Head Quarters 2^nd Brig 3^rd Cav Div

Salem North Carolina June 13^th 1865

 

My Own Sweet Wife;

                                    I am quite well and I most sincerely hope you and Lonie are also.

 

            As I told you in my last, I am now in command of the Second Brigade, Gen'l Atkins being in command of the Division, which leaves me the ranking officer of the Brigade. Gen'l Kilpatrick has gone home on a leave of absence. I have established Head Quarters here, and do not intend to remove them until we go to South Carolina. But I guess I did not tell you that we were going there.

 

            Gen'l Kilpatrick sent for me yesterday to give me information, and instructions about it. The way the matter now stands two brigades, the 1^st and 2^nd are to go in a few days to that State, somewhere on the line of the rail road below Charlotte. These two brigades are to be under my command. Head Quarters will probably be at Columbia I would much rather remain here, but so it is, and I must go if ordered. Now I have told you some bad news, now I will tell you some good. I am to be made a Brevet Brigadier / General! How do you like that arrangement? If I am assigned to the command of a brigade, then, I shall receive $350 per month. I am to be promoted to that rank for gallant services upon the field. So reads the paper that Genl Kilpatrick has sent to Washington, requesting the promotion, approved, and recommended by the great Sherman. Kilpatrick goes right to the War Department to urge the matter in person. I regard it as "a sure thing"

 

            Oh Lizzie, I would be so proud of the rank, on your account, and of Lonie's I know you would be glad to have me promoted in the manner, and for the reason I have stated.

 

            When I got to Div Head Quarters, Major Estes fell in love with my new coat and has hung at me constantly ever since to buy it, and to day I let him have it for $75. I could not get rid of him at all. He not only gave me that for it, but has got a furlough for a man to send home to get me another one. I have just finished a letter to Mr Hancock telling him how to make another. I want it five inches longer. I have enclosed him $50 for it and some other articles for Lt Harkrup and not knowing what the coat will cost, I have directed him, that if there were any balance to drop you a note and you would send it to him. I did not want to / send him any more than I thought the whole would come to. I hope you will do me the kindness to promptly send him the amount he may state. I do not want him to know that I got $75 for the coat else he might think I could afford to pay him a great price for the next one. therefore I fibbed to him a little in my letter

 

            I want you, if you have not already done so, to make me, at least three good cotton shirts, Just as soon as you possibly can, and send them by express or otherwise to W. B. Hancock Cleveland, with a note directing him to deliver them to the man who comes to him for my coat. If you send the shirts by express, you must be sure to pay the express charges, and at the same time write to Mr W. B. Hancock to call at the Express Office (telling him which one) and get them, and send as I have directed. There will be no use in trying to send the shirts unless you can have them in Cleveland within eight days after the reception of this letter. Do it in five days if you can.

 

It is so terribly hot here that I cannot wear woollen, and of course it will be much worse in South Carolina.

 

            I fear you will think this rather a dull kind of business letter, but I will write you better ones hereafter. I have been so very / busy since I returned that I have not had time to write you more. Please tell Frank that I will write him just as soon as I get the time.

 

                        Give my love to all at home. Tell Lonie how dearly I love her, and that she must pray for me. I need not tell you how dearly I love you, for you know already.

 

Get those pictures of yourself and Lonie, and send to me.

 

                        May God bless you,

                                                            W. W. Sanderson

SOURCES