Camp of 50^th N.Y. Vol. Eng'rs Near

Poplar Grove Church Va Mar 19^th 1865

                       

Dear Parents

                                                We are still in our old camp enjoying ourselves finely and having good times generally and all in good health When I last wrote you I thought by this time we would be away from this place but now there is no telling when we will leave. The weather is beautiful and the ground drying out very fast and it seems more like May than March. Last night I was on guard and did not sleep much so I feel rather dull to day so you need not look for a very long letter from me this time 

 

Gen Meade and Staff were up here again to day and there was a couple Washingtonians up with them did not learn their names. Tomorrow we have a General Inspection which will be something quite new for us seeing it is so long since we have had any

 

            This morning I received a letter from Mother and a dun from Julia. Tell Grand Ma she is not forgotten and her kind words and pleasant look is often thought of by her Grand-Sons and we all hope to be spared to see each other again soon There is not one of us that can recollect her age though I think she must be Eighty years old or more

 

            The news from Sherman and Sheridan is good yes / Bully if I may be allowed to use the expression and I see that Gold is falling falling slowly coming down just like the so-called Southern Confederacy and I hope the time is not far distant when peace shall be proclaimed throughout the whole once United States. still I dare not look for an early settlement for fear I shall be disappointed. I thought last June that the campaign we was then going through would finish up the war but another winter has passed and we are about to engage in another campaign which may prove as hard as the last one but it cant be much worse. One thing is certain we have not got as good fighting material this season as we had last season for the soldiers / are mostly new ones and are inexperienced. These one year bounty men aint worth a tinkers ladle and would as soon desert as to eat a meal of victuals that is if they got a good opportunity, though there are some good men amongst them who would not but the majority of them are poor tools in the hands of Uncle Sam. I heard this morning that James E Vanden[?] was about to take unto himself a Rib is there any truth in it's I have already written more than I expected to when I began this letter so I will close for this time I remain as ever

 

your affectionate Son

Charles. W

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