1862 July 13 near Richmond, Va.

[letter of Andrew J. Gillespie of Ancell's Company, Virginia Light Artillery, continues]

Sunday Evening July 13
no change in my helth since yesterday Washington Black has just
returned from drury's Bluff whoom I expect to send this letter by and
he saw nathan Nathan and says he Nathan was doing duty But looked
rather thin from the fact that the company had a vary hard time bellow
here hard marching and they say nearly starved which is the case on
all marches and int time of Battle they Have moved Back to drurys Bluff
where they ware before the fite, the conscript law exempting men over 35 years
of age who have not reinlisted has on the 16 day of the present month has bin
in doubt in our camp whether o not it would go into effect on account of
some little piece that came out in the papers a short time ago but
Mr Black say it was read out to the men at Drurys Bluff last night
that they would bee let off the 16 and if it dos go into effect Nathan
will bee at home in a short time and posaby before you receive this litter
I have not knews concerning the too armys it is said however that some of our
Troops are falling Back and I suppose to get and more healthy region out of the
swamps
            Davy King is complaining a little But does duty and eats his meals o
I hope nothing serious Harvy has bin right Poly since his pa was hear and took
some medison but has got well again infact he was not so but what he could
go about but I could see he felt vary badly their has bin a goodmany of this camp
sent off sick and I am glad to see that heir is no difaculty in geting them
off to Hospitals in their own county if they are abloe to go and the men think
that is the greatest thing  thing [sic] Fluvanna has done during the war to establish
                                                                                                 Hospitals in the county

[page 3]
when Davy wrote to his wife we expected to move down the road but the
officers did not like the camp and they moved to this place and if we move
from this place I will let you Know as soon as I can
    question does Leewellen and Edga grow mutch Do they go off from the
house and stay like they used to doo when I was their if they doo I know you
must suffer with uneasyness I hope you have lernt them better doo you stay
by yourself mutch who stays with you have you baught any corn and what doo you
have to pay I admire your refusing to accept any contribution from the [word omitted]
and I want to try to Keep you in something to eat eaven if you have to sell
something that you can spair best and live on it. as long as you can make out
I dont want it to bee throwed at you that the county had to support you
in my absence and if I live I hope you can make out until the war
is over which I hope will not bee many months at most and peace cant come
too soon for me and if I live to see it it will bee the happyest day that
ever have seen in my life and not me only, but all the privates=

[page 4]
=we are expecting when cosin Jame comes down that you and Davy wife will
send us somethin from Home to eat for that is all the talk  if I was gust at
home to get something cook at home & milk ane Buter and vegitables to eat it is in
the mouth of evry one that I hear say any about eating I want to hear from
Jas Houchins let me hear in your letters how he is geting all is quiet here and not talk
of Fighting we have had some vary hat days here and it is said that a great ma[n]y of
the wounded died it is said that nearly too Hundred have bin buryed at
Oakwood Cematry in one day and for several days together of course the sick
and wound are included in the number I have see upwards of 40 buryed
in a day of the sick only Lewis goes home Monday sick he started yesterday
but was too late to take the Boat, John Keid  has bin goon home several days
the old man stayed until he got him off I will close by subscribing myself
                                                           your devoted Husband A.J. Gillespie
dont let metus forget his pa sis &
mary I recon will forget me in the clear
Len & Edga dont want to see their pa do you
what did Ed say to his whip I sent him

MSS 9564