1862 January 19 Centreville Virginia

My Dear Creek

I have arrived here all safe and
am quite well. the weather here is very cold and wet
here yet, but the snow has all disapeared and left
the ground in a dreadful fix every place is muddy
that it makes is very disagreeable, then is hardly such a ting
as a waggon passing between here and Manassas
the roads are in such a bad state.

I received your letter by Sam Lewis and am happy
to hear that you have got well again. I hope you
will get clear of those troublesome headaches to which
you are so subject.

I know you will want to know something about
the volunteering. their had not been much done
towards it as yet, but we have recieved the orders
to fix up the papers, and get at it as soon as
possible. Most of the Regiment (from what I can
hear) are very luke warm on the subject. I have
never asked my company what they intend doing
as yet; but some of them have told me that if
I will stay on they will go with me. I do not intend
to press the matter on them nor ever advise any
of them against their inclinations or the
advice of their friends at home if any of my

[page 2]
company goes into it they will do it without any
persuasion from me.

I found William quite well on my arival[sic] and
the Boys were all very glad to see me back among
them again. There has been a good deal of sickness
in my company since I left. Several of them have
had to go to Hospital but I am happy to hear that
none of their cases are dangerous. Sam McCulley
is the sickest man among them, but he has got
better, at least out of all danger if he dont take
a relapse. You need not feel uneasy about
Bill his throat is quite well again, and the cough
and hoarseness have left him entirely and he is
quite well every other way.
I have not got my boxes up yet-they will be at the
depot tonight-but the roads are so bad it may
be a day or two before I get them up, and we have
just Received orders to go out on picket tomorrow
morning at nine OClock, and will be gone
four days so it will be thursday night before
I will have a chance of writing you again, at
which time you may expect to hear from me again
Write me soon and often I love to get a letter from you
out here, the place looks very cheerless without your and
Dear little Maggies smiling faces, but I hope soon to
be with you again and have more time to spend with
you. Give Maggie one of your sweet kisses for me and
take hers in return from your Devoted

William

[in top margin of page 1]
I will write Jink as soon as I
get back from Picket

William Anderson, Captain, Co. J, 4th South Carolina Volunteers (Palmetto Sharpshooters)

MSS 10366