April the 27^th 1862

Camp Near Kinston N.C.

26 Regt N.C. V. C^o H

 

Miss S J McDonald

 

Dear friend

I received your very welcom letter of the 17^th which give me much pleasure to hear from you once more and to hear that you were in good health. my health is very good at present. the health of our Company is only tolerable at present but is improveing some. I hope this will find you in good health.

 

            I have nothing of intrest to communicate to you as we hear nothing but war news and that is so common and I suppose you get ever thing of intrest as soon as we do here

 

Our pickets and the Yankees are frequently having little skirmishes / down between here and Newbern our men have brought in several prisoners the enemies lines are about 15 miles from here.

 

            Our Regiment has reorganised unanimously re-elected Z. B. Vance for Co^l H. K. Burg[?] Lieut. Co^l our company officers are C.C. Dowd capt Lieut's J. D. M^cSever 1^st M. M^cLeod 2^nd G. Willcox 3^rd

 

our Col. will soon have a legion made up he wants 2 Regts of infantry 2 companies of cavilry and one of artillery he only wants one more company of infantry to make out the 2 Regts. I cannot see far into the future but the present state of things looks very gloomy and seems to tell that we have not had the worst yet and seems like there must be much bloodshed yet before peace though the present gloom / will may soon be followed by peace I fear it will not.

 

your cousin Hugh M^cDonald and Mallcom Ray was here to day they are well and as lively as crickets you said you did'nt think our retreat was funny and certainly it was not but the boys can laugh at each other about how they come off and did not think to bring their clothes well there was no time for swaping horses at that time ever one thought it prudent to take care of number one

 

            I wish I could be back at Little River and go down to Prare meeting where I could enjoy my self in your presence as I once did and hear all you girls sing them old songs but I dont have much hopes of seeing Moore County untill times change if I live and keep strong for the enemy is now upon our soil and must be driven back /

 

I must close my badly writin letter please write the first opportunity and give me the news

                                                                                   

from your affectionate

Friend N. Deaton

                                                                       

Yours with much respect

SOURCES