Edward's Ferry, Apr. 6^th 1863.

           

Dear Mother:

                                    Yesterday, I commenced a letter to Winfield and intended to fill up more than one sheet, but while I was writing, Han Tucker stuck his head into the tent and inquired if I did not want to send home with them, after a box of eatables.

 

            It took quite a long chat to form our plans, and when we got through I found I had scarcely time to send the necessary particulars before the mail closed.

 

            Yesterday was a very uncomfortable stormy day; the worst, by far, that we have had. It cleared up toward night and, to day, it looks a little like rain. March and April so far have been the roughest months that we have had. The inhabitants around say / say that it is a very unusual thing for the cold weather to hang on so long.

 

            I get along much better than I could expect and have nothing to complain of. We have good officers, pleanty to eat, comfortable quarters and not much to do. With all these blessings added to a contented mind, one can hardly fail of being happy. I presume it will hardly seem possible to you that I am so well contented, but if one of had told me that I should fare so well before I enlisted, I should have said he was telling a good story to induce me to enlist.

 

            It is true, we see what one would call hard times, now and then, such as: short of food, a hard bed, or guard duty in a storm. At such times one thinks of home, and the profane wonder with a great many oaths, how they ever happened to be such C—tly d—d fools as to enlist into such a d—d show as this. / But it is in the mild warm days of spring that the soldier takes comfort, when fun and sports are the order of the day. I rather think my story does not accord very well with Barnards. He saw one extreme and I see the other.

 

            I do not doubt that I should sing another tune, if I should be put into active service.

 

            While I think of it, I would say to Mr Fisk that I am not near enough to the division, in which Lorenzo was, to know any thing about him. He was in the army of the Potomac, under Burnside; while I am in Heintzleman's division for the defence of Washington. It may be possible that he was taken prisoner and has had no chance to communicate with his folks.

 

            I will finish this up before the mail goes out tomorrow, but I must stop now and cut a fellows hair.

 

Two Oclock P. M. /

The signs of rain, this forenoon, did not proove false, for it commenced raining soon after dinner. Your humble son is snugly esconsed, however, by a good fire buisily engaged in writing, while my tent mates Corp^l Holman and Serg't Perham are playing Dominoes.

 

            We have swaped off those Giles for Serg't Perham—son of Sidney Perham of Paris. Lieu't Lapham went to Washington a short time since, and when he came back, he brought a few oysters with him, out of which he had a stew made and extended an invitation to the Non. Coms. to come up to the Cap't's Quarters, and fetch their dippers with them. I had just finished my supper when a Serg't. stuck his head in and told me that the Lieut wanted to see me, at the Capt's, with my dipper / I threw out my tea and started. I found the Lieut. dispensing oyster stew to the Non Com's. I took my share, and assure you I was quite full that night.

 

            While at Camp Grover, the Lieut. went to Washington and fetched back a barrel of apples for the men. As a natural consequence, the boys all like him very much.

 

            One of the Lewiston boys sent home and had an ambrotypeing aparatus sent out to him. he takes very poor pictures and asks 50 cts a likeness. He appears to be full of business.

 

I weighed a few hours ago. I weighed 152 lbs. It does not seem as though I had been absent almost seven months. It seems but a little while, and the remainder of my term of service will not seem to be long.

 

            The Suttler's price for butter is 40 or 45 / per pound Syrup 27 cts a quart; and other things in proportion.

 

            I shall be glad to get home again, without doubt, but I think I shall feel rather lonesome at times and almost wish I was in the army again. But I think I can stand it if I can get a fiddle once more.

 

            I think I shall be detailed for picket tomorrow and I will finish up tomorrow.

                                                                       

Write soon,

John F. Libby

 

P.S.

Feed the new pup well and tell Winfield to attend to his education so when I come home, I shall find a well educated dog

J.F.L.

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