Saturday, June 9, 2012

1862 June 9 Mercer County, Va.

Mercer Co.  Camp near the cross rodes  June th 9th 1862

Dear Pa

I take the present oportunity of writing
you a few lines to let you know that Cummngs &
myself are well hopeing these few lines will find you
all in good health I havent had a letter home in a good
while I want you to write and write the last news you
got from Rieves their was a dispatch come to martial
that Jackson had another fite whiped them and took
800 prisners at strawsburg.  Jackson has been giveing them
what want I think if he keeps on he will make them willing
to let him alone.  I think a great deal about Rieves
he is a long ways from home he has went throug a great
many heard ships any person that never has tryed soldiering
cannot form much idea of what a soldier has to stand
while a person keeps his health he will do very well, we havent
very much to eat we have meat Bread & sometimes peas or rice
they say that we will not get any more shugar. I think
if we keep on in sucksess we can make out until we
drive the enemy from our soil and make them willing to let us
alone their is some talk that the yankees are comeing throu
gh the Pound gap if that is so we will come back to
Russell I hear a good many of the boys wishing that the yankees
in through the pound gap, they all are willing and ready
to start to russell at any time we had orders the night before
las to be ready to march by daylight in the direction of Jeffer
sonville they was all well pleased we cooked our rashion for
the next day the order was counter manded we did not get
to go Thompsons Battalion went in our stead our officers

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was very mad at martial for changeing the order their isent
very much sickness in our company now the weather has
been toleable cool hear for too or three days their was a
little hail fell hear this morningl every thang thing hear is
later than it is in Russ I was on the top of a high mountain
yestarday I could see lonways aroun it was a very beautiful pleas-
ant plase  I would like to be on some plase where I could see
our flat woods I would like to see our wheat and corn I recon
James & Axley think have a heard time of it. Charles M Brown
ing is well his mouth is very sore. I would like help save
our grain but their is not much chanse to get off tell them
all howdy for me write soon excuse bad writin and
spelling no more at present. but remain your Afection
                                                         ate son Charles H Gilmer

Cummings Gilmer Esqr
Mary A Gilmer

Charles H. Gilmer  29th Virginia

MSS 5194

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