Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

My Dear Father:

I received you letter of the 21st last this morning and was very sorry to learn that you had misconstrued the words or meaning of some of the sentences of my last letter.

I never meant to say that I would leave the service without an honorable discharge for I tell you truly that I had rather be killed dead than be dishonorably dismissed from the service of the United States.

The meaning I tried to convey was that if Major General John C. Fremont was put in command, that rather than lose my life by his bungling, I would resign and leave the country all together.

I sincerely hope that General Burnside may be successful and next to General McClellan I had rather General Burnside should command than any other general of the United States.

I suppose you saw Halleck’s letter in regards to the furnishing of supplies to the Army and, let me tell you, he wrote a great many things that was not true. Our command is now not even supplied with winter clothing, tents, blankets or shoes and they are suffering extremely in consequence. You have no idea how cold and disagreeable it is to sleep or rather try to sleep these cold nights without a blanket. I know, for I have had reason to try it several times lately. There is one other thing you don’t know and can hardly imagine; what a damper the removal of McClellan has upon the spirits of everybody. We thought that we were almost running a race with Lee for the possession of Richmond and I believe if they had let McClellan alone, that before this, if I had lived, I should have written from Richmond.

I never saw anything work better. Every one seemed to be in the best of spirits. We marched rapidly and underwent hardships without complaining but the thing is done now. It’s no use to complain.

I hope if we go into winter quarters this winter that I shall be able to obtain a leave of absence for a few days to visit home. I should like very much to see you all once more.

I got a letter from Sis a few days ago and also one from W. Frances Callaway.

The tenth infantry will be united in a few days and I hope I shall be able to join my own Regt. Very soon.

I wish you would give my proper address to the Peninsular News and Advertiser for I don’t get one paper out of five and it’s all wrong to the address. Give my love to all. Your son, Will.

William Fisher Letter Home

William Fisher Letter Home

William Fisher Letter Home

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