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
“last Monday” would have been Aug 26, 1861 when the Kessler’s Cross Lanes battle occurred.
See here for information on the Kessler’s Cross Lanes battle and here.
Click here for information about Camp Gauley, near Keslers Cross Lanes in Nicholas County, West Virginia
Click here for map of the area
On Tuesday, September 10, 1861 the Battle of Carnifex Ferry will take place. Click here for more information on this battle and the events leading up to it.