Camp near Warrenton Va. Aug 6 1863

 

My dear Dot

                                    This is we hear the day appointed by the President for General Thanksgiving for the great victories vouchsafed to our cause by a gracious Providence. But though the "glorious Army of the Potomac" has contributed perhaps its full share of blood and life to effect the glorious result we can understand but little of the festivities of the day. I do not know how it is with other Regiments and Brigades but our men have just started out on the regular 2 hours drill and none of the ordinary daily duties of the camp will apparently be omitted. If any men ever deserved a holiday we certainly do. However it is all in the three years and already has one third of the time has elapsed. I am afraid my dear you will think me dissatisfied with the service for almost every letter I send home contains some complaints. It is not that we are dissatisfied with the service itself but with the way in which we are sometimes treated. And we have in many instances good reason. But enough of discontent and "away with melancholy". I had a queer dream last night which perhaps may amuse you not so much the matter of the dream as what I imagined to occur in a remarkably short space of time. The hospital tent is not very far from ours, in fact it is unpleasantly near. One of the men of Company A has been very low with typhoid fever and for the past 2 days has been delirious moaning constantly. In the quiet of the night his groans are distinctly heard. We do not rest well in consequence. Sometime during the night I fell into a kind of doze and dreamed I was detailed by the Colonel to proceed to Phila. on very important secret service, and was to go and return inside of 24 hours. I would have about 2 hours in / the city to complete my business. I reached the place, in Chesnut St. near Sixth satisfactorily arranged matters and left the building just as the State House struck 2 o'clock. The question then was should I return to the Rgt. without seeing you? If I were to report in season I should be at the Depot at 2½. I could not go out to Turner's Lane and return in a half hour, and if I did not report myself within the 24 hours I would be court martialed. I spent about a minute in debating the question, then quietly got into a Walnut St. car and did go out to Turner's Lane via 15^th Street, saw you all waited for the 11 o'clock train and returned, of course some 12 hours behind time. I was asked for my sword, and was politely informed I had committed a capital offence and would be tried in a short time. I got as far as appearing before the court, when another groan from the poor patient awoke me. It was some moments before I could convince myself that I had not actually been with you, and that 'twas but a soldier's dream of home. Since I last wrote we have moved our camp somewhat nearer the town in a very pleasant grove. Although it is intensely hot, yet is much more agreeable than when in the open field. The nights are cool and comfortable but in the middle of the day the heat is sometimes terrible. The town is very pretty, there being a great many handsome houses. Right in front of our camp is a beautiful place, the dwelling of Dr. Vemmes a Corps physician in the Rebel Army and said to be a brother of the Vemmes of the pirate Alabama. We begin to have hopes that the severe fighting is over. What is the opinion at home? Trouble seems to be brewing in the happy family of confederate states. I wish they would have such a falling out that they could never fall in again. 

 

Well our Paymaster has paid us his long expected visit. As you well know Addie I would like to pay as much of this payment to certain parties as possible. It will be but 3 weeks from now before we will have another payment for 2 months. I will send you $50 in this and want to know if you can scratch along on that, until the 3 weeks elapse. If so well and good. If however you want more and cannot do without it, write at once for I will not forward what I intended doing if possible, until I hear from you again. I will not place the amount on the back of this for I do not care about every body knowing my private affairs and causing unpleasant remarks. I have been looking anxiously for a letter the past two days but have been much disappointed. Do write often. I trust all are well. Give my love to all. Kiss little ones over & over for me and believe me to be as ever

                                                                                   

Yours devotedly

Andy

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