1861 Dec[ember] 9 Winchester Fredrick Co Va

Dear Pa ma & sister

I received your
kind letters yesterday eavening a few
minutes after we landed hear
and was glad to hear from you
all. I am Still in good health
and hope these few lines will
finde you all in good health
We left greenbrier on the 22 of
las month and marched nearly all
the way to this place. we rode from
mount Jackson to Strawesburg
on the cars about thirty or forty
miles and marched all the rest
of the way. We come through
the prettiest Country that I evry
Saw we come through the
vallay of Virginia I saw Col Fields &
Henry Plaster at mount Jackson

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The weather hear is very warm
and has been evry since we got
out of the mountains. we are
stationed hear but I dont know
how long we will stay hear.
I have seen more towns since
we come in this valley than I
evry saw before. Pa I was glad
to hear that you was in good
health. We are forty miles from
the yankees the army keeps
out pickets twenty miles from
this place but they are horse
men. Winchester is a nice town
it is a toliblerly large town
the sitizens rang the church
bells as we come through
There was fore of our company
runaway while we was on the
march and five McIlhenny

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and one of the tigers their has
been thirteen runaways out of
our company Pa I havent any
news to write to you more
than we are all or mostely all
well their is verry little sickness in
our Company I have had and
have know as good health as
I ever had in my life.
Pa as I have no news to write
you must excuse me for not
writing you alonger letter and
excuse my bad writing and
spelling. So nomore at present
but remain your affectionate son
W.R. Gilmer

William R. Gilmer, Private, Co. I, 37th Virginia Infantry

MSS 5194