2/19/1863

Camp near White Oak Church Va.

 

My dear Wife.

            Over a week has elapsed since I heard from you, and my anxiety in regard to yourself and little ones is great. I cannot imagine that anything more serious than when I last heard, is the cause, but attribute it to the miscarriage of the mails, which has become quite frequent of late. Some of my men are receiving letters dated as far back as November, and one, a letter which was mailed in Phila. on 26 September. I sincerely trust that the children are on the mend, and that when I do hear from you, it will be of better times and health. I have not written as often as I should have done owing to various reasons, the most urgent ones being, want of time owing to removal of camp on Saturday last, anxiety to hear from you first, and general wretchedness of weather; of the latter more anon. I think I mentioned to you in my last of our intended change of location. On Saturday last, the feat was accomplished. The mens' shanties were not ready for them and Sunday was required to finish them. I had commenced my shanty and was in hopes to erect it forthwith and move into it on Monday—But alas! Sunday night when we retired was beautifully clear and quite warm. On Monday morning when we awoke, it was snowing furiously!! To add to our discomfort, an order was recd on Sunday night detailing 500 of our men 4 Captains and 6 Lieuts. for picket duty to start out next morning. From this duty, thank fortune, I was exempt, having been out the time before, but from the inconvenience of the snow storm I was not relieved. All work on our houses was suspended, and it was as much as one could attend to to keep dry and warm. I had not unpacked my boxes, and so had no paper pens and ink in any get-at-able place, and sucked my thumb in silence and uncomfortableness. Then it snowed all day and it lay some 6 inches on the ground. Then yesterday morning it commenced raining, and it rained hard all day. The snow became slush, and to keep dry and warm was a worse job than the day before. Our boys had left camp with but one day's rations, and something to eat must go out to them. A wagon was loaded and started out about 12 o'clock. At 5 it was back with all it had started with, having stuck in the mud on the way. So to add to our discomforts we were obliged to have on our minds the fact that our men would be almost starved while on most important duty. The Colonel requested me to pilot out another wagon this morning, and we had one ordered to report at 9 o'clock. I was all ready, but it never came until 1 o'clock this afternoon. However we loaded up and off we started. We reached the poor half starved fellows about 3 o'clock and were gladly welcomed. Having no shelter but little retreats made of pine boughs, they had been almost drowned, and Lieut Logo, in addition to his other troubles, had tumbled into a creek on the picket line, twice during the day, and was so wet that he had had a fire built on three sides of him to dry himself by. I rode (being on the Lieut. Col's horse) along the whole line of pickets, a good 2 hours job and was much astonished and greatly pleased to find the men in good humor notwithstanding their terrible experiences. But thank heaven! it had once more cleared off, and the sun was shining, just as it was sinking in the west, giving us promise of a fair day tomorrow. When I returned to camp, my men whom I excused from picket duty to build my house, had finished it, and I will enter and take possession of it in the morning. This storm will force the Army to lie quiet some time. Our present camp is well situated, being in a hollow surrounded by hills covered with a dense growth of young pines. The ground is a sandy clay and in many places, digging out foundations for our houses we find iron ore in abundance. The water is not pleasant, being strongly mineral and along our lines are several sulphur springs, of just as good medicinal qualities no doubt as those of Saratoga or Bedford. Do you remember Sam Weller's opinion of Bath Spring water? It reminded him strongly of "warm flat irons". The taste of our spring water reminds me very strongly of the flavor of eggs, in the state called rotten. My stomach has arrived at that point, that it requires something particularly nasty to upset its equilibrium. It has even kept quiet under a dose of raw pork, but day before yesterday it rebelled against our spring water, and for a few hours I was kept unpleasantly busy in endeavoring to settle it. Nevertheless our surgeon coolly advises me to keep on drinking it, as in the course of time it will prove wholesome, and will do us all good. I hope so, and if anyone asks you where I am at present, tell them I am enjoying myself at one of the famous watering places in Virginia— 

 

Lieut. Saylor is still acting Quartermaster of the Regiment. I hope he will retain the position, though I fear the appointed one will be thrown back on us. Everyone in the Regiment prefers Saylor and are afraid of no dishonesty on his part. He is popular with all. You may wonder why I did not try for this position. Let me explain that a Quartermaster of a Regiment ranks only as a 1^st Lieut and therefore is outranked by a Captain. We are expecting Major Richardson (paymaster of our Brigade) every day now as he faithfully promised to see us again in the course of 3 weeks time, when he last visited us. I assure you I await his coming with great impatience. When he does come I will forward again by Chaplain every dollar that can be spared for your comfort dear, that being my first duty. By sending you $100 (independent I mean of paying the debts you have already mentioned) in addition to the $75 sent by Chaplain, I think you will feel comfortable for some time. Will that sum be enough? Write unreservedly about it.

 

I am sorry that neither of your Uncles can visit us, but were they have now I am afraid they would become disgusted with a soldier's life and give you but a sorry account of it upon returning home. But I am becoming chilly and must go to bed to keep warm. I sleep now under 4 blankets, think of that. I have scratched off some nonsense for Rolly, which coming from Papa may be appreciated by him. I find I am fast forgetting all my accomplishments, and instead of being easy to me as formerly these attempts are wretchedly clumsy. Give my love to your mother aunt and cousins, and last remembrances to Uncles. Do for heaven's sake write often. Kiss little ones over and over for me and believe me to be as ever your most devoted husband           

 

Andy

Feb 19/63.

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