1862 August 17 near Whiteoak Swamp

[on patriotic stationery featuring the Confederate flat and the verse"
"Gather around you Country's flag
Men of the South!  the hour has come--
None may falter, and none may lag;
March to the sound of the fife and drum."]

Camp on Picket near whiteoak swamp Augst 17 1862

Dear Susan thinking that you feel some
interest in hearing from us on picket I give you a fiew
lines after eating a fine dinner of beef and you potatoes
we are living fine here their is plenty of Fruit in this
neighbourhood apples Peaches, whortleburys we are camped
in a yankey camp and it is a sight to see their fireing
for a mile or two in either direction you can see nothing
But camps strewn with Boxes Barrlls catridge Boxes old
clothes old shoes and bots something of evry thing you can
imagine it would bee a sight to anyone that never saw
anyting of the kind I have found many tings that would
bee of use if I could send them home I am agoing to try and
send some things home if I can I have packed a small
box 3 coats bullets and some very nice Bottles and other
little trinkets we are very well fixt here plenty of plank
the yankeys left to make Flowers to our tents all the disadve
tage we labour under here is we have to bring our water near
a half of a mile but we have time enough nothin to doo
but gard our horses and guns I hear no taks  of yankeys
we and about 3 regiments of cavelry is all that is at this
point watching a bridge crossing whiteoak swamp creek.
their was a considerable fight at this point during the 7
days fight before Richmond

[page 2]
Evrything about here is laid waste with vary fiew
exceptions I have not heard of But 2 crops of corn in this
neighbourhod The People have nearly all left their
homes and evry thing when the Yanks came in and
now they have noting to come back to But their land
fields all turned out fencing all gone I pitty the country
that an army pass through, all of our men are in fine
spirits, you would not think to bee in their company
that any thing pestered their mind I exspect you
all see more trouble at home than the men doo here
D.G.  EH. & J W King are all well and seame vary well
satisfied But I think and well he migh[t] that
cosin James had the hardes tryal that he had
for many years, when we left him at amp I felt
for him his last son seperated from him it appeard
that he put great confidence in me, to see and advi=
=se for their good But could not say mutch to me at
the time of parting too full to talk and when I saw
him so affected I would not talk myself, and after
leaveing him I began to think and simpathise with him
and I could not refreain from sheding tears it
brought my thoughts back to our seperation but
I hope the time will soon come when our sorrow
will be turned into joy

[pge 3]
you must write me word what you think of the lot
I sent in the Trunk I think I sent three Blankets
one ax catrige Box and sent Back the too new shirts you
send down and other little things tat I cant recolect
we are 15 miles below Richmond and about 2 1/2 miles
from the R & YR Railroad this place looks like it
may bee healthy here I see no reason why it should
not bee however I dont recon we will stay down here
many days. longer but we are dooing a well here
as it many on Hill gard duty is mutch liter
than at camp our men have picked up lots of
broken guns Bayonets Swords, and Balls in any
quantity I could get led enough here to keep me
shooting for years at home I recon
Davy and harry has
25 or 50 lbs of led I herd that Nathan came
to marion Hill after his things that your pap
braught down I was very sorry that we had to come
away at the time we did Consequently we could not enjoy
the things that come from home so well but we had
some of them braught down last night and had a
fine dinner today Thomas King seames to make a
vary good start in geting a long in camp I think
he will stand it vary well he is peart enough it is not like
going among strangers he has friends to instruct him in the
                                                                    right course

[page 4]
Tell cosin Herniretter I will doo all I can for her
good that likes in my power and if either gets sick
I will let her know in good time Something was said
the other day about beeing dissatesfied since he
had bin in the war no matter what happens he
says oh its all in the war
This is sunday evening August the 17th we have
had several vary cool nights and the sun shines
like october this leaves me in tolerable good health
I felt a little badly from walking down here it made me
a little sore eight of us walked all the way down here
got here at dark  I hope when this reaches you
it may find you all well give my love to all enquireing
friends and believe me still our devoted and
                               Affectionate Husband
                                         A.J. Gillespie
the blankets in the Bottom of the trunk
one light one and one marked PV I gave $5.00 for
and I gave one dollar for the ax nothing else
I have sent you cost me any thing I have baught
me a pair of shoes cost me eight dollars
I hope I wont have to buy any thing else soon
They speak of geting us a uniform for winter but it is

[in right hand margin of page 4]
uncertain about geting it I think

Andrew J. Gillespie  Ancell's Co. Virginia Light Artillery

MSS 9564