1862 June 2 West Point, Va.

West Point  Va  June 2d

Dear Mother

We have not moved
away from this place yet so you
need not worry about my being
hurt in any of the great battles
that you read of as we are not
within 30 miles of them though
we can hear them   It is getting
to be dull music staying here
getting no letters nor no news
only by way of the gunboat which
I go aboard of most every day, but
then am safe from fighting,
and shant have to lug
my shoulder trunk to
Richmond.  I want to hear
from the Regt as they have
been in 2 or 3 fights and
want to know how bad


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they are hurt.  I hope not
bad.  Yesterday we lived high.
For dinner we had Chickens
& Turtle Soup or Sea Chickens
Fried Eggs & Fried Sturgeon great
living for one in the army.
Yesterday we  had a whole
quarter of fresh beef given
us. I just stopped to eat
some nice biscuit the first
I have had since I have been
in the army. Bully news from
Richmond Aint it, It makes
old Secessin look blue round
the gills I dont know what to
wish as we see nobody here,
and there is nothing for
excitement here. Last Friday
we had an awful blow here
Friday I thought it would
blow down the houses
and awful thunder and

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and[sic] lightning.  Last night
we had a tough time.
fought all night and
the dead lay all round
our rooms, as we are
quartered in houses now,
The musquitos were awful
thick, no sleep and so
big that they would try
to take the muskets out
of our hands as we stand
on guard nights when I
came in last night I found
one just strapping on my
knapsack and going to
run off with it. Whoppers
aint they I mean the mosquitos
But I must close with
much love
from your aff son
Wm Wallace

Mrs. E. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass.

William Wallace Smith of the 22nd Massachusetts was detailed to guard stores at West Point, Va., under Lt. W. S. Morris, when the rest of the Regt moved up the Peninsula.


MSS 15360