Richard J. Britton to William C. Britton, 1 January 1862
Camp Craney Island Va.
January 1st 1862
My dear brother
As I have not heard from you in some
time I feel a good deal of anxiety about home, I see no cha
nce for my getting there very soon, no furlows yet, last
Sunday we had some little excitement here occasioned by
the takeing of a small vessel from the Yankees. I have no
doubt that you have heard the particulars before this time
but I will tell you myself as it happened in sight of us
a small boat of ours by the name of Sea bird went out from
Norfolk saturday and ankered near this place until sun
day morning and as soon as it was light she ran out in the
channel between Newports News and Old Point for the pur
pose of trying to take the express boat that was running bet
ween the above mentioned places. the express boat had a small
schooner in tow and when our boat fired on her she
dropped the schooner and made good her escape our boat ran
up and took the schooner in tow and in less than half an
hour no less than eight small gun boats were in chase they
were fireing at her all the time some of the shots passing well
by her but she got in safe and the Yankee boats was fired
on from Sewels point the boats returning the fire two or
three for one our battery sent a couple of shots at them
they threw some five or six shells at us but they did no
damage they left after fireing about two hours. we have
a new Col. now his name is De Lagnel he was taken
prisoner by the Yankees and since exchanged he
is a very brave man from what I have heard about him
I think he will be very strict but that does not make much
difference with a man that will do his duty we are hard
at work fixing up guns and getting ready to make our bat
terries bomb proof I think we will have some more
riffle guns here soon we can get the guns very easy but
it is hard to get ammunition for riffle guns. I worked every
day in Christmas except the first day. that I spent at the
Naval Hospital with the Mr Graves. Pompey is getting
on very well but it will be some time before his arm will
get well. yesterday was inspection here we were paid off
here last week and they owe us now for two months
really would like to get home now but there are
no chance and I must content myself as best I can
this leaves me quite well and I hope youall are in the
enjoyment of the same blessing give my love to all
the family receiving a portion to yourself. give my
kindest regards to Dr. Howlette and Major Hawse
tell Major Hawse I often think of the pleasant hours
that I have spent with him and wish to have some of them
over again you must write soon and let me know
what are going on in Chesterfield. tell brother Tom
to write to me and let me know what he expects to
do about going into service
Your devoted brother
R.J. Britton
DATABASE CONTENT
| (845) | DL0100.002 | 1 | Letters | 1862-01-01 |
Letter from Private Richard J. Britton, 9th Virginia Infantry, Craney Island, Virginia, January 1, 1862, to his brother, William C. Britton, Chesterfield County, Virginia; accompanied by cover
Tags: Anxiety, Christmas, Fighting, Furloughs, Homesickness, Hospitals, Payment, Prisoner Exchanges, Prisoners of War
People - Records: 2
Places - Records: 1
- (47) [origination] ~ Craney Island, Virginia
SOURCES
Richard J. Britton to William C. Britton, 1 January 1862, DL0100.002, Nau Collection.
