Charles

Camp near Harrison Landing

           

Dear Brother—After writing you and Uncle, each a letter immediately and waiting for an answer from at least some of you, I thought I'd better write you again, least you should think me to blame for not writing, as I begin to think it possible that my letters may not have come to hand. I am pretty well, though the fatigue of the past few days was almost too much for me after just coming out of the Hospital. I look for a few days rest in camp ere anything more in the way of fighting is done. I feel like a fish out of water since my comrades have been taken prisoner. It will be a hard stroke on Snyders when they [faded] think of poor Jno being both a prisoner and being wounded but such is the fortune of war. How long will this cursed war last? The nation has [faded] blood to drink. Stay thine hand O Lord, let it suffice, turn unto us in mercy and avert the judgment from us.

 

Brother I have seen sights since the day we left Yorktown which I shudder to think of and participated in scenes of carnage than which the world never saw greater. I have seen the dead lie unburied and the muleteers drive their teams over the bodies of both friend & foe, and the air is polluted with the scent of dead and decomposing animals & [?] I have helped to inter mangled half rotten men and it is this more than anything else to which I ascribe my sickness enough of this [faded] is only a fraction of what is going on here. O brother! you know but little [paper hole] you still remain as happily /

 

[paper torn away]

cannot at present

regt has been

ly whipped. I hope Enoch came off safe.

chance for those who are yet willing to enlist

only if enlisting dont go fast enough that drafting will

take place. "Then will the end of these things be" & I have all confidence in our "little Mac" but "except the Lord the city keep the watchmen watch in vain". Alf Haraz is gone sick [faded].

 

Our regt which left camp Curtin 900 strong now reports 125 fit for duty. I believe no regt has suffered such hardships as the 57^th When we came splashing through the mud to the fight at Williamsburg the Gen. asked the Col. what kind of a regt his men were; he saluted him (the Gen.) and said "regular waterdogs as brave as lions". such we have proved ourselves both in the field and at work in the entrenchments, but that day is past now, we are not iron clad and could not stand everything. Some think [?] that we shall be recalled either to fortress Monroe or to Curtin to recruit our health and numbers. I hope it may be the case, but reports in camp are not to be relied on. Gov. Curtin has been petitioned however to do something in our behalf. I had the pleasure to see Uncle "Abe" on the evening of the 5^th. He is just what I had pictured him to be so much so indeed that I knew him at first sight. The ugliest picture which I ever saw of him with the exception of some comic ones is none too ugly!! He has a monstrous handle to his face. Our fraction of a regt is out on picket to day but I am not out with them as I was detailed for camp guard, and this gives me time [paper hole] Joe Lowery is just come from the 10^th and [paper hole] /

 

This is a very                                                                          [torn away]

after the recent heavy rain. When you

times are at home and how the recent

in general and how Mother stands the

always and pray that as her day is, so

Give my respects to all enquiring friends

write often. When you write please enclose

it is hard to get stamps here and have

off for as long I am short of change

I dont want you to send any money                will suffice.

Alex Williams is now in New Haven Ct             been sent there

 

in a hospital boat. He had his fore finger cut off his right hand and it is said that he did it on purpose. one thing is true he did it by some means or other with his own hand but I dont know whether he did it on purpose or no. We have no field officers and but a few line officers left in the regt. How did you spend the 4^th of July? I spent it at Harrison landing on the banks of the river of your name "eating a few hard tack" and drinking river water, and thinking of that day a year ago. How does harvesting go? does the horses pull right? O how I dread stubborn horses! Dont over work yourself it is wrong and it is a thing which never pays.

 

Have you visited Lizzie's school? how does she get along? does she have many scholars? How does Beckie Snyder kersplash through Balm? and E.L.B. through "Fagg"? Do you ever see Indy Hansler? I suppose Wm and Rabb will enlist now that there [paper hole] is wounded, Eh. do you think /

 

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they would

torchy. So Bob Little is a [?]!

Albin will have a long fall

of drafting!!!!!

well I hope, and in good spirits

certainly of Sol [faded]

is very good to his men since the

is very popular with the regt

[faded]

of battle opposite us saying that he "dident see any thing to shoot at". Curt Emery is home I hear.

           

I have nothing more to write that I can think of so I will close

                                   

From J. D. Baker to his brother James. Renwick Baker

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