Wednesday May 28^th 1862

 

Dear Martha

                        Every time I write I am nearer Richmond. I tell you I will be glad when I get to that city it is only seven miles from here but that may be a long seven miles. The news I hear today is that M^cDowell had a fight yesterday and took 5,000 prisoners. We could hear firing yesterday afternoon and no doubt there was a fight. We had a hard day yesterday. got up at three oclock and started of at daylight with three days rations and sixty rounds of cartridge. we went four miles. it was raining hard all the time. We went to the Chickahominy / River and built a bridge but for some reason had to take it up The rebel pickets were in sight all the time but we were hid from them by the trees. We were in advance of all our troops only our pickets were with us. The fifth Vermont were on picket guard there. It stopped raining before noon so it was a little better for us. about noon we had to go back to our camp which was in rear of all other troops and in in the afternoon we had to sling our knapsacks and come up to head quarters three miles. Today half the company is off on fatigue duty. I expect to be on guard to night. The reason we have to take three days rations and sixty rounds of cartridge is because Gen. MClellan has ordered that no troops go off on / duty without them. There is another order that no soldier be allowed to fry any thing to eat. we get a gill of whiskey a day to keep off the chills. I got the paper that told about Dr Pelsons golden wedding a day or two ago It is the only paper I have got from home since I left Washington I would like to be where I could get the papers or something to read. it is very seldom I can get hold of any thing.

 

It will soon be hot weather here I expect but I do not see as the sun is any warmer now than it was four weeks ago. I do not think you would know me now if you should see me. I am all taned and freckled. I stand the marching as well as most any of them. When we left Washington there was three left / behind sick. one of them has been discharged. he took the rheumatic fever when we went to Fairfax and could not walk. his name was Bumpus. Two have been discharged one for deafness and the other because he got tired of the company. On the march one fellow was sick and could not keep up. we do not know what became of him. another was sick and was left in a hospital If I should be taken sick I would be sent back to Fort Monroe and very likely to Washington or New York. I will write every few days if I can so you can know something where I am. I am going to write to Sarah in a day or two.

Jerome

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