Camp Pierpont Mar 6^th

 

Dear Mother

                                                                                    You must excuse my negligence in not writing sooner I hear that you have had some strange reports about us having a battle and getting cut up badly. We did expect to have a fight last Friday or Saturday but it did not come off. I would have written the evening we got the orders but I supposed you would know all about it before you would get the letter. Next day I heard that the mails were stopped. After this I will not write any thing about movements of the army until after they are made for I think the letters / will be examined in Washington. There is nothing new in camp except a new boarding tent. It started the 1^st. Capt. and I are boarding there now it is much better than to keep house ourselves. It costs me 5.00 a week now. that is rather expensive boarding but it is only about a dollar more than it has cost me ever since I was elected Everything is very high here Have to pay 30^cts per lb for butter and 30^c for eggs and other things in proportion.

 

            We have two months pay due us now, but I dont think we will be paid before the 1^st of April. I am in no hurry for if I dont get my money I cant spend it.

You need not expect me to come home before the close of the war / unless I am discharged and I dont think there is any danger of that. It is very healthy here, we have but one man sick I had the sick headache a few days ago. I was on duty and had to be relieved. I wrote to Alec to day. He wrote to me that he wanted to go into the army as a fifer. it is foolish of him to want to come. Dont allow him to go on any terms. The army is a bad place for boys. It does some men good and ruins others old topers it will improve but boys are almost certain to get to drinking and gameing and ruin themselves.

 

The danger of being killed is one of the least dangers of a soldier. There are more die with disease / than on the field. When you hear such reports of a fight as those you have had lately in which two thirds of the men are killed by a bayonet charge, just set it down as false, or of making three charges and getting cut to pieces either. I do not think there will be much of a fight at Manassas if there is, we will not be in it for we will be on the right of the army and will have to cut their lines between Manassas and Leesburg, while the centre of the army will attack Manassas and Banks Leesburg.

 

Give my love to Grandmother Father and the Children.

 

I will write to some of you soon

           

I remain Your Affectionate Son

J. S. Winans

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