1862 April 24 Camp near Yorktown, Va.

Camp Near Yorktown Va

April 24th 1862

My Dear Creek

As Mr. Walters contemplates
starting home in the morning I will
avail myself of the opportunity of
droping you a few lines by  him,  I
have no doubt but your minds are
all on the rack at home, as I suppose
roumers are plenty, of an expected
Battle in this vacinity, but it has
not yet taken place, and most of us
are beginning to think that the great
Battle will not now take place at this
but some other point, probably
on the coast of North Carolina, or on
the other side of Richmond near the
Rapidan River, in the neighbourhood
of Fredricksburg and Gordonsville
but this is only supposition on our

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part, and we are very liable to be wrong.
there is plenty of Yankees close to us here
our pickets are skirmishing with them
all the time, we are close enough to
hear the fire of there Musketry very
plainly, but this is a  duty which
our Regt has escaped so far, and we
are very glad of it for of all other duties
picket is the most disagreeable, we
would all rather fight a big battle
than go on picket. I don’t think we
will have any of it to do here as our
division did nearly all of it last
winter, and Genl Longstreet will keep
us from it on that account as long
as possible; We are all very much
pleased with our new Regt our Col
is one of the finest officers I have
ever seen and a Gentleman of the
first water besides, every thing has
to be done in apple pie order about

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him very different from the way
which they were done n the 4th Regt.
I have not heard from you since we
came here we are looking for a mail
from Richmond today.  I hope there
will be some letters for me, as I am
getting very anxious to hear from
you.  I have a good chance to get  home
now as soon as times are a little quieter
Both Col Jenkins & Lieu -Col. Walker
have been home recently and are
willing to grant me the first opportune  word is opportuny
offered, which you may depend I will
avail myself of,  We are still living
in the woods we have only two tents
for our whole Regt which are used by
the Col. Lieut Col and myself, the
others are just sleeping und[er] brush
arbours &c but we are all satisfied
and fancy ourselves very comfortable
and are willing to suffer many

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more privations for our countries
happiness and independence.
I wish you would send my blue Jean
Pants by W. N. Major when he starts
back as my others are nearly wore out
I do not know of anything else that
I need in the shape of clothing as the
Less I have the better and I can get along
with it, You may send me some good
whiskey if you can find it, but do not
put yourself to any trouble to do so,
everything is very high here I had to
give three Hundred dollars for a
saddle Horse, and if I had not
happened on a good chance I would
not have got him for that sum
he is a beautiful dark Gray almost
black, and a very fine animal.
did Jim get the articles you wanted
for you, and Maggie doll baby, is
she growing much and getting smarter
ever day?  Kiss the little darling for
me and tell her Father will soon be
home to see her, give my Kindest
regards to all the Family and
except my Love for yourself

William

William Anderson, 4th Regiment South Carolina volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366