Henry Barcis, 12 August 1864

Wilson’s Landing, Virginia
August 12th 1864

Dear Wife,

I this morning seat myself for the purpose of answering your letter write the 5th of August and came to hand the 11th and I was truly glad to hear from home again and to learn that you was all well and also to hear that William C. Barcis’ name was not on the roll for this draft. Dear wife, we are still at Wilson’s Landing the 12th day of August so you see we hain’t but seven days more to serve. But there is talk that we will start home tomorrow, but I can’t say whether we will or not. But we will start home next week some time.

I don’t know that I have anything strange to write to you that would be much amusement to you. Things here is quiet and I think will be as long as we stay. If we don’t meet with some guerrilla party on the way home, I think we will get home without being in a fight although we have been drawn up in line of battle a great many times and has seen fighting. Still we was never called into it and I ain’t any sorry.

Now dear wife and children, keep in good heart. I will soon be home now and then I will tell you all about it and a great many more things I don’t want to put on paper. So I must draw to a close for the last time at Wilson’s Landing if we get off tomorrow, and I hope we may.

I hain’t told you anything about my health yet. I have had the dysentery some eight or ten days—the first that I have had since I left home, but I have got it nearly stopped and I feel quite weak. But when we start home and get on the Bay and get the sea breeze, I will begin to gain strength.

Since I sat down to write, they have commenced a very heavy firing up the river eight or ten miles [Second Battle of Deep Bottom]. I don’t know what it is. The rebs planted a battery and has commenced to fire into our boats as they pass but they can’t stand it long till they will run.

William Starkey requested you to tell his mother that he is well. No more at present but remain your best friend and well wisher. I send my love to wife and children, one and all.

— Henry Barcus