Friday, February 10, 2012

1862 February 11 Warrenton, Va.

Warrenton Feb 11th 1862.
My dear Bettie,
I have just arrived
From my fatiguing trip to see an old
minister expected to die, and found y’r
letter of the 7th awaiting me. I am very
glad of its reception, as it reassures me
of y’r continued affection & welfare. But
my spirits are so affected upon the re-
ceipt of so much unfavorable news that
I hardly feel like doing any thing. Be-
sides I am a little complaining again
from disease with which I was afflict-
ed seven or eight days after writing to
you. It seems that exposure to cold brings
it on me and Laudanum does me no
good, have to resort to Blue Mass. Just
as I was about rid of it last week, I
went to the Stable to see Bill, and

[page 2]
concluded to lead him to water with
only the halter on him. He commenced
rearing and then turned his heels to me
and kicked me twice before I could
get out of the way: just above my right
knee. Strange to say, my leg was not bro-
ken, nor did I let him loose. He had
been standing up for some time, and want-
ed to play, and I think he thought by
kicking at me, it would frighten me and
make me let him go. By the application
of Volatile Linament, my leg has not
been greatly lamed, and I feel very thank-
ful to Providence that it is no worse.
Well you have no doubt seen the news
from Roanoke island; I suppose Wes-
ley is among the prisoners, as I see
all were taken except twenty five. I
feel very anxious to hear further news
to night. Our people were becoming
too confident, and too prayerless, and
the Good Lord seems to be against us

[page 3]
[Written in red at the top of this page: “=War”]
Our troops about Centerville seem to
be desponding and the other day thirty
of the Amelia cavalry ran from twenty
Yankees; but they say they thought
there was a large force trying to cut
them off. Nearly half of our horses
there are dead and the other half are
so poor that they are fit for nothing
scarcely. I never saw such negligence
in all my life. Some times teams stop [?]
here and the drivers get drunk and
keep their horses standing all night
without any thing to eat. But our
cause we much try and trust in the
hands of the Lord, hoping that a change
for the better make take place. Try my
dear child to give y’r heart fully and
unreservedly to y’r blessed Savior. You can
only do this by seeking for grace in ear-
nest prayer, to enable you to give up every
thing else that binds it to earthly things
I do so much desire that you and Winkie

[page 4]
both may be Christians! Oh! If either
one of you should be taken sick and
die, without a hope of being saved, it
would distress me very much, and then
the irreparable loss to you; who can es-
timate it! Well you may die any time
“In such a moment as ye think not the
son of man cometh” – Be regular my
child in praying, don’t forget it, I entreat
you, and don’t let Satan tempt you to give
up y’r hope in Christ, for that will be
worth any thing else besides. Don’t let the
company of boys; not even cousins, draw
y’r mind from y’r regular duties. Be polite
& kind, my darling child, but don’t encour-
age undue familiarity. My heart yearns over
you and if you love me, keep my wishes.
Y’r letter of 25th Jany was not a day after
my last to you – My darling Winkie,
let me know in the next, how your are com-
ing on in y’r duties. I have written most
all of this to Bettie, because she may need
it, and this letter to you must answer now
while the same advise given to y’r sister is
also urged on you. I want you to think of
y’r soul, and try to become good; for you are
not too young to die. If I could well leave
my work I would go over and see you all
but, having to go in April, I don’t see how
I can spare the time now & then too

[The last part of this letter is written perpendicularly over page one.]
I want you and all the little cousins to think about religion, for
if they put it off until they are older, they & you will think
less about it then, than you do now. The heart gets harder and
harden every day and the more you resist – the Spirit the less
will you feel his stirrings. I was very glad to find that
y’r disposition has softened so much since you have been
with Cousin Lizzie, and that you & y’r sister had learned to
be more patient with each other. I never doubted y’r love for each
other, but there was often a spirit of temper and impatience
manifested when every thing didn’t go exactly as you both wished
God loves little children that love each other. I am trying to
notice children more than ever before, and hope to be able to
make then love me all round the circuit. Give my best love
to Cousins John & Lizzie, Sissie & Mamie & all the children, and
also to the family at Edgewood. You must write to me the
next time y’r sister writes, and tell me all about yrself.
Y’r affectionate father.
R. W. Watts
[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

The Rev. Robert William Watts, 1825-1910, served as an Army chaplain.
MSS 809

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