Camp Hancock                      

March 10, 1864

 

Laura,

            Your kind letter came to hand this evening and I thought I would answer right away. I am perfectly well and much pleased that you enjoy the same blessing. we have had a wet and disagreeable day here. the rain has been falling like torrents all day. the creeks are bank full, and mud no end. the camps are quiet and news unimportant, nothing done, save cooking and feeding the horses

 

we have not changed camp yet on account of not getting the necessary equipage but we expect to change in a few days.

 

You mentioned, that I should not think you silly for telling me, that you loved to read my letters. you must not think so, I know you and / whatsoever you tell me, let it be ever so silly will not change my heart nor mind, although I have not seen anything that appeared so to me. your letters I delight to read, when you write to me let it be plain and simple I care not, I think we should know each other, I do not think others will read our letters.

 

I wish I could have been there to go to church with you I often think of the pleasant time I spent with you when I was at home the last time I always think how I would love to spend a few hours with you so full of happiness as then, but this cannot happen now so I must banish the thought from my mind

 

            In the bloody field of battle

            It may be my fate to fall

            Though Im proud that I responded

            To my countrys call. /

 

            All those sweet associations

            That were once my joy and life

            Art denied me while Im leading

            This dull course of army strife

 

            While a soldiers life Im leading

            And thy smiles no more I see

            In my brightest moonlight visions

            Oft dear one I dream of you

 

            How my sad heart beat with rapture

            How my bosom thrilled with bliss

            When on that cold winters evening

            I received your farewell kiss

 

            Yet once more I hope to meet thee

            When my soldier life is oer

            And in friendships name to greet thee

            As I have in days of yore. 

 

            I suppose you and Huldah have a nice time I would like to be there I think I would make enough fun for a dozen.

 

J F Campbell is well and full of beans. I do not understand, you tell me that you have rec^d but two of my letters. I think if I mistake not this makes the fifth letter I have written to you, three at Chester and three here, perhaps some one gets your letters, I hope not, but they certainly must come through. I never had any difficulty in sending letters home. please see to it and give me the dates of all the letters I have sent you. I still have the time in my diary when I wrote to you, it may be they have been miscarried and you will get them hereafter.

 

                        I think you and Huldah will have a nice time on your visit to Morgans I hope so at least. I am pleased to hear that Rush & Augusta has filled her quota and wish Sunbury the same good luck. I pity your Uncle Grier and hope he may escape being drafted. I feel sorry to see one go and leave a family and especially small children

 

            I have written a short letter to your Father also to Sam & Joe & Eliot & your Uncle Grier. I guess they will think I do nothing but write letters. well they are about right it takes half of my time but I would much better do this than spend my time idle although I do not write to half that requested me to /

 

I suppose you would like to hear something about the Army. I do not know what to tell to be interesting to you. the cars are full of recruits coming to the Army every day and the Army is increasing in numbers rapidly. This is what I like to see. I think something will be done to shorten this war this summer. one thing certain Many poor soldiers must bite the dust on the crimsoned field, while many Mothers and friends will weep for their friends and, Sorry, tis easy for men to speculate and cry war to the knife, and the knife, to the hilt but they are the last men to join our ranks and [?] the leaden storm. it would do me good to have them by my side, I think the war would soon close. 

 

I cannot write as long a letter to you as I would like to I could think and write to you all knight if I thought it would be interesting to you but tell you of camp life would be an old song, to tell you of the scenes of battlefields would not be pleasant, to talk more freely of the love I possess for you, perhaps would not meet your approbation and to tell the fact, Tattoo is blown and I must put out my light and retire in my humble couch Soon the camp will be lulled in silence and many will be dreaming of loved ones at home no doubt your humble friend

 

            I will now close, please answer from your friend

WHThurston

Battery F 1^st Pa Artillery

2^d Corps

via Washington, D.C.

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