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Monterey, July 31st, 1861
Dear Pa & Ma;--

Long looked for;- come at last. I received a letter from you this morning dated the 26 and mailed on the 27th and I am hapy to learn that all is right at home or as nearly so as can be expected at this time. I hope our abundant crops will be put in the stack in good time. It stands us in hand to be saving. Yesterday was the only lonesome day that I have experienced since I left home and I cannot account for it. There was nothing more to make me lonesome then than usual, but I was. It seemed that I ought to be at home. I noticed the cheerfulness and sweet singing of the pretty birds and the heating rays of the sun were occasionally checked by the passing clouds and gently breezes from the mountain top. These and other circumstances when I was so lonesome, seemed to say I ought to be at home, there to meet pa & ma brothers and sisters, ralations and friends; and to listen to the singing of our own sweet birds;- but when my attention was turned and when I saw things about me as they were, how quick the change. The vallies and even mountain tops, thickly dotted with tents, the roads trembling from one end to the other with rolling waggons, the muskets, rifles and canons standing, bristling in the sun ready to send the missils of death whizing through the air, the soldier resting his tired frame upon the ground, the sick with no bed nor gentle mother nor sister by his side and other circumstances and passing events speak too plainly that all is not well. Yet God is looking down upon all this with an impartial eye. All is safe in his ever watchful care. I feel as well and my spirits are as buoyant today as ever. I wrote you a long letter on the 21st; giving you a sketch of our last day or two at Laurell Hill, our retreat and arrival at this place;- then on the 26th I wrote you another letter, relative to my health &c. Probably we both had our pens in hand, writing to and thinking of each other at the same time. I am now well; also Rives is well. I told you about the sickness in this Reg. I have not heard from the worst cases this morning, but I think they are slowly on the mend. CJ. Jessee, Charles Johnson, H. Thompson, Capt. Hunt and some others are, and have been for some time, very bad off. We have tents now but our cooking vessels have not arrived yet. We have made a requisition for clothing and will get them tomorrow I think. I put in for nothing but a pair of shoes and drawers as that is all I want at this time. I have you sufficient instructions in another letter concerning clothing &c I want you to write to me whether you got my letters dated the 21st and 26th. If you did, of course you are not pestering yourselves about our clothes, blankets &c. We want you to be as cheerful and resigned as possible and not grieve too much about us. We do not want to hear that Pa & Ma have reduced and lost all that cheerfulness and life, that we both have witnessed so often at home. Live in hope as we do. Yet when you write to us, give us the news just as it is. If you have any bad news let us have it. I write as often as I think it necessary and I want you to write as often as you can, though don't put yourselves to unnecessary trouble. When we leave this place I will write at the first opportunity. There is nothing of importance to write now. I saw a soldier who was in the fight on Cheat river. He came in yesterday evening. He had been shot through his jaws rather between his teeth, knocking some of them out and a part of the jawbone. He was taken prisoner and released on parole. He said that 114 of the enemy died on their way back to Laurell Hill, or at least he saw that many put out of the waggons dead. Their loss must have been great-ours about 16 and but few prisoners. I suppose uncle Vincent is at home now and has told you a great deal, satisfying you about this late affair. You don't know what to do about spairing Hayes & I cannot tell you. As to a draft, I think there will be none there, though I cannot tell. You will have to do the best you can. If any write home that we don't get enough to eat in the army you need not believe it. Of course our victuals are not as they were at home but we get plenty. George & Rives are just below me, getting dinner now. I am in the shade of a chestnut tree. I was at the branch washing my feet when you letter came to my hand and I believe I forgot to wash one foot and put one sock on wrong side outwards in the bargain. We have the news from that great battle at Manassa and I reckon the same that you have. If it is all true, we are sure of success. I think we get all your letters; If you hear of us leaving this place and want to write, just direct to this place in care of Col. Fulkerson and it will follow on. I will try to write a few lines to Martha in answer to hers-news or no news, if I have time. Tell Hayes to write often for he also is a good hand to tell things as they are. I wish you all good health & luck. Dinner is ready or about it and I am ready to.
Your affectionate sons J. E. & W. R. Gilmer
Howdy Peg, Maria Letch & Dick.