Camp of the Ambulance Train

3^d Division 3^d A.C. Brandy Station

Virginia                       Jan 26^th 1863.

           

Dear Mother

                        I will write you a few lines this morning to assure you by the blessing of God I am in the best of health, earnestly hoping this finds you in the same enjoyment.

 

            It is a splendid morning, and in fact it has been more like spring for the last three or four days than like winter. the frost is all out. I went around yesterday in my jacket and sweat at that doing nothing.

 

            There is nothing transpiring in the Train this morning worth mention. I guess some / of the drivers are asleep yet, as they were out nearly all night. There was a grand Ball at Division H^dQuarters and they sent for eighteen ambulances and three sergeants, but as luck would have it I was detailed in the morning to go to the Station after oysters for the sick in Hospitals. There are eleven sergeants in the Train, to represent the several Regiments in the Division, and there is a detail of one Serg^t Regular every morning to get oysters for the different Regimental Hospitals, according as there are so many sick they get so many oysters. all I got was half a gallon and we have to take an ambulance if we didn't get but a pint / or you see it wouldn't be Millintery. I stop^d at the Regiment yesterday, but the most of the company were on picket. My horse tore my feed box up last night and now I will have an all days job to build another. I have a fine horse, he just gets right up in style. I received the two standards and the Standard Almanac very nice concern. I believe there is nothing more that I can find to write. We have plenty to eat and some to give away. When we were at Camp Hooker we could sell our rations, but there is nobody around these parts that we could give nor sell. Elec and I have / 13 loaves of bread that we will never touch. we draw soft bread now every day pork, beef, dried apples, sugar coffee, tea and quite good tea, beans, soap. we have 3 or four bars of soap on hand, candles potatoes, molasses, rice we have about 2^lb of rice so never you think that a Soldier will starve while in camp. it is always on the march when we get short of rations and just the time when we ought to have them, but Elec has breakfast ready I must close with love to you and John and to any enquiring friends. May the Lord bless and preserve us a nation.

                                                           

Your ever loving Son

Albert

Serg^t                                                                                        

Amb. Corps

SOURCES