Letter from Thomas Taylor to his wife, Sarah E. Alexander Taylor, from Fairfax Station, Sept. 13, 1861, Autauga, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/autauga/history/letters/tstaylor2.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Dr. Gene Cross ================================================================================ June 2003 Fairfax Station, Sept. 13th, 1861. My Devoted Wife: I have now an opportunity, of writing to you & sending the letter through by the care of Mr. Robinson & thinking or rather knowing that you would be glad to hear from me. I embrace the opportunity with pleasure. I have no news of much importance to communicate. I am as well as could be expected, you know that the change of climate will naturally have a tendency to make one feel unwell but I believe I am as well as the most of our Company & the boys say I look better every day. It rather kinder gets me though to get up at daybreak & answer to my name & then cook breakfast, but I am getting accustomed to it & will fatten up after a while. I had my first experiment at picketing last Wednesday & Thursday nights. Our Company went to Springfield about 10 or 12 miles from here & marching 4 miles an hour for 3 hours at a time is not much to a soldier. Bro. William & I were on post together. I was sick before night with the headache & I got well he got sick so we took it by turns. Billie is a good fellow. We stood together it rained all night but we enjoy it finely. We had a little of old ball face & it kept us in good spirits or we rather kept it in us. They give us as much good rum as we want for a $1.00 a pint. Camp life is a hard one indeed but we have some fun with it. Mr. Billie Lou Thompson & myself had the post of honor that is we were on the outpost nearest the enemy. We saw their tents & heard their drums beating. I don't like these post of War or much. A fellow has to hold his eyes wide open tight sure not much fun in it either. Well we got home yesterday evening tired & mad but we are all right this morning. We will no doubt be in a fight before long but the brave are always by the help of God victorious. I believe the war will last 12 months longer at any rate but we will be at home next May. Be cheerful & let the time be as short as possible. I know my dear good wife will be glad to see me at the expiration of my time. Yes & my dear little boy also. Kiss him for me. Give my love to all my friends & relatives, your father's family. Tell Bob to write to me, tell Lavinia & Matilda to write to me. I know you will write. Give me all the news. Billie sends his regard to you & all our family, Father & Mother, Brother & Sisters. I have written this in great haste. Direct your letter to: Private Thos. S. Taylor Care of Capt. T. A. Davis Autauga Rifles Col. Seibels 6th Regt. Alabama Volunteers Manassas Junction, Virginia. Farewell my dear wife, your devoted husband. Thos. S. Taylor. Mrs. S. E. Taylor.