Camp of 32^d Mass. Vols.

Peebles Farm                         

In front of Petersburg Va.

Nov. 28^th 1864

 

Francis J. Parker Esq.

Dear Sir

            presuming that even a poor letter from the 32^d Reg't, Mass. Vols. would be of interest to you I will trespass on your time by submitting these few lines.

 

I suppose that you are aware that we are an Elephant now, (in size) having had the 9^th 18^th and 22^d Mass Battalions consolidated with us. We now number nearly 1200 enlisted men; we have 12 Co's and have on an average about 96 men to a Co. We have lost some men by the / expiration of their term of service and shall loose some few more before many weeks, but there seems to be no date of organization of the Regt. When the three lost Co's were mustered in it was understood both by yourself and by the men that they would have less than three years to serve, but now the War Dept. has decided (or Col. Vincent has) that the time on which the Co's of H & I will not are entitled to go out is not until Aug. 10^th 1865 and K Co, on the 12^th of August. There is only about 25 men in the three Co's now who have not re-enlisted, but those men have been expecting to go out this year and consequently are much disappointed / by the decision of the War Dept. These Co's were allowed to re-enlist last Jan, and that was admitting that they had less than one year to serve and the men who did not re-enlist had their own reasons for it, which no doubt are generally good ones. I suppose that if the Government are determined to keep them they will have to stay and make the best of it.

 

            We are loosing most of our old Officers and new ones are coming up to fill their places. Your humble servant has stepped into the shoes of one of the departed Captains and will try to fill the position as well as he is able.

 

I have been on Court Martial duty most of the time for the / past two months; I have been Judge Advocate of two General Courts Martial, appointed by Brevet Major Gen^l Griffin. We are lying still now and to all appearance we are about settling down into the sacred soil for the winter. It is rather a pleasant thing to think of after the very arduous campaign we have had the past season. We should be most happy to welcome you to our humble accommodations if at any time you can make it convenient to favor us with a visit, be it long or short and will share the last bread with you as becometh a soldier. I assure you you will be welcome to the best our camp offers We are expecting Col. Edmunds now that the 1^st of Dec is drawing near as he has said he should be here by that time. I am very truly your friend E. S. Farnsworth Capt. Co. H. 32^d Mass Vols

SOURCES