[drawing of federal eagle with bubble "Union Now & Forever more"]

 

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

Camp Hooker Monocacy Creek

MD

 

March 12^th/63. In the evening

 

My Dear Mother.

            I am happy to have this present opportunity of scratching you a few lines in answer to your dear letter of the 8^th inst. I was glad to hear you getting along so well and enjoying middling good health and very happy to hear that John is about again

 

            I believe if you hadn't spoken about Town meeting in your letter I shouldn't have given it a thought as to knowing how they manage such affairs here / I dont know but as the country is thinly populated I think they call county meetings.

 

            There is no news of any importance in camp that I know of. We havn't done any drilling today as it has been very squally nearly all day long and this evening we will have to lay close or at least tonight for it is an old fashioned March night, such as I have seen in Little Jersey in former winters or at least spring. but I most always speak of march as a winter month as it some time proves fully as cold as any of the winter months, at least of late years.

 

            I was writing to Charlie / Wood this afternoon and had it nearly finished and was speaking about Amos saying how glad I should be to see him when the Orderly brought the letters in and there were two for me. I opened one and who should it be from but Amos himself. I fairly danced for joy to hear from him. to think that I had just been writing about him & then have a letter come in from him, I tell you Mother I was highly tickled. I soon perused his letter and found that he was enjoying excellent health. he talked something of enlisting again if the Lord / spared his life to get out of the 9 months service. I hope he will enlist in our Reg^t he can come in Company G at any time he wishes.

 

            I was glad to hear that Mrs Throckmorton was better. I hope this by the time you get it may find her fully recovered give her my best wishes & tell her I need no pity for I am doing as well as any mortal on earth can. there is nothing I want but to be remembered in the prayers of my friends at home. the same God is over all. I cannot write you a very long letter Mother as I must answer Amos' letter immediately. I guess you had better keep the hammer as you / said as we dont have to tack our carpet down (Laughter) loud applause from an unseen audience

 

            I am in hopes Serg^t Chadwick is having a good time around home and also hope that he will get back safe and I will be glad when he gets back for I awfully miss him, I can tell you.

 

            Charley White has just come in to see me. he is well & hearty and sends his love.

 

            you say you would like me to have some of your mince pie. I should be happy to eat a piece with you, but I am not in / want of anything to eat as I get my fill. I get a pie every once in a while I bought a rice pie today it was first rate. so you see there is nothing of the kind that we want but what we can easily get.

 

Elliott Fields and I were up to the City day before yesterday and went to the Dill House & took a dinner & such a dinner couldn't be snuffed at by any landlord in Freehold N.J. you thought we would wash away it rained so, but not so. if it blows hard, we take in all our sail & throw out our mud hooks & we stand the storm as well as if we were out on the ocean ha ha. but I must close /

 

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I hope to hear from you again soon.

Give my love to John & all my friends receiving a share for yourself

Serg^t Albert C. Harrison

 

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From your

Son Albert

in the

Army

Sergt A.C.

Harrison

Co. G. 14^th N.J.

Camp Hooker

Monocacy

Creek

M^d

SOURCES