620420TW

Dated April 20 1862

To John Walls

From A. G. Walls

4 pages

Walls is discouraged because he has not received any mail from home. He has been visiting a great many places, and he says he spends all of his free time "examining our works and the enemy’s also when I get the opportunity." He and Capt. Peck have visited many farm houses, most occupied by women, "the males ‘having been impressed into the rebel army.’" Most of the local people they have met are "undoubtedly ‘secech.’" Many of these women hired guards from the Union Army for protection. Walls also visited "Ship Point," which is very well fortified. Both sides have been making extensive preparations for battle. Recently abandoned Rebel fortifications at "Howards Mills" are now being used as a hospital by the Union. The "rebels" have been shooting shells at Union gun boats which occasionally do damage to houses. Walls mentions hearing about and meeting local men. He and Peck dined with Mr. Rice of "Wilkesbarre [Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]," and met Mr. Barber, a man who knew Walls’ father. They visited the 104^th P. V. and remained at that camp all night. On their return, Walls and the Captain were nearly shot by "some scoundrel." Walls describes the Union Revolving Rifle, known as the "Corn Sheller," which was shown to him by Col. Van Wyck. It fires balls at the rate of 150 per minute. Van Wyck has three of these weapons, and "shells away at the Rebels from morning until evening." Walls inquires about "the Presidents’ Cabinet," noting the appointments of several Assistant Paymasters in the Navy, where he would like to obtain a position.