Alexandria Va. June 10^th 1863

 

            Dear Mother:

                                    Since Saturday we have had quite cold weather, but to day it is warm and pleasant with appearances of being hot in the middle of the day.

 

            Just nine months ago, at about this time, Winfield and myself were going down to the Village. There we had a show of military of which I did not know anything. To day finds me surrounded by the genuine article with considerable knowledge of soldier's life.

 

            It has not seemed a long time and I have gained considerable experience which will be usefull in after life. A sad accident / happened at fort Lyon yesterday A squad of men were engaged in one of the magazines charging percussion shells. By accident one of the men dropped a shell which exploded and set the magazine on fire. The explosion was terrific Todays papers report 20 killed and 15 wounded. The fort is about a mile distant and in plain sight First we heared the report of the shells in rapid succession next the magazine itself The whole did not ocupy more than 20 seconds The smoke that rolled up was tremendous. It is said that some of the men were blown 40 or 50 rods Some of the bodies were horidly mangled. My health is good and I get along well, as usual.

           

Don't work too hard, and keep good spirits

                                                                                               

J. F. Libby

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