Letter From Dr. William Wesley Farr to sister Amanda Elizabeth Farr Hall
Contributed by Frances Clark Cronin March 4, 2006

Manassas Sept. 1, 1861
 

Dear Sister
Seated in the woods on a log with Buck Askew i take this opportunity of answering you long looked for and most welcome letter i received a few days ago. you cannot tell the joy it gave me to hear from home, to hear that you all are well. i have just listened to a long and instructive sermon preached to the soldiers telling me of many, very many of my sins and last_____.  It reminded me of the probability of my soon being called upon to render an account of myself in another world, and told me of the impatience of my being fully prepared. We are still at this place but the impression is that we will soon be ordered to some point nearer Washington where it is thought that we will meet our enemy and give him the last blow which sill cause him speedily to propose a cessation of our victories and his defeats. We have some sickness in our Battalion though nothing of a very serious nature. i have never performed any duty since i have been here more than drilling a little when I choose. i thought when I first came here that I would have some tight times but our captain has not reported me to headquarters yet.I having been _____as an assistant in case of much sickness but I reckon I will have to come closer to it now in a day or two as our Major is very strict and intends having every well man on duty. our Captain has been very kind to me and it will never be forgotten. We live tolerably well up here though our water is very bad. All of our neighbor boys are well and I never was in better health. Camp life agrees with me. We do our own cooking but hire our washing done. I have not heard from Uncle Charley or Charley Walton in some days but they were well at last accounts. You say in your letter that you had rec. a letter from Uncle Charles stating that the man on his right was killed in the fight. I reckon he thought about that time it was an awful thing for one fellowman to be shooting another. You said that you supposed I had not heard of Ben Trotters retreat on that occasion. I reckon I have and everyone else in Virginia. It is said that when he reached our camp he came into our sight that you could smell him some distance. You may _____ the condition of his clothes _____. ______Trotter with not ______. Ben said when he left he told me at Sam Trotters that Ben said he had Volunteered for twelve months but that he did not intend ever to come home until the last Yankee was killed. I am afraid he will get ____ before they are all killed. I suppose David is at home. Write to me. Frank in his letter spoke of some clothes you intended sending. I expect they will be much needed as I have not got many and it is rather cold up here now. I will close by hoping that the War will soon close and we may meet again and further hoping that you all may enjoy good health and all other blessings for enjoyment. Give my love to all our family. Tell Pap that I intend acting the part of a man in this affair and that I never expect to return without honor to myself and him and all my relatives.

PS. this letter I sent by a gentleman who lives in Vicksburg and it will be mailed to you from there. I remain your Brother,
Dr. W.W. Farr