near Youngs Mill,
2nd
Nov., 1861.
My very dear
Wife:
I have no doubt that if you have
such weather as we have had for the past twenty-four hours, that my little
family have frequently thought of Papa, the wind blowing and the rain pouring,
and tho some of the tents leak and some blow down, mine keeps up and is very
dry and very comfortable. I returned
yesterday morning after being out twenty-four hours on picket duty with my
Company, sleeping and waking all night in the woods, and tho we ushered in the
first winter month without a covering to our head, we all got on very well and
I keep in astonishing good health, for which I cannot be too thankful to a kind
Heavenly Father, but for his protection I would not be able to stand this life,
and I will trust Him to the end, knowing that his Grace will be sufficient if
our trust is in Him.
We have not yet commenced winter
quarters, and our tents being made of cotton osenburgs in the first instance,
are getting very rotten and a stormy season will make ribbons of them. We have no idea whether we will be kept here
or taken back to Williamsburg to winter, for I think it will be too great a
sacrifice to expect men to stay in the tents which will not protect them from
the falling weather much less the cold.
Sunday morning: I started this
yesterday, but as it was raining all day I could not continue it. It is now a fair, beautiful day, a day of
rest, and I hope it may be of spiritual profit to us all. May we live for God and die to live with Him,
and in living for God may we live for the world, that is, its conversion from
sin, and live without selfishness, covetousness, etc., and above all, content
with our situation, turning to God for direction.
I wanted to write you a long
letter this morning, but must close with an earnest prayer for the Lord’s
protection to you and our dear children.
Kiss them for me.
An ambulance is about to start
with sick to Williamsburg, and must close.
Love to all. Will write you again soon more at length.
Yours
very affectionately,
Jno.
S. Walker
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* If anyone knows what 'osenburgs' are, I'd love to know!
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* If anyone knows what 'osenburgs' are, I'd love to know!
