DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Andrew F. Davis papers, May-December 1861

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Andrew F. Davis papers, May-December 1861

07_1861-10-09-Page 01

Camp Elk Water Va. 
Oct. 9th 1861
Mrs. Sarah Davis
Dear dear wife
When I last wrote you I was in hopes that it would be the last letter I would be compelled to write to you for awhile at least as I was in hopes and liveing in the fond expectation of being at home with you by this time but the fortunes of war will it otherwise and Beaver told me this evening that he had just got a letter from home and that his people told him you were looking for me all the time, therefore I am fearful that this will be a bitter disappointment to you but I cannot help it.  Things are quiet in this vicinity now and our Brigade has been releived and tomorrow at 9 Oclock we are to make a Start of Seven miles towards home. We are ordered to Huttonsville there to await orders from Washington.  It is supposed by all of Our Superior Officers that we will be ordered on the Ohio River into winter quarters for the purpose of resting and recruiting the Brigade and they are all doing all they possibly can to accomplish that end as the Brigade is considered unfit for further service until such Steps are taken as it is said they have done more labor and endured more exposier than any other Brigade in the U.S.  I am told that as soon as that matter is settled I can then get to come home but not sooner on any consideration not even if some of my family ware to die. This is the positive orders from the War Department at Washington.  Enclosed I send you Sixty dollars which I want you to dispose of in any way that will conduce most to your comfort. I would like for you to

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Camp Elk Water Va. Oct. 9th 1861 Mrs. Sarah Davis Dear dear wife When I last wrote you I was in hopes that it would be the last letter I would be compelled to write to you for awhile at least as I was in hopes and liveing in the fond expectation of being at home with you by this time but the fortunes of war will it otherwise and Beaver told me this evening that he had just got a letter from home and that his people told him you were looking for me all the time, therefore I am fearful that this will be a bitter disappointment to you but I cannot help it. Things are quiet in this vicinity now and our Brigade has been releived and tomorrow at 9 Oclock we are to make a Start of Seven miles towards home. We are ordered to Huttonsville there to await orders from Washington. It is supposed by all of Our Superior Officers that we will be ordered on the Ohio River into winter quarters for the purpose of resting and recruiting the Brigade and they are all doing all they possibly can to accomplish that end as the Brigade is considered unfit for further service until such Steps are taken as it is said they have done more labor and endured more exposier than any other Brigade in the U.S. I am told that as soon as that matter is settled I can then get to come home but not sooner on any consideration not even if some of my family ware to die. This is the positive orders from the War Department at Washington. Enclosed I send you Sixty dollars which I want you to dispose of in any way that will conduce most to your comfort. I would like for you to