1862 December 19 Near Port Royal

                Near Port Royall Dec 19th 1862
Dear Aunt  [Mrs. Mary Jane Lee]
                    This will be  handed you by Archer
who visit home to spend the Christmas and get on a
general bust-I send my Boots Pants &c by him
please have them taken care of-I suppose you
ere this had full particulars of the fight
I did not get in part of our Co was under
fire for two days, but did not open.  I am very
glad to see such favourable mentions made
of John L. & his Co Our boys had a other
talk with the Yankees Picket to day, they
admit a great defeat and say their
loss is near 20,000  I do not think there
will be any fighting near for some
time No Yankes nor Gun Boats visi
=ble they have all skedaddled

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I wish to have Archie for the next year
& send him home for that purpose
I am in very comfortable quarters now gut
expect to move to some other point tomorrow
I suppose further down the river
     Will write again a day or two
more fully, have just finished a long
letter to Miss W. who has been scolding me
for not writing.  Must have peace in the
family.  Yours received by Nunalle
for which I am obliged I am now
writing by the light of a stick & Archer
leaves before daybreak so please excuse
writing  Love to all
                                 Yours truly
                                                  Dick

Charles Richard Phelps, Beauregard Rifles

MSS 2920