Three Letters 

Submitted by gGrandniece Peggy Bone Colella  p_colella@juno.com

Fair Fax Station, VA

Sep 6^th 1861

My Dear Sister,

            This is the second letter I have written to you since I have been in service.  I written to you when I was at fair fax about the first of July and have been waiting impatiently for an answer ever since.  I have heard from you several times thru Brother Sebe but I am exceedingly anxious to receive a letter from you.  I saw Mr. Willis but was not in his company but a fiw (few) minits (minutes).  Sent my compliments to you and Mr. Talley and doubtless you have received it before this time.  I have underwent a great deal of fatigue and hard ships since I saw you and a portion of the time my health has been rather bad but I am quite well today.  My health has been improving for several days and I hope it will continue our Redgement (Regiments) is stationed 2 miles south of fair fax (Fairfax) station have been here for several days.  We are making preparation for a rather large battle and I expect by the time this reaches you it will be over.  We are expecting to be ordered to Springfield in fact our Pickets are going up there every day a company at a time it is nine miles above near Alexandria.  We are very near in shooting distance of them every day and the time is fast approching (approaching) when we will be marched up there too (to) fite (fight) in earnest  our Pickets and them has a little brush every fiw (few) days and we will be all in it soon.  I will write again after the Battle if I am lucky a nuff (enough) too (to) dodge the cannon balls which I think I will.  Thirza you must not give yourcelf (yourself) any uneasyness about me  I shall take as good care of mycelf (myself) as I can and if the Yankys get me just let me go at what I am worth.  One thing sertain (certain) I have not been scared in the least yet, nor don’t think I will.  We have a rite (right) sharpe chance of Scickness (sickness) in our Redgemen (regiment) and a number of deaths.  Burryed (Burried) three last evening all carried out at the same time.  Some of the companys have lost ten and twelve men by death beside what they have discharged.  We have discharged four or five out of our company but havent lost nareone by death yet and I believe every other Company in the Redgement (Regiment) have lost more or less.  I receive letters from Sebe tolerably regular I have received two letters from Rien Hughes one from Riley Sartey and some fiw (few) from Pincicalor(?)  I havent had any nuse (news) from G. W. Roberts since I have bin (been) out here.  I think they have forgotten me as they would sertainly (certainly) write.  I am getting very tired of this place but I think we will have to stay our time out.  I do not think there is any prospect for peace at this time.  I shall pay you all a visit next May if I live to see that time rool (rolls) round.  I think they will want us to reinlist but I must see you all before I fasten mycelf (myself) any more.  Capt. Gunter is well and sends his compliments to you all and wants Mr. Talley to write to him.  Mell Woodley is in very bad health and has been ever since we left Corinth Miss  he has a bad coughf (cough) has not been able for duty since we have been here and I don’t think he will ever get well in camps.  We have been trying to have him discharged but have failed so far.  Sister I want to you write on the reception of this hasty letter.  I am in a great hurry and must bring this to a close.  Write soon give my compliments to all my friends and reserve a good portion for yourcelf (yourself).  

                                                                                    Your Brother

                                                                                                R. T. Bone  

GUNTER, William T., (Captain Company K, 6^th Alabama Infantry Regiment) until reorganization; promoted to Major, 1st Alabama Infantry Battalion. 

WOODLEY, Ganzwert Mell (Corporal, Company K 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment)

Fair Fax Station, VA

Oct. 12^th, 1861 

My Dear Sister, 

                   This is the third letter I have written to you since I have been in service, and have not received a scratch of a pen from you since here I have been.  I directed my letters to Anderson depot, Tenn, and have been waiting impatiently for an answer since, the last letter I received from Brother Sebe stated that you was not verry (very) well but I hope you are quite well by this time.  I received a letter from P. H. Rice a fiw (few)  days ago.  They were all well there.  I haven’t heard from Sebe for some time or at least have not received a letter from him in some weeks.  My health is very bad at this time.  I am scarcely able to walk about in camps.  My health has been rather bad for some time but it is groing (growing) wors (worse) every day.  I have the Jaundis (jaundice) the Doctor is feeding me on Bluemass pills.  I am exposed to the open air and have too (to) sleep on the cold—damp ground and you know the chance for  mending is rather bad.  We have a great deal of scickness (sickness) in our Redgiment (regiment) at this time and a number of deaths our scick (sick) is treeted (treated) like broots (sic) there is so mutch (much) scickness (sickness) here and the excite ment so great that they pay but little Attention to scick (sick) men here.  We sent off 14 scick (sick) men from our camp the other day.  I do not know where they went too (to) but too (to) some General Hospital.  I will give you a list of some of them.  J. C. Long, P. H. Drain,  A. J. Jinkins, William Raulston, E P. Cowert, Daniel Gurgason(?), William Daniel, William Pain, W. Haswell and some others.  I do have several scick (sick) in camp on acount (account) of inability.  Mell Woodley has been discharged and has gone home.  Wince (sic) Hill has gone home on scick (sick) furlow (furlough).  William Scruggs has sent up his Recignation (resignation) and aimes (aims) at getting off home soon he is Second Lieut. In our company.  We are expecting a severe Battle soon.  They have given orders too (to) moove (move) all of the heavy baggage.  I received a letter from M. D. Gunter last Evening from fort Pickens.  They have had a great deal of scickness (sickness) there, Milts(?) has not been able for duty for 4 weeks.  Capt. Graham has had four deaths in his company.  I have been in site (sight) of the enemy tents several times.  We have tried to draw them out from Behind ther (their) breast works the ____ time but all in vain.  We will have too (to) charge ther (their) breast works if the Matter is settled this fall or winter and I think our men is making prepertions (preparations) for an atack (attack)  I would bee (be) glad if this matter could be settled soon for it is distroying (destroying) the health of a many good man Capt. Gunter’s health is good and sends his compliments too you all and says he thinks Mr. Talley ought to write to him.  Mr. A Gunter here a fiw (few) days ago he came and Brought our winter cloths  Hue (Hugh) Wesmoland (Westmoreland) is still here but will leave in a fiw (few) days he came with gunter but could not get his papers fixed up in time too (to) return with him.  I would like to pay you all a visit about Christmas but they will be so many applications about that time for furlows (furloughs) that I have no Idea I can get off and I fear I will not have the chance of seeing you all till my time is out for they do not like too (to) give furlowes (furloughs) and very often will not pay any attention to them.  I would be proud to see you but it is out of my pawes (sic).  if I should succeed in getting home you may look for me again soon after my arrival.  Thirza I want you too (to) write to me on the reception of this letter give me all the home Nuse (news) write lengthy anything will interest me from home as from the ajoining (adjoining) Neighborhoods  You can send your letter by Lieut. Hill he will be about ready to start back by the time this reaches you.  Tell Mr. Talley I think he ought to write a few pages and send them by Hill as Mail one as the other.  I would like to hear from George & Almeda if you know any thing of them.  I haven’t received a line from them since I left home.  Give My Respects to all enquiring friends and keep a good portion for yourself.

                                                                                           Your Brother Robert

LONG, John C. (Sergeant, Company K, 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment)
DRAIN, Pesley H. (Sergeant, Company K, 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment)
WESTMORELAND, Hugh (Private, Company K 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment)

Davis Ford, VA       

Dec. 14^th 1861

 My Dear Sister,

             I have been waiting for a letter from you for days weeks and months.  I have written too (to) you time and again and have not received but one letter from you since I left home  I have been troubled a great deal on account of not receiving letters when I have been so punctial (punctual) to write too (sic) you.  I have all wais (sic) written too (to) you regular when I have been about from home and you alwais (always) answered them punctal (punctual) till now.  I came too (to) the conclusion some time back not too (to) write any more Eny (?) mose(?) until I received at least one letter from you but I stayed with Capt. Gunter nite (night) before last and he told me that he saw you & Mr. Talley  You told him that you had written several letters to me the first and last letter I received from you was in July last  I think about the first.   I receive letters from Brother Sebe regular I think I have got every one that he has written too (to) me.  We have been at this place near one week and are building our winter quarters  this place is 8 miles East of Manassas on the Wier(?) Road between Manasses and Er___(?) past   I dislike this place very mutch(sic).  It is quite broken the timber, Scurce(?) and Water not overly good except when we go down and dip it up out of the Ocquacory (Occoquan Run) which runs near our encampment.  It is a very nice little stream rather larger than Batte(?) Creek.  Capt. Gunter arrived in Manasses some days ago found C. T. Gunter there in the jeneral (general) Hospital with tyfoid (typhoid) feaver (fever) he stayed with him and is still there.  Charley is quite low entirely derainged (deranged) and I do not think he will stand it many hours.  I stayed by his bed side nite (night) before last it was distressing too (to) see him in his condition  he did not sleep one wink all nite (night) and had to be helt (held) in bed  it will be distressing nuse (news) to his mother but I suppose she has the nuse (news) by this time for I started a letter before Capt. Gunter arived (arrived) and told his condition in full  I did not think I would be doing rite (right) to use any flatery (flattery) at such a time.  When he was there among strangers and so far from home.  Well Sister we have orders too (to) go out on Picket and I am listening every minnet (minute) to hear the old Drum beet (beat) calling us in line but if I am called off before I finish this letter I will get Lieut. Graham to finish it for me.  My health is totally good at this time.  The health of the company is improving slaly(?).  I have but little was nus (news) too (to) write at this time suffice too say we still expect a fite (fight) sometime this winter, but cant say when.  I am exceedingly anxious too (to) you but I have no idea that I will be permitted too (to) go home till my time is out.  Thirza I want you too (sic) write often give me all the nuse (news) of interest.  I received a letter from Brother Sebe by W. T. Gunter.  They was all well except Willie who had been very low but was recovering.  Times are hard here and no mistake we are exposed a great deal and the climit (climate) is very cold.  We are off frequently three and four days at a time in the woods with out tents or shelter and it rained and snowing and the wind blowing a soldiers life is a hard life to live.  You may guess it hard when you hear me complain I haven't time too (to) wirte (write) longer the camp is now ready to start and I must close  give my compliments to Mr. Talley and all inquiring friends and reserve a good portion for yourself.  Write soon tell Mr. T. too (to) write.

                                                             Your Brother R. T. Bone  

GUNTER, Charles F. (Corporal, Company K, 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment)

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