Camp at Elk Water, Nov. the 3^d 1861

 

Dear Father, Mother, Sisters & Brothers,

                                                            Since writing to you before no important movements of the forces encamped here have taken place. Everything now seems as quiet as a summer's morning. No stir, no commotion, no unusial features, nothing but the evidence of actual vision, mark the presence of the numerous Indianians, Ohioians, and Virginians who have had the temerity to assemble here among the valleys of old Virginia. The weather for the past two weeks, with the exception of a few days of rain, has been serenely beautiful, and every hour of it has been devoted to vigorous and thorough drilling, both in company and battallion drill. I fear that there are many persons who looks upon the soldier as a kind of menial just fit to do the drudgery of the nation, and that the most scanty allowance he can subsist upon is good enough for him.

 

I look upon the matter far differently. I think if any one deserves earthly honors, and demands the most utmost care and attention in supplying him with all the necessaries of life, it is he who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, for the cause of his country. It certainly is not a very small matter, for a man to leave his quiet home, around which so much of happiness clusters, and place himself in a position which exposes him to imminent danger, as well as toil and suffering. And all this, too, in defence of our common country, in which they as citizens are as much interested as we. I certainly think it behooves every true patriot not only to sympathize with such a one, but to use every available means to provide for their comfort. Do not understand me / by writing this way, that we are in a state of starvation or suffering.

 

Not by any means, for we at present have as much to eat as we could expect. And in regard to our clothing, we have as much as we want at present, for we have not had very much cold weather yet. During the past week or two, we have had some pretty cool nights, often freezing the ground considerably, also some very heavy frosts. But there are twelve of us in a mess and we have built us a chimney out of rock to our tent, and therefore we sleep tolerably comfortable. We understand that you have some clothing prepared for us, and intend sending it to us as soon as you hear where we will winter.

 

We do not know as yet where we will winter, but I cannot as yet believe that we will winter here, for we have not yet commenced building our winter-quarters, and this is one reason why I think that we will remove somewhere else. When you hear where we will winter, and if you intend then to send us some clothing, I think that a pair of boots, a blanket, a pair of gloves &c would be as much as we will need for this winter. we could make out with what we have got for several weeks yet, for if we have any traveling to do, we have load enough to carry. We certainly will know in the course of a week or two where we will winter. 

 

Lieutenant Col. Gavin has not yet arrived from Indianapolis.

 

Our waggons belonging to our regiment just arrived today, they brought provisions. Our fare has been increased some this last week. We will now subsist on flour bacon, rice, salt, beans, potatoes, molasses, vinegar, crackers &c, and this you know is pretty good rashions. I can say that we are still well satisfied, and a getting along pretty well. I have not been sick a day since I enlisted in the service. Health in the regiment is tolerably good, some few who are sick in Co. I. (Capt Millers Company) None however are anyways dangerous.

 

Last week there was two deaths in our regiment. I was not acquainted with any either one of them. I believe that this is a tolerably healthy country. It rains very often, and is a raining now pretty hard, and has been a raining for two days. Last night it snowed for about an hour and then turned to rain. Our company goes out on picket guard tomorrow and if it continues to rain we will have a pretty hard time, for we will not have scarcely any shelter to sleep under. But the weather changes here sometimes very sudden, and probably by tomorrow night it will be clear. Stephen Call got pretty badly hurt this last week caused by getting throwed of a horse. He is however a getting some better now. 

 

I would like to see you all very well. I believe that I could assist you in eating a few apples once in a while. Apples in this part of Virginia is very scarce. The leaves are nearly all off the trees and we can begin to see the tops of the mountains. It is a very pretty sight to ascend some of these mountains, and then we can look for miles and miles in different directions. I could sit and write as much more, but I will shortly have to close this letter. I can say that I am a pretty good cook. We have six cooks & six dishwashers in our mess. I & Henry are two of the cooks. Henry received a letter from Mollie today. But in order that you will receive a letter from us every week we have concluded to write every sunday. I one sunday and H.P. the next. We have the privilege of writing as much as we please. we can get plenty of paper & envelopes here, but no postage stamps. we recd a paper containing postage stamps from you not long since, but they are all spent already. When you write to me again, please send me some more postage stamps. As there is no more room in this little sheet I will close. Give my love to all enquiring friends, and tell them all to write. Especially the girls.         

W. H. Speer

 

[margins]

 

Tell Mollie to keep all of my letters until I come home.

 

We write two and three letters a week.

 

We heard today that Wesley Swafford was dead

 

Write soon, for we love to hear from home.

SOURCES