1862 April 27 Wynne's Mill

Dear Aunt Mary,
I have wanted to write to you
for the longest time but have not been able to do
so before this, and I have very little to write about
now,  but I know you are anxious to hear
from me, and I will write anyway just to
let you know that I am perfectly well.
We have been here three weeks yesterday lying
down behind breastworks night & day most
of the time in mud six inches deep, & have had
no general engagement yet, The Yankees
have a battery of four guns planted in the
woods about 3/4 mile from us, from which
they bombard us, all the time day & night
and we are not allowed to return the fire,
and it is the most provoking thing in the
world. We are so strongly fortified that they cant
hurt us at all and as we havn't ammunition enough
to be wasting any, we are reserving our fire until
they make a general attack and get in closer
range, when we intend to let loose on them with
a vim.  The Yankees are throwing up strong fortifications
all along in front of our lines, and have doubtless
other works between here & old Point to fall back
upon in case of a defeat.  I begin to believe myself

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that there will be no fight here at all, at least for a
good while, I believe they are going to erect fortifications
here of such a nature that a force of twenty five or
thirty thousand men can hold them, and then take the rest
of the army and make a move on some other point.
they are certainly pressing on Richmond very closely
and I had rather they should attempt to get there
from this way than any other because I have no
doubt as to the issue of a battle here now. they
have been bombarding Fort Jackson for four or
five days and it is rumored in Camp this morning
that they have taken N. Orleans, but I don't believe
a word of it.  We get the papers now very seldom
and when we do get them, ther [sic] is hardly anything
in them worth reading.  I wrote to Nannie about
two weeks ago, giving an account of the fight
on the 5th inst. and I suppose you saw it.  I
haven't heard from any of you in Halifax but
once, and that was Nannie's first letter.  I am
really anxious to hear from you all & am
looking for a letter from Nannie every day.
I suppose you are staying about at different
places with your old friends!  It made me
feel really sad Aunt Mary, to hear of you
all leaving home under such circumstances
but it was probably the best plan, and I hope
& trust that affairs will soon take such
a turn that you all can remain once more
in peace & quiet at Turkey Hill.  I would not

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mind it half as much if it were not on account of
dear Mama.  I know she feels as sad & low spirited
I have written home several times in the last three
weeks & have heard from there twice once from Ma &
once from Pa, they were all well.  I try to let them
hear from me as often as possible.  the mail now is
so irregular that it is mere chance when a letter comes
or goes straight and I understand this morning
that it has been stopped altogether: if such is the
case I will have to send this to R____ by private convey-
ance & I would advise you when you write to send
the letter to Uncle George to be sent down to me.
I suppose Nannie & Bee & Dinkie are all at
Leighwood?  How I do wish I was there too--everything
in the country I reckon looks so beautiful now.
I say I reckon, because although in the country
myself, there is nothing beautiful here, no beds
of Hyacinths & other spring flowers, to walk out &
admire after a good wholesome breakfast, no not
even a field of green wheat, no there is nothing but
almost one dense wilderness of woods and even
when you do come to a little farm, everything looks
as wild & barren as a desert & shows the destructive effects of
grim visaged War.  How is Watt coming on Give
my love to him & tell him I will try to write to him
before long.  the 1st Co Howitzers is down here and
about three miles from us.  I went to see them
the other day, but didn't see Cousin Tom; he
was off from the main body of the company

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with one of the guns.  I saw Henry Williams
& Anderson who were both very well.
They think the Peninsula the hardest place
they ever came to before.  The Dispatch, the
other day came out with a very complimentary
notice of the gallant behaviour of the
"1st" Co Howitzers in the engagement on the
5th int. The 1st Company was at Orange C Hous[e]
on that day, and the gallant 2d should
have received all the honor & glory of
that days fight.  I must now close as
there is nothing else to write about & I reckon
you are already tired of this dull and
meanly written letter.  Give my love
to Nannie Bee & Dinkie & to all of my
friends & write immediately to
Your Aff Nephew
James P. Williams

P.S. April 28th I received a letter from
Pa last night informing me of the sale
of Turkey Hill which he had effected
within the last few days.  I have only time
& room to say that I am perfectly crazy
I am so glad. Just direct your letters
to Yorktown as usual.

J. P. Williams

James Peter Williams, 1844-1893, 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery and later a freight agent and superintendent of the Lynchburg Division of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company.


MSS 490