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

Camp Hooker, Monocacy Bridge, M^d

Monday evening, Jan 12^th/63

 

My Dear Mother

            I take this present opportunity to pen you a few lines in answer to your dear letter which was received by me this afternoon. I was happy to hear from you again. And sorry to hear you was complaining. I hope this may find you well.

 

            I am enjoying the best of health as usual, thank the Lord. I suppose you have received my letter before this, to assure you that I received the box. There is no news in camp of any importance. /

 

The Reg^t is in middling good health at present, two of the companies have left us. they are guarding up the railroad about sixteen mile from here, on the road to Baltimore. I can hear of no news from the Armies today of any importance, things seem to be at a stand still.

 

Charley Wood has just come in the tent. he is well & sends his love to you & John he says the Boys in No 5 tent are well. the most of the Red Bank boys are in that tent. The boys do nothing but talk about getting paid of. I have got tired of hearing it I have made up my mind that if Uncle Sam can live with it can live without it, ha ha. /

 

We done but very little drilling during the past week, as the weather forbid, it being either disagreeable under foot or over head. we drilled this morning one hour and then done nothing more today. it is very good under foot until about ten O'clock in the morning then the mud gets about ankle deep or deeper. I tell you mother, we have fine times, doing nothing all the while, who wouldn't be a soldier. I have written to John Bergen and Dominy Middleditch

 

            I received a letter from Major Charley Wood tonight. I see he is alive yet. I thought likely that wife of his would be to hard for him, but I guess he will live through it, at least I hope so. It is just / as you say Mother if there are any girls around, I am bound to find them. you want to know what that girls name is. it is Marian. I havn't had a chance to get over to see the old man now in ten or twelve days. I started out yesterday for the purpose of going there, but changed my mind and went to the city and took dinner with another acquaintance of mine, and had corn beef & cabbage &c mince pie for desert, and as I started to come home I found a glass of peach jelly in my dress coat jacket. so you see Mother, it dont make any difference where I go I am bound to get on the right side of the girls. But I get on the right side of the old folks first. O there is nothing like it 

 

I must now tell you Mother that the bridge has not been destroyed across the Monocacy yet, nor will it be again while the Brave 14^th are here, without Jackson comes upon us again with 80,000 men as he did before. but he will never get here again with such an army as he brought before, so you need not think that we will have any fighting to do. I do but very little guard duty, as the Captain has generally some writing for me to do, when I am detailed for said duty. I believe I will have to bring my letter to a close, as I have nothing more / to say this time. Plese give my love to John & all enquiring friends. Accept a portion for yourself, and remember your Son Albert in the Army.

 

Write as soon as convenient

 

May God Bless you all

Serg^t Albert C. Harrison

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

Camp Hooker, Monocacy Bridge

Maryland

 

P.S.

I have written to Uncle

Johny T. at the Lawn House

ACH

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