Camp California January 12, 1862

 

Dear Father Sisters and Brother

i received your last letter on the 12 and a nother on the 9^th and a paper the Murcury you heard that we had a fight that is all false and also about Mr Leery being dead that untru he is with us yet there was no one hurt it is safe on picket as it is in camp the enemy is a long way off no nearer than farfax court house which is about 10 miles i would as leave be on picket as in camp only for sleep it is verry lonesome at night nothing but a wilderness about you it will be about 60 days when we go on again every Regiment takes it turn 4 days on we have had verry bad weather the last 4 days raining a foggy making verry bad walking we had no drill to day is like / a summers day i was to marc mass this morning i go every Sunday i believe we will be paid to morrow so then i will send the money

 

we dont hear nothing about going away yet nor we cant tell when the Captian has gone to Alexandria to day so i cant see him about the relief ticket i would like to bee home about July every body thinks so you might send me 2 papers a week i only got 2 altogether we have got new pants each for Sundays same as the old ones

 

let me know who reported that Leery was dead he is as well as ever i got all the stamps you sent we have no Colonel nor Lieut Colonel one is sick in Washington the other is in new York recruting we got 12 new men so no more

 

your affectionate Brother

John Loughran

SOURCES