1862 March 4 Centreville, Va.

Centreville Virginia
March 4th 1862

My Dear Creek
I cannot think that it is your fault
that I do not hear from you. I have not had a letter in
four weeks except the one Jim brought me a few days
ago, and that had been a long time on the road, you dont
know how anxious to hear from you. I am afraid something
is the matter with you, and you are not able to write
and dont want to let me know it. I thought probably
that the fault was in the mails but letters are coming from
about home every day lately, for some of the men but none
for me. I go to meet the agent every day as soon as I see him
coming but still no letter for me, I made sure that I
would get one today but was doomed to disappointment.
I received all of the articles you sent by Jim, the comfort came
in fine time as the weather is cold her just now, it keeps
me so warm about the neck and ears, the cap is given up
to be the neatest shaped cap that has come from home yet.
it is a little to small for me but I can make out to wear it.
Their is a great many rumers[sic] afloat here at present about
expected Battles &c we are ordered to send all of our heavy
Baggage back to Manassas, and hold ourselves ready to move
at a moments warning. what it all means time only will
tell, as no one here knows at present except Genl Johnson
I do not think however that there is any danger of a fight just
now as the roads are to bad to mover the cannon anywhere, we
may perhaps leave this for some other place but that will be
all we can do. Jim has been here three days, and will start
back to Richmond again tomorrow or next day to await his
exchange he is in good health and looks finely willam[sic] is well
and hearty: we have had another very heavy fall of snow, day

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before yesterday, and yesterday it was followed by a heavy
rain and high winds, this morning it is a very hard frost
and promises to be a very fine day. I know you are
thinking we have a hard time of it, but we do not suffer a
grain more from cold than you do at home, after the snow
fall the other day the whole Regiment turned out and
had a general snowballing for over an hour just among
ourselves, one wing of the Regt against the other, and
than the sixth Regt which is camped on the other side
of the Road, sent us a challenge, which we excepted[sic]
and had a regular fight with snowballs till darkness
drove us to our cabins, it was the bigest[sic] snowballing I
ever saw, and every one was in a good humor which
made it a very aggreeable[sic] pastime.

I believe I have not got any more news to relate the
revolunteering is still going on though slowly
I dont know when I will get a Furlough but will do so the
first opportunity for I want to see you and little maggie
worse than ever, but our Generals are very particular about
letting off captains of compinies[sic], anyone else can get leave
of absence easier than us.

Kiss our little darling for me and tell her to be a good
baby, give my love to all our relatives and tell Jink I would
like to hear from him soon.
and for yourself except[sic] the warmest affection of a Devoted
Husband,

P.S. Robert Keys sends his kindest Regards to you.

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

MSS 10366