Letter from William Hardy to his wife, Sallie Hardy; 09 November 1861

              Camp near Centreville, Virginia 
November 9th, 1861

My Dear Sallie,

It has been some time since I wrote to you, and I know you are getting uneasy about me. I would have written but have been so busy here for the last ten days that I scarcely have time to write. Your last letter, written on the 24th ultimo, I received a letter a week ago while out on picket. We were out five days, two and one-half of which my company stood without relief. And it rained and stormed most terribly for two days and nights. We were in it all with no tents. We had to cut logs or poles and put them together and get up on them to keep out of the water, and then it turned off cold, freezing, but thanks to our friends, we had clothes that were warm.

About the clothing, it all came safe. My coat is so small I can't wear it. You must have thought that soldiering diminished my body while it lengthened my legs as my pants are about three inches too long and fit me like a meal bag. You sent me nothing that I can appropriate but