Dear Wife
As you now see from [ ]
Captain I am again in Lewisburg
this evening from Meadow Bluff at [ ]
our head quarters our march [ ]
[ ] the Retrogade under for a few days
since our Battle at Gauley ferry [ ]
enemy would advance upon this place
through a road intersecting the turn[pike]
at Meadow Bluff & hence the gall[ ]
[ ] know when we will have a [ ]
[ ] I think it extremely [ ]
[ at]tack us when [ ]
[ ] our forces [ ]
[ ] great [ ]
[ ] & [ ]
[ ] enough to feed us Hen[ ]
[ ] my horse by as a [ ]
[ pur]chase cheap end to [ ]
[ ] also send my trunk [ ]
such clothing as I will not [ ]
send it by Stugs unless an [ ]
of private conveyance _ Besure [ ]
Bob not to bring a trunk [ ]
reduced the amount of baggage [ ]
bring a carpet bag- I intend to [ ]
[ ] else a trunk is [ ]
I have [not] heard from you sin[ce ]
came. I hope you are well [ ]
write soon - I called & saw [ ]
[ ]
[ ] & selected
[ ] which fell
[ ] from [ ] but found
[ ] an unexploded bomb shell which
[ ] dangerous a momento the least
[ ] five mile caused them to explode
[ ] never will see such a [ ]
[ ]fight & certainly the most remembered
[ ] We fought nearly 5 hours
[ ] not losing a man- & killed &
wounded (insted 413) 2500 worse than
[ ] Manassa or any battle fought [ ]
Confederates-This number will [ ]
[ ]& unreliable but is from [ ]
[ ]quarters-three [ ]
[ ]killed two [ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ] & five [ ]
[ }Hened/c Wheeler [ ]
[ ]Floyd recd a slight [ ]
[ ]arm. Send word to [ ]
[ ]how I am the particulars [ ]
[ ]the fight
[ ] Lawson was in the
[ ] & behind with great courage
[ ] Good Bye my dear wife
Your husband
SCGleaves
The date for this letter is based on letter #219, dated 1861-09-13 where Samuel writes to Maria and states: “I wrote to you on yesterday without giving you the particulars of our late Battle at Gauley River.”