Camp Key Jan. 21, 1862

Beloved wife 

As I have nothing especially pressing I will write to you to-night. You seemed to think we would not remain here long when you wrote to me last, and I thought on hearing of our defeat at fishing Creek we would likely be sent off. But the excitement is dying out here, and I hear nothing of our being ordered away. Since I wrote last my company have received better arms. We have the Mississippi rifle but without bayonet. I think they are fine shooting guns and if we had bayonets, in case a charge should be made on us we could defend ourselves and not have to run. 

I think it is the purpose of our commanders to adopt a rigid system of drilling. There seems to be a disposition among the informed to attribute our defeat at fishing creek to a want of being drilled. My boys have all been sick so that we have not drilled as much as we would have otherwise done. But they are coming back occasionally. We report 30 privates able for duty. Jo. Haskew is sick with the fever. He went to his relatives who live near Lenoirs about 2 weeks ago and we never heard from him till today. He is thought to be better but very low. I suppose his family knows of it before now. The health of the regiment is improving fast. 

I heard that Mr. Rogers had arrived home but was sick. I hope he is only fatigued. I learned also that he met with the misfortune of losing horses and muls & wagon. I hope to get a letter from some of you giving me the news from Sequatchie. I want to know the effect the news of the battle at Somerset will have on those tories around there. I don't think they can be induced to make any demonstrations. But if they do there is still force here to put them through. And if the army at Somerset should come across the mountain it will be ours. But they will not attempt to cross. 

Are you becoming reconciled to remain at Pikeville? I want to hear from you again. I know you have a bad chance to write but I think you will be willing to write occasionally. I am enjoying good health and am getting along as well I could desire under the circumstances. The worst is the itch. I have commenced taking sulphur to-day and I intend to stop it if there is any chance. Jo is still scratching. I don't see that he is much better. He thinks his healment persisted in will certainly cure it. I am going to try it by using sulphurs inwardly and then annoint with curee mixed with sulphur and be using soap and water freely. Have you or the children taken the itch yet? Jo said you spoke of giving the children sulphur. It would be a good thing. I should hate for them to have it very much. 

You will perceive that I did not have much to write to you but I thought you would be anxious to hear whether we were ordered from this place. I feel much more inclined to go into active service since we are armed. Most of our regiment are armed. I will close.

Your loving husband

W. J. Hill


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan