Camp Benbo March 8th 1863

Mrs E. I. Mc Faulkner. Dear wife. I again take my pen in hand to write You a few lines. I am well with the exception of cold. nearly all of the recruits have bad colds. Harper Belk has been sick for 4 days and is not able for duty I do not think he will stand the camp. Calvin Thompson was ill last night but was able for inspection this morning. our Camp is about 5 miles east of Wilmington and 3 miles from Alabama Sound. some four of us got furnishing from our Capt yesterday & visited the sound, there is any amount of salt works in operation & a plenty of salt. Salt is worth dollars per bushel. there is plenty of salt in Willmingtonn at 10 per bushel if we get our bounty soon I want to send some home the most of us have drawn guns & canteens they ware a detail of one man from Each company to go to Willmington to draw cloths, today, for the Company some of the men is very needy some few are barefooted they get clear off any duty. W. H. Craig is bad off for a hat. I think he will get to go home in a week or two. I find that it is not good policy to have too many cloths at a time, if we could get them when needed I would not want but a few at a time. We are burning pure light wood & "consequently the smoke is so bad that it is im- possible for a man to keep clean. one thing I like inspection for is a man must have his cloths clean is well as his gunn Our fare is coarse but whole- some. we draw a. pound and a fourth of beef & a pound and 1/8 of flower to the man. the last few days we have drawn 1/2 lb of Bacon meal or flower the bacor is old but sound we have a large Mess. R. T. Robinson J C Thompson W H Craig N B Craig Harper Baulk S J N Faulkner A L Faulkner J T Lathen &A V Lathen Jason Draffin N T Draffin they are all very agreeable and lively, and willing to do there part in any thing there is not very mutch here to buy we can get fish I have not spent mutch since I left home We have to buy soap it costs $1.75 a pound in Willmington there is a large amount of goods there. but goods is higher here than they are at Lancaster there was four English vessels run the blocade.. I seen them, one of them was loaded with salt the others I did not know what. this is the noisest place that I ever was at. it is a continual fuss from morning to they all go to bed which is probably 12 oclock. I have only been from home a little more than a 'week but it seems as if it were a month. I would be glad if the war was ended all is quiet here. but. we do not know any thing there is not any papers in camp. I want you to write to me some and tell me what is the news. I would be glad to see what our rullers are a doing, write to me how you are getting along with your farm and if Father & Uncle D Hood is attending to my business as they promised and if Wm McAteer is at home yet if he has to go tell him to come here our capt wants a few more men. I like Capt Steel very well. he stands high with the field officers give my love to Lucy I have not got nary ring for her yet as they are not making any in this camp. treasure and take good care of little Buddy, teach him his duty if I never meet with none of you here I hope we will meet in heaven. We can hear the cannon every day. but I do not think that the Yankeys will attack this place I hope they will go home and attend to there own business you must excuse a11 the mistakes for I have not got used to the noise. Show this letter to father and tell him to Write to me also. give my respects to Uncle D & Aunt Sindy and all the friends I shall look for answers shortly tell Billy and all the negros to do their best. tell them I say to be obedient to you so farewell for this time

W L Faulkner

Direct to d L Faulkner
Co I 17th Reg S. C. V, Evans Brigade
Camp near,Willmington, N.C.
Care of Col McMasters

Camp Benbo near Wilmington

Mrs. E.I.M Faulkner Dear Wife. I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines. We landed in Camp this evening Sabbath and found the boys all well the greatest complaint is they do not get enough to eat We got some beef and a little corn meal I tried some______it done very well after walking ten mlles there is no sabbath here the boys tell me if Mr. Rob1nson would come down he could easily get the appointment, as chaplain. I will do the best I can with the hope that the war may soon end. we expect to be moved from here soon. from what I have seen of the country I wouM as leave go some where else. where provision are pleanty the health of the Reg is good there is nnn~ in the hospital. W H Craig looks better than I ever seen they ware busy looking for us, you must write soon and give me all the news tell old Billy and Ben to do the best they can they can surely make plenty for to support you if they will try. Rainy is got till the Reg end wi11 have to drill with us besure and take care of little Buddy. I begin to want to see him. I must close If I live and keep well I wi11 write soon Farewell dear wife for the present. I remain yours

W L Faulkner

REF: The letters above were provided by Paula Barker of Texas. (barker@flash.net). She has others available by Mr. Faulkner.