Richmond V^a                             

June 5^th 1862

 

Dear Mother & Sister I now wright to the 4^th time since I arived at Richmond withought receiving an answer I have almost come to the conclusion you have forgoten me or have not received my letters father arived hear 20^th of last month he could not get to the Companey untill yesterday he has bein ought at the bagage wagons I have not had an oportunity of seeing him but twice since he came hear he left hear yesterday evening to go back to the bagage wagons for the purpose of starting home this morning he has some 16 or 12 horses to take back with him M^r Cassell is a going to help him with his horses untill he can hire some person to help him Alxander is very anxious to get home you may expect father abought the 20^th of this month it will take him some 18 days to get there he has had his health very well since he left home

 

                                    I was very sick yesterday evening when father was heare I had something like the sick headache I am a great deal better this morning I feal very soar in the brest on the acount of straining so mutch vomiting I will be well enoug in a day or too I stated to you in my last I think abought Lewis having the mumps he has not bein with the Companey for 3 weeks him and Rufus Cassell was both in the hospital when father came to Richmond he took them ought to the bagage or just hapened to get them as they wer starting ought themselves Lewis is well but is quite weak yet but is gaining strength as fast as he can Charles has got well and is with the companey David has not quite recovered yet the woond in his neck has healed over but the other in his shoulder does not aper to heal so fast it being in the joint I fear it will allways be [torn away]

 

lose you have saw an acount

31^st and Sunday 1^st &

try to give you [corner torn] acount of it onley that we drove the enemy from their entrenchments and captured all the artilery they had on this sid of the river amounting in all to 16 pieces every thing has bein quiet since with the exception of ocasional shot with artilery the artilery has comenced pretty rapidley this morning it grows more rapid every hour it may bring on another fight today we are stationed abought 2 miles east of Richmond near the York River Railroad and abought 2 miles in the rear of our advanced forces it is so marshey that cavalry canot do any thing heare so we have to lie still very near the battle field I must bring my letter to a close Give my respects to Uncle Adam & M^rs Browning and family & M^r Kids familey & to M^r Stewarts tell them Will is well my love to mother and Laura and Sue and receive the best wishes of your

                                                                                               

Afectionate Brother

Thomas. W. Collay

 

P.S       I omited to mention to you that some person has bein kind enoug to steal my satchel and every thing I had except what I had on and had them on a week when I came to look for my satchel I had to buy a shirt and pare of slips in Richmond they are not mutch acount altho I had to pay a big price for them I sent by father for what I nead please give the pacage that I send by father to Cousin Katie Williams

                                                                                   

I remain yours Afectionately

T.W.C

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