April 8^th/62

Camp at York Town

 

Dear friend I take my pen in my hand to inform you that I received your welcome letter to day and was very glad to hear from you once more we have left camp Porter some three weeks ago and are now two hundred miles further south we came on boats from washington to Fortress Monroe and then we started on foot to meet our enemy and after a few days march we have reached them at last we are laying in sight of the enemy at present the day we came here our artillery tried to shell them out of their forts but did not get it done they fired back at our men and killed a few men and wounded some and killed some horses they had / very heavy canonaiding for a while But in the evening it ceased and on sunday there was no guns fired on our side only what the Picket Guard done the enemy throwed a few shells at us but they did not amount to much I expect there will be a big fight here before long the Rebels have very strong fortifications here we can see their forts and their guns and the men from our camp we are only half a mile from them at present our men I think are trying to suround them and shell them out of their forts Well I must change the subject and talk about something else I am well at present and hope that these few lines may find you enjoying the same state of health I have not received any letter from home for over eight weeks But I did not know the reason till last night I heard that they had a wedding at home / and of course I could not expect them to write and tend to the wedding at the same time chalz Krotzer got a letter from his sister that said they were maried I did not believe it at first but likely it is true it beats every thing how the young folks are getting married since we left I dont think there will be any chance for a soldier when he gets home I heard from James Briner last night he is in George town at the Hospital and expects to be discharged before long the rest of the boys are all well at present I seen Joshua Delo last week he is in the fifty seventh Penna. Regt. he is an ordily sergeant in his company Sarah I wish you were down here to see this part of the country it is a very nice country peach trees are in blossom the grass is begining to grow the weather is nice and warm and every thing looks pleasant / if you Lavina soon tell her she need not forget to write to me we have some fun in camp to day there is one man drunk in the twelfth newyork Regiment and the officers tied him to a stake and he keep hollowing for Jeff Davis Well I must close for this time I think till the next time I write I can tell how the battle went off at York town that is if I dont get killed myself Nothing More at present

                                   

But write soon

                       

From your friend

T. J. Whitmer

                                   

Miss Sarah Fry

                                               

Good Bye

                       

Direct To Washington D.C.

83^rd Regt Penna

Porters Division

Care of Capt D S Knox

SOURCES