you had better send all the letters you can by hand as it is very uncertain that we will get them by Mail

 

Camp Taylor Near Orange C.H.

March 29^th 1862

 

My Dear Mother

                                    As young Abell leaves here for home tomorrow I avail myself of the opportunity to write you a short note after a great deal of delay and annoyance at Richmond and Gordonsville. We joined the Regt at Orange C.H. on last Saturday We are now encamped 2 miles north of Orange but it is very probable that we will move again in a short time

 

I found all the boys well, but very dirty they having been on the march for two weeks. We are all excitement here re-enlisting and re-organizing companies six companies have been mustered for 2 years service from our regiment viz Capt Stuart Capt M^cLure Capt White Capt Shedds (now Capt Phinney) Capt Means (now Capt Lyles) and Capt J L Gaston I have the honor to belong to the latter named. the Calhoun’s being unable to reorganize, 27 of them united with Gaston together with about 20 of the Pickens Guard united with Gaston and formed a compy Gaston Capt 1^st Lieut J M Moore 2^nd Lieut R A Crawford & 3 Lieut O A Wylie. It is a fine company and I think if it should ever be its lot to meet the Yanks it will make its mark. As we have six companies (which number constitutes the basis of a regt) the Old 6^th shall still retain its name. 4 companies have reenlisted in Jenkins regt. As they can get no more I suppose they will unite with us. We will have an election for field Officers on Monday I am unable to say who they will be. I have just heard that it is likely that the 5^th will not unite with us because we are unwilling that Jenkins shall be our Col. I have also heard that 1 comp from the 9^th and 1 from the 4^th will join us. also that 2 from the 5^th who are not so favorably disposed toward Jenkins will go with us. if the last four go with us we will have 10 comp which constitutes a reg. Col Winder has left us. he has been promoted to Brigadier Gen and assigned to Gen Jackson in the valley we are all sorry to have lost him. I hardly know what else to write. in fact I may have written some thing that I should not have written as we are not allowed to write any thing in regard to the movements of the Army. You had better direct your letters to 2 Lt Lewis Mehnert as it is probable that we will not remain long in one place My health is very good, in fact I have improved since I returned. Mr Brandt begs to be remembered by you all. I suppose you have heard that John Elliott has been elected 2 Lieut in M^cLure’s Comp. Capt P, George, & Brother are all very well. My love to all I will write again soon

 

                                    Good Night Your Affectionate Son    W C

SOURCES