Sept 22^ond 1862

Post Hospital

near Alexandria va

 

Dear Aunt

I am well and hope that this letter may find you all in good health we will be here for some time yet I expect we are enjoying our fine here we are encamped on a hill and we can see washington City which is seven miles distant and we can see the Potomac which runs near also the Traitrous city of alexandria where the noble Elsworth was killed you can see the tented feild as far as the eye can reach in any and eyery direction we have had many glorious victories on the Potomac lately and I think the / war will be over in six months at least that is that the rebel army will be broken up by that time I seen a rebel prisoner in washington the other day and was talking to bring about the war and he says that they are on their last legs and that they have all their men in the feild he is sick of it and says if he was home again he would die before he would enter the service again and I believe him he says he was used better since he has been in our hands than his own men used him

 

            Tell Marget that I had occasion to use her nedles this morning to sow my vest where it was riped and every time I see it I think of her kindness in making it for me / we are in no more danger here than if we were at home we have never been on guard and never drilled an hour or done any duty of any kind sinc we have been in the sirvice of uncle Sam

 

            Tell Sam M^cKees and Bailies that I will write to them whin ever I can get time for I have a great deal of running round to do So much that I only wrot home twice last week

 

Give my respects to Mr James and Joceph Hills families tell them that I am all right and raking around as ussual I should like to attend annother singing like one we had at our house the night before I left that was a complete success and went of to the satisfaction of all I would like to know how the girls are getting along since me / and M^cfarland left But I suppose they make it all right for we were two good old souls and never bothered them any Jim and me are sitting side by side writing home both of us Jim is as good a fellow as ever lived I have never regreted volunteering but I think I done right I owed it as a duty to my country my home is of no use to me if the union arms do not triumph

 

I have not much more to say this time give my love to Uncle Thany and the boys tell them I am bumkim

 

I must quit now for I want to go over and hear our band play a few tunes to cheer me up we have a good band with us

 

no more this time      

             

Write Soon      

James Wilson  To Nancy Wilson /

 

As you have never directed a letter yet to this camp I will give you the directions agan.                     

James Wilson

Camp Ruthudell Kanawha valley

C^o G 30^th Regt OVI Care of Lieut Bowles

                                                                                                                                               

I hear through Jims letters that Bob Nelson is home and not expected to live many a poor fellow will loose his life by being in the I am thankful that I am not in that sickly country. JW 

 

            give my respects to Ike banlark         

JW

James

 

Write Soon

yes I will Write soon

 

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