1862 May 4 Richmond, Va.

                                                 Richmond

                                                       May 4^th 1862

     My Dear Wife

                             Again I propose to

write a few lines in order that you

may know how I am getting along.

Having business here which concerned

most of my time, I have not be[en] so

dull as I might have been otherwise.

As matters now stand I am not

able to say when I will get to the

Regt.  Our forces are falling back

from Yorktown, and those of us who

are here will be compelled to remain

until we know something more about

our Regt.  Yesterday morning the recruits

I brought on, and “Wirten” & Bill Yongur

started for Yorktown, but returned

last evening being unable to get nearer

Yorktown than 35 miles.  Had I known

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how matters were I would have remained

home until to-morrow (Monday) and I

would not have brought any boxes

except the uniforms.  The boys will not

probably get their boxes for weeks by

which time every thing will be unfit for

use.  The chicken you prepared for me

was spoiled when I got here.  Matters

are very unsettled at this time.  From

all that I can learn, our forces will

be within a short distance of Richmond

I was to see Miss Margaret Crawford on

Friday.  She will likely remain in the city

for some time.  This morning I attended

Dr. Moore’s church, and heard Wm Boggs

preach the same sermon that he preached

for us last Sabbath.  The text was “Fear not

I am with thee or have redeemed thee” etc.  The idea

imediately struck me while in church, that

he would make the same remarks that

were made in our church.  I have met a

number of the boys since I got here.  Joe is

still at the hospital.  Smith Wein is looking very

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bad.  Bill Kitchern is looking quite bad also.

Mr. Boney is also sick.  It is stated with

some certainty that there are now

in the city 24 000 sick men.  Evening

before last 2200 sick, came from

the direction of Yorktown.  Alas the horrors

of war.  You may at any time see 4 or

5 coffins going out together in the city.

The men to day confirm our having taken

Huntsville, Decatur, and Tuscumbia.  Also a

a fight having again begun at Corinth.

Mr. Glenn I suppose will leave to-morrow.

I hope you may get my letter before he

leaves, as it will save him much anx

-iety, and probably save his packages.

I would like to spend this quiet Sabbath

afternoon with your presence.  Now that

I am away I feel that your smiles would

drive away depression of spirits.  I do hope

and pray that this summer may bring

this war to a close.  I would like so much

to again engage in business which will

prove more profitable, and less hazardous

as regard one’s life.  I hope  Cousin Anna

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 and Nett are getting on in their new

business.  Were I there now in the store

with a large stock of goods, it would

help me and them also.  Do write soon

give me all the news.  Give much love

to all and accept the purest affection

                     of your loving husband

                                          J.M. Phinney

      Direct

         To Yorktown

Co “D” 6^th Regt S.C. V

           I wrote to Mollie yesterday

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

Confederate officer from Winnsboro, S. C., in the Boyce Guards Militia and the 6^th Infantry Regiment.  

MSS 12661