Bermuda Hundreds

Sunday June 5^th 1864

 

Dear Friends

                        I find that my last visit to Vermont was one that has paid for itself in different ways I notice in particular, how much more fluently Annas pen glides over the various occurences of the day, giving here and there a touch in her composition that lends beauty & care to its tone, and at the same time bringing in the various subjects that would be most likely to interest the reader

 

            "If you were only here we might find it pleasant to visit the woods again which are beautiful now" I hope that day may come Anna, when I can hear those merry woods again, when I can join with them in their shrill melody I would sooner join in a good snow ball even, with you than to play a game of ball that they are now playing here or within a few mile of us at times. And now / that you have wished me there, would it be improper for me to wish you were here, to witness the pleasure part of army life, to view the scenes of Virginia and take sketches from nature. And then at night where I was on guard a few nights ago over our ponton bridge, I could hear the owls hoot, and the 'whip o will' and now & then some thing would splosh in the water as big as a man perhaps This would almost make ones hair stand in a country loaded with blood thirsty secesh. I supposed the noise in the water was caused by innocent alegators, but one does not think of innocence at first way out on a bridge with only one other person with me. The first thought would be to cock my gun expecting the next moment a dozen rebels would be hurrying us off to some rebel prison. Night before last there was heavy and fast firing in the direction of Richmond. It was probably / 12 or 14 miles off, and perhaps in Grants Army this was just after sun down and since that time we have not heard but little cannonading. It Grant is now getting pretty close to the ill fated city and we expect to hear every day that he has made the final end of Jeff Davis and turned the old folks all out of doors and took the hierd girls all prisoners Well you know what I mean made a general overhauling of his whole domain Stove the prison doors all in and to the great joy of the universe let the sun smile in upon its inmates once more

 

            Charly left this point I understand and went to the White house up York River I have not seen him but I saw a fellow from his regiment a few days ago I sent him word that I was well and if he got time to drop me a note

 

Anna you requested to know if I was sea sick the sea was very calm coming down and / was not sick atall

 

You know that I wanted to come to Virginia I feel quite near home when I can get a letter only 3 days old

 

            We have not been exposed to any danger yet I feel as safe here almost as I would in Vermont

 

We are situated in a bend of the river so that if rebels undertook to come down on us they would be likely to be taken all prisoners

                                                                                   

Yours for the Present

James

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