Washington Jan 5. 1862        

 

Dear Mother

                        I was glad to get your last letter and will try to answer it today though I have not much to write. This is the coldest day we have had here. It snowed a little yesterday, not much just enough to whiten the ground. The Potomac is frozen over but not enough to bear New Years day was warm and pleasant. It seemed most like summer. I was in sight of the White House and the grass was as green there as you ever see it anywhere This month and next I expect it will be quite cold but it has not seemed at all like winter till today and yesterday. New Years was a holiday more so than Sundays. I did not try to get a pass but in the afternoon I walked over to the Washington Monument with another fellow. We went into a building there and saw a great many stones that have been sent from different parts of the country and some from other countrys / there are some already in the monument that I could not see for their faces are inside. On the stone from Tenessee it said "The Union It must and shall be preserved" and on one from Louisiana "The Constitution and The Union" The work on the monument is stoped now. One day last week the company went over into Virginia to cut gabion and fascine stuff. We went to a place about five miles from here. I could not see as the sacred soil was any thing very nice. It stuck to our cloths very bad and to our shoes too. I walked around Fort Albany and we were near Richardson and passed through Fort Runyon and saw any quanity of earth works. We can see these forts from our quarters and four or five others that I do not know the names of. Alexandria is in plain sight from here six miles down the river. One day we went to the place where we cut stuff first and learnt how to make gabions and fascines, and a week ago yesterday each three men had to make a gabion and each six a fascine I suppose you have no idea what either a gabion or a fascine look like. Making gabions is very pretty work. we take nine stick one inch in diameter a little over three feet long drive them into the ground so as to make a circle two feet / in diameter then we weave in willow or hickory so as to make a basket without a bottom. It is quite pretty work. A fascine is nothing but a bundle of poles. after it is finished it must measure eighteen feet in length and nine inches in diameter. it is bound around with twelve hickory sticks that are called withes.

 

We practiced fireing last week both with ball and blank cartridges, and had a skirmish drill with blank cartridges. We each fired ten shots at a target. I hit six times. We drilled three days last week and at bridge building. Friday afternoon we made a bridge of ten boats in three fourths of an hour and dismantled it in 25 minutes. it is called the French Bateau bridge. Yesterday forenoon we practiced rowing and had a regular boat race. I went to meeting this forenoon to the Methodist for that is the nearest. I shall go again this evening. Our company makes half the congregation. We expect to be paid of this week. I think we will stop here and drill two months longer though of course I know nothing about it. I have not been on guard for four weeks they seem to skip me. some of you must write before long. It is time for Retreat and I have no more to write so good bye. Jerome

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