1862 July 27 Camp near Richmond

July the 27th 1862

Miss Rachel [Bramham]

I hope you will excuse me for

Remaining so long silent, for I have been through many

troubles since I wrote to you last.  I suffered a great eal

while in Lynchburg Hospital sick which I have no doubt

you heard of.  I am now called the old Gentleman on

account of my Bald Head I lost my Hair from the

effects of that spell.  but I am thankfull to say it is groing

out again--since my Return to the Regiment we have

been either moving Camp or on the march or fighting

nearly all the time and I have writen but very few

letters.  I have not had the pleasure of seeing your Brother John

since we have have been near Richmond he can tell

you something of the difficulties of a soldier--we are

now as the saying is laying on our oars every thing is

quiet and the Boys are getting fat getting in good order

for another fight our loss in the late Battles was very heavy

and very distressing  I saw some noble young men fall on

the field some that I esteemed very highly, you cannot

imagine my feelings at the time.  But the feelings of

a man can better be imagined than explained or expressed

in time of a Battle, when musket Balls are falling

as thick as Hail and cannon Belching forth grape

and canister so thick that it would seem impossible

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for a man to escape yet strange to say there are a great

many that escape without one scratch through the protections

of an unseen hand.  I trust the time is not far distance

when we will be a free and happy people again and can

enjoy ourselves as in  times that are past--the privations and

confinement in war is almost as Bad as the fighting

I expect my Brother Thomas will visit the neighbourhoood

of Scottsville either to morrow or the next day on detail duty

for the company  I hope he may see you while he

is up  I must come to a close and go to cooking

I have several in my mess and only three of us to cook

for all and By the By one sick and as [?]full as you

ever saw  Please excuse this short letter and one so

Badly written--And let me hear from you soon

      Your Friend

           Most affectionately

                 Robt. L. Omohundro

P.S.

Direct your letter to Richmond Co. C. 19th

Va. Regt.