1862 October 7 Camp near bunkers Hill Va

           Camp near Bunkers Hill Va Oct 7th 1862
Dear Sisters
                        I received your kind letters yesterday
morning and red them with much pleasure your
letters found me alive and well and I hope
these few lines will find you all in the same health
I am here with company of Seven men my mess
mates have all left me Some have been killed Some
wounded &c and we have made one mess of the
whole company.  James A. Gilmer has gone to Richmond
and maby from their he will go home but I cant tell
where they will send him from thier.  I come out
with a company of about ninety large harty stout
men and hear I am with six besides mySelf
hardly enough to make one mess. Some one or
two gets killed and wounded in evry fight we
get into it looks like my time will be next but I hope
and trust to providence that I may get to see
you all once more before I am taken away
by the ruthless hands of the enemy. when you
write to hayes & Cummings tell them that
I am well and hearty & killing yankees evry
once and awhile tell them that I dident

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get their Captains letter and tell him to send
me another and I will try to get a transfer
and cum out their  I tride once for a trance
fer but failed to get it, but I hope if I get
a letter from Capt Smith they will trance
fer me for I would like to see you all very
much. I am afraid you all will forget me since
hayes and Cummings has let and write all to
them and nun to me. tell ma that I have to give
ten dollers for a common pair of pance and I expect
she better make me some pance but not
send them unless I write for them for if
I had them I would loose them hear.  Tell Maryann
that havent forgotten hur and tell all of the
children howdy tell James Boty[?] to bee good
boys and help Pa all they can for I know
he has ahard time of it. as well as mySelf
tell James He will have to let the hourses runaway
three or fore times before he can make a teamster
as it is getting late I will have to being my
badly written letter to a close write often
and dont forget me and write all to hayes &
Cumings So nothing more at present
                          Wm R Gilmer

William Rives Gilmer
37th Virginia Co. I

MSS 5194