George Watkins, 32nd New York Infantry, Letter 9 Jan. 1862, Camp Newton Virginia

Description

George Watkins, Private, Company "B", 32nd New York Infantry, good content letter home to a friend, 4 pages, 9 January 1862, from "Camp Newton" (Virginia) Watkins writes about whipping the rebels and the federals being unbeatable, talks very highly of the commanders of the regiment and relates an incident on picket when two members of the 32nd were captured by rebels on horseback, in part (some spelling corrected):
"
I have got a very bad cold and cough.... I have had to stay in my tent and the Brigade Hospital for a long time...... soldiers who is now fighting for their countries rights and freedom and never do we intend to let the southern soldiers trample upon the sacred soil of old Virginia after another 6 months has passed, for we intend to have them cleared from this state by that time..... but Jeff will have to get up earlier than he ever has yet if he intends to whip these Yankees as they call us.  Jef Davis tells his men how they have got us most now but they have it must be in some other world for they never can whip us in this world....
Our company has gone out on picket duty.  They will be gone 4 days and I hope that they will have better luck when the rebels took two of our men prisoners of war... Daniel Perry, as we suppose from what one of our cavalryman saw must have shot one of the villains for when he fired his gun one of the rebels was seen to whirl his horse and turn some 2 or 3 times around, and then he galloped off and another one rode in and seized the men and the marks were seen very plain where the seccesionists dragged one of the men for about 6 or 7 rods before they could make them mount on horseback.  The whole thing was done in 5 minutes and the rebels were out of sight.
Samuel I wish you could come and see our Regiment, it is now considered the best regiment on this side of the Potomac river.  We just know our place every time and we are all waiting to have a chance at the rebels for that is what we are here for and we will fight for our country as long as any other regiment on the field.  And we have got as good a lot of officers as there is in the Army.  Our Colonel
(Roderick Matheson)
is a very nice man and he is just as brave as he is nice.  He will not back one inch for nothing.  And our Major
(George F. Lemon)
,he is a man that no one can back down nor scare one bit.  There is no rebels that can kill him and he is very kind....
The drum has just beat for 8 o'clock this evening and I must finish my writing in half an hour for then the lights has got to be put out for the night...... it is very foggy here tonight and it is getting cold and cloth does not make a very good shelter in the cold.  And for that reason there is a good many sick....
The taps is now beating and I must close my writing for this time.
Direct your letters to George W. Watkins, 32nd Regt. N.Y.S.V.  In care of Captain C. Hubbs.
"
In good condition with issues, tape repairs at all folds, paper loss at both sheets of paper at bottom affecting the text.  He misspells many words but letter can read rather easily.
Watkins enlisted into the 32nd on 25 April 1861, he was promoted Sergeant at some point but reduced to the ranks for some infraction (records do not indicate when or why).  He mustered out with the regiment after the Chancellorsville Campaign, on 9 June 1863.  The field officers Watkins mentions, Matheson and Lemon, were both mortally wounded at the battle of Crampton's Gap.  His Captain, Charles Hubbs, was eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.