This letter was written by Pvt. James B. Robbins of Co. E, 25th Georgia Infantry. James enlisted in the regiment on 5 April 1862 and was take prisoner at Marietta, Georgia, on 19 June 1864. He died of pleurisy at Camp Douglas, Illinois, on 6 January 1865.

Company E was organized in Henry county, Alabama. It was successively designated 3d Co E, and 2nd Co. K, 25th Georgia Infantry. They were originally known as the “Irwin Invincibles” and did not join the 25th Georgia until they were ordered from west Virginia to Savannah, Georgia in mid-January 1862.

In his letter, James mentions “a right smart little fight in South Carolina” that took place “this week.” He is referring to the Battle of Pocotaligo that was fought on 22 October 1862.

James wrote the letter to his brother-in-law, A. W. Benjamin Stewart.

Transcription

Camp Causton’s Bluff [near Savannah, Georgia]
25th Georgia Volunteers
October 25, 1862

Mr. A. W. B. Stewart
Dear Brother,

I this evening seat myself to write you a few lines in answer to yours that has just come to hand which give me much pleasure to hear from you and to hear that you was all well. Ben, you don’t know how much good it did to me to read your letter. I had been looking for a letter from home some time. I’m sick now and have been very sick. I tell you, it looked like taking the old fella off to the old peach orchard, but my time hadn’t come then, but I don’t know how soon it may come. I’m mending now as fast as I can. I can sit up the most of my time.

It is very sickly here now but I hope the sickness will soon be over here for this season. There is several of our boys here in the hospital but none dangerous. They are all able to knock about.

They have had a right smart little fight in South Carolina this week. Our loss killed and wounded was 55—15 killed and 40 wounded. Our regiment got back from there last night. They weren’t engaged. It was all over when they got there. We are looking for it here every day. There has been right smart cannonading round here for two or three days but no damage done yet.

Ben, I have nothing of importance to write you—only I want to see you all mighty bad. But I don’t know when that time will come. I should like to be there to take another bate of fish with you and rather than miss, I would take it in venison. We could get fish and oysters a plenty here if we could have time to fish for them but there is so many sick, it keeps well to do the camp duty. They have to keep up camp guard and picket and drill three and four times a day. But I han’t been able to drill any this fall. I have been sick nearly ever since I was at home.

[Charles J.] McD. Stewart has got a chill on him now. Ben, you must [excuse my] bad writing and spelling. So nothing more this time only I remain yours, — J. B. Robbins

to Mr. A. W. B. Stewart