Head Quarters 33^rd Reg^t Wis. Vols.

near Moscow Tennessee

Febr'y. 15^th 1863

 

Miss. Annie M. Henry

            Sparta Wis.

 

My Dear Annie—

Yours of the 2^nd inst was recd. on the 13^th. I came in from picket this morning about 10 o'clock and meant to have written you a long letter to day, but Lieut. Birchard is sick and I shall have but little time for writing.

 

            We had rather a hard time last night on picket. About 8 o'clock a very heavy thunder shower came came up, which lasted several hours. About 3 o'clock this morning the wind changed to to the north east and blew very cold. I fortunately had a large / overcoat, a heavy wollen blanket, and an oil cloth blanket which kept me tolerable dry and warm. Our post was between one and two mile from camp on the M. & C.R.R. and yesterday afternoon I visited the spot where the late R.R. accident occurred. The R.R. at this point makes a short curve and crosses a deep ravine. The late heavy rains have made a kink in the wood which was the cause of the accident. The embankment is near 20 feet high. The wrecks of three or four cars, one turned bottom side up was all that was to be seen. Four soldiers was were killed and several more severely injured. On Friday last I had a long ride and considerable sport. It is the duty of the Officer of the Day each day to ride entirely round the picket lines and visit evry out post, see that the pickets are all at their posts, attending to their / duties and give them the countersign. I had the offer of a ride if I would accompany him and as it was a beautiful day I accepted. We had to cross a long mudy piece of ground where the road was thrown up some 8 or ten feet and a ditch ditch dug on either side to drain off the water. While riding across here the Capt. horse became frightened and jumped clear over the embankment landing the Capt in the ditch fortunately he lit in a soft place and no bones were broken, but he got a good coat of mud and his boots full of water. The health of our Regt. is still very bad. Two men buried yesterday. One from our Co. We have had some very strict orders in regard to where we get water and also to see that evry thing about camp is kept clean and in perfect order. 

 

I wish you had enclosed Williams letter as you thought of doing. I should like to read it. I wrote to him some time ago. I think he must have recd. my letter by this time. I do not think we shall go to Vicksburg, at least not very soon. It is impossible for us to move from here to Memphis until the roads improve unless we go by R.R. I should like to be able darling to promise you to come home in a short time, but the prospects are not very favorable just now. Two or three sick officers have gone home from our Regt. and we have several more here not fit for duty. Under these circumstances I dare not ask for a furlough as long as my health keeps good, for I know I should not get one. Do not trouble too much on my account darling, you know that I am in good hands and if in His Providence any accident or disease should come upon me, I will come home if it is a possibility for me to do so. The hour in the history of our beloved country is dark dark let us pray the more. All will yet be right. I look to you darling for encouragement. With unreserved affection I am dear Annie Yours     George.

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