Camp near White Oak Church Va.

April 12^th 1863               

        

My dear Dot,

                                    It is a warm Sunday afternoon with every appearance of rain, and I know I cannot better occupy the time than by writing a good long letter to you. Your favor and the photographs arrived safely per Weidy who reached camp day before yesterday. They are excellent and the pictures of the dear little ones are much admired. Roly must have changed greatly since I left. He is a fine manly looking little fellow, and little Amy must be a beauty. By the way, I am afraid I cannot allow any more of the Officers of the Regiment to be calling upon you, as Weidy and the "Old Veteran", as we call Wagner, gave such glowing accounts of their visit, I fear you must have made yourself particularly agreeable. I do not much wonder at Weidy thinking his visits passed so pleasantly, as the attractions were before him, but I was much tickled at the Old Veteran a widower of 7 years, informing me of an hour's visit. I am glad that he called though, for it shows he has some consideration for me. I recd through him a letter from Mr. Allman. He writes very kindly and states his intention of calling upon you. He is a good man. But I cannot refrain of telling you a little matter, that caused a broad smile from me, though it was somewhat unpleasant. The first night he slept in our tent it rained like the dickens after 12 o'clock. You must know that Allman is a very precise man and very nice about his language. Although guilty of many grammatical errors, he endeavors to select the cleverest words to express himself, but was quickly awakened / hearing him call, "Captain can you strike a light?" I wondered what was the row, and answered I could. He then informed me "that his bowels were opened" and he had been lying suffering for an hour or more rather than call me up. So I got up, and being afraid that he would lose himself in the camp at that dark hour escorted him to our sink. You know we have no "modern implements" in camp, but dig a hole in the ground and over this put up a rail on two forked sticks, and accommodate ourselves as best we can. When he reached the spot he, not understanding the machine, and not being accustomed to exercises on the "single bar", sat a little over the center of gravity and lost his balance, and if I had not caught him he would have gone heels over head into the pool. It was a narrow escape, but the whole thing was funny to me, from the lachrymose manner in which he first spoke till we returned to the tent wet through, that I shall long remember it. May his shadow never grow less. He did a great deal for our Regiment, though he was at first shabbily treated. We have been unusually busy since I last wrote. We went from a Review to picket duty—from picket duty to another review by the President, and since then we have had musters, inspections, and battalion drills, and to crown all we have now every afternoon at 5 o'clock to march 1½ miles to a Brigade Dress parade. The weather is becoming very warm and the roads very dusty, and it causes considerable grumbling to be urged to dress in our best and then march so far in the dust for a mere dress parade. We have as yet no orders to move, but it is hardly probable we will remain for much longer, as the roads are fit for marching and moving artillery. 

 

Ned Whittier paid me a short visit yesterday. He looks well and has become quite stout. He spoke of his pleasant visit at Vine Street and promised to come over and spend a day with me this week. His battery is about 2 miles from us. He was quite astonished at the cleanliness of our camp, and said it exceeds any he had yet seen. That compliment is invariably paid us by visitors and I assure you we are quite proud of it. The review by the President on Thursday last was a grand affair. Four Corps, containing at least 70,000 men were out, and all passed off nicely. His Excellency looks care worn, has become quite gray, and I doubt not, would much rather not be subjected to all the troubles he has had to encounter. Mrs. L. was with him and his little boy. The men looked well and all were in good spirits. In fact we all feel like working to some purpose, only give us the chance. Only one drawback exists, that is the continued delay of the Paymaster. We are expecting him every day but he don't come. It is too bad, and the men would be much better satisfied, were he to visit us before we move. I am sorry to hear you are subject to so many attacks of sickness, but hope dear you will take good care of yourself. Do for heavens sake brighten up and be cheerful. Your kind friends I notice are as good as [?] to you. It is the greatest satisfaction to me to hear of their attentions. I can scarcely say anything new about a furlough, though I should like to see you so much for a short time. Indeed dear, you know not how wretchedly I feel, when any of us go home. I feel like throwing down my sword and flying to you, but this thing must be fought out, and the "Army of the / Potomac" is the one after all, that is going to do it successfully. In case of a move, leaves of absence I fear will be refused. Another week I think will bring about great events. But it has stopped raining, and I expect to hear the drums beat any minute for parade. I have written this expecting to send it home by Benny, whom I know you will be glad to see. His application went up yesterday, and should be here this evening. He is very anxious to get home and I should be glad if he gets time. Give my love to your Mother cousins and Aunts my best respects to your Uncles, and tell them all the good things in the barrels are not yet eaten. Kiss little ones over and over for me, tell Roly he must write me more letters. I hope he is a good boy. Remember me kindly to all enquiring friends and believe me to be as ever        

 

Yours devotedly                                              

Andy

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