Your Son with Love

Albert.

           

Camp of the Fourteenth N. J. Vols

Green Wood Farm Near Bealton, Virginia.

Thursday afternoon. August 27^th/63

 

Dear Mother

                        Before the drum beats for Brigade drill I will scatch you a few lines to inform you that I am forked end down, have a good appetite, and feel first rate in general. I earnestly hope these few lines may find you and J^no in the same enjoyment. but I have been thinking now for two or three days that you must be sick as I dont hear from you, but I dont get any letters from anybody. I have written only fourteen letters to different persons, but not an answer do I get but I have / kind of a singular idea that I will get a letter tonight I received a paper from New York but who it came from I am at a loss to know. I rather think it must have been from Aunt Clemmy.

 

Well Mother I have nothing new to write we still remain here and I am getting tired of laying around although we have a drill every day an hour before breakfast and two hours in the afternoon and I think that drum will rattle me out of this before many minutes. I want something to settle my dinner for I am full of beans very near up to my neck. I tell you Mother we are living high down yer in Virginny. / I wish you could take a sly glance into my tent you would see me first no doubt and then you would see a piece of cheese, a bottle of pickles, do. catsup, a box of sardines, ginger cakes, bread, pork, beans left from dinner, pepper, salt, coffee, sugar, soap, hard tacks, and a can of strawberries. now who says a Soldier cannot live and does not get any thing to eat. but it is either all or none the same with the work it is either all work or all play.

 

            The weather has assumed a great change since night before last. we were about two mile from camp in the afternoon on Brigade Drill and it commenced raining the General dismissed us but to late. we were soaked well before we reached camp / the General included. General Morris is well thought of by the whole Brigade and he is as smart as steel. It has been quite cool since the rain. it is good healthy weather and as good as medicine to the Boys in the Hospital. I hear Corporal Byram has been united in the arms of ceremony or rather matrimony, ha, ha. He must thought somebody would run off with her, I guess if he waited until the war was ended, which will not be a great while, the Johnies are almost played out. but I must bring my letter to a close, or I guess I will wait until after the mail comes in and perhaps I will hear from you.

Albert

 

well Mother the mail came but there was nothing from you. I received a letter from Tenbrooks Morris he is at Amboy on the Railroad and now I close for this time good night and God protect you all                   

Albert.

 

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I forgot to tell you Mother that the Honorable Elias Conover from Middletown is in camp

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