The following letter is a copy of the original one written to Col. A. R. Wynne of Castalian Springs, Tennessee, supposedly by one of his sons, whose name is not known by the copyist. The letter is at present time owned by George Wynne, Castalian Springs, about 8 miles east of Gallatin, Tennessee, Sumner County. Georgde Wynne is the grandson of Col. Wynne and lives in the original old log house.
Camp Jackson,
June 26, 1861
Col. A. R. Wynne,
Dear Sir:
Having neglected to write to you up to this time, I feel somewhat ashamed according to my promise to you when we left. However, I do not suppose you would have gained any information by me writing upon the other, no doubt you are in receipt of letters from some that are in our camps that are much better qualified to give you a correct report of things in general than I have. In fact it is impossible to come to any correct conclusion in regards to the movements of the two armys. It is true that things are developing more than at any former time. Gen. Beauregard is moving his forces on towards Alexandria, he is undoubtedly within cannon shot of Alexandria. He is now throwing up batteries with the intention of commencing a bombardment upon Alexandria in a very few days, so says one report, another rumor is that Gen. Beauregard is not to make an attack upon Alexandria untill after the meeting of the Federal Congress and that a proposition for an adjustment of the difficulties will be made.
Gen. Holmes, our Briga. Gen. Has written to Gen. Lee to have us sent to hanasdsa junction so that we may have a chance to be in the fight at Alexandria & Washington City.
I suppose you think we will run again as you say we did at Aquio Creek. You have not as much confidence in us as the Virginians have. They believe we can whip Lincoln's whole army. I must admit that I am astonished and surprised at Virginians ever being called brave men, beyond a doubt in my mind they have not the pluck to stand and meet the enemy face to face.
Gen. Beauregard has under his command at hanassas Junction upwards of thirty thousand troops, and by every train they bring more, making an average of one thousand each day. He wants forty thousand troops to carry out his object in attacking Alexandria and Washington City.
Everything is perfectly quiet at Aqua Creek. The Pawnee and Freeborn war steamers are still lying off in sight of our Batteries. There are also about eighteen or twenty tug boats lying off with them. We do not apprehend any great damage from this great point. I think they are satisfied with us there. They will occasionally slip up on us and fire two or three ___ and then run off out of range of our guns.
We arrest spys every day, they tell us, no evidence at all. We ___ one he made a proposal to go in bathing in the Potomac, and the first thing every one knew he was a half a mile from the bank, making his way to the Pawnee, he was shot at some twenty times, but was not hit by any of them.
The boys are getting along tolerable well.
We are having - - - (the rest of the letter is missing).
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