1862 February 4 Centreville, Virginia

Virginia
Feb. 4th 1862

My Dear Creek

I have just returned from picket duty
and am vry [sic] happy at finding two letters from you
I wrote you one the morning before I started out which
I hope you have received; We have had a very rough
time of it on picket; it snowed all day yesterday without
any intermission and the snow is now about five or
six inches deep all over the contry [sic], I know you will
be pitying us, out here among the snow, it is not
half so bad as you will imagine. it is much preferable
to rainy weather, and not half so cold, besides we can
have lots of fun snowballing. Sam Brown started back

home before we got back to camp. I made you another
needle while on picket out of cheery tree, which I had
intended sending by him also but I may have another
chance soon, and probably I may think of something
else I can make and send you, I am happy to hear
that your health is so good, I hope it may continue
so: I think it vry [sic] well to let Josh Holland have
the land to work. it will save you of a good deal of
trouble; you must excuse this short letter. I
harfly know what I have wrote, I am very tired from
marching in the snow, and I have four more
letters to write tonight yet to some of my men who
are sick in hospital. Kiss our darling for me me and tell
her I will soon be home to mend her chair, Goodnight
William


[crosswise in top margin]
I will write you a long letter next time to make up
Billy is Quite well and Hearty
Tell Jim to stay where he is
till the spring

William Andersoon, Captain, Co. J, 4th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers [Palmetto Sharpshooters

[transcription by Emily Cone-Miller]

MSS 10366