Epperly, Christian M. (1837-1904) to Mary Epperly
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02715.008 Author/Creator: Epperly, Christian M. (1837-1904) Place Written: James City, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 April 1862 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy
Writes that they are five miles from Yorktown, Virginia and seven miles from Williamsburg, Virginia. Says his unit does not see close action like an infantry unit does. States he is unhappy with his regiment's assignment. Notes he would now give fifty dollars to join the volunteer unit of his choice. He thinks a large engagement is coming and hopes the Yankees will withdraw some men so he can go home.
James Sity Co. Va
April the 27 / 62
My Dear Wife this beautiful Sabbath morning
I now tak the presant as and oppertunity to write you a fiew hasty lines This leaves me well an I hope when those fiew lines coms to hand they ma find you well wee as yet stil stationd at the same plase we was when I wrote to you befor wee ar in about 5 milds from york Town and a bout 7 milds below Williams Burg right between the too plases : Stuarts Briggade is Stationed here the hol wash is full of men and horsees infact ther is nothing but a solid mase of men from here to York Town ther havt bin any fight here yet ther ma be a fight soon and they ma not be any fight atall ther is Still Some Picket fighting going on but not much damage dim ther is about 5 or 6 companys of artilary here at this plase I am sarrow to write to you that I expect wee ar bond for the war unless the most draws som of ther horses that wee wont half to keep so many men in the field and if they doo that we may that wee wont doo that wee ma get honce in the cars of 3 or 4 month if it is the will of god to spar us to [text loss] that time rool round But I pray to god that this war [text loss] can to a case in som form or another you don't no half the harrows of this war and the distruckton of thing without you was here one moment you could see anuff to Satisfy your mind that wear is one of the most distressing things that man ever had to contend with but I thank god that ther is a better day coming when all whoo are tru and faithful to ther god ma enter into ther rest prepard for them from the foundation of the world Dear wife you must doo the best you can with our things and if you have got that money from Honey butt you must hire some boddy to doo your work if you have any thing you want to doo and tell Mr Foster if I don't get home befor harvest that I want him to cut our grain [2] and help you all he can that I will pay him as much as any body else will if I am spard to return home again and if he hart made any ingagements with any body else I will depend on him to help as much as he can the weather has bin very disagreeable sins wee Ive bin here at this it has bin cool and cloudy the timber is begining to put out right smart oak timber the leaves is just commenst showing a little our far has bin pretty rough sins wee have bin here I dont like this Survis very well infact ther havt any of our men that [elns] all tho it ma be the best for us this company havt taken in a clos contact like and infantry Company wee hatte fight when the enemy is a long distant off wee have bin draged here and will half to bar with it the best we can I would give fifty dollars to get to vollanteer and go when I want too If I could get to go My Dear Wife you musant forget to ask god to my guide and protecter an to give me Strength and health to go throo all the hard ships that wee half to go throo with Joseph is well and has bin sins wee have left home mar so then [text loss] here I must bring my letter to a close by saying we[text loss] soon as this letter comes to hand me get a answ[text loss] from it befor wee leave this plase and write wheather you get the paper and Stamps that I sent to you by Mr. Huff S Nothing mor at presant onely I stil Remain your Tru and devoted Husband Til
Death
Direct your letter to Williams. Burg. Va
In the Car of Capt Pelham
Stuards Hars Artilary
C M Epperly
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