Camp California Alexandria     Virginia

February 27^th/62           

                                                                             

Dear Father Sisters and brother

I received your letter and paper on 26^th and was glad to hear from you we have had verry bad weather this last 4 weeks continually raining all the time last monday it blew an awful gale a great many tents were blown down we had to keep ours up inside from going down Tuesday we had a generl inspection of arms and equipments by a United States officer yesterday we received marching orders but it was countermanded we had 2 days rations with us to morrow we are to be inspected again and to sign the pay rool so we expect to get paid next week / we cant tell the minute we have to march i think the war will be settled in 60 days at the farthest i wish it was over for i am sick of this life there was great rejoicing about Fort Donnelson being taken great cheering and salutes all day i was on guard on Washington birth day at the Brigade hospital there was great firing of cannons from all around the batteries all day there are a great many sick in the hospital with the typod feever there was 2 dead that morning i was on guard the man i was telling you about that in our tent that was sick he had the feever but is getting better i have had first health since i came never being of duty yet / i see a great many persons from around the first Avenue in the Irish Brigade i often have a talk with Mr Sullivan and Mr Mackin if Jimmy he could was out here he could get a good many situations as Captains servent let me know if he is doing any thing i received the Murcury and Clipper last week so now i think there will be a move verry soon we cant tell how long

 

So no more at preasent

but remains your affectionate

brother                        John Loughran

 

Send me a few stamps

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