Oct. 4th 1861
Oct. 4th 1861
Campt Near Fairfax C.H.
Dear Kate
I have taken the presant opportunity of writing time, to write you a fiew lines for
the purpose of answering your last letter which I recieved a fiew days since. You wrote as if I was
trifling with your good nature. I would rather fall in the cause of our country
than to blindfold you in any way. You ware mistaken in
seeing a letter of mine to Miss Hiss as you stated. I recolect well at the last of my letter to her I had.- from your devoted friend and if you do'nt believe me I only ask you to look at it again none
but Sam Fitch new my motive in writing her that letter it was for his benifit she had lost confidence in him, on account of
some lies that had been told on him about her. Shee wrote
to me stating that I was in Sams
presance when he talked about her. She said that if
the things ware true she was done with Sam for ever. It
was all a lie that some of his enimies had
made on him, through Sams
persuasion I tried to write a forcible letter for I new
that Sam still loved her. & I am sertain that
she once loved him. I suppose if she was my devoted lover I would have written
to her since wich I have never done. Very proberably this will
be hard to believe put it is eaven so; your advice is good but in no way. I do'nt think that I have tried to fool any one & God forbid
that I should. I have had blues ever since I recieved
letter. I used to think that nature was to strong to be subject unto grief but alas it is far from it.
Thare are no news of importance to write. Our regament was on piket last
week. I could see the dome of the Capital in
Washington City on masons hill I could see vessels going up and down the Potomac
at Alexandria. I could see the Yankee fortifications to the right of Alexandria.
I couldent get to look through
the spy glass. Capt said he could see the Yankees working on the breastworks. Capt counted eighteen pieces of canon on one of thare earth work
entrenchments. I was the first one to discover after
ware put on post a large balloon up in the direction of
Washington that had climed a large white oak tree for
the purpose of getting a good view of the country thare
was some shooting evry day that we ware
thare; we could hear the Yankee drumbs beating evry night the last two or
three days it was very rainy weather. We had blenty of
rosting ears while we ware at Pagets tavern thare was a large field
of Yankee corn close. We had to fall back about three miles before our time was
out as the Yankees ware advancing but I believe it was
done to draw them on. Nothing more but remain your affectionately. Write soon
yours &c,
W.F.B.
My health is very good & hope this will find you
enjoying the same blessing. It is my desire that this letter should be kept
secret as it might make enimies someday. Write
soon nothing more from your umble friend
W.F.B.
