
twice a week they are lost in the mail somewhere like
a great \many now, I hear every one complaining of the
Same thing here.

Did you pay Jink the money I Borrowed from him
W A

Dear Sister
You will please Send me the
foloing list of Clothing one
Pair of Homade Pants
the Same of Bills one Vest
to button all the way up
one heavy flanel or wolen
hunting Shirt for winter
one pair heavy drawers one
heavy overShirt tell Ma
that is all I want at present
I kned the pants right off
as the Cloth Mike McGee bot
for our uniform is too light
for winter if you trim the
Pants or Shirts trim them
with green obliged yours
W. C. McFall

William Anderson, Captain of Company J of the 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters). His brother-in-law, W. C. McFall was a private in Company B

MSS 10366

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