Camp near Richmond, June 1st My Dear Mamma, I at last begin to despaire of ever hearing from you. I do not know whether you ever write at all. As I have told you in my last three or four letters, I have received only two from you since I have been in Virginia. Do you and Papa receive the letter I write? The last I directed to Anderson Court House. This time I will direct the same I believe. If you would direct to me to Richmond to the 12th Regt. I would get the letters. We are looking for a great battle every day now. A battle was fought yesterday somewhere in our neighborhood, but we have not yet learned anything about it. We[End Page 1] could hear the roll of musketry and see the flash and smoke of the shells. I am going in to Richmond this morning on some business and will post this letter myself. I gave you an account of all our hardships in my last letter. But I do not know whether you ever got it. From all appearances it is probable that there will be a great battle before I will be able to write again. We are now only 5 miles from Richmond. And I believe that the fate of the city will be decided this week. The Yankees have had a balloon up all yesterday and this morning looking at us. It looks about two miles off. I am in a very great hurry and must stop at once. Do write and[End Page 2] ask [Jeffrey?] to write to me too. We are so constantly moving that I do not know whether I shall find the Regt. here when I return from Richmond. There has been a constant booming of cannon all the morning. The great fight is confidently expected today, but I do not think we'll come off so soon. Your Affectionate Son, W. [End Page 3] Mrs. P. T. Keith. Anderson Court House, So. Ca.[End Page 4]

Camp near Richmond, June 1st My Dear Mamma, I at last begin to despaire of ever hearing from you. I do not know whether you ever write at all. As I have told you in my last three or four letters, I have received only two from you since I have been in Virginia. Do you and Papa receive the letter I write? The last I directed to Anderson Court House. This time I will direct the same I believe. If you would direct to me to Richmond to the 12th Regt. I would get the letters. We are looking for a great battle every day now. A battle was fought yesterday somewhere in our neighborhood, but we have not yet learned anything about it. We[End Page 1] could hear the roll of musketry and see the flash and smoke of the shells. I am going in to Richmond this morning on some business and will post this letter myself. I gave you an account of all our hardships in my last letter. But I do not know whether you ever got it. From all appearances it is probable that there will be a great battle before I will be able to write again. We are now only 5 miles from Richmond. And I believe that the fate of the city will be decided this week. The Yankees have had a balloon up all yesterday and this morning looking at us. It looks about two miles off. I am in a very great hurry and must stop at once. Do write and[End Page 2] ask [Jeffrey?] to write to me too. We are so constantly moving that I do not know whether I shall find the Regt. here when I return from Richmond. There has been a constant booming of cannon all the morning. The great fight is confidently expected today, but I do not think we'll come off so soon. Your Affectionate Son, W. [End Page 3] Mrs. P. T. Keith. Anderson Court House, So. Ca.[End Page 4]

Camp near Richmond, June 1st My Dear Mamma, I at last begin to despaire of ever hearing from you. I do not know whether you ever write at all. As I have told you in my last three or four letters, I have received only two from you since I have been in Virginia. Do you and Papa receive the letter I write? The last I directed to Anderson Court House. This time I will direct the same I believe. If you would direct to me to Richmond to the 12th Regt. I would get the letters. We are looking for a great battle every day now. A battle was fought yesterday somewhere in our neighborhood, but we have not yet learned anything about it. We[End Page 1] could hear the roll of musketry and see the flash and smoke of the shells. I am going in to Richmond this morning on some business and will post this letter myself. I gave you an account of all our hardships in my last letter. But I do not know whether you ever got it. From all appearances it is probable that there will be a great battle before I will be able to write again. We are now only 5 miles from Richmond. And I believe that the fate of the city will be decided this week. The Yankees have had a balloon up all yesterday and this morning looking at us. It looks about two miles off. I am in a very great hurry and must stop at once. Do write and[End Page 2] ask [Jeffrey?] to write to me too. We are so constantly moving that I do not know whether I shall find the Regt. here when I return from Richmond. There has been a constant booming of cannon all the morning. The great fight is confidently expected today, but I do not think we'll come off so soon. Your Affectionate Son, W. [End Page 3] Mrs. P. T. Keith. Anderson Court House, So. Ca.[End Page 4]

Camp near Richmond, June 1st My Dear Mamma, I at last begin to despaire of ever hearing from you. I do not know whether you ever write at all. As I have told you in my last three or four letters, I have received only two from you since I have been in Virginia. Do you and Papa receive the letter I write? The last I directed to Anderson Court House. This time I will direct the same I believe. If you would direct to me to Richmond to the 12th Regt. I would get the letters. We are looking for a great battle every day now. A battle was fought yesterday somewhere in our neighborhood, but we have not yet learned anything about it. We[End Page 1] could hear the roll of musketry and see the flash and smoke of the shells. I am going in to Richmond this morning on some business and will post this letter myself. I gave you an account of all our hardships in my last letter. But I do not know whether you ever got it. From all appearances it is probable that there will be a great battle before I will be able to write again. We are now only 5 miles from Richmond. And I believe that the fate of the city will be decided this week. The Yankees have had a balloon up all yesterday and this morning looking at us. It looks about two miles off. I am in a very great hurry and must stop at once. Do write and[End Page 2] ask [Jeffrey?] to write to me too. We are so constantly moving that I do not know whether I shall find the Regt. here when I return from Richmond. There has been a constant booming of cannon all the morning. The great fight is confidently expected today, but I do not think we'll come off so soon. Your Affectionate Son, W. [End Page 3] Mrs. P. T. Keith. Anderson Court House, So. Ca.[End Page 4]