30 Oct[ober] 1862. N[athaniel] V. W[atkins], in camp at Chaffin's Bluff Batteries, to his wife [Nannie V. Watkins].

30 Oct[ober] 1862. N[athaniel] V. W[atkins], in camp at Chaffin's Bluff Batteries, to his wife [Nannie V. Watkins].

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.

Watkins family.

Confederate States of America. Army. Virginia Infantry Regiment, 34th.

Civil War correspondence; 30 October, 1862. 6 pp. ALS.

Watkins, Nathaniel V.

Nathaniel V. Watkins Family Papers, 1846-1889, Mss. 39.1 W32.089, Box 1, Folder 5

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1862-10-30

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Mss. 39.1 W32.089

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Chaffin’s Bluff Batteries

Oct 30th, 1862

My dear Wife:

Received yesterday yours of 26th Oct. en-
closing one of an earlier date which you had
failed to get in the mail. Both were very in-
teresting to me – filled with neighborhood news,
and news about my farm. Am glad to hear
that things are getting on as prosperously
at home. Don’t think that $30 was enough
for the beautiful tobacco you sent a sample
even then maybe not enough – if a perfect
of, unless the offer was $30, for [bugs?] and
success it is worth at least $60. or more for the [ ? ].
[ ? ]. From what I could learn from Jos.
Booker in Richmond, and from quotations in
the papers, tobacco is selling now much
higher than it has ever been known to
sell before, - the same with wheat. Mr.
Booker & others in Rmond, seemed to think
that before Christmas, flour may be selling
as high as $50 pr. Bbl. You didn’t write
how much wheat I made – suppose they
have found out by now. Have I any for
sale now – wheat is now bringing $4.
in Rmond, and advancing. Your letter is
filled up with so many things which I
wish to notice that I scarcely know where
to begin. From an experiment made in
our company last week, I think Jimmy
will not be received as a temporary sub-
stitute in my place. I spoke of this tho’
in my last letter. I am sorry that I


[Pg 2]

will be unable to get my boots. I be-
came so needy for thick shoes, & suf-
fered so much with cold feet during the
last cold rain that I was compelled
to send to Rmond yesterday for a pair
- they will cost $15. and (I first saw
a pr. like them) will be very cheap at
that. Hope Aunt Mary’s box will come
soon with a pair in it. Didn’t understand
from your letter whether my flannels are
ready – if the weather continues cold I
will soon need them – in fact would
feel more comfortable now if I had them.
It may be necessary for me to have
a pair of thick[underlined] flannel drawers as the
winter advances, and if you can I
would be glad for you to have the cloth
ready, so that I may get them at any
time. Dr. F. has them made of cloth like
my fatigue shirts – undyed; and they seem
very warm & comfortable. I am willing,
(as I said in my last letter) to let your
Pa keep the money I got for Tommy & let
me have one of his boys, - leaving the
chores entirely him. Think this would
be the best disposition I could make
of the money now. A Tom Carington has
come home to stay, maybe he would
now, be willing to buy some of my
land which adjoins him, & thus enable
me not only to pay off some of my

[Pg 3]

debts, but also to buy the land on which
old Willis lived (Christmas’s place). It
is almost as much to Tom’s interest as
mine to get rid of that settlement. I
would like to sell Tom 300 acres at
what price you Pa & Tom, or Dick Watkins,
could agree upon. Think such a prop-
osition as this, bringing in my desires to
get rid of the Christmas settlement as
a pretext, might be made to Dick Wat –
kins, without doing any harm. Your Pa
though would be the best judge of this, &
I merely make this suggestion. I would like
very much not only to get rid of this settle-
ment, but also to add the land to my track,
but feel that I cannot do it at any price
without first selling some of mine. Besides
every thing is selling so high now it would
be a good time to sell my land to Tom C.
if he desires to purchase. I would like
for Mr. Harris, if he can do it, to enlarge
the clearing around the new barn this
winter so as to increase that tobacco lot,
and thus also enable me to increase my
little orchard. I wish to get it as least
twice as large as it is now, by enlarging
equally on all sides; - and if possible to
have the rest of what is now enclosed planted
in trees this Fall. By referring to one of my
small note books (just like your Precept
book) you can find a map of the varities [ ? ]


[Pg 4]

they are planted. I might be best to get some
peach as well as apple trees, & plant the peach
in the intervals between the apple trees . Since be-
ing in the army where fruit is very difficult to
get, I feel more than ever the importance of
having a good orchard. Such apples as your
Pa picks up after a storm for his hogs, or
sometimes to make cider (ground apples)
sell here for 25 to 50 cts a dosen,
and large fine apples at from 4 to 6 cts apiece
- good peaches sold at 3 or 4 for a quarter.
You will see from my letter to Lou that we have
heard from Doc. He doesn’t seem to relish very
much the jokes which Willie enjoys so much –
says his position is any thing but pleasant, &
seemed anxious to get back to us – was [ ? ]
by being much under the weather . We have,
since being moved off to ourselves, stopped
talking or thinking about the “regulars”,
and feel like gentlemen again though while
in the 4th Rgt some of our company did
suffer a little from stragglers – the men
said they had “I.F.W.” branded on their backs,
(in for the war), & had feathers in their tails,
You see, Darling, I have nearly finished my
paper, & haven’t told you once how much
I love & miss you & our precious children.
I frequently think of how our old Home looks,
and when you write from there, or speak
of spending some time there (especially all
alone) I think of it more than ever.


[Pg 5]

(5.)

After your opinion in your last, I think I
know very well what you will answer to
my suggestion in my last, about getting a
substitute. It seems you all think it isn’t
very honorable to get substitutes. I think so
too – do not at all approve of the system
except in special cases, but I have been
thinking seriously of late that mine is a
special case, or soon my be. There is an
order issued, empowering the Adj’ Gen’l to call
out as many conscripts, at a moments notice,
all between 18 & 40. If this order is carried
into execution my plantation will be left with
no white person on it. Joe Daniel is exempted
by the conscripts act, because he has 20 negroes
on his farm & has not volunteered for the
war. Even if I had 20 negroes on my farm
I would not be exempted because I have
volunteered. Charles Lewis too is exempted for
the same reason, & as with every man who
has a plantation & 20 negroes & has not
enlisted. The law also to provide for such
persons as did not come under the exemp-
tion act, provided the substitute system for
such as thought it best to put substitutes in
in for any cause, & for such as had duties at home
which made it impractical for them to go in the
service. Now I think that for a man, whose cir-
cumstances are such as to [exclude?] him to make
the sacrifice which his absence from home will
entail on him, & for a young man who has no

[Marginalia – left side]

Sis. my [note?] to abe was first rate.


[Pg 6]

family, it would look a little bad to put
in a substitute. The new order for all from
18 to 40 will take away Mr. [Royst..?] & one
of the tanners, & others from around my
place, & this too will make it more necessary
for me to be at Home. Then the condition of
my matters – my debts [ ? ], all make me
think that maybe it would be best for me
to furnish a substitute & come home. I
merely write this to let you know the [ ?][crossed out]
train of thought my mind frequently fol-
lows. Not that I am more dissatisfied
with the service, or feel low-spirited or
anything of the kind, but simply as a
matter of duty. (no doubt influenced a great
deal too by my great are[crossed out] inclination &
great anxiety to come home.) Reasons why I
ought no to get a substitute also frequently
suggest themselves, but I can’t help thinking
that if I can put as good a soldier in my
place, I ought to come home; & then
if it should become necessary join the army
again, rather than see our armies suffer
for recruits. But enough of this – much
love to all. I started to write how much I loved
you all but branched off on [substitues?]. Must
close now. Write your thoughts about what I have
been saying – and your feelings. I think I know
your feelings. Have written hastily & not what I
wanted to write exactly, because hastily. May
God bless my Darlings - Yr Devd husband
N.V.W.


[Marginlia – Left Side]

The boys all well – but are still [...ting?]