Camp near Belle Plains Va    

February 1^st 1863       

 

My dear Wife,

                        I write in great haste as I have but a few moments to myself. I have been very busy for the past 3 or 4 days and I have enough on hand to keep me going for another week. The Paymaster has been here and has paid us 2 months, and the odd August days which we hardly expected to get. I send you $75 for yourself and will write to you more fully after tomorrow and give an account amount of whole pay &c. &c. I am pleased to acknowledge receipt of letters and bundles per mail. The flannel articles are very acceptable and came just in time to put on, as I was obliged to wear 2 pair breeches to keep out of the cold while my one pair of drawers were being washed. The Scotch caps are just what we wanted & the 2 Lieuts and myself are exceedingly indebted for them. They desire me to express their hearty thanks for your kindness. I regret that the children are sick, and sincerely hope that they will soon recover. The letters from them are very interesting, and I will write to Rolly at the bottom of this. My box I am looking anxiously for and hope it will come along in due season. Please excuse my anxiety in regard to it, for anything from home is dearly prized by us. You will please  thank all good friends who remember me, and so considerately contribute to my comfort. I shall not soon forget them. Frank Gillingham is very sick in the hospital. I've come down today, and will endeavor to get him home. I will send balance of my funds through him. He expects to start from there by Tuesday or Wednesday next. Our Regiment has been put into a new Brigade. What is to be done with us I cannot say. When or where we will move is equally uncertain. I have been obliged to make out 2 new pay rolls for my Company for reasons I will write hereafter. Tomorrow I am Brigade Officer of the day, Col. is Division Officer, Lieut Saylor is detailed as Regimental Quartermaster. And every other Officer in camp and almost every private in camp are to go on picket! So you may imagine we are kept pretty busy & I hope Lieut Saylor will be able to keep the position of Quartermaster as our present one is not a very good one and is trying to be appointed Brigade Commissary— /

           

Give my love to all of the folks. Kiss little ones over & over for me. Remember me to all inquiring friends and believe me to be as ever Your devoted husband—

Andy

 

P.S. Don't pay any bills until you hear from me again.

 

Dear Son,

            I was much pleased with your letter and hope you will write often. Small letters from small folks is all correct. I expect when I come home to see you in boots, with a pair of spurs on and a sword by your side. I trust you love your sister Amy, and that you are a good boy, and obey your Mother and all your kind good Aunts and cousins. Tell Grandma she must not spoil you, nor let you have your own way. You should see the house I live in. It is made of logs, about as high as your head, and then covered with a canvass tent. We have a fire place made of mud, and the cracks between the logs are all plastered up with mud. You may think it is very dirty but it is not, and altogether is is pretty comfortable. It is about 8 feet square. Your Mother will show you how big that is, or ask Uncle Henry to show you. He can do it nicely. We eat, sleep and sit all in the same room, for we have no dining or sitting rooms or parlor. Yesterday our chimney smoked very much. It is made of 2 Barrels, and the wind was too much for us. We looked like a parcel of smoke jacks. My men live in little tents, they call "dog-houses", and sometimes get very dirty in them. But we will all feel much better when the weather becomes warm and the mud dries up. Kiss little Amy for me, and write soon again.

 

Your Affectionate father—

Capt. A. T. Goodman

 

February 1/63                                                 

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