1862 June 23 Camp near Richomd, Va.

                                     Camp Near Richmond
                                               June 23d 1862
My Dear Creek
                      As none of my mess are up
out of bed yet and every thing is quiet this
morning I will try and write you a short
letter, but I dont know whether you will ever
get it or not; I never get one from you now
by mail, and I know you send them, the
last I heard from you was by E. W. Byrum, and
that is over a week since, I am getting very
anxious to hear from you again, surely I
will get one this evening.
There is nothing new transpiring about here
just now, sometimes a little picket
skirmish, but they have been so common
of late, that they cease to excite us, particularly
as there is never much damage done in
them.  John V. Moores Regiment has been
assigned to our Brigade, and is now camped

[page 2]
close beside us, we are all very glad to have
them with us, it is a very fine Regiment.
Some of our nieghbours are pretty badly fatigued
since they came here, I have seen a good
many of them.  Pete Ackers, Gus Vandiver &
are all here, and wishing they were back
to South Carolina, they find some difference
between soldiering in Virginia and S.C.
but they will soon get used to it, they
are all getting along finely.
Tell Billy Smith Gambriells wound is doing
well, he is in a fine Hospital and has
the young ladies fighting about who shall
wait on him, he is doing finely and will
be able to come home in a week, or so, others
or our wounded are not doing so well and
several of them will die, but they are all
strangers to you,
how is the fruit crop at home this year,
you must try and have a good water
melon patch for me when I come home.
I sometimes think the war will close by
that time and let us all home again

[page 3]
wouldn't that be fine , oh I could be
so happy at home now.  I would never leave
you again.   I have been longer off than I
expected, but let us hope that it will not
be much longer till we assume our former
happiness, which will be all the sweeter by
the consciousness of having done our duty.
William is getting on finely and keeps his
health well, and does his duty like a man
hardly ever speaks to me though unless I
speak to him, but that is his way, you know,
and he is a noble fellow.
Give my kindest regards to all our friends.
Kiss Little Maggie  for me, and tell her not
to eat any more green apples.
Good bye Dear Creek, May Heaven Bless You
                       William

The last letter written by Major William Anderson of the 4th South Carolina Infantry to his dear "Creek,"  Lucretia McFall Anderson.On June 30th he was mortally wounded in the Seven Days Battle before Richmond, and died July 4, 1862.

MSS 10366