Camp 15th Va. Regt.,
Simms Brigade,
29th May, 1862
My dear Wife:
I have
more frequent opportunities of sending you a letter than I have of writing. We
are kept constantly day and night on outpost duty, and when I lay down at night
with clothes, spurs, etc., on we are liable to be called at any and every hour
and are constantly aroused. We sleep in a field or woods road or swamp, just as
we happen to be and have a chance. In spite of all this, the Lord gives me
health and tho the privations keep me feverish and nervous to a degree that
prevents quiet reflection and but little opportunity of reading and reflecting
on the Bible, and no stated time for prayer, yet, thank God, I can trust in Him
and have peace in believing. I cannot hope to be able to physically endure what
I have had to go through with for the past two months, much longer, tho
‘sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof’.
I am now
well, and trust the Lord may continue it to me. It cannot be many more days
before the decisive battle comes off, and tho it will be a day of blood, since
the cup may not pass from us, may the Lord be our support to shield and give us
grace to drink it. The sooner now it comes off, the sooner we will be relieved
of the handicaps of this campaign, but I am willing to leave it to the Lord and
our Generals, asking Him to direct them. We have all confidence in our General
and to moral eye everything works well four our victory.
I am
glad to see by your last that the children are improving, and hope the Lord
will keep you all well. I hope Avis and family are safely in Mrs. Byrd’s home.
We now get a plenty to eat through Mary Burney and sending the servants to
Richmond for eating. Sorry to see Gaston was wounded but happy to know it is
very slight. The loss of his gun I attribute to a panic in the infantry and
stampede on their part, instead of their covering his reatreat. Tho the papers
do not say so, privately I do not think much of his Brig. General.
If you
do not hear from me, attribute it to my being too much occupied. If I am sick
so as not to be able to attend to duty, I will go to Richmond, where I can get
proper attention and care, so make yourself easy on that subject. Kiss the dear
children for father, and continue to pray the Lord to turn his anger from us
and give peace to our distracted country and return us unto our families. I
never set my heart on this world’s good if I know myself, but with my present
experiences I would not give peace under my own vine and fig tree, with a crust
of bread and my family around me, for all this world possesses. A log cabin,
ash cake, and buttermilk, in peace with my dear ones, is all of this world I
covet. Love to you and all friends, and pray for a great victory, and may the
Lord have all the glory.
Affectionately
yours,
Jno.
S. Walker.
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