The Civil War Letters Suffolk Virginia November 1, 1862

Suffolk Va Nov 1st  1862

My Dear Wife

i received your ever kind and welcome letter to day and i was very glad to hear that you was still injoying good health as it leaves me at present

as usal i have just returned from a 3 days Scout  all passed of well  i had the honor of being shot at by the Rebels Pickets about 4 oclock on Friday morning  i was on the advance guard going to Franklin when i got about 30 yards from a small hill just out of Franklin it being quite dark  when all at once about 20 yards from me across the Road was the Rebel pickets  as soon as they seen me they commenced fireing  they fired 8 shots but not one of them tuched me or any of my men  i had 12 men with me and soon as they had fired we drew our sabres and charged on them  after them we went full gallop and a way went they  and just as we got in Franklin the artillery commenced fireing and we had to Retire  So we had a good Race in the Dark but nobody was hurt which was the best of it although the balls passed pretty close to our heads

after Blazing at them for half hour our artillery limberd up and away we went from here  we Scouted the Country for some 40 miles around  this is a great Country for apple jack or apple whiskey  Nearly evry farmer has a distillery and the way the Soilders do wade into it is a caution to Suckers  as for me i always keep a sober head for i never was fond of getting Drunk

Dear Maggie  you seem to be in doubt weather i love you or not on account of me hurrying you of home so soon when you came to Washington to see me when i was sick  but Maggie if i had loved you less i might have asked you to stay longer  but Maggie i to tell you the truth and i can tell the truth sometimes and Maggie i do not know that i am Guilty of ever telling you a lie although you may think different  but the reason i hurryed you away was not that i did not love you but because i loved you to well to have you stay in a Soilders Camp  Maggie i would love very much to see you  there is no one in this world i would rather see then you  but i never want to see you in a soilders camp for vairous resons

Maggie  i know you must have it hard working in the mill  if it is so very hard for you and you think you can get along without going to the mill why leave the mill  i will send you all the mony i can spare  our payday is long acoming this time but i cannot help that  if i was at home i might do more for you  but you see i am fast and there is no telling when i will be free again  but i must close

Give my best respect to Mother   Jane and all the Family and all inquiring Friends

And with my very Best Love to you
i am Your Affectionate Husband
William Lancaster

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