1862 April 16 Mulberry Point, Va.

Mulberry Pt  April 16th 1862

My dear Mary
I have written you two letters
in the last week--My last from you was dated
Richmond April 2d.  I am very busy, & we
are expecting the great fight every hour--every one
is tired of waiting for it--We can hear firing
every day, but no large force has been engaged yet.
I hear some fast firing now about 6 miles from
here  I dreamed I saw you last night, & you were
quite crusty & treated me as you have often done
when I wished to be very loving---General Magruder
was here day before yesterday & took supper with me.
Should the great fight take place on the Peninsula
it will be a hard fight  Other men are anxious
to fight & I believe the Yankies will be forced back
on Old Pt.  Nothing would give me more pleasure
than for you & the children to have a glass, that you
could see the many things going on here--Such a
glass as you read about in "Arabian Nights"---
I often think I am like a busy house keeper--it is
rap, rap, at my door evry  last minute, when I
am in my room---Genl Magruder asked me
if it was not a great comfort to have the Tele
--graph in the house--I told him no--that I got but
little sleep before, but less now.  I have not heard
from Jack since he returned to the Penla----

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You must thank W. Christian for his letter, I hope he
will write frequently--Love to all at Dewberry--
Kiss the children, and tell them they are often
in my thoughts---I shall want some socks, drawers
&c but you can not send them at this time, & I
can not say when you will be able to do so--all
depends on the great  battle--Should it come off
on the Penla, & we are, as I think we shall be vic
torious, & soon as evry thing is going right, I
will retire to private life--I am conscious
of having done my duty so far: how I will come
out, should this place be attacked, I can
not say--I know the Genl expects a good
deal from me, & I fear I may disappoint
him----  Excuse this--Love to all, and many
Kisses for our children---Remember me to
Mr Sacra--& to my friends & neighbors--
I shall expect to be much indulged when I get
home & put Miss Maggies nose out of joint---

Your affec  Cal

P. S. I have just recd a letter from Co[?]
informing me that Collier Clarke was dead. Poor
Bet.  What a sad  house Dewberry has been for
8 months--What a braking up of the families

Callender St. George Noland, 1816-1879,  Commandant of the battery at Mulberry Island Point defending the James River.

MSS 6463