1862 December 9 Giles County, Va.

                       Camp near the Narrows
                         Giles Co Va Dec 9th/62

My dear Sister
                   I have delayed my reply to
your last to rather a blameable period but
I suppose apology is unnecessary presuming
as I do upon your forgiving nature
   The box sent was received with many thanks
to the sender thereof but suffered considerably
from the contents of a broken crock of apple
butter  The pies were mashed into a complete
mush and I would advise you against
sending any more such soft natured things
  I met with quite a misfortune with regard
to part of my receipts Some thievish scoundrel
got into my trunk and stole my new pants
a pr of the drawers and the coffee and sugar
you sent me  This has become quite a common
occurrence in this command
  Capt Grahams fine pistol was also stolen
and several articles of minor importance
We have commenced putting up Winter
Quarters.  I expect to commence putting up my
cabin tomorrow  We expect to have one almost
suitable for the entertainment of our friends

[page 2]
furloughing is a subject of special interest
now Everybody most wants to go home
I can make no calculations with regard
to it until Capt Graham or Lieut Painter
comes up Lieut Allison is complaining very much
and has been for some time and in the event
of the appearance of one of the absent officers
will consider his claim prior to mine; So I am
to this side the calculation
  Col Forsberg is very anxious to go to Wythe this
Christmas but wishes me to go along with
him  We have held several consultations on
the subject but cant make things fit
right  We both want to be here the last day
of this month and we dont know whether
to go before or after Christmas The difficulty
is I cannot get off before Christmas probably
at all and if I could I could only remain
a day or two and be back by the last of
the month.  Two of the company officers
are required to be present Capt Graham has
had his furlough extendended [sic] to the 16th of
January  Lieut Painters appearance is quite
problematical.  Should Lieut painter come up
Lieut Allison will be furloughed and
probably not return before the 1st of January
so it is no use talking

[page 3]
Dr Carter who is so anxious to get his wife
to Va will start for Miss tomorrow
I made three fruitless attempts to secure him
a place--had quite a correspondence with
the old and young ladies of the county
through this means heard of you twice in
the neighborhood of Max Meadows
  I had a nice present of apples potatoes
sweet & Irish from the vicinity of the Salt
Pond--her didnt send them tho' but
her Mamma did but I suppose she
like Paul stood consenting by
  I have had several pressing invitations
to locomote in that direction
  I received a severe reproval for harbouring
in that vicinity last Summer without
making a call I am going to redeem this if
I have to resert[sic] or design[sic] to get away
  I received a letter from Sid some time since
and she said that she expected to spend
her Christmas with you  I should like very
much to be with you and I think that
I will make a chassey and a flank
movement to that effect yet.

[page 4]
  I forgot to tell you that we were building
a Fort here to be called Fort Wharton another
prop to perpetuate his name
 The Ca[t has invited Col Wharton & staff
to eat a Christmas dinner with him
I dont know whether they contemplate
acceptance or not
  You have had enough of my foolishness
for this time and I will relieve you by
asking you not to show it to anybody and
to write to me soon for our correspondence
has grown much more slack than I would
like to have it  I wrote to you some three or
four times before I received an answer
                             Your brother
                                          W
PS Furlough or no furlough my kingdom
for a pair of britches

William Hansom Tate

MSS 9232-n