Headquarters, 14^th Reg^t N.J. Vols

Camp Hooker, Monocacy Bridge M^d

Friday Evening, Dec. 26^th 1862

 

My Dear Mother

                        I have just finished a good hearty supper and sit myself down to write an immediate answer to your letter which was received by me about 4 Oclock this afternoon. I was happy to hear from you all again, and more happy to hear that you were well, with the exception of your toe. that was a sad accident, but you know Mother that accidents will happen to the best of folks. my health continues as good as ever thank the Lord. well christmas has come and gone again and a happy time has it / been at Camp Hooker. the Col gave us two holidays, and yesterday he gave permission that all might go out of camp without a pass and stay until three Oclock P.M. if they didn't go to Frederick City so I guess there wasn't over forty men left in camp besides the guards. you know I suppose that the military law prohibits all liquor dealers from selling intoxicating beverages in this state, but occasionally they will sell it on the sly. I guess if you had seen some of the men when they came in camp, you would have thought that they had seen a little Christmas if they are in maryland.

 

Well now I will tell you Mother, how I spent my Christmas I started out of camp about / ten O'clock and walked about three miles. coming to a log house I stopped and got up on a rail fence to rest, but I hadnt sit there long before an old man presented himself in the door of said house and sung out to me, says he, Serg^t Harrison what are you doing there. so by that, you will know that I was acquainted with the old gentleman before. well says I Mr Kahn, I am only resting myself. by that I got off the fence and advanced towards the house and met the old man half way, saluted him by shaking hands. we then repaired to the house. he said he began to think I wasn't coming it was getting so late in the morning. But / thinks I to myself old man I am not to late for I smelled something cooking very much like turkey. it was about half past eleven when I arrived there for I walked very slow taking a good view of the surrounding country as I went. I went in with him and, says he, take a seat & rest your hands & face ha, ha. then I wanted to laugh but I dare not, for his wife and daughter came from the kitchen to welcome me, so I took the proffered seat and conversed with the old man on different topics until dinner was ready, and then the daughter came in the parlor and announced that dinner was ready. Wellcome Serg^t says he, lets partake of some dinner and we passed 

 

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into the kitchen. And mother, a more splendid table I never saw set. didn't it put me in mind of home. Well I'll bet it did. There was roast turkey, roast lamb, sauce, tomatoes, potatoes, bread & butter, crullers, sour kraut, quince jelly, blackberry pie, apple pie Dutch to Kill & coffee Now says the old man, I want you to help yourself and do just as you would at home well I guess I did, ha, ha. how I did enjoy it. I was not at all backward, for it was just like home. But you know mother I am not one of them kind that makes a hog of himself, so everything passed off well the old man said he had been 29 Christmas-ses married and hadn't had liquor in his house of a holliday. he is a very religious old man. so I left there about two oclock and the women filled my pockets with cakes and apples to let the boys see that I had found Christmas but I must tell you about their Christmas tree. it was a splendid one, I saw some nice ones in New York when I lived there but I saw none equal to that. they told me I must be sure and come over New Years Eve as they were going to hold watch meeting in the school house close by, so I promised them I would if the Lord spared my life & I could get a pass from the Co^l. So the old man came nearly half way to the camp with me. today he was over to camp and came in to see me, and I gave him a book that G. H. Austin sent me the Ladies Magazine and some other paper's to take home to his wife / and daughter. but I will commence on some new subject, or you will get tired of reading I received a letter from Charley Wood & harry Child night before last, and had begun a letter to Harry. but I received yours Mother so I thought I would answer your letter first. I havn't had any answers to my letters from Major or Conny yet, if they have written, but keep looking all the while. the Boys are all well well. Eseck is well and sends his love to you and John wishing you a happy New Year It is raining quite hard. it has been trying hard to rain for several days, but has staid off until tonight. it is quite warm. we have drilled four hours today but some of the men didn't feel much like drilling I guess. you say you havn't heard from Aunt Clemmy in some time. I wrote to her a right smart time ago. there is no signs of getting any shin plaster yet as I can see, but I guess it is because we are not Brigaded. they think I suppose because we are laying still and doing nothing but guard duty, that we dont deserve any money, but as you say it will be good when it comes. I hope you will write and let me know certain when you send the box, but I will look for it next week. You say the box will not be very large. Well I dont expect a large one. it is just as you say Mother, just so its from home. if its nothing but a match box, it is satisfactory to me. I hope / you will send me your likeness Mother for I would like to see you if it is only a picture it would be pleasant for me to look at. But I hope it will be the Lords will that I may in due season see you originally, but let me put all our dependence in God he knoweth the destinies of men. there is no use in my writing to Amos for I dont know where to direct my letters to him. I wrote to him before they were called to the front, but received no answer I suppose Aunt Polly is almost crazy but such is a soldiers life, some times it is very unsartin. I havn't heard from John Ingling lately. his letter must have been lost. remember me to the Dominy and all my friends and your neighbors especially. I am sorry to hear Uncle Charles has got the janders. I hope he is better remember me to him & Aunt Lib tell Uncle Charles to get some Barbary bark or the twigs and make a tea, it is a certain cure. Monocacy Creek has been frozen over. some of the officers has had a skating time, but it is all open now it has been so warm. dont ask me to excuse your writing Mother for it is first rate. I think you are gaining rapidly. I would like to be home two or three days and go up and see Grandma & help her eat her sausage and mince pies. I imagine now that I can taste them, ha, ha. give my love to her, when you see her again. I didn't get your standard tonight. I will get it tomorrow perhaps. / be assured that I shall write as soon as I get the box to let you know if they came all right. Captain is enjoying good health. Give my love to John and I must bring my letter to a close as it is getting rather late & I have got a piece of Maryland sausage in my closet I want to cook. But I can tell you it is not like Jersey sausage they make them here as large as you would make puddings and they are too lean, they won't hardly fry themselves without putting in a piece of pork, but they do very well to make believe sausage. Co. C. received a box from home that weighed six hundred pound it was sent for the whole Company as you will imagine there were about fifteen turkeys and cake pies &c they set their table yesterday right out in their avenue and had a glorious time, but done no better than I did after all, for I had women to wait on me, ha, ha. But I must bring my short letter to a close, hoping it may find you all well. Please write again soon. Accept the love of your son Albert (May God Bless you.)

                                                                       

Serg^t Albert. C. Harrison

Co. G. 14^th Reg^t N.J. Vols

Camp Hooker

Monocacy Creek M^d

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