Headquarters 14^th Reg^t N.J. Vol^s

Camp Hooker, Monocacy Bridge, M^d

Tuesday Morning, Nov 18^th 1862

 

My Dear Mother

                        I sit myself down upon my bed this morning to write an answer to your dear letter which I received last evening. I have just finished my breakfast and a hearty one it was on roast beef fresh bread and coffee I dont like you to think that I am such a hog, but I must tell you how much I ate for my breakfast it was two tin cups of coffee two slices of beef, and nearly half a loaf of bread. what do you think of that, Mother. (who wouldn't be a soldier) / you know mother when I was home I couldn't or at least wouldn't drink but one cup of coffee and these tin cups hold a pint. I have got so I cannot bear to have milk in my coffee. I have tried it mother and it is a fact. you know I never could eat much pork, well I wish you could see me go into old grunter now. (I havn't got so I can squeal yet) ha, ha. our cook house is finished and you can hardly touch Joe Reeves with a ten foot pole now. he is as happy as any lord, although his is in a log cabin. I intended to have written to you Sunday but as luck would have it I had to go on guard. that / was the first time I have been on guard of a Sunday since I have been in service they happened to fasten me that time. three months is a pretty long stretch to go without being on guard of a Sunday but once. it was a very nice day, but it began to rain Sunday night about dusk and rained nearly all night. you know, a Serg^t of the guard isn't exposed any to the weather. he has to call out the reliefs and form them, and then give them in charge of the Corporal and he sets them

 

we have two sets of guards, one is the camp guard and the other the provost guards. the latter have to cross over the bridge to the junction to guard the cars &c. but there are only twelve men on that guard beside the corporal and Sergeant, four men to a relief. it happened that I was Serg^t of said guard, and I was not sorry for over there I could do just as I pleased I was serg^t of the guard, and officer of the guard and a little of every thing. I had a good coal fire to sit by and every two hours I could call out my relief and sit of and read my testament. there is nothing new in camp of any importance, with the exception of three men coming up our avenue this morning with the Orderly and who should they be but (I will tell you on the next sheet /

 

three gentlemen from Middletown N.J. Mr Samuel Taylor Jo^s Boroughs the other one I didn't know by name although I have seen him often enough on the Bank. Sam T. looked as natural as ever. he is up to the Majors tent now. I havn't seen him to speak to him yet, but I must see him before he leaves camp if I can. I dont expect he will know me but I will soon make myself known to him. I was glad to hear that Peter received my letter. tell him he must write to me. you say Mother you cannot brag of your health I earnestly hope that one dose of medicine will help you / and I also thank God that we have been spared my Dear Mother to correspond with each other, and may it be his will that we may be spared to meet again on earth and live once more in peace and quiet. you inform me also of the death of William Dennis. I heard it before I received your letter Mother, and it seemed to me that it could not be so, and I did not believe it in reality until your letter was received by me. I hope dear Mother he died penitent. God's will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven I feel sorry for his wife remember me to her. Mother, I am very careful of my health, dont worry / about that mother. we have every thing as comfortable as heart can wish, and our Colonel is bound to have every thing just so. there is not a man in the Regiment I dont think but what can say they love him and he knows how to gain the admiration and love of his men. it rained the best part of yesterday so that it was impossible for us to drill when it held up in the afternoon. the Colonel set the men at work carrying slate stone to mechadamize our avenues, but the men hadn't carried long before it commenced raining again like fun, and then the way they went for their tents, giving three cheers for the rain, ha, ha. the work was to give them exercise more than anything else, but after we get that job done it will be a good thing for us because it will keep us from tracking so much mud in our tents. Esek sends his love to you and John and wishes John to remember him to all his friends. he says it is most to far to send his coat to get it mended. he might need it before he got it again. it looks very much like rain this morning and I dont think we will have anything especial to do today I dont know what I could do without my boots, as the mud is nearly shoetop deep. it is an awful muddy place in the winter tell Libbie she eats to much soup ha, ha. give my love to her. if I get sick Mother I will let you know but as for your coming down I fear we would have very poor accommodations for Ladies. I wish Mrs Vanness would come down here and polish up our hand irons Give my love to them all we have got a big fire in our fireplace this morning to dry our tent. I hope I shall receive an invitation to that oyster supper Mother Just send me a scail of one of them mosbankers of Mr Vannes's to smell of, ha, ha / dont be uneasy if you dont receive letters from me so often sometimes Mother for duty will not always permit me to write as I said before or I should have written to you on Sunday. I guess that box Harry sent me is lost for I have not received it. I am very sorry for he sent me a lot of writing paper I expect and now I shall soon be out if I write as much as this to you every time, but I want you to read a little while, as I expect you like long letters from me. Abe Medzgar received a letter from his brother John in the 29^th last night, and he said that Sam^l Hendrickson and sever- / al others were there. I dont believe they will come this way before they go home. I should like to see them very much. I forgot to tell you in my other letter to you that Johny Woods and his father had been here. they looked very natural. You thought it was funny Johny could come so far, but it was so, if my eyes didn't deceive me. I have a plenty of thread. as for yarn I can use thread to darn my stockings with. I havn't had a letter from Aunt Clemmy in a long time. I hope I shall get one soon. Give my love to John. tell him to careful and not fall / out of the wagon again.

 

remember me to all enquiring friends. I shall expect a few lines from Miss Libbie today. Charley W, George W, Joe C Dave T W^m Byram send their love to you and wish to be rememberd to all enquiring friends. May God bless you all and protect you my Dear Mother, and soon return you to good health or former health, for I know you never are what you may call healthy, and spare us to meet on earth once more I must close my letter as I have as much as will go in one envelope I guess. good bye for the present and accept the love of your dear Son, Serg^t Albert C. Harrison

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