One mile below Edward's Ferry, Sunday, 8 Oclock

A.M. Dec 28^th 1862

                                               

Dear Mother:

                                    Another Sabbath morning has dawned uppon us, clear and beautiful, and finds me as above dated, on picket, where I am expecting the relief along every minute, to relieve us. The day after closing my last letter (26^th) we marched from Mudy Creek to Edward's Ferry where we encamped for the night, but a few rods back from the river

 

            Yesterday morning we moved back from the river about half a mile and were pitching our tents as I came off down here on picket.

 

            The post, where I am, is considered one of the most important on the river, there being a good chance to ford, and is frequently used by White's Cavelry. His (Maj. W—t's) residence is in plain sight of us, back on the hill, not half a mile off.

 

            Some of our boys crossed the canal last night with the intention of paying him a visit, influenced, perhaps, by the sight of a number of hogs on his premises.

 

            They did not succeed in geting one, but some boys who were here before us got a 4 year old beef from that way, the other night. They are mostly / secesh around here, and if we stop here long I think some of their cattle, poultry and hogs will come up missing.

 

            Poolville is about 5 miles back from here in the interior. The N. H. Boys cleared out two two stores in that place, a short time since.

 

            It is onley about 5 miles from here to Ball's Bluff. The country looks better as we go up the river and the buildings look much better. The picket are coming to relieve us so I will finish after I get up to the camp.

 

            Now, after reaching camp, eating dinner and resting a little while, I resume my pen.

 

            I slept in a straw bed the night after geting here. the straw was not tied up in anything but was laying around loose.

 

I should think there were as many as 100 or 100 125 tons, in a pile, in the field, where it had been threshed and left. Such piles are comon around here.

 

            There are a number of stacks of unthreshed wheat close by our encampment. We begin to see tall corn stalks such as I have seen pictures of, in Gleasons Pictorial. Large piles of them cumber the ground and I presume they get rid of them by burning. 

 

            Winfield's letter, which was mailed 22^nd onley reached me yesterday morning in the midst of preperations to pitch tents.

 

            I got another letter and paper at the same time. The cause of the delay was oweing to our mooving, which unsettled our mail rout. If we stop here any time, we shall probably get it regularly again. That other book has not got along yet, the other one I like very much.

 

            We marched up from mudy creek on the tow path, and when coming up, some negroes came running out from a house, nearly ¼ mile distant on the opposite side of the canal, and followed along opposite us for some distance.

 

While they were following along, we stoped to rest, and held some conversation with them across the canal

 

            There were 4 men, 2 women, 3 or 4 children, and 4 or 5 dogs. They appeared very glad to see us and quite talkative at our request two of the men danced and sang, which was a novelty to me I assure you. they appeared to have a good musical ear and kept correct time. When we started the drums struc up quick time, and one of them danced along as far as they went

 

            While looking at them, my mind was filled with / various emotions in which pity and disgust were mingled—disgust that they did not look higher in life—pity that they had never been taught better.

 

            The more I see of the slave population, the more am I am convinced that freedom, to many, will be more a curse to themselves and others than a blessing. I think they should be educated before emancipated, and then they will have some knowledge how to appreciate the blessing.

 

            Perhaps you think it must be cold sleeping in a pile of straw, but you must consider that the weather is warmer here than at home. I assure you my slumbers wer as sound, and my dreams of home, as pleasant, as though I slept in bed. My health continues to be good and my spirits are good,—much better than the whiskey spirits, which some of the soldiers get hold of once in a while.

 

            In Winfields letter he spoke in a way which makes me fear you are depriving yourselves of necessaries for the sake of saving. Now I would rather you wou would not do so I hope you will not stint yourselves for the sake of paying that debt for we can do it easy if nothing happens.

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