1862 April 18 near Yorktown, Va.

Camp Near Yorktown Va
April 18th 1862

My Dear Creek
I wrote you a hurried note a
few days ago from Richmond intending to
write you again when I got to Camp, but on
reaching there I found our Regt paraded for the
march to this point, and this is the first opor-
tunity I have had of writing you since: we had
a very pleasant trip from Richmond here by steam
Boat down James river.  this was much better than
marching: we are nor lying in the woods as
usual, without a single tent and not a great
many blankets, but the weather is very warm
and pleasant so we dont feel the want of
them in the least.
I suppose you have heard by this time that
I have been elected Major of a new Regiment
there was not Volunteers enough fromt he 4th
Regt to organize a Regt or Battallion so we all
joined with  5th and 9th Regts who had organized

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a Battallion between them.  of seven companies
our four companies made eleven, which makes
it a large Regt.  Col. Jenkins of the 5th Regt is
our Col. a perfect gentleman and an efficient
officer among the best in this arm.  he was
formerly the Princibal [sic] of the Yorkville
S.C. Military School.  our Leut-Col is I
think from Spartanburg district and also
a very fine man.  he was Capt of the
Spartan Rifles last year. Tom Evans' brother
now commands the company.  I need not
say anything about the Major as you are very
well aquainted [sic] with him.  Our Regt is
called Jenkins' Palmetto Regt, and I think
in a short time be the crack Regt in the
service.  I would write Jink and give him all
the particulars but this is all the paper I
have and I had to beg this, as our baggage
has not yet reached us.  as soon as it comes I will
write him a long letter and give  him some
points of interest about our organization

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we are close beside the old 4th Regt.  William
has not yet Volunteered but will I think,
as the Palmettoes have nearly all come
over.
This is a pretty close place we are in now.  there
is plenty of Yankees within 3 miles of us
and they keep firing Cannons at our men
all the time but seldom hurt any of us.
they made a night-attack on our lines
night before last,but got repulsed and left
several dead behind them, three men slightly
wounded on our side and none Killed
I will write you again as soon as my trunk
comes.  Capt Leabrook is going to start to
Richmond, and this is all the chance
I have to mail this.  there is no mail came
here at the present.
Kiss our little angel for me. I will come
and see you as soon as I can get [leave] which I
think will be before long.  Good Bye dear
Creek  May Heaven bless you,
William

[page 4]
Adress [sic]
Major W. Anderson
Jenkins Palmetto Regt
Yorktown, Va.

Tell Jimmie I got a letter for him the other
day.  I read it but will not tell who it was
from, only that it was a young Lady which
he has seen personally by this time
W.A.

MSS 10366