Will Fisher to his mother
Camp as before
August 14, 1864

Dear Mother,

Will write again today. Wrote last Monday. I believe today is Sabbath 3 o’clock PM. Had preaching this forenoon and are to have another sermon this eve.
There has been no change whatever in our position since my last. We have got up some more heavy guns and still do a good deal of shelling.
We have a shower most every day right amidst the sunshine.
I have heard of no news of which to write. I received your last welcome letter day or two ago containing two stamps &c. The date I don’t remember. But is was written after the receipt of mine of the 21st July.
I expect you did have a pretty anxious time for a week or two after hearing the report of the battle. I hope Gen. Sherman will stop here for awhile and relieve you from so much anxiety for awhile at least, but Oh! if the war was only over so that we could be relieved entirely from it, then we should be happy.
How much longer does Lem stay at home? You did not state how long his furlough was. I think he must have a splendid time and then to just live on all the nice vegetables they have at home. I would not begrudge a hundred dollars just on account of my health if I could only have a little time to recruit up on vegetables so as to get rid of this awful scurvy. I do not think there is a man in the whole regt. entirely free from scurvy which is owing to not having anything but old dry feed, no fresh fruit or vegetables of any kind. The disease has disabled a great many of our brave boys since last spring. We have no gums on our teeth at all, and they are very sore, bleed every time we commence to eat, and to knock the skin off any part it seems as though it would never heal up. I tell you it don’t pay very well to be very lousy and scratch much, for if you scratch the skin off, you have a permanent sore of it.
I spoke of your sending me a silk handkerchief in my last. I have suffered a good deal this summer for the want of one, the sweat runs in a fellow’s eyes so he can hardly see. I should also like a little piece of beeswax if you think it would not melt. I do not wish to tire you sending for so much stuff, but I know you are willing I should have all I need.
I don’t know what I should do if it was not for The Instructor which come so regular too. I want you to thank Uncle Zina a great deal for it. I tell you it is no trifling deprivation for a fellow who likes to read as well as I do, not to have anything to read. There is so little money in the regt that there isn’t a great many papers bought, and I want them worse than anything I see offered for sale. This is a luxury I always indulged in when we had money.
How is Aunt Sarah? My best love to her. I suppose Sara Jane has gone home.
There is one thing I wish you would do and that is when you write just have my letter before you and answer the questions. You are a little forgetful. Excuse this criticism. Tell if Alex Sherman got home yet. Is Ab Shiland still attentive to Min S.? My wants still are stationary, handkerchief and beeswax and accept the very best love of your boy.

Willie