Camp Sedgewick.                  

Near Brandy Station

April 22^nd /64.

                       

Dear Sister.

                  Yours of the 17. was received tonight and as I am somewhat in fear of being detailed for picket tomorrow morning I concluded to answer it at once and have it over with. A storm has set in tonight and if it continues till morning it will be no pleasant walk to the picket line, as it is eight miles there. You must not suppose our pickets are that distance from the main body of the army it is only about two miles and a half to the line opposite where we are, but we have to go a long / ways to the left to reach our grounds I dont know why it is that we are sent there but since the reorganization of the army took place we have had to go there, though the troops lie just the same as before. I have not been on picket since that time I wrote of when I expected to go the next morning The old gal will probably have to go too. Jo Wood is here yet awaiting orders from Washington. He is as uneasy as a fish out of water. I can tell you the reason why he didnt call and see you when he was home. He is dead in love with a girl in Wrentham and I guess about all the time he passed in Mass. or R.I. was in her company. So you see he is very excusable for not making many calls.

 

            There has been some very pleasant days here this last week. it was almost uncomfortably warm today but still the snow hangs to the top of the Blue Ridge. 

 

I think we may as well call it settled in regard to the letters. I will agree to the terms of your service and all the rest &c. &c. What is the matter with you folks at home that butter is so high. I have kept hearing for some time passed that the speculators were buying up all they could find and the last time I heard it was up to sixty five. it seems to be ten cents ahead of that now. Here in the army it is sixty cents. about two weeks or about three I guess it is they raised the price from fifty to what it is now I dont see what keeps it at that price when its so much higher in Mass I am not as good a judge of butter as some in fact all tastes alike to me unless it is rank. all that we have ever had has been what I call good butter. We have to go to the station now to get it since the sutler left. drunken men have become pretty scarce since then. 

 

I do not see any more signs of moving now than a week ago, but it will not take a great deal of time to get up and get when the time comes. I waked up last night about eleven oclock and the army wagons were passing on the trot towards the station I lay some time listening to them but they kept coming and coming I begun to think there was something up. after a while I spoke to Jo to see if he was awake and asked him what was up that so many wagons were on the move. he said he didnt know they had been moving for an hour past. all were without covers and were empty. It was said today they were bringing up rations for the cavalry. What do you think of the war now, aint we in a pretty fair way to have fighting enough to do for some time to come? it seems so to me.

 

What do you think of my going into a nigger regiment had I better do it or come home and go to work. Yours Truly Lowell C Cook.

 

[top front margin upside down]

 

Should you follow my advice if I gave any. I dont know what I should do if I were in your place, but I suppose money is of no account is it. I dont know what I should prefer a melodeon or piano. the first would be the easiest to learn wouldnt it? I would like a melodeon myself first rate, but I think I shall have to put up with my present instrument a jewsharp. I would like to find either of the two in your parlor in June.

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