Fort Burnham            

Chapins Farm V^a.

Nov. 7^th /64

 

Dear Ari

                        It is a very rainy day here so I thought I would pass the time away by writeing a few lines to you. Tomorrow is is Election day. we have got our votes already, to vote when the meetting is called. we have got only 12 voters presant in our Co. I will send you the state of the vote after Election. We some expect that the Johnnys will shell us tomorrow so as to break up our Election if thay can. I dont think thay will for the boys tell them when we are on / picket that we are all going to vote for little Mac and that sutes them first-rate. you would hardly think that we would fight eatch other so some-times, to see us on picket now days. I was on picket the other day and about half way between the two picket lines there was a turnip & cabbage yard, so six of us thought that we would try and get the turnips if we could, so we layed our guns down and started for them, the Johnnys watching us. at last one of them calls out, I say Yank half of them belongs to us. well says I, come over and we will devide them. so over thay come and we puled the turnips and thay took their share, and we ours. that is the way we do picket duty. there is some old log hutts between the line, so yesterday the pickets / come together and pulled them down and carried them of to burn, but when we were bringing it away one Johnny took a stick and brought it into our lines. he said that he liked the Yanks the best. the rebel officer wanted him to come back, but said he, if he refuses to come, let him go the the D—l, so I suppose he has gone to the D—l, for he never went back again. We had orders to be ready to march this morning at day light, but have not marched yet, nor I dont think we shall. we have got use to theas marching orders.

 

Well Ari, I suppose you are haveing nice times now days eating the good apples and all such things. I would like a good apple just about now. Capt sent out and bought some nuts, so I am helping / eat them. Clough said that Mother heard that I was killed in Battle. You tell her that you think it must be a misstake, for he never said any-thing about it when he wrote you last. No Ari I am all right so far, Johnny has only hit me three times and then very slight. I guess I told you that a spent ball hit me when we charged on Fort Harrison. it made a black spot on my hip about as large as my hand, but that was just nothing at all.

 

After dinner, we had salt mackerel and taters for dinner it went first-rate. Oh: Ari how it rains. it aint much muddy out here, oh no, if it keeps on raining I dont think that Grant can move the Army far at a time

(turn over) 

 

Second Dispatch

Head quarters 13^th N.H. Vo

Fort Burnham            

1 P.M.                                                                                                            

Nov 7^th /64

All is quiet along the lines. Except a continual shelling at Dutch Gap. Butler is trying to dig a canell through a bend at Dutch Gap, and the rebs keep shelling him night and day. There, Ari: it is no use, I cant write, I have no news to write. You dont want to hear so much about war and the Army. Write and tell me what Father & Atwell, Uncle Daniel, Nat^el Sam True, and all the rest of the folks, are doing about this time. tell them to vote just as thay have a mind to, that is the way I am going to do / ask Mother if Judson P Randell called there last July with Moses Garland. he said he did. he belongs to my Co. he had his thumb shot off at coal harber last summer he come to the Regt. last Saturday. is Elmer down to little River with you. give my love to him. ask Hattie to again if she can get time. tell her that I would answer her letters, but it takes me all the time to write to you. Oh Ari! I sent two pictures to Emmons Philbrick, one of him, and one of his wife. ask him if he wont give them to you for me. I found them in David Locks knapsack after he was killed. if he had rether not give them away it is just as well. Give my love to Father & Mother and all the rest of the folks I will close. good day. from the boy in the Army of the James, Sergt. S. B. Tarlton.

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