Harrisons Landing Va

Sunday August 3^d 1862

 

Dear Mother

                        I does not seem but a few days since I wrote home but no doubt feel anxious because I was sick the last time I wrote. I feel pretty well now. I have been living on soft bread for the last week but I am out of it now and do not know when I can get any more. I went down to see Daniel Wiley he gave me two large loaves. It is hard work to buy it here. I received Marthas letter and I am very anxious to get the box. I hope it will get here this week. they come very irregular but I believe they have / things arranged better now. Last Thursday night about one o'Clock there was an awful cannonading a short distance down the river. it was so near our camp that one shot whistled directly over us we could only guess what it was but knew they made quite a racket. It seems the rebels had come down on the other side of the river with light artillery and were firing at our shipping. they fired too high however and did not do much damage. as soon as our batteries on this side of the river commenced firing and one or two of the gunboats the rebels shut up. The next day all this battalion and two regiments of Infantry crossed over to where the battery was stationed and burned down a splendid house and four or five negro houses and two or three barns we fixed up a / pier so troops could be landed and cut down some trees in order to give a better chance for our guns. It was three or four oclock in the afternoon when we went and about nine when we came away I had a very pleasant excursion

 

There was several men killed the the night of the firing. There was other troops that passed over the river before us Friday. Co's A and B are away somewhere today. I expect this company will go tomorrow

 

I suppose Father and you are at home alone now as Martha wrote that Nancy and her were going to Cornelias it is pretty warm here daytimes but I am in hopes it will soon begin to be cooler weather I have not suffered very much with the heat. I ought to write to Lavina and Cornelia but I think if I write home as often as I have done I am doing well / I do not like to hear of the boys enlisting. they do not know much what kind of a life they have got to live and of what little consequence they will be among so many men. I advise every body to keep out of the army just as long as they possibly can You must not think I am getting discouraged. I am quite contented and think my time is passing away fast. When my box comes I will be all right.

 

Out of seven in this tent five are writing letters. it is hard work for me to find any thing to do sometimes I believe there is nothing more for me to write this time. There was a letter came to Capt. Duane inquiring where Crossley was. he had not written home for so long they did not know what had become of him. good bye

Jerome

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