Petersburgh Church Va

May 20^th 1862

 

Dear Father Sisters and brother

I received your letter this afternoon and was glad to hear from you We left Yorktown on the 12 for West point which is about 20 miles up the york river on board of a steamboat staid all night on board and landed on Tuesday and from that we are on the march ever since we go about from 6 to 10 miles a day I suppose you know where Richmond we are having verry warm weather now marching is hard work we have given up our dress jackets and over coats for safe keeping till the war is over it dont look like it yet we expect to march to morrow but we dont know where my legs dont trouble me much except in wet weather 

 

you say the Captians servant was at the house and that Thomas Canway has died there is a great many here compaining of the diraree the Captian has wrote to his wife to give you the 5$ there is 1 man that sleeps with me I wash once a week whenever I get the chance I keep putty clean considering the way we have to wash we wash in small running streams there bees a great many washing we have nothing to pay for letters or papers News papers are verry scarce here things verry high cheese 30cts per pound eggs 50cts dozen it is a caution to see all the clothing that threw away along the march I dont here anything about the Regiment being disbanded yet I guess that was all gass you can send the Murcury every week it will follow wherever we go when we are on the / march I have no chance to write so then you think when I dont answer your letters sooner you dont like to send the papers you can send them every Monday

 

PS we have just received or to march

 

so no more at preasent

but remains your affectionate

Brother

John Loughran

 

PS I received the Murcury also with the letter

 

            Direct same as before

 

            send me some stamps in your next

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