Howitzer Camp

Yorktown

Aug 1^st 1861

 

Dear Sister

                        I believe that I forgot in my last letter to acknowledge the receipt of one from you as well as from Mama. I also received through Mr Wynne a letter & box from Mama for which I am very thankful For several days there have been rumors in Camp that we were to move shortly, & this morning on returning from Drill we found that orders had been received for our Company to march to-morrow morning at day-break for a place called Mulberry Island which is just between Warwick & James. We are to carry all our Camp-equipage, & I suppose that the move is a permanent one. We do not know yet what troops are to accompany us. I have packed up to-day a box of / stone-jars &c, which I will send up to the store this evening. Please ask Pa to have it sent for. The troops returned Monday evening from their expedition towards Hampton They met with no enemy, though they expected on several occasions to have a fight. One night they went within a short distance of Hampton, & the enemy retreated after burning some of the houses. They however reoccupied it after our forces, which were nothing more than a scouting party, had retired. They also went over one night after a party of Yankees on Back River who had been burning vessels, but they got there too late. Since they got back, we have been drilling & in other ways leading a quiet life until to-day I have been washing & fixing up to march all day & now am just about ready. We held a meeting last night after / tattoo in connection with Capt Browns Company, in relation to the death of young Kirby. Resolutions of respect to his memory were passed, after which Major Randolph made a short speech to the Battalion in the course of which he said that since the organization of his command to the present time, there had only been 2 deaths viz: Mr Winn & Mr Kirby. We have every night after tattoo, & before the company is dismissed, a chapter of the Bible read & prayer offered by some members of our Corps. Night before last, the Chapter was read by a noble young fellow, & a sincere Christian, a son of Hon T.S. Flournoy of Halifax & prayer by Mr Venable of Pr. Edward There are 3 of this name in our Company from that county, & 3 better men & better soldiers could not be found. We also / have a prayer-meeting every night in the tent of some of the men, which are very well attended. I do not know yet, what arrangements there will be about letters &c at our new camp, but will let you know as soon as I can. Ask Ma not to send some little things that I wrote for in my last, unless she has done so before this is received. Give my love to all & believe me your loving brother

R. Channing Price

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