Camp of the 140^th Pa Vol

Dec 4^th 1864

 

Mr Joseph Moody

                       

Dear Friend

                                    Sir, I am seated this beautiful afternoon to reply to your kind favor of the 25^th wich came to hand in due time & I was truly glad to hear from you once more I suppose you long to hear the news from the 140^th if they are any So I will proseed to give you as far as I know. The 2^nd Corps moved up to the left of the line on the 29^th of last month & releaved the 9^th Corps & we got at and built / winter quarters we have got the little the nicest quarters we have had yet we tore down the shantys of the 9^th Corps & built them in a new our camp is about a half mile from the rebs line the pickets can hit other with stones if they seen fit but they have made up not to fire any & they keep very quiet

 

we are laying by side a fort doing garison duty we have no picketing to do & they say we wont have as long as we stay here but I am afraid it is to good a news to be true. The first day we came up here our reg^t was taken out to releave the picket / stayed till the next day about noon when we were releaved came to camp & that night about midnight Co. H was wakened up & taken out to releave the 61^st New York there was only 20 of them deserted from dark till midnight they were all recruits there is about the one third of the 5^th New hampshire has went over to the rebs there is not a night they are on picket but there are more or less of them goes over they say there are to do the fatigue duty for the rest of the Brigade & not put them on picket any mor I think it would be better to send such reg^ts over / & have no more bother with them. Gen Humfrey is commanding the Corps G^en Chiles the Divition Bravet Brigadeer Gen. Macy commands the Brigade Capt Stogden the 140^th Addison Lance Co. H. Kerr is still on Brigade staff Co. H numbers 35 now. I must give you the names of my mess mates Sarg^t Nicle Richard Crouse & David Keifer it is quite a change from last winter. David R Whitehill is stout & harty Well Jo I believe I have not time to write any more for I am on camp guard to day please excuse all blunders for I know they are many because I wrote it in a hurry so I will close now hopeing to hear from you soon I remain yours

                                                           

as ever

Gibson H

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