Camp Lincoln, Va

Near City Point, Va.

Hd Qrs Artillery Brigade

25^th Army Corps May 17/65

 

Dear Mother

                        I received last week a letter from Charlie directed by you for which I am much obliged but it contained details of his affairs which I was already acquainted with from Brother E.A. I am glad if he is anyways comfortable in California and think that any business prospects must be better for him there than East for some time to come. My health is excellent but my spirits are below par having as it were begun my military life all over again with experience enough to know and weigh my responsibility well. After parting with E.W. at Washington I rejoined my Regiment for the first time since appointed in it and was expected to go right on where somebody left off and keep things up the same standard as if I had always been there. / I succeeded very well for three weeks and worked night and day to keep my end up, when much to my surprise I received another Staff appointment taking me from my Company and placing me here as acting Ordnance Officer of this Brigade a position of importance and trust, but the most of the duties I have to learn yet. If variety is the spice of life I certainly cannot complain of my share of it in the past four years. It was 4 years ago last 16^th of April that I first went for a soldier & I am daily discovering some white or gray hairs in my head. at this rate I shall be quite gray before my term of service is out Aug 14^th 1866. But I can stand it as long as a 'kind Providence' permits me to. I am truly happy at one thing that I have been permitted to live to see this cursed rebellion crushed out and only wait now for the just punishment of the leading participators in it, which will no doubt be slow but sure. I have had two letters from E.A. good and full of hopes for himself which I have been unable to find time to answer yet. We are on the high banks of the James overlooking the most of the shipping and with a very fine place to bathe right under us. But it is hot, very hot, and though they talk of sending this Corps to Texas I should be willing to imagine that we were already there from the withered and dusty appearance of the thing. Major William E. Furness who lately married a Boston girl is at Corps Hd Qrs a stone's throw from here and Judge Advocate of the Corps. I never met him before but have heard of him much. With no more news of interest, I bid you adieu, with a proportionate amount of love and good wishes towards my cousins, Uncles and Aunts. Do not forget Mary & Edward with their growing flock, I hope they are well. I remain ever your affectionate son

                                                                                   

Walter H.—Capt. 36^th U.S.C.T.

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