Camp near Warrenton Va. July 31^st /63

 

My dear Dot

                                    Although you are still in debt some 4 or 5 letters to me, yet I will risk another; and should I annoy you with too many just let me know and I will cease troubling you further. I received yours of 28^th Inst. yesterday afternoon and I can assure you it gave me much pleasure to hear that you have now settled down into the good old jogging way, and, undisturbed by fears of the Reb. Invaders, can hope to "dwell in safety". I am afraid you will find the proximity of that camp a great nuisance, for soldiers are very apt to take unwarrantable liberties, and do not discriminate between "meum and tueum" but perhaps the gallant and brave Col Clark will exert his influence to spare you some of the evil. May his shadow never grow less. The good he has done to his country will long be held in remembrance by a grateful and affectionate people. So let him rest. We are still at Warrenton but expecting orders to remove every hour. We expect also to bring up at "White Sulphur Springs" at which place we hear boarding is only $8 per day. Should we camp there we fondly imagine hops balls pic nics with fair Secesh damsels &c. &c. Maybe we will be disappointed however. This a wretched country, completely played out. Flour is worth $30 per barrel, confederate money, $20 United States notes. There is nothing plenty but Blackberries which are to be found in immense quantities. In some fields while walking through my boots have been completely dyed by the crushed berries. We live on them almost. Have them stewed, fried, raw, scalloped and indeed in every style. But I must tell you of a complete triumph I accomplished yesterday / in the way of a "Brown Betty". Crossett foraged some green apples I pared and cut them. Got a large frying pan, greased the inside well with porkfat. In the bottom I put a layer of pounded hard-tack, then a layer of apples sugar and nutmeg, then hardtack, and so on to the top of the pan. Cooked it two hours over a slow fire, during which it was exposed to a hard rain, nearly ruining it. We cut it and ate it. It was pronounced excellent, and I felt proud when I received the hearty congratulations of my tent mates. I am now making a soup out of pork and desiccated vegetables, which I am in great hopes will prove grand. Our bill of fare has for some time past been very limited. Pork, hardtack, coffee and sugar are the standard dishes. Desiccated vegetables the luxuries. It would astonish you to see the amount of fried pork we can eat, simply because if we don't eat that we will starve. Every afternoon we have a thunder storm followed by a magnificent rainbow. The latter however we think must always be a secesh bow, for it always deceives us, raining harder after the bow has shone some time. I had fancied we had seen by this time almost all the phases of a soldiers life, but every day's experience teaches us something new. Our men generally hut their separate pieces of tent together and 2 or 3 live in one doghouse. But some either from loss of comrades, uncongeniality of disposition, filthy habits or objections of some sort keep to themselves and form a distinct sect called "Misanthropes". Each builds his shanty with his one piece of canvass, and this being small, we are often puzzled to know how he gets along. I have one before me now, and I wish you could take a peep at it. The effect is something like this. /

 

[drawing of tent and man with caption: How is he going to get in?]

 

To day the 5^th Wisconsin Regt left our Brigade. They are to report at New York, and are intended I believe to assist in enforcing the draft or to bring the drafted men here. I am glad the enrollment passed over so quietly in Phila. As you say, the New Yorkers cannot laugh at us "muchly". Do not give a second thought about what Mrs Woodward said in regard to Miss Boyd's estate. I know nothing about any legatees excepting one, who did not get her legacy of $100. Mrs. W. has that money on hand yet so far as I know. I never had it. The estate was settled long ago, and if any money is due I know nothing about it, so far as I am concerned. About the English affair if he does commence suit, it will not appear until some time in September or October as it cannot be brought up before then. I scarcely think however suit will be brought. I see by the papers, the tremendous excitement aroused when the Greys returned home. It has caused us much merriment. As usual one does the work, another receives the credit. The "Army of the Potomac" still suffers on patiently—who cares? Marched about like pack mules, without rations and clothing they did the work, at a fearful cost though, and when anxious to finish up the enemy and were begging to have a chance at him though aware he was double our force, yet we were obliged to supinely wait, and give him a chance to escape us entirely. It was wrong Addie. Had the militia been pushed along with us, and put into the fight "the beginning of the end" of the Rebellion would have been already. As it is who can say or guess when the end will be. /

 

Wish Henry many happy returns of his birthday for me. Give my love to all at home, remembrances to all inquiring friends including Richard, who I hope will loose no more chickens. Kisses to little ones and remember me always as yours

                                                                                   

Most devotedly

Andy.

 

Dear Rolly.

                        Your letter gave me much pleasure. I was very sorry to hear from Mama that you had been sick but I hope you are now better. I suppose you see enough of soldiers now. Do not let any of them hurt Mama or Grandma. I think you had better skirmish for them through the woods. About chocolate drops, we don't see them down here, or I could send you some. We have plenty of salt pork and hardtack if that would answer. But I don't think you would like them much. I suppose you and Richard are great friends. Do not bother him too much, or he will not take you riding. Sister Amy I hear walks and talks. She must amuse you much. Play with her and be a good brother to her. Give love & kisses to all for me. Write soon again and believe me to be as ever

                                                                       

Your Affectionate papa

And. T. Goodman—

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