Busy from battle; recovering from rheumatism; expecting orders from Gen. Lee; tell Wythe to write.

                          James T Gleaves & Rob
                              Wytheville
                                  Wythe County
                                      Virginia

                                   Camp Gauley
                                   Sept 1st 1861
 
Dear James
     I recd your letter a few minutes ago not summoned out off neither and I 15 miles from enemy but in their midst & whipped them last Monday like the D---L   The particulars of which you will see in papers.  I wish I could have seen you before you left for the "fields"  I hope you will return unscern & unhurt,  I have had a plenty of operations since our engagement ext Balls & - amputating.  If you miss out mind the next Battle at _____Munum. will find you are whiped as them will be a grand concentration of the whole Federal forces.  We will brush this out in West Virginia  Tell Bob I have his tins & a greasy ortily thing never may

find, I think the Minute Men if not the whole Brigade cooked in it all the time he was gone or absent.  Tell him I have his sword & I want him to come as soon as possible & bring the negroes & all articles necessary  I hope you will succeed in raising re enlists enough  James I hear several reports about the Grays running.  I heard Bill Ruper, Ed Haller, Bob Bailey are they?
let me know in your next as I am asked frequently & say nothing what is the truth?
     Tell Father & Mother I am well & almost relieved of rheumatism from sleeping on the ground & eating tough Bull Beef.  I hope we will all meet again soon & recount to each other our hair breath escapes & discount at length upon camp deprivations

We are to have some 3-Regst more in few days.  Wise is doing nothing-at all -Military killed.  I would not be surprised if we would be ordered by Genl Lee to fall upon Rosecrans & cut off Genl Cox supplies
                Good Bye & May God Bless
                             You
                   SCGleaves
Tell Bob to bring me a thick comfort for bed
                   SCG
Tell Wythe to write to me-he has more time & certainly more paper than I
                 SCG