Will Fisher to his mother
Kelly’s Ford, Virginia
August 8, 1863

Dear Mother,

I had the unspeakable pleasure of receiving a letter from you, and was very glad to hear from you.
We have been fortunate enough to be allowed to remain here thus long & we are in hopes that we will stay until the hot, dog days are over, then look for far more brilliant operations & successes than you have yet heard.
I think the program for the fall campaign will be to reinforce the army of Meade with about 70,000 men from all the western armies and have them thrown across Tennessee by the Nashville railroad into western Virginia on to Gen. Lee’s flank while the grand noble, indomitable, and courageous Army of the Potomac will strongly press them in the front.
It will all be done in a hurry & be done before you folks up north know anything about it. You see, don’t let folks know all we are going to do.
I wish they would draft enough to completely overwhelm them with numbers without having to fight any for we don’t like to fight half so well as the papers say. When they tell that the men are all on the “qui vive” for a brush, it is all gas. There is no soldiers in the army that ever went into battle that wants to go the second time unless it is necessary. I once thought I wanted to go into a battle, but I would not consider myself slighted in the least to be allowed to stay out.
But I want to put down this – I shan’t undertake to name it. I am more patriotic now than ever & it is real patriotism. We want to avenge the blood of our comrades that is now fertilizing the hillsides of Getty. I would give all I have or ever expect to have if the whole North could just see the fighting that was done on that field. Thursday afternoon was the hardest infantry attack made upon us. The 3rd Corps took the blunt of it. The entire Corps of Longstreet & Hill made the assault upon our left center, they were 62,000 strong. I cannot describe it. I had a good view of it.
I should like to be to home while Aunt E. is there. I should like to see her very much. How does Aunt S. do? Well, I hope, & Jimmy S. I want to remember this time that I did get the things Skellie brought. If we stay here I will increase my writing. Lemuel is well & there is not a sick man in the company except Thomas Weir, he seem to have a kind of a decline, homesick. My love to all the folks.

While I remain, your loving boy,
Will

Write all about the draft. Send me some envelopes & once in a while a stamp, not a great many at a time. Go to the bank & get my money for we are going to be paid soon. 4 months pay, up to the 1st of June. Is there any extra postage now? If get any let Aunt Eliza have that that I owe John.