July 10^th

Camp Near Petersburg Va

           

Dear Parents

                                    It is Sabbath morning and everything is very quiet here in our pleasant shady camp Something which dont often occur in a soldiers camp now I tell you but there is but 57 men left here so that will partly account for it. the rest of the Co is still with the Capt up to the front with the 2^nd Corps The Capt was down here yesterday and told me to tell you that you must not think it strange if he did not write home very often for his conveniences up there for writing are very poor He is tough and hearty as need be The boys are at work / making gabions as I predicted in a former letter. Those that are left here in camp have to do about four hours guard duty each day and that is all they have to do so I guess they wont complain much at that Mandeville & myself are the only Serg'ts left here for duty. Jim is acting as orderly over this little band of living ones and I am Serg't of the guard half of the time and it is a job which is not very wearing on the mind nor dont require much physical labor and taking every thing in consideration I think I had rather be here by half than up to the front where the shells are flying and the minnie balls singing the tune of Home Sweet Home. but the Capt and our Co is not in any great / danger from these things for they are off to the rear a little in the woods. Daniel is well and busy fixing up one of Sharps rifles to carry. he says he is a going to send it home with the Capt when he goes but I guess he wont come it for I dont think the Capt will bother with it besides he has no right to take any arms belonging to the government. The Capt has got a horse with the U.S. mark on him but he says he has a bill of sale of the horse so he wont have any trouble in getting him home The Capt has a good span of matched sorrels that he intends to take home with him and a great deal better ones than his other sorrels were 

 

Dinner is ready so I will close for the present for fear I will loose my share of the beans & coffee

 

            Have you heard anything from that old pocket handkerchief that I sent you some time ago

 

            I am a going to make Ella a present of a couple of novels or rather one in two volumes entitled Six Years Later or the taking of the Bastille by Alexander Dumas I have read it and think it a pretty good story and a part of it is founded on facts that is the part of it that speaks of the revolution or uprising of the people of France. Good bye for this time this from Charley

SOURCES