Camp Grover, Montgomery Co'ty M.D. Dec. 18^th 1862

 

Dear Mother,

                        It is a fine clear morning, one of the coldest we have experienced yet. It seems like some of the late fall mornings that we have at home. there is no snow here and the tramp of the men, as we went out on drill this morning, on the frozen ground, sounded regularly and soldierly.

 

            Winfield's two last letters reached me Tuesday night after I had got my equipments on to go on guard. It does not seem possible that you are having such cold weather, with snow and blow such as he wrote about, while here, it seems more like late fall, or spring weather.

 

            I should like to beat home and help get up wood, do chores &c and see how it would seem to go to work for a living but I am affraid I should not be good for much. I have grown so lazy.

 

            There has not been much drill for two weeks or more, untill a day or two since, during which time we had nothing to do worth mentioning. We lead kind of an easy careless kind of life, at no time having more, and a great deal of the time not half so much as we I wish we had, to do, and the longer I stay the better contented I am, and the faster time flies. The Paris boys had a box of eatables sent to them for Thanksgiving.

 

            It started about the 15^th of Nov. but oweing some delay did not get here untill about a week ago. The poultry with some of the pies and cakes were was spoiled.

 

            It is evening now and the mail has reached us once more but there was nothing for me and I was somwhat disappointed 

 

I do not feel much like writing a very long letter to night, but if nothing happens, I shall write again by the first of the week. Winfield wanted to know if I wanted money, stamps or anything. I have money enough to stand me untill we are paid off, I hope. If not I will let you know.

 

            My wants are few except writing materials of which I got a supply to day—½ quire of note paper, ½ quire of foolscap and twelve envelopes. In addition to this Holman and myself bought three pints of syrup which cost thirty cts. my share 15 cts. paper 20 cts. total 35 cts.

 

            My expences for eatables, since leaving Portland, before to day, has been 17 cts. For the sake of getting a bill changed I bought a cake in Baltimore for which I paid 12 cts. Since I bought two one cent cakes and paid three cts for a part of jonny cake, which makes, with the syrup bill, the sum total spent for eatables since starting from P—d. I do not think of any thing that I care about being having sent from home except the map, which is immaterial, and the books mentioned by me a short time since. The postage stamps which Winfield sent all came regularly to hand and were very acceptible, for I was somwhat cramped for funds having loaned it to friends and and being disappointed in geting it as soon as expected they came handy for change. I am glad you get on so well and hope you will continue to do so. I think Winfield is perfectly right in his treatment of the old man, but would advise him to use caution, as well as moderation. His previous conduct would call for it. And I would not be under obligations to him for any thing.

 

            He said that Ezra Staples was not expected to live which astonished me—not having heard of his sickness before.

 

            I believe I have mentioned our camp mates—the two 

 

 

Giles who we do not like very well, or at least one of them. George the old Veteran we like quite well, possessing a great amount of interresting stories of adventures on land and sea besides being sociable and kind of funny and being a sailor, some of his stories partake a little of the marvelous. But realy, I think he has been in many adventures in all parts of the world and when young was probably very reckless he ran away from home when fifteen years old and for twenty one years was a wanderer never hearing from home, nor they from him. In that time he was in the Florida war fighting the Indians, was for a sho while stationed at Fort Levenworth, was at the bombardment of Vera Cruz in the Navy, was on the cost of Africa eighteen months—at China, Maderia, Vesuvias, St Helena and a great many other places which he describes according to history and pictures of them which I have seen, so I think he tells the truth.

 

            His brother is the one we dislike being selfish and conceited careing for no one but himself. Holman agrees with me in my opinion of the two.

 

            You cannot immagine how fast time flies with me a day seems a very short time. my health is very good and my spirits are as good as ever if not better. I am affraid you will be anxious about me in spite of all these assurances, but I tell you how it is as near as I can and hope you do not worrie. I do not feel concerned for myself in the least. I endevor to take as good care of myself as possible and trust Providence for the rest. I hope you will do the same. Then if trouble comes we will worrie together if not it will show –4 page 

 

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the folly of borrowing trouble from the future. Take good care of your health and do not expose yourself too much in the cold to get water &c. Christmas is almost uppon us and after that comes the New Year. Henry Mitchell of Mexico has been discharged. He had a hard fever and will probably start for home in a week or so

 

            Tword the last of my writing I have hurried very much in order to finish it to send it out by the morning mail.

 

            I have not had a decent chance to write and it looks badly It is full of errors but if I have a chance I will do better next time. Tell Winfield if he runs accross any gum to flatten out a qurd and put in a letter for me

                                                           

My best love to you, dear mother, and good night

                                                                                               

Write as often as convenient

John F. Libby

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