The Woodcutter

As the letters of John Stewart Walker clearly demonstrate, for most soldiers, most of the Civil War was about marching around, setting up camp, marching some more, and being bored.  While camp-life doesn't make for a very interesting wargaming, I am glad that several figure manufacturers have looked past that and offered some non-combatant figures for sale. I recently painted one up to accompany the Army of Oxford. This guys is off to cut some wood took keep the camp-fires going. 

J. S. Walker's Thirtieth Letter

Camp Deas, near Youngs Mill,

Warick Co., Post Office

Yorktown, 4^th Oct. 1861

My dear Wife:

                I must write you a hurried letter as I have the opportunity of sending it to Williamsburg to be mailed. Your last enclosed one from Charles’ wife. I have written you pretty regularly and I am surprised you have not received them. I had not the opportunity of paying postage and put my name on the back so the postage could be paid at Richmond. These letters may not have been sent. I continue remarkably well, notwithstanding the unfavorable cold weather, very heavy rains which flood our camp.

                From what I can learn, we will soon have to build log huts in which to winter near this place. We will be very close to James River and no doubt will have facilities of getting up and down the River by Steamer, as well as getting packages down. I hope you got my letter ordering my winter clothing down by Taylor and that you sent them. We are not advised as to what our future movements will be. We have to live each day and have to ourselves a military life not knowing what a day may bring forth. I only wish as a Christian I could so live trusting alone in the Lord, but sin, that marrer of all mankind, will creep in, but then the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, thanks be to his atoning sacrifice.

                Kiss the dear children and give love to all.

                                                                Yours most affectionately,

                                                                                Jno. S. Walker