Gordonsille V^a           

March 28^th 1864

           

Dear Sister

          I received your kind letter of the 21^st inst last night I was truley glad to heare that you wer all well

                                   

I have no news worth wrighting to you Lewis & Cousin Charles spent the night with me last night I can asure you it did me a great deal of good to see them & to heare what a gay time they had at home Charles was telling me of some marvelous things he had done whilst at home it was quite laughable to hear him talk

                                   

the companey did not come by here they passed in six miles of this place lewis & Charles flanked ought & come to see me they went on to Orange C.H. this morning to join the Regt whitch is encamped some to miles from that place they wer both well & their horses wer both looking well Charles swapt his hors of this morning I think he got a great deal better hors for Cavalry than the one he brought from home

                                   

I had heard of the sad fate of my friend T. W. Bailey before I received your letter I was truly sorry to here of sutch a sad affair Tom was a noble hearted boy he will be missed more by the whole companey than any other member that could have bein lost he was the very life of the Companey He was my next best friend to Cousin Will Morell I will be entirely lost when I return to the command I studied a great deal abought Tom & I drempt abought him severall days & nights before I heard of his untimely death from what I can learn the young man was perfectely justafiable in shooting him he was a stranger to Tom & did not know what Toms intentions wer toward him & consiquently / I think he was justafiable in shooting when he did I know positively that Tom Bailey would not of hurt a hair on Parmers head I understand that Tom had not bein drinking any that day all he did was through fun

                                   

I do not know when I will get of at this time as soon as Capt Litchfield gets here I will try & get of I nead a pare of boots very mutch I am almost entirely barefooted tell Father to try and get me some leather & have my boots made as soon as posible you may send me a pare of pants as soon by Capt Litchfield if he has not started by the time this comes to hand if he is gorn I will make ought withought them untill I get home I had no ideer that M^r Litchfield would treat me as he has done he promised me faithfully that he would let me have leather by Christmas but alas I see that all promises are made to be broken these war times I thought he would accomodate a soldier sooner than any person els but alas I see it is not so

                                   

I havent mutch to wright you this time. I wrote to you a few dayes ago has Mr Milinors ever heard any thing of Jack Pleas let me know I did not think to ask Lewis

                                   

I will close for the present Give my respects to all my friend Aunt Kidd & Mollie especialy My love to father Mother & Sister My love to Dave & James Hoggs when you see them Laura tell Miss Mollie Stewart that lewis has gave her to me I do not know by what authority

                                                                       

Beleive me as ever your

Kind and loveing Brother                                                      

T. W. Collay

 

            I have goten you one paper of kneedles they are not No as you spesified you wished to know what I was doing I am courier for Maj Richards I stay on the [paper hole] all the time

SOURCES