Thursday, June 7, 2012

1862 June 8 White House, Va.


                   Va.
White House  ^  June 8th/62

                                       Dear Mother
                         Here we are removed from
our old position but still over 30 miles from
Richmond.  Today I received 3 letters from
you and one from Asa all back letters
sent on by the regt. as they had a good
chance I was glad to hear you have got
over your sickness, so well.  Asa tells me you
was going thinking of applying to the State
for aid I will get a certificate of my
enlistment made out so that you can
draw money the amount give by law
The 29th Mass regt arrived here last night
and left today I saw W. Henry he looks
tough and hearty though he was surprised to
see me here he said he had forgot that
Asa told him I was out here  This White
House is a great place only one building
except nigger huts but it is a rushing
place for business I ma imagine a river
about twice as wide as it is at the Falls
and all full of steamers and schooners
for the distance of three miles and
hundreds waiting for a chance to get

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up to unload It is fun to see them
unload cattles they come up as nigh to
the shore as they can and then pitch
them out and let them swim ashore
they come out sideways and everyway
I hope you will have good neighbors
in Mrs T's house. A man has just come
in and says the whole army has all
crossed the Chickahominy and there
will probably be a big fight tomorrow
and if there is we shall go to Richmond
by railroad and save a long march
as we have got rid of 4 weeks of hard
work. Some of the boys of our company
are here sick in the hospital they tell
me what a hard time they have had
in the swamp and bushes I am tough
and hearty Give my respects to all inquiring
friends and take my love to yourself
                   From your aff son
                       Wm Wallace

envelope addressed to
Mrs. E. Smith
Newton Lower Falls
Mass


William Wallace Smith, Private, Co. B, 22nd Massachusetts


MSS 15360

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