Bermuda Hundred Va.

July 28. 1864.

 

I rec^d your letter of the 24^th inst. together with the "Herald", "Weekly", "Traveller" and "Ballot" sent at the same time. I was very glad to get them all especially the letter, as I have have not heard directly from you since the 17^th inst. when I got yours of the 13^th.

 

Since then I have had a letter from Martha Hall dated July 15^th, one from George Eaton dated July 17^th and one from Aunt Harriet Symmes dated July 20^th. I got them on the 22^d 23^d and 24^th insts. and have answered them all.

 

I was glad to see that one man in the 24^th Mass. Regt. has pluck enough to write the truth about the amount of vegetables / &c actually received by the soldiers, but I blame him for not telling where the stuff goes to. The whole truth might as well be told first as last. The truth is the Agents of the Sanitary Commission live on it, and so do a great many Officers to a great extent; and besides Bands are treated on wines sent for sick soldiers; some is sold to sutlers and what little there is left is given out to sick soldiers in hospitals and in quarters. It is all very fine for the people of the North to give millions of dollars to the Sanitary Commission, but is quite another thing for the soldiers to get any benefit from it. We had some pickles and cabbages after the order by Gen. Butler spoken of by "Knapsack". The pickles were very good, what there was of them, but the cabbages were so poor that any one not absolutely starving would have thrown them / into the pig-pen, and yet we were glad to have them in a soup, which was all the way we could use them. That affair of discharges came out just about as I expected it would, so I am not very much disappointed about it. That is however a very good way to find out who the soldiers' friends are.

 

The way I reckon it, my time is out to-morrow, but I suppose Government will hold on to me 25 or 26 days longer, but if I can get out of it all right then I shall be satisfied.

 

My health is not very good, but still I am on duty most of the time. Last night and night before we had to lay in the trenches, i.e. those that were not on picket. I was on picket night before last, and last night lay in the trenches. I suppose that I am worn out or nearly so; I think a month or two of rest and good / living will bring me out all right again.

 

I hope Gen. Sherman will continue to be successful as he has been, and I think if he is this Rebellion will then be very nearly "played out", in spite of Jeff. Davis' big talk. The pictures I suppose, mean that England favors the strong and bullies the weak.

 

The Exeter boys are all in pretty good health and send their respects to friends, myself included. mine especially to Aunt H. S. & Uncles & cousins I have not seen Uncle Tho's or Cousin C. S. lately, or heard from them either.

                                                                                   

Yours in haste

J. W. Clement

 

Mr John Clement                                                        

            Exeter                                                             

                        N.H.                                                    

 

I think I have got nearly all the papers you have sent, though some of them have been a good while coming

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