Camp of 1^st Batallion of 50^th

N.Y. Eng'rs Near Stevensburg Va Apr 30^th

           

Dear Parents

                  I am seated once more for the purpose of writing a few lines to you. Daniel is not quite so well to day as he has been for the two past days. He goes to the Dr. regular every morning for his rations of quinine but he is getting very tired of the sight of medicine and his appetite is very poor yet so he scarcely eats anything The Capt and myself are both enjoying good health as usual and are having pretty good times though there is no telling how long it will last. To day is Muster day throughout the entire Army. We have / just mustered for two months pay. Daniel only gets 2^nd class pay Voorhis Besemer gets 1^st class but James only gets 2^nd. I see by the papers that the soldiers wages are increased two dollars per month that is for all enlisted men but the officers pay remains the same as before. Mother I have another request to make and that is that you send me some black thread so that I can keep my clothes in order. I have got that pocket wife you made me while I was at home but the thread is nearly all gone. I am going to keep that wife untill I can come home and get a better one though by Phoebe Phebe's tell I will stand a pretty poor chance to get one after getting home for she says the girls are all marrying off around there 

 

I have now been in the service just twenty months and five days and if we had our just dues I would be home in four months but Uncle Sam thinks to much of our services to let us come so soon as that. he will most likely want us sixteen months longer yet if the war continues so long and there is no signs of peace just at present that I can see but there is considerable going on in the Army that outsiders know nothing about in relation to the movements of troops and if the weather holds fair you may look for stirring times before many weeks pass over your heads

 

The weather has been fair for a week or more and the roads are in quite good condition The few scattering trees that are / left standing begin to wear their their robes of green. Apple and cherry trees are in full blossom I have not time to write more for I must prepare myself to go on guard to night. We mount guard at night instead of mornings as we formerly did

 

P.S.      Sunday morning May 1^st

Daniel feels rather better this morning

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