Miller Collins Letters 1863

Camp Near Fred

Feb 16th 1863

Dier Wife I hav the pleasure of Riting you one more time to let you now that I am will and dooing the Best I can and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will

I Recivd aletter from Baring date of Feb 11th and was Gladly Recivd and Red by mee I Rot to you some time agow which I dont now whether you Ever Got it or not But I hope you did But it was Rote sow Bad that I dont whether you could Read it or not for it was done with apencil like this one is but it is the Best I can doo at this time and I hav to Rite sow fast when I doo Rite for I am attending Col stock and waiting on him and I dont now when hee will Call for mee I dont hav no Gard duty to doo hee Givs Mee five dollars to per month and Clears mee from all duty and hee is Gowing to hav another horse in afew day and then I will Git more for it Talley is to pay mee to take cear of his horse for him which will Bee sow and it is something that I love to doo for I Ride when I please when wee ar stationd I am dooing the Best I can for My Self I am in Good health at this time and better than Ever thar is some talk of pease hear now But I dont Beeleiv one word of it I had rather think thar would Bee afite soon then to think thar would Bee pease sow much for that

I can say that I wont to see you My Best I now But I dont now when I will see you for the furlow comes slow and if I cant Git one for a good while I dont wont one for I could nor Bare to come Back and leave you all for I dont wont to come home sow Bad sinse you Got close to Jos for I now hee will doo what hee can for you for I now if I hav Got any friend in the world that hee is one of them

I Rote Wm Herendon some time agow and told them to Rite to you and mee But they hant Rot yet But I hope they will soon

I Got aletter from Father the same time yours come and I answer soon I wont you Rite soon for if I dont Rite after I wont to hear from you Just as Bad as I can Giv mee all the newse in that Country sow I must close for this time tell the Children howdy for Mee and tell them to Bee good Children

sow nothing More onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

I will rite to S.B. and Jos on another leaf

I believe this undated letter from Miller Collins to be the continuation of the Feb 16th 1863 letter from the content= where he states he will I will rite to S.B. and Jos on another leaf

I will rite afew lines more for the Canons is Roreing over on the River and wee may hav to gow thar soon to meet them I fear wee will I think the chance is good for afite for wee hav Bin still too long and dooing too weell I wont you to rite hoo all is gone from thar for I am afrade that Jos will hav to gow But I hope for you cant doo sow well tell Jo that I wont him to rite to mee and giv mee all the neuse from that Country and hear whether hee has to gow or not Giv him and frolley My Respts and tell him to rite to nite I hant heard from him in some time sow I must close for this time I wont to see you all sow Bad as I Sayd Beefore tell the Children howdy for Mee and Kiss them for Mee and take one for your self tell S.B.L. that I will rite to hur But shee May look out when it comes for it will come fast for shee nose that I dont like Mulens now how and Evry Boddy in this Rigt is in the same tell S.B. to Excuse for this time and I will doo Better next time for I hant time to rite this time B.M. sends his Best Respects to you Both hee looks than you Ever sow him Mee and him is in fine health sow I must close nothing More

onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

Good By

Undated letter of Miller Collins

(Feb or March 1863, Judging by the contents of the Letter)

I had some scraps of paper hear that I will rite up I want you to tell Joseph Thomas and family howdy for mee and tell that havnt time to rite to them this time tell them not to think hard of mee for I cant doo now better and tell them that I never shal forget them being such a friend to you for I am glad to now that you hav one friend that county I want to see them Very Bad tell them I want them to rite to mee soon if you made out that you can rite for them I want you to Bee Good to them as you can. But I now you will that Ellection hasnt come of yet and I dont know when it will But I hope when My friends is all hear I dont now how the thing will gow if this gits thar Beefore Miles leavs tell him to come one for wee hate James Readey sow bad that wee coul stand him much longer and wee wont him to come one for some of the boys was mad wen hee was ellect’d and they thow it up to mee for his staying at home for they say they node it when hee was pulin I wont him hear hear My self for he will Back? Ready I must close for this time for my way of riting is abad one But when I git to riting to you I dont now when to quit sow I want you kiss the Babies and take one you self I wont you to rite to mee how they ar growing and how they look for I want hear from them tell S.B. that I was glad to hear from hur and to see hur name in a letter tell hur that I wont to see at all the time sow nothing more onley I am yours till death

Sow Good By for this time

Miller Collins

Camp Near Fredericksburg Va

March 28. 1863

Dier Wife I one time more hav the time to Rite you afew line to let you now that I am in Better health than I was when I rote beefore and doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you well

I can say to you I Receivd aletter from you By the hand of Mr West which I was Vary glad to Receivd and hear that you was all well and dooing as well as you was thow I was vary sorrow to hear Joseph had to Gow to the wore and leave you the bag to scald.

I hav nothing to Rite that will interest onley that I sent you some money I sent it by Capt Pritchet hee started home yesterday and I did not hav the chance to rite when hee left I went with him to the rale Road

I sent you one hondred dollars which I hope will doo you some Good if you need it and if you dont need it you will take cear of it Better than I can for if I ceep it I shal spend it for something foe Everything is Myty hy and I cant By much

Mee and Bary and Boswell sent sent three hondred dollars and the old man that is father will gow and Git it for you can use it to suit your self and it and Worth while for Mel to say take cear of it for I now you will doo that any how I wont you to use it to the Best advantage I wont you to rite mee as soon as you Git this letter and let mee hear whether you Git that Money or not for I shal hear whether you git it or not I wanted to Gow home and take it Vary Bad But could not Gow But Maby it is the Best for mee I wont to hear from you oftain for any Boddy that I love as well as I doo you I wont hear from But that you now with out mee telling you I cant Rite for thar ant no chance to Rite for that is sow much talking Gowing on that I cant think of nothing But you now My feelings in that case I was vary Glad to see Mr West when hee come for hee told mee aheep that was gowing on in that Country that was some satisfaction for you may be shore that anything is Good that comes from that Country for hee nose all about other folks in that Country

wee ar Expecting afite hear the wether Brakes up But I dont now when that will Bee for it is raining now and has raind aheep now for awhile But it Bad on the yankeys as well as us and I am glad of it wee had 3 men leave our Rigt last nite with thar Gones and amunition and is thout they ar Gone home But I dont now whether or not

I dont think I shal Ever runaway from this army But I dont now what I may doo yet but if I cant Gow home onerable I wont gow soon I dont think and I think I wont gow home as bad as any boddy dose for I now that I hav some as purty babies at home as any boddy has and I love as well and good awife one that never gave mee ashort word inlife and I am proud to say that I never gave hur many that is some consilation to mee if I never see them any more

Well D.A. I wont you if S.B. needs any Money to let hur hav some for shee is helping you rase the Children for as long I hav anything shee shal hav part of it I wont you and hur to git along the Best you can for if I cant see you My hart is thar tell S.B. if I dont rite to hur in every letter not to think hard for shee ant for goten by mee I think I will rite to Martin in afew days for hee mite rite to mee some time and let mee hear from them one time I dont now when to quit riting when I comese riting to you for I cant Explane Myself to you for I dont now how to Close

you stated you was all gowing to work together I think that will bee the Best for Elender Cant form Byhur silf and you sade that you was gowing bee Good to Josephs folks and I wont you to doo that for they will Bee Good to you

Tell Polley that I cant rite hur this time for I hant got time as I hav to rite father aletter this Evening for my self and B.M. tell hur that I am Glad that shee thout anuf of mee to name hur Boy for mee Barey seys that is some name and hee to now whether you could put his name in as hee hant Got now name nowhow if I node whther you would Git the last letter that I send you I would now what to rite for I rote to you to rite all the newse and how you as gitting along in the way of living sow I must close for this time for you cant read this for I cant rite much rite soon as you git this and let mee hear from you sow kiss the Babies for mee and take one your self sow nothing more

onley I am yours till death

B.M. sends his Best respects to you

Miller Collins

Camp near Fredericksburg Va

April 9 1863

Dier Wife I hav time one time more to rite to you and let you now how I am gitting along and I can say you that I am well one time and dooing the best I can for Myself and I doo hop when this comes to hand it will find you all well.

I hav nothing to rite that will interest you for it has bin sow long sinse I got aletter from you that I dont now what to rite I hant had aletter sinse West come to the Rigt and I am gitting vary oneasy about home for fear thar is something the mater but I hope not I may git one to day I hope I will

Wee ar still at the same plase yet but I dont now how long wee will stay Wee hav some men to run away Every nite or two thar was 4 Runaway some 2 weeks ago and two last nite out of our rigt not out of our Compeney I dont think any of our boys will run off I shant I now unless My notion alters Grateley

I can say tom you that I am with the Col yet and ont to let mee off for I told him that I wonted him to appont Mee Wagon Master for the Rigt and hee told mee that hee could doo with out mee for hee cold not git aman that hee would risk with his horses this pays mee the best but I rather had the other plase for I can ride all the time and you now that suits mee the best for I am to lazy to walk and when I git that plase if I doo git it I wont bee Exposed Comes and that is the most important I turn for I dont like them you may bee shore

I must brag that I am doo well for the time But I fear that you ant if I nod you was I would doo beter for that is on my mind all the time

Wee had snow the fifth of this instant that was 6 inches deep and that of it on the Ground yet and you now that it ant warm hear yet I must close for the present time and when the male comes in I will finish this for I hope I will Git one leter from you I rote 2 or 3 letters sent I Got one from you sow Good By

Well I will finish my letter for the Male has come in and has brout nothing for mee I lisend Vary Close to hear my name cold but did not hear it

I wont you to rite oftane for God nose my hart I wont to hear whether you Evr got that money that I sent By Capt Pritchet or not for I hav bin oneasy about you needing it for the times is sow hard and I hear that thar is some families that is suferen thar but I hope that it ant you for if my babies was suferen and I nod it I would run away and gow and see them But that would doo nogood But make the mater worse doo the best you can for them and giv them something to Eate if it lotts all that wee can all make I wont to see you all vary Bad But you now that vary well I could say that till nite and not lie for it comes from the hart sow Giv My Best Repects to Polley and S.B. and tell them that I will rite to them soon I think will Git aletter from you in afew days sow I must close for this time sow take good cear your self sow I remane yours as Ever till Death D.A. Collins

Miller Collins

Camp near Fredericksburg, VA

April 16, 1863

Mrs. D.A. Collins Der Wife I will indever to answer your kind letter which I received afew days ago and was vary glad hear from you and hear that you was all well or as much sow as you was. It was the first letter that I had got since West come which was near a month and that is too long to not get a letter from one that I love as I doo you for God nose that I have my wife and family some may think that is a joke but I now my feelings about that and you now how it is for I think you ar trying it if ant feeling badley I hav nothing to rite that will interest you I sent you some money and I have never heard whether you ever got it or not I sent it by Capt. Pritchet and I hope you hav got it for I now you need it I was glad to hear that you had corn anof to doo you for I was oneasy about that for fear that that you would not git corn to doo you and it sow try and was gld that you was gowing git some milk this same you hav never rote how that calf was dooing of ours I love to hear all them sort of things I wont you to rite all them sort of things it seems like foolishness but I like to all and then I now how you as gitting on I am in very good health at this time and dooing better then ever I hav done sinse the wore comes and I think I will remain to doo sow if nothing happens to me for I intend to do rite. I eate with B.M. and Boswell but sleep by my self in one of the Col tents and that is better sleeping with atent full wee as at the same felose yet but I dont now how long wee will stay But I hope we would had much hard marching to doo this sommer or that is what warse me out. I think I will get my baggage hald and if I doo I can stand it to ceep up with the Regt and not hurt mee much and if I doo I will cary some of B.M. Baggage for him if they dont catch me at it. But I dont think they will and that will doo hm some good for if I can doo him any good. I will doo that for he is My Brother and a good brother at that hee will doo any thing that I want him to doo hoes in good health and sends you his Best rispects I want you to Giv Polley my best respects and tell her to rite to me Rite your self and giv mee the nuse from that country I dont now whether you can read this or not for I hav to rite sow fast that I cant rite good it ant wort wile to say anything love the babies for I lov them sow good by for this tim.

Miller Collins

A few words more I think I had rote nearly all that I can think you sayd something about sending mee some close I hav close I hav plenty of them at this time I had theas pants over that you sent me I havt wore them much yet for I think sow much of them that I did not want to ware them out and I put them one a few days a gow sow I must close for this time. Boswell is well and harty I want you to get my Best respects for she rite something to evry time any boddy rits and I shoul forget her I recon shee is sow that that shee wont and I rite more to mee but I cant help that, I wont you to giv Polly my Best Respects and tell her to rite for I cant rite to all and afew words will doo when it comes sow oftane I had to rite sow many letters that I cant long ones sow I must close for this time. read this if you can and rite soon sow I am yours till Death.

Miller Collins

A word to S.B.L. I dont now what to say to you But I cant think of not saying something to you when I rite if I was with you I could tell a good many things that I cant rite. doo the best you can and rite soon I am yours.

Miller Collins

Camp Near Fredericks burg Va

April 19. 1863

Der Wife I will rite to you one time more in answer to your letter which I receivd yesterday and was vary glad to hear that you was all well and dooing the Best I could for myself

I hav nothing to rite that will interest you that I think of at this time you rote that Father and Mother wor with you when you rote last I was glad that they thout anuf of you to gow and see you and you alsow rote what you had for diner O I wish I was thar some these sondays to take diner with you I think I could injoy it Vary much

I doohope the time will soon come when I can come home and stay with you and the babies Giv mee that in preference of any thing in this world it has bin nearly fifteen months sinse I left home and that is to long for any Boddy to stay away from thar wifes and little ones when they love them like I doo Mine and they cant love them better for I love them Just as hard as I can all the time

I receivd aletter from Martin the same day that I Got one from you hee rote that they was all well and dooing the Best the Could for them selvs and hee rote that that hee would doo any thing for you that hee could and think hee was dooing his duty he rot that hee had not bin out to see you sinse he come home but Would Gow in afew days and I hope they will for it seems like old times to hear that Martin Rindy was comeing to nite I think if I was thar some nite and they would come I could injoy it fineley

you rote that you had got that money that I sent you and you never sayd how much you got and you sayd that had to barow some money and never sayd hoofrom nor how much I all ways wont to now them sort of things for I wont to now how was sow good as to lone you Money Rite how much money you got or if you got it all you rote that you wisht I was that help you manage I would love that my self But you ar dooing vary well I think acording to your chance Just doo the best you can and then you will doo rite or it will be rite with mee and any how I dont now whether I could doo better if I was thare or not I would hav a better chance than you hav but I am well pleased with the way you ar dooing anything to make aliving I wont you to bee good to your self and the Children I must soon close for this time for I can hear some Canons firing ovr on the River and I dont now what Mind wee hav to gow

B.M. and Boswell is well Boswell has got asore thumb with fever or something like it they ar boath on Gard to day Giv Polley my best respects and tell hur to rite sow I must close for this time rite soon and dont fail

so I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

A word to S.B. I dont now what to say to you but I must say something I wish I was thar to help you make some corn I think wee could make anuf to doo us sow I must close for this time I wont you to Giv T.L. Lottery My Best Respects and tell them to rite mee soon I wont you to rite your self sow I must close I am yours truley till Death

Miller Collins

Camp Near Fredericksburg Va

April 26th 1863

Dier Wife it is with pleasure that I hav the chance to rite to you one time more and say that I am well and dooing the Best I can and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all well I Receivd aletter from you yesterday in one that Binum got which I was vary glad to git and hear that you was all well you rote that you had rote one sinse you had got one from mee I rite one or two Evry weeke and I git one from you nearly Evry weeke

I dont now what to rite that will interest you I can say that wee ar at the same plase yet and I dont now how long wee will stay hear for the wether is drying off Vary Much and that is the time for yankeys to havat but I dont think that wee will fite hear thou wee may for what I now they made alittle dash over hear afew days ago and they had to gow back vary fast and I dont think that they will come back any more soon sow I wont to hear from the last letter I rote to you vary bad

I can say to you that I am at my old trade yet staying with the Col and I hope I will stay with him for hee treats mee vary well. But hee ont too for I treat him well and I intend to Ceep at that for I am dooing Better than when I was with the Company for I dont doo now duty But wait on him and you now that is better than to hav to stand gard and drill all the time I am thinking when I will git abetter plase still But I dont now when it will come but I hope soon I dont now what it will bee yet I hav the promis of 2 or 3 plase if they ar vacant I think I will git some of them I wont you to doo the Best you can

I did not cear for money when I first come into survis but thar is Just as much honor in making money as not to make none and I am trying to make some I am trying to git the Setlis plas of this Rigt but dont say anything about it for if I dont git it I dont wont Every boddy to now that I bin trying for it and has not got it and if I doo git it I can make some Money More than it will take to doo Mee But I dont now what will turn up yet I hope Everything will work for the best

I must soon close I wont you to take good Cear of the babis and rase them the best you can and you My way to boss one asthe and fear and _____ tell Elen bee agood Girl till I come home Kiss them all for mee and take one your self B.M. and Boswell is Boath well Boswell has asore thumb But it is gitting better B.M. sends his Best Respects to you and wonts to bee Remembered by you sow I wont you to rite soon and oftane sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

A word to S.B. I wont to bee remembered by you and I wont you to rite soon

Giv my best respects to Polley and the Children sow I must close for this time I am yours till as Ever I am gowing to rite to hannah this evening sow Good By

Miller Collins

Camp Near Fredericksburg Va

May 9 1863

I one time more hav the chance of riting you afew lines which livs mee will as to health But not in mind on the account of My Brother being taken prisner hee was taken with all the rest of our Regt they was all taken nearby that wee now the Col got out and Miles and James Lewis .. Dick and Geoge Moss .. George got his finger shot off hee may gow home wee hav had the hards Battle that wee hav had at all and the worst of all My Brother is Gone But I hope hee is all rite or will bee soon you will hear all about this beefore you git this I had the good luck to Bee Back with the stock and savd My Self and it was good luck on My Side for I should hav went the same way I would hav rote sooner but I did not hav time for the Col cept Bisey all the time waiting on him But hee is Myty good to mee and I lov waid on him I cant rite much this time But I will in aday or too when I git time and then I will giv all the newse from hear I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will Giv My friends My Best Respects and tell them that I am all rite one time dont think hard of mee not Riting you more for I hant time I hant had aleter from you in some time you all Rite I hope tell the Babies howdy for mee and S.B. sow nothing More onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

I hav con cluded that I will rite some more as I hav more time time than I thout I had as the Col is gone off and I hant nothing to doo till hee comes back and dont now when to quit riting when I am riting I can say to you that wee ar living Vary hard now wee git some fine fish hear on the river and you now that I love them vary well But wee did not Resom and wee cant by nothing for low prices But I hope the pork Soter will soon come up and then I will hav some Grens if i was thar for you to fix up for mee I think I could Eat aharty diner I wish I was Thar and I now that you would take grate pleasure in dooing that for mee I think it is hard for mee to how stay away from any Boddy that I love like I doo you but hardly it is the best for what I now But it looks hard and I dont think it is fare I wont you to doo the best you can for your self and the Children for they ar sweet babies as any Boddy has got I wont you to rite whether they hav Ever got that money of John Thomas or not they rot to mee about it and I rote them how to git it and I hope they hav got it for I Expect they need it vary bad

I thout when I comenst on this paper that that I could fill it But the Marks is sow close that I cant fill it sow I must close for this time for you will git tird of reeding aganst you git done Reeding this sow Rite soon and let mee hear from you I am yours till Deat

Miller Collins

A word to S.B.L.

Well S.B. I dont now what to say to you that will interst you for I hant time rite much as the Col has come Back and wants his table I wont you to doo the best you can your self for I now I wish you well

I wish I was thar to help you make some corn sow I must close Rite soon as you git this letter sow nothing More at this time onley I am you till Deat

Miller Collins

to his living Friends

Camp Near Kinston N.C.

June 2 1863

Dier wife I am glad that I hav the chance of riting to you and say that I am will and dooing will and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will.

I hav nothing to rite onley that I receivd aleter from you yesterday Which I was glad to git and hear from that you was all will and I had Just rote one that day and for fear that you dont git it will rite agane I can say to that B.M. has got Back and mee and him is living like Brothers agane hee is in tolerable health hee dont look Vary will But hee ant sick and hee sends you his Best respects and wonts you not to forgit him Boswell is will and all the Connecting I wont you to doo the Best you can which I now you will you sid that you wisht that I could come home and cut wheat But I cant come now But I hope that I will git to come some time this sumer and see my Dier little ones for god nose My hart I wont to see them and I now they wont to see mee you must doo the Best you can for the wheat and git it cut if you can.

you cant Read this when you git it for I hav to rite sow fast that I cant rite good for I dont now when they will wont mee some times they dont wont all mee all day and some times they wont mee all the time I think I shal like this plase vary will the worst thing about it is the water is Vary Bad and I fear that it will make us all sick But I hope not I am in better health that I hav bin in some time But I dont now how long it will last

Giv My Best respects S.B. and Polley rite soon sow I Myt Close for the Boy is now starting with it sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

Camp 23 Ga Regt

Near Kinston N.C.

June 13th 1863

Dier Wife I this morning hav the Chance of riting to you one time more in answer to your kind letter which I received from you afew days ago which stated that you wor not all will and I was sorow to hear that but I hope that you ar all will by this time this leavs mee in fine health and dooing Vary will I was vary glad to git that git that letter from you when I did for I was beginning to think long of the time but did not think hard of you for wee had bin moveing about sow that you did now whare to rite too. and I hope when this Comes to hand it will bee answered soon

I hav nothing to rite that will interest you I must Brag on being in better health than I comonley am at this season of the year and I hope that it is all for the best for mee for this time last year I was sick in Richmond and I am Glad that I ant now.

as I came threw Richmond I went to see my old Lady that waited on mee sow well and shee was vary Glad to see mee and I was to see hur and shee gave mee agood diner which come in good time it will bee along time till I forgit hur kind attension to mee

I am still at my old plase yet and is fareing vary will I went out yesterday to hunt something to Eat and I found some butter and Milk Cabage and unions plenty and that is something that has not bin comon with mee wee can By penty hear at some prise and wee will hav them you now that I can agratere fond for Vigitation anyhow I can Ride after what what wee wont for I still mess with Col and I fare Better than if I was not with him hee is vary good to mee and I am to him

I dont think wee will hav afite hear soon if Ever wee doo thare sayd to Bee some Negro troops down thar But I dont now how meney thare is in all if wee git asulted then wee will make them fly up the Creak for I now they cantfite much. the Rigt is gone on picket this morning But I did not gow they will bee gone some ten days and B.M. comes back wee will rite along letter to father and Mother

I rote to them when Mr. Reavs went home and I hop wee will git aletter from them soon wee got one from them the other nite and was vary glad to hear that they was all will I shood git one from Joseph and I will rite to him this Evening I think if I dont I will rite soon.

I was glad to hear that hee was at home and that Expected to stay at them works all the time for I can git to gow home some times when wee cant you will now when you see this that I hav got your letter I wish I had something to send to you But I hant and it dont Matter

I can say to you that they hav had Dick Moss and George Boath beefore Cort mashell for Gamling I dont I dont now what they will doo with them yet nor I dont cear what. us and then dont go sow Vary will I must soon close for My unions is Given mee fits now

I wont you to rite when Ever you can and dont wait foe mee for I cant rite at all times when I wont too some has nearly quit riting But I am glad that wee hant I love to git letters from you Just will now as I did when I first went in survis and I now you ar the same sow I must close I May rite some more this Evening if I dont I wont you to giv S.B. My Best respects and tell the Children howdy for mee and tell them that I love them sow rite soon and oftane I am your till Death

Miller Collins

Camp 23 Ga

Augt 6 1863

Camp Near Writesville N.C.

Mrs D.A. Collins

Dier Wife as I hav agood chance to rite I thout I would rite and let you now that I am will and I doo hope when this comes to hand you all I hav nothing to rite that is good nor bad I hav rote one sinse I got one from you But I never git tird of riting to you or hant ever yet nor I dont Expect too thar is one thing that I can say that I wont to see you Vary bad but that has got to bee an old tale and it is bin I now my feelings and I now that I wont to see my wife and little Children when I git in the way of standing about then I think I atimes that I cant stand it much longer and if I did hav the best plase in the world or in the army I could not Stand it but as it is I am Compld to stand it I am fareing will acording to the times thar is one thing Gives mee comfort sinse Col Best has bin under arest our smart Capt has bin trying to Git mee back to my company but hee hasnt done that yet and Col Best told mee if they did order mee back that I could mess with him and that was some consolation to mee hee thinks hee will bee Releast soon and then I can doo just as I please but will pease to doo rite at the time

I long for the time to come when hee will git in Comind wee ar dooing vary Will wee ar nearly rite on the Coast 12 miles from Wilmington N.C. and I dont think wee will hav any fiting to doo hear soon but I dont now I think wee ar to gow to S.C. but wee cant Gow I hop it is all rite

Will D.A. I wont you to doo the best you can for aliving for it looks like I cant help you much for it takes nearley all that I can Make to Ceep mee up But I will divide with you when wee git some some money wee will draw some clothing money some time this year if wee hant drawd tack it all up I dont I think I shal hav mine all tuck up for I hant drawd Close sinse you sent mee them close I hav them pants on now and I hav got on one of them Blew shirts on that I wore from home they hav bin the best shirts I Ever wore in my life I must soon close for my paper is nearly Giv out and I Must soon close for you will git tird of reading such riting as this is I wont you to rite soon as you git this letter for I wont to hear from you vary bad and hear how you ar gitting along for fear it is Bad any how But hop not sow I Must Close for this time sow nothing More onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

Good By

James Island

Charleston S.C.

August 11th 1863

Dier Wife one time more hav the chance riting to you and saying that I am yet alive and in good health and I doo hope when this comes to hand it find you all will I hav rote one letter to you sinse I receivd one from you But wee hav Bin mooving about son they will hav to follow mee I fear that wee hav got to abad plase now for wee hav to fite I now for the pickits is fiting all the time nearley and last nite they fout all nite and I fear wee will hav abad time bee fore wee git out of hear.

Wee got hear nite beefore last wee hant done anything sinse wee come hear and I dont now when wee will all the fiting that is gowing on is one Moris Isiland and wee gow thar By Rigt and wee hav to gow in the nite sow the Yankeys cant see us I dont now when wee hav to gow and when wee gow wee stay 4 days and nits and fare vary bad I dont Expect to gow My self But I had Just too gow as for my folks to hav to gow ore some of them they cant Carey the stock over thare and I Expect to stay with But I dont I am still taking of them yet

I can say to you that Charleston is a large plase for wee stade in town one hole day I did see now that I node But one man and hee was Hiley Dun that wont liv in that Country But thar was severl men that Inquirin for mee and sad the nod Mee will But I dont now hoo they was. But Maby I will see them yet for I shal gow to the Sitty in the morning to git horse shooing done I wont you to rite agane when the Regt gows on picket if I dont hav to gow I hant got time to rite much this time for I hav chance to send it to office and I had Bitter send it for I dont now whether I hav the chance to send it to morrow or not.

I doo hope I will hav the chance of seeing bee fore long for I doo wont to see you the worst I Ever did in my I cant tell you anything about how I feel about that nor I shant try Giv S.B. howdy for mee for mee and tell hur to rite to mee and Kiss purty Babies for howdy of mine and tell them that I love them for I now that I doo and God nose that I Lov them I Love to rite about them and I cant hardley stand to rite tell Polley howdy for mee tell hur to rite sow I must close for this time I can say to you that Rufus Parker has run away

Good By for this time

Miller Collins

James Island

Charleston S.C. Augt 16th 1863

Mrs Miller Collins

Dier wife if affords mee grate satisfaction to injoy the pleasure of riting to you and saying that I am will and I doo hope that when this comes to hand it will find you will I hav nothing to rite that will interest you as I hav Got too letters sinse I hav Receivd one from you but I hav bin Mooving about sow much that your letters could git to mee I doo hope that I will git one from you soon I Receivd aletter from Father fathers yesterday which I was vary glad to git and read and hear that they was all will they sed in that letter that you was all will and you that was good newse to mee for it has bin some time sinse I Receivd aletter from I wont you to rite oftane for I fear that that the Yankeys will git thare till you can git to rite to mee and that will bee offul for mee to think of I hope it wont bee sow

I can say to you that this is ahard old plase wee dont git much to Eate and the wether is so vary warm and the water is bad that it all makes it ahard plase wee dont git letters from the office Registar for the Male is sow tite that wee cant git for nowboddy to gow to town after the male thow I intend to ceep riting all the time and if they cant Gow off I cant help that the Big officers has Everything in thare hands But one they cant ceep mee from them sow long

I doo think this wore wont last long for wee cant whip the Yankeys they will whip us I dont wont them to whip us but I wont wor to stop for God nose my hart I am tird of it and I think anyboddy that has bin two years and cant gow home wonts it to stop I hav bin deprivd of hearing of the sweet words falling from the lips of my dierly loved wife and children as if I could Express my feelings about that but if I was with you to speak it with lips I could not Expose it much by rite

D.A. I wont you toy rite when you can and gin mee all the newse from thar for you now that I wont to hear all the newse how ar you gitting along and what for acrop you hav got and how your stack is dooing and what the opinion of the people is about the wore I am still at my same old plase and I intend to stay hear just as long as I can for I fare better than if I was the companey for I hav my cooking done and my washing done all for nothing and you now that is better than I can doo with the companey and I gitting bedding hald and my close nearley all the time and when thares any horse that ant in use I git to ride it him

I am dooing will acording to the times thow not withstanding all this I am tird of sleeping away from you O if I was with you this Butyful sabath day to talk over our old hav ats I could injoy it sow will I hav spent amung ahappy our with you thing that givs mee grate satisfaction that is that I never Gave you any short words in my life and that you never Gave mee none and if wee never see each other agane wee can hav that to say and is anuf satisfaction to mee

I am in abad fix to rite this morning for I hav got the Blews sow bad that I cant rite I cant think of nothing wee hant had nothing to doo not in this isiland But I dont now how long wee will bee in this fix for the Cannons is roreing all the time day and nite and they are near us but one another Isiland from us I Expect wee will hav to gow one that Isiland soon the most of the firing is one Moris Isiland and they that is amity bad plase and I hope that I wont hav to gow thare thow I intend to doo What Ever they order mee to doo

Sinse I comenst this letter thare has come in some fruit and some Potatos and some Coffee from Sas and is beeing dividing out thou thare ant meney of them and that is something that wee dont hav much of if I was at home now I should Expect to Git some of them I now too years agow now thar was aplenty of paches in that Country wee had to pay one dollar and dollar ahalf per doz for them and that dont suit aman that dont Git but Eleven dollars per month sow I dont Got meney of them I hope it wont bee long till will bee free one time more I went over to the Citty the other day and it is plase what is aplase I must soon close But I cant stop riting when I am riting to you I wont you to Kiss them Babies of mine and take one your self and think mee sow I must close sow nothing more

onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

Rite soon and think of mee for I am thinking of you all the time for that is all that I wont to think off now

A word to S.B.

I hav not rote to you in along tim and I am at aloss to now what to rite But when I am riting to D.A. I allways feel like I hav to say something to you for when I git aletter from home I alwis love git aword from you for it seams like I was not forgoten for I become some what Chilish sinse this wore comenst about them sort of things and I always was somewhat foolish asspesiley about My folks I wont you you to rite soon it would please mee Mee much to see you and hear you talk some about the times in that country I Remember the maney happy moments that wee had had when wee was all at home saying just what wee please and that was the Grats Sattisfaction that I Ever had in my life I can think back to the time and say O if I could just bee afew such priveliges now how Grate it would bee to mee I can amagon that I can sea you and D.A. sitting and talking I now sow will how wee use to doo that can see it now in my amagination S.B. I wont you to rite to mee whenever you can and giv mee all the newse rite long letters for I love to read them I think you will git tird reading aganst you git done Reading this But red it if you can and now hoo it comes from take the best cear of my babies that you can and take cear of your self sow I must close for the wont of room I will rite alittle to Polley on alittle scrap sow nothing more

onley I am yours

Miller Collins

James Island

Charleston S.C. Sept 1st 1863

Mrs Miller Collins

Dier Wife it affords Mee the pleasure to hav the oportunity of riting to you and saying that I am will and doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will it is comon to say that I hav nothing to rite But it is not the case with mee this time for I hav something to rite

I can say to you that I hav Bin in ahard old plase sinse I rote beefore and I will tell you somthing about it wee went over to Moris Isiland and stad thar 7 days and nites and that was the hardes times that Ever I had seen in my life But wee did leave over thare and when wee started Back wee was one the Steem Boat hour Rigt and one S.C. Rigt and some visiting making about nine hondred of us all and fort Moltery opend fire one us Kild sevrl none of our Rigt But I never was sow sceard in my life I never heard sow much firing in my life for this Every Body Expect to dy in ashort time I thout off you and the Babies But never Expected to see you any more But now I hope I will if nothing hapons to Mee I cant tell you anything about my feelings at that time I dont think I Ever will Gow back thar any more for it ant worth while for some to doo all and some none

I Expect you ar thinking hard of mee for not riting sooner But you must not think hard of mee for I could not help that this is the 3rd day I comenst letter the 1st day and I could not rite them and I ant much Better now But as Uncle is gowing to start home in the morning and I must rite some I was Myty Glad to see him and hear him talk for hee could tell mee all about my folks and hee told mee all about Father was coming out to see us I wont him to come for I wont to see him Vary bad and I now hee can tell mee all about my folks and how they ar gitting along I am not vary will now But nothing more than beeing wore out it ant worth while for mee to rite much for Uncle can tell you all about how I am gitting you will now when you see this that ant rite will from the way it is rote I wont you to tell Father to bee shore to and come see us and not think Beecose I I hav never Rote to him to come that I dont wont him to come nor that I dont wont to see him for hee nose how I am about my folks I think as much of My father as any Boddy dose of tharse I red that letter that sent By him and was glad to read it and hear that you had not forgot mee and I alsow Receivd one from Polley at the same time and was vary glad to read

I am still with the Col yet But hav to doo some Duty in companey Bee cose the Col is not in Command I wont doo anything of the kind when hee Gits in Command But I dont cear for that for it wont bee sow long tell Polley I will rite to hur in ashort time I cant Rite much this time I ot to rite to Father But I cant this time I hope that hee will come and see mee soon I will send Father some Powder and hee can hav some fun Killing Game and I hav some more when hee comes I hant seen Elic Thomas yet But I think I will Gow and see him soon if I can git apass I wont you to rite soon and let mee hear from you and from the Babies I am looking for aletter from Desurea and from sevrl others But I dont now when I will git them Uncle says that you ar dooing will and that thar ant no danger of you But what you will git along I hope that is sow and if thare some alteration soon I think I shal bee thar to help you Eat what you hav made this year Read this to father and tell him that I will rite to him soon sow I must close for this time

onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

Camp 23rd Ga Rigt

James Isiland S.C.

Sept 21, 1863

Dier Wife I one time more had the Chance of writing one more letter to let you now how I am gitting along This leaves mee will for the first time in some time I hav bin feeling vary bad for som time not bad anuf to bee down and to bad to bee up. but I hav got up and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will but I fear it wont for I hear thare is rite smart of sickness in that Country but I hope you had your shear of it

I Receivd aletter from you afew days ago which I was vary Glad to Read you know but sorow to hear that the Children wor sick for such things Greaves mee much I had giv out gitting any more letters from you for I thout the yankeys had the Rail Road some whare but as Good luck would hav it they did nowt and I got one more you dont now how I feel about that and I had quit writing My self on that account and I dont wont you to think that I dont wont to rite to you for you now better than that for I would hav Gave fifty dollars for one letter it ant worth while for mee to try to Express my self about them sort of things for I cant doo that if I was to try I hear that Yankeys has Gone further from you then they was when you rote to mee and I hope they ceep Gowing in that dyrection all the time

you wrote that you Expecta Every day when they would take your cow from you but I hope it wont bee sow but if they doo you must doo the best you can for it ant worth while for us to take it to hart now how for wee cant help that if wee could wee would

I git to standing about things some times till I think I would Just hav Runaway as not but that wont doo for mee apoor man shal cant help him self I come in too this wore with some honer and I wont to Gow out the same way and I hope I will liv to see the end of it for I hav some loving babies and wife that I wont disgust with my conduct in this wore. for our Careter is all that wee hav got in this world it is vary on pleasant to mee to stay hear but it would bee none foe mee to bee thare with out leave if I doo Live Eleven months more My time will bee out and then T can Gow home if I was about to gow and see my folks I could stand it better Uncle said when hee was hear that thare was no danger but what you would git along if you had no bad luck.

I doo hope you wont hav now bad luck for it takes nearly all that I can make to liv one and I cant send now Money home and I know you are out by this time and I cant help you none for I hant got none for Myself But wee will draw in afew days if nothing hapons and I will send you some of it if you needed it and I now you doo I wont you to rite soon and let mee hear from you and rite how you are gitting along and all about things in gineral for I wont to hear all them sort of things

Wee are having some cool nites hear now and I hope it will stay so I think of it stay cool that wee hav better health wee hav some Chiles hear Seargent Best is lying hear by Mee now shaking I think hour Courtion is all will But J.B. Collins hee is not rite will Gravelly is gone to the Hosspittle B.M. and Boswell is in good health wee hant had nothing to doo sinse wee come from from fort wagoner thare is some Canonading Gowing one all the time knight and day thare is agrate Money Negrose heave at work now sow wee dont hav much work to doo now.

I am vary oneasy for fear Father will hav to gow off But if hee dose gow hee wont hav to stay long But I dont wont him to gow I am still staying with the Col yet and is dooing vary well hee is not in Comm and yet But I think hee will bee in afew days for it will bee better for mee when hee gits in command I wont you to tell Joseph that hee must vote Liut F.T. Forrester for the legislator and to doo all hee can for him for hee is aman that will doo I think I will rite to him soon if I can I wont to rite soon for the longer I stay away the worse I wont to hear from you dont git out hart for it dont doo now good fore I hav tride it lateley Let us hold up our heads if wee dy hard I wont to from home worse now than I hav in some time for if Father dont hav to gow hee will come to see us and that will bee grate satisfaction to mee for that is a thing that I hant had the pleasure of dooing in some time and you know how I love to meet my friends with out my telling you for I think some thing of my folks and I am glad of it

I wont you to tell I howdy for mee and tell hur to rite to mee tell hur not to think when I dont rite that I hav forgot hur for I hant and I will rite whenever I can tell S.B. the same I am beging to think long of the time of not hearing from him But I hope I will soon

I hant had but one letter sinse Uncle was hear I write aheep and now boddy rites to mee but you and I wont you to keep at it

I hav bin thinking of Gitting in with the Ginerl to bee a Comer for him I dont now whether I will ornot yet if I doo I will hav ahorse all the the time I doont now how I would like it But I think I will like it vary will if I doo I will rite soon I did not think when when I Comenst that I would rite much but when I git to riting to you I dont now when to quit untill I hav rote all my paper up

But I must soon close for this time tell the Children that I love them and tell them to bee good babies till I come home O if I was permited to come home and stay one month with you what happy hours O that would bee lovly I hope the time will come yet and if I thout any thing Els I would bee amiserable man on this Earth But I doo I will bee permited to injoy that happy hour one time more

B.M. says Giv you and S.B. his Best respects and for you to rite to him for hee had hant for got you sow I Must Close Kiss the babies and take one for your self

sow I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

Camp 23rd Ga Regt

James Isiland S.C.

Oct 6th 1863

Dier Wife I one time More hav the chance of riting you one More letter and saying that I am will and dooing vary will and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will you must not think hard of mee for not riting now sooner for I hant had the chance to write and it is sow easy to put it off anyhow I Receivd one from you some 4 or 5 days ago and I hant wrote sinse But it was not bee cose I did wont to write for these sort of times dont come one mee and I dont wont you to think that I dont wont to hear from you you wrote in your letter you had drawd some money and other things which I was vary glad to hear and that is better than ever I Expected you would doo and you wrote that you would send mee some money if I kneeded it I wont you to keep all you hav got for I can shift for my self for when wee dont draw I can Barow from the officers and they pay mee for taking cear of thare stock the Majer gave mee ten dollars the other day and that will doo mee some time for I dont spend much now way for I dont hav Much to by for thare ant nothing to by hear and the officers of my mess dose all the Bying of Rashing

I hav comenenst on the Rong side of my paper But you can find it I am looking for father the last of this week Saml Anderson come back to the Rigt yesterday and hee sayd that hee was a comeing and I wont to see him vary bad and thar is agrate maney more that I wont to see for I wont to see you and my Lovley Babies and I doo hope it wont beelong till I will have the privlige of seeing of seeing you all But I dont see any chance now But I think if I Git sick that I can Git afurlow for the Doctor is agrate friend of mine for I sleep with him now and mess with him and Col Best and I think I fare vary will better than if I was not with them I think Col Best will bee in Command in afew days and that will bee better for mee I Receivd aletter from Disurae afew days ago and was vary Glad to git and hear that they was all will and I will write to them soon

you wrote in your other letter like thare was something up that you wonted write about and you was afrade thare was something Rong about it. I wont you to write what you plese for you now hoo it is Gowing too that is the way that i doo I hope you will Rite soon I intend to come and see you soon as I can fix up any thing that will take mee thare I intend Keep on the Good side of the officers and I think they will all they call for mee and it ant worth while for mee to say that I wont to come for you that with out

I can say to you that I hav avary sore tow with the nale growing dooins in it But I am in vary Good health sow I must soon close for this time I wont you to Giv S.B. my best Respects as I cant rite much this time I will write more next time tell hur to write to mee when Ever shee can Giv polley my love and tell hur to write as I hav sow Money to write to that i cant write oftane I went over to the Citty afew days ago and seen A. Thomans and hee come over to see us the other day and I hav got the officers to send up his papers for him to come to hour companey and hee wonts to come vary bad I suppose that the Election comes off to morrow I dont Expect thar is as much Excitement in that Country as thar use to bee wee are Gowing to Vote heare sow I must soon close B.M. says Giv you and S.B. his Best respects and tell you to rite Boswell is not vary well Rite soon nothing more at this time onley I am yours till Death

Miller Collins

I cant think of nothing they keep such Calling that I cant rite Kiss them babies and tell them that I love them and god nose that is the truth I doo love them and I wont to see them

Good By M.C.

to D.A.C.

Camp 23rd Ga Regt

James Isiland December 10, 1863

I am Glad that I hav the chance of writing to you and saying that I am well and dooing vary will and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all well I hav now newse to write that will interest you onley the same old tals and you hav heard that tell you are tird of it I Receivd aletter from you some time sinse I wrote to you which I was vary glad to git you now with my telling you and I think I think I will git another one soon or I hope I will

O I wish I could git to come home now for I am in the best health that I hav bin in sinse I hav come in this wore and I doo hope I will stay sow for good health is the best thing of all for when I hear that you are all in good health and I am the same I feel like all was write but when I git aletter from you and some one of you ant well I feel like it worse than you write thou you may bee like mee rote Just like it is for you may now that is Just wat is sow for when I write aletter to you Just how it is I am satisfied and when I dont I feel like something was rong sow when you git aletter from mee take it for granted that is the truth I hav bin thinking that I would git afurlow this winter But I dont now whether I will or not but if I dont it wont bee my falt for I intend to ceep trying all the time when thar is any change of gitting one for I cant tell my feelings about that but you now something about it your self I Expect for you hav some chance I think some times that I will write for you to come and see mee but this isabad plase for winin folks to bee at you now something about for I told Uncle when hee come that hee could tell you how it was and Father could do the same

I dont wont you to think that I dont wont to see you by not writing like some is dooing but you now mee too well for that and you now that I hav been abad boy but that dont keep mee from loving my wife and dier little babes and god nose that any boddy that nose mee nose that I afeeling hart you it use to bee and it ant now better than it was as to my folks thow it is hardened to some Extent for I hav had anuf to harden any thing I ant much for that

I wont you to write soon and giv mee all the newse from thar dont think hard of mee for not writing now sooner than I hav for the duty is vary hard hear now but I think it will bee better with mee soon for Col Best has hav his hid but wee hant heard how it went but I think it will bee all rite and if hee dose come out I will doo better that I am dooing now but I am dooing tollerable well any how I must soon close for this time B.M. is all rite and is fat and sasey and wonts to bee rememberd by you Boswell is at the hossepittle and has bin vary bad off but is gitting better now I went to see him afew days ago tell S.B. that I hant forgot hur yet and I wont hur to write to mee soon Giv Polley My love and the children and if you see any of Martin’s folks till them that I will write to them soon and answer that letter that I got from him when cosin Miller come sow I must soon close for this time I hav told all that I can think of at this time or all that I hav got time to write this time if any thing gits the mater let mee now sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death

Kiss the babies and take one for your self

Good By

Miller Collins

Doo write soon and oftane and giv mee all the newse from that Country I dont now when to quit writing to you I am Just the same that I was when you saw mee onley more sow sow

Good By

Miller Collins