Camp near Rappahannock Station

Tuesday Aug 11^th/63

           

Dear Father

                                    We were paid the 8^th. I have made up a package to send to you to distribute. I enclose the list. Please distribute to the different persons.

 

            I was paid for 4 months as Captain and received $507.50. I thought there would be no chance of sending money home and I deposited $400.00 with the Paymaster to be invested in U.S. Treasury five-twenty bonds. They pay 6 pr cent. The interest paid semi-annually in gold. I thought them as good an investment as could be made at present. I will send the bonds to you for safe keeping as soon as I get them.

 

I was entirely out of money and was just thinking of sending to you for money when I heard that the Paymaster was coming. I have paid up all of my debts now, and have $38.00 left which / I think will keep me until next pay day. I have quit boarding at the Reg't'l mess and with Capt. Reynolds & Lt. Hawkins started one of our own. We have Ab Marquis for cook. The other mess was too large. I think we can get along better by ourselves. It costs me about $4 a week for my self & servant.

 

            We have had very hot weather for the last two weeks. The men suffer very much from the heat. I have never felt the heat as much a I do this summer. Our sick list is increasing on account of the heat. If we remain here much longer one half of the men will be sick. We are camped in an open field. the water is very poor and unwholesome. We have no shade except tents made of muslin which are almost as warm as it would be without any.

 

            It is thought by most of us that we will be on our way to Washington soon. I think that Lee has been reinforced and will soon make an advance upon Washington. If he does we will fall back to the fortifications. 

 

            I have heard that there has been a detail from this Army at Manassas making rifle pits for some time. I do not know that it is so.

 

Mad Funkhouser wishes you to keep the money he sends until his wife sends for it or returns home. Those Jessens who live at a distance from New B— will call for their money.

 

We have received no conscripts yet I hear that it is not likely this division will get any until the other Pa Reg'ts are filled. I am not in a hurry for them for it is too warm to drill them now. I do not want to exercise much in the hot sun.

 

I must close as I have some reports to make out this afternoon. My love to all the family

                                               

Your Affectionate Son

J.S.Winans

 

P.S. I wish you would speak to Mr Bradford about some business which he promised to attend to for James C Crawford (of my Co). It was in reference to some money which he (Crawford) sent to Scotty / Johnson for safe keeping. Mr B— said that he would collect it and deposit it in bank for him. Crawford has not heard whether he ever got it, and is anxious to know if Mr B— got it. Please let me know about it in your next.

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