Epperly, Christian M. (1837-1904) to Mary Epperly
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02715.007 Author/Creator: Epperly, Christian M. (1837-1904) Place Written: Yorktown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 April 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes from General [J.E.B.?] "Stewards" [Stuart's] encampment, five miles from Yorktown. Notes that his company is attached to General Stuart's Horse Artillery, under Captain Pelham. Says he thinks they may have to stay with this unit until the end of the war.
April. the 22 1862 Ginarl Stewards
encampment 5 milds of york Town
My Dear Wife
I am well at this time and I hope when this letter comes to han it ma find you all well I will now tell you somthing about our march from Richmond to this plase we was about for days on the road the third day after wee started it commenst raining and wee had a very disagreeable time we got very wet and had to be out of nights with out any tents and wee havent got any yet and I dont see any prospect of geting any wee have firet us up a shelter caverd with pine brush which you no dont turn water very well when it rains hard our far is pretty rough,, Wee ar detatched to Ginarl Stuards Hars Artilary. Under Captain Pelham our drill hant verry hard but I sopose it is verry hard somtimes but on a march it is easer on a march than to be on foot wee have all of our napsacks hould in the bagage Wagon an wee ar to have horses to wride when on a march but all this I had much rather be in the northwest Trigs Reagment than to be here and live on bred and water all tho wee ma com out better here in the end than wee would thair ther is about tweelv of our men sick at this time an severl more complaining I havent heard from thos wee left at conp Winchar how they ar ther was 4 sent to the haspital yesturday that was taking the measels we havent got aney other diseas in camp at this time. Ther is a sehons for a fight her very soon wee can hear the conons study most might be far last wee could hear the muskets plain the pickets was run in and our men fird on the yonkeys very heavy an drive them back [2] The las use dont no how many was kild [illegible] about it the fire was kept up about 20 minnets it roard like thunder at a distans the armeys station about 7 mild from her som clos to and som further off. I dont no how long wee will remain here nar how long wee will haf to stay in this companey wee ma half to stay during the war and wee ma get off soon wee ar just mearlay detatchad to this Brigade an far no surtain time ther is a bent one hundried and twenty [strikeout] thousand here now if this fight dus som off it will be a searrious time which I expect will in a fiew days [text loss]. My Dear wife you musant greave and [illegible] about me mor than you can help I think throo the kind providens of god wee shal be blest to see each other on with again but I will no dont half to go throo a maney a a hard ship befar this war coms to a close but I think god will give me strenth to go throo all that ma be put a pon me tha wee have a hard time of it I must bring my letter to a close I dont no wheather you will get this letter or not an if you doo I dont no wheather it is warth whale to answa it or not it will be just a chanse wheather I get it or not I would be very glad to hear from you the post ofis is about 8 milds from her
Derect your letter
C M Epperly
In the care of Capt Pelham
Stuards Hars Aartilary
Williams Burg Va
I stil Remain your Tru husband til Death
you can rite if you see prpper I ma get the letter
an I ma nat I would be happy to hear from you
C M Epperly
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