Camp 11^th N.H. Vols near

Weldon R.R. Before

Petersburg Va.

Sept. 19^th 1864

           

My Dear Sister

                                    This a beautiful quiet day and I'll improve it by writing to my friends. I wonder how long it is since I heard from you, it indeed seems a very long time, and in looking over my list of unanswered letters I do not find any among them from Mary. I suppose they have been mislaid, if I really owe you a letter. I said it was quiet and it is—remarkably so—for the last three days we have not even had the accustomed picket firing in front of the Crater nor the usual evening Artillery duel. each side has got tired of this incessant watchfulness and nerve straining and are taking a little rest and the inhuman practice of shooting one another, if either happens to carelessly expose any part of his body while on picket / has been abandoned by mutual consent. Leave the settlement of our difficulties to the rank & file and the war would stop in less than a week. Our boys never have any trouble making truces with the rebs when they are allowed an opportunity. A reb will sing out "Holloa! Yank stop firing there" "All right Johnny Reb here goes" and up goes a white paper attached to a stick on top of the pits then both sides stretch out their cramped limbs, get out of their pits and set down for a social chat. after awhile the Officers come along and order them to commence firing when Reb shouts "get down your head Yank or off goes it we are ordered to shoot immediately" every man here tumbles into his pit and begins his murderous employment.

 

            Since the fight here on the Weldon the 18-21 of August we have been engaged in no big fights. there has been a decided calm—But this quiet is rather ominous than other-wise. Grant has been steadily getting reinforcements since the about the middle of August. Almost at the rate of three hundred per day came to our Corps alone. take my regiment for an example / When I got back the 12^th August we had four Officers and eighty muskets for duty, now we have thirteen Officers and more than two hundred men for duty. Most of the men that have joined the Army are recruits and very good men. Grant is speedily getting them in working order preparatory to another grand strike. On the other side Lee is resting his Grey backs the veteran army of Virginia and also preparing for one more desperate struggle. When these two mighty armies come together again the result will be fearful. However the future is bright before the northerners, and cannot be otherwise than gloomy to the "Johnnies" Our late successes have sent a gloom through the whole South the fall of that great Southern work shop Atlanta and that stronghold Mobile Fort Morgan had a very depressing effect.

 

            We see piles of Richmond papers very often and the tone of their editorials is despondent in the extreme they urge all manner of desperate measures. they continue to grouse about our holding this railroad, and they are evidently sore over the "mean Yankee trick" (as they call it) that Hancock played upon them the other day / when he surprised them so nicely while asleep in their rifle pits one fine morning and captured their whole line of pickets thereby establishing his own on their original line

 

            George is close by me he is clerk for J. T. Rosselje A.Q.M. Depot Ninth Corps, only about half a mile from here. I enjoy his presence very much indeed and shall not let him off at present.

 

McClellans nomination did not awaken much enthusiasm. Lincoln and Johnson have the inside track and they will keep it. the Army "don't see" peace blowers at this stage. Let the north send us a few more men (not substitutes) and we will get them a peace before January.

 

            Give my love to Edwin and Mr Howards family tell Miss L. her letters are very much like Angelic visits lately. I've rec'd no answer to my last written more than two months ago. I saw Dave & Charlie the other day George & I rode over to see them. Dave is well and very hearty, but Charlie looks as though he would prefer living on the old farm. Charlie's health is very poor I reckon he don't take good care of himself. I rec'd a letter from Sue yesterday shall write soon. Now be careful or I shall forget your hand writing

                                                                       

Your Aff Brother

Charles

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