Source: Randolph County, NC Genealogical Journal - Summer 2003.  The Journal states the following:  
W.W. speaks of a prayer meeting and names some participants.  John would be his brother, John Lawrence. 

John LAWRENCE (BROTHER OF Mary Harmon LAWRENCE COX & WHITE MALE. WESLEY LAWRENCE) was married to 
ANNIE COVINGTON. She was the only daughter of MATTHEW COVINGTON AND ELIZABETH CAPEL.  Annie had brothers:  
Terrel, Thomas M. (killed at GAINES Mill), Henry, Wilson, Calvin and John.  I think the JAMES COVINGTON 
mentioned in the letter was a double first cousin of Annie:  DANIEL COVINGTON AND DICEY CAPEL (Siblings 
of Matthew and Elizabeth) had a son  named James Covington, who was born about 1833.  The COVINGTONS 
lived in Richmond Co. NC. 

Camp Homes, July 20th/62

Deare Companion this eavning affords me the kind oportunitey of droping you a few lines to inform you 
that I am enjoying tolerabely good health at present but I do not know how long I will enjoy my health 
for there is a most all kinds of diseases in Campand rases bribes and professions but the large portions 
of them are very wicked.   We had prare last night by John.  We have a very good and a geeably Mtg. there 
is me, John, Israel, Web, Alfd. COX, B.F. MOFFITT, WYETT REYNOLDS and SOLIMON CIBET.  This encampment is 
all most full of lise.  Some of the Corpes have bought some.  I want you to tell Pappa to bring me thime 
old mixed pants, and I do not know what to say a bout Papa Coming out for me and John has not been examined 
yet.  They examine according to they regiment and I do not known when we will and I do not know whether we 
will come cleare or not for I do not believe that they exemp many.  We are under lieutenants and they most 
of them are young and wicked.  Some of them looks like as if they were not eight teen years old.  I do not 
see how our Country can prosper under the present state of affars.   I will give you the rules of a volunteers 
Camp.  You can passout and in when you plese, but here we are garded and have but one plase to get out and 
that is a cross the Railrod.  But any person or persons can get in but getting out is they next thing on 
docket (?)-but ther is some over 30 have run away.  I Can not get any postage stampes in Raleigh you will 
have to thest pay the postage. Dr. R. BROWN has got off on Conditions that is for further orders.  I want 
you to wright soon and give the news in general for I want to here from you very bad.  I must tell you 
something about our fare.  We got here on Thursday eavning and when we got here our tents were all pitched 
and we drawed rashions last eavning and nine skillets for they Regiment but we have nothing to bring watter 
in and John sent by JAMES COVINGTON TO Raleigh & got one of these green white pine buckets and paid a dollar 
for it.  and they have another (?) quality there.  They sell from two (to) two & half.  we are under the 
Comand of Lieutanant F.A. FETTER which I think he is a very fine man.  I have never hered him sware yet and 
he seems to have some feeling for the men.  he had us marched to Crabtree River a little while ago to take 
a wash.  This River is only a quarter a mile from here. They rashions that we draw are flower it tolerably 
good but Hardy don't grind it.  it is ground at a steens mill I suppose & you known how (that) is.  the bacon 
is very black & bippery (?) it looks like as if it had if bee(n) packed away in ashes.  The Rise smells like 
rats & the salt is very black.  We could draw Corne field peas if we wanted to.  I have not eat any of the 
rashions yet but they say that the bacon tastes better than it looks.  The water here is not very good for 
this (is) some what a sandy region and here about 500 men here and only three wells here.  We use out of they 
south well & they say it is they best & they boyes Came from there a little while ago and said it had no watter 
in it hardley.  I do think Raleigh is the sorriest plase that I ever saw to be Called a large town.  They 
young folks in Raleigh makes fun of the Concrips.  it is true the Concrips do not know How to muster but 
they can give they Yankees a powerful fluster.  Some sayes that we must go to Richmond soon but I cannot 
tell what about it.  I can tell you that I don't believe that there is any man of a family in Camp that 
thinkes any thing of his wife is not satisfied here, but there are some of all clases.  Direct your letter 
thus Mr. W.W. LAWRENCE
In Cere of F.A. FETTER
Camp Home
Raleigh
N.C.
To my friends and relatives if never see you agane may we meet in a better world than this.  W.W. LAWRENCE