Camp Sedgewick       

Brandy Station Va.

March 11.

                       

Dear Sister.

                                    Your letter was received in tonights mail with the greatest pleasure imaginable. the red pepper too was safe, and has already been appropriated to a different use from that which it was intended.

 

I have got into my ppr sass bottle to make the vinegar bite when I am eating beans. Loomis dont like his soup very hot with pepper, even if its only black pepper, so I thought I would make some good vinegar with it. Sometimes when I make the soup I will stick in the seasoning so that Old Loomis will smell it. "Well!" he'll say "I hope you've got enough of it now so you can taste it." Well! I'll / tell him I spilled a lot into it. "Yes I guess you did." Loomis is out in the rain tonight on guard. It has been raining since yesterday morning some of the very fast. this afternoon we had a thunder shower and there is another upon the stage as I am writing. It is very muddy and must put a stop to military movements for some time if there are any on the [?]

 

The reason of my answering your letter before the usual time was on account of the probability of my being away on picket for the next three days and in that case you know you would have had to wait till Wednesday before I could mail my letter had I not written this evening. I was very much surprised to hear of Crusa Ann's death. It was very sudden was it not. It must be a hard blow to Clark's family. I knew she was Clark's favorite. I can recollect the time you speak of or rather I can remember of hearing you speak of it a good many times of bringing up the rear that night coming home from school in the snow storm but the event itself is too far back for my recollection. You rather got up on your dignity then, when relief came after getting so near home. I dont know but it was quite natural you should, indeed it comes natural to the family to do so in cases of that nature where the stock of patience is not equal to the emergency.

We hear occasionally of the doings of our V.V.'s at home. most of them have parted with the greater part of the greenbacks Uncle Abraham provided them with so bountifully before leaving here. some have passed their time in drunkenness and when they get back to the regiment again they will be in no condition for duty. they will have to lay around the hospital probably a month or so before recovering from the effects of their raid at home. Jo Wood will not be one of this class. he has got his ideas raised in a new quarter and I hope he may succeed. he told me his hopes and fears before leaving, but he wanted me to keep still and not say a word about what he had told me. / I do not think it would be best to send any thing by him unless it is a letter or something that will not be of any more bother than that. he has relation in N.Y. and in Brooklyn and all along the route so that anything at all bulky would be of considerable trouble to him.

We are living now in part upon the proceeds of our late raid up to Mr. Robinsons river. there was a small quantity of meal brought away in the few teams that accompanied us and it is now being issued to us in the place of bread. It does very well just for a change. I believe I have not told you that we have been paid off again have I. we were paid the afternoon before we went on the march. I have been thinking of buying a watch lately or I should have sent some of it home. I may not buy one after all.

 

Loomis has been relieved for the night on account of the rain I hope it will clear away in case I go on picket. it has been twenty four since I was last detailed, quite a while for me to be off duty. Where is Eddy Wilcox now. will Charley work for Pa this year or will little Charley be all his help. Good night, till we meet again                Lowell C Cook.

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