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

Camp Hooker, Monocacy Creek

Maryland

Saturday March 13^th/63

 

            Dear Mother

Your letter of the 3^rd ins^t was just received by me last evening and as I have my spitfire and equipments are all ready for tomorrow morning's Inspection, I have nothing to do but sit down & pass the morning away by writing you a few lines to assure you that I am not in the Hospital neither have I been, as I havn't had any cause to be there, for I havn't had any sickness since / I was sick last fall. Serg^t Chadwick will tell you about it but I thought I would write and then everything would be right. and no one else has written any letters for me. I write so many different hands that is the reason you thought it wasn't my hand writing. (I had to laugh.)

 

            you said you were disappointed when you opened my letter, you thought you would see my photograph. I went to the City this week for the purpose of getting some cards, but as the day was dark & stormy I didn't get them, but / I shall go up again before long and try it over again as soon as it comes my turn to have a pass, and then I will send you one and I want to send Mrs. Wood one as she told Charley to tell me some time ago She thinks as much of me as if I were her boy.

 

            I had a letter from Cousin Ged last night he says they are all well. they had a gay old home coming and he informed me that Cap^t James Green has departed this life, which has been a life of misery to him for some twenty years past, and his / death was nothing unlooked for. it will be seven months tomorrow since I put on Uncle Sams dry goods. Time flies away fast, time and tide waits for no man

 

            I guess I had better build you a hen coop & send it on hadn't I? ha, ha. I weigh 149½ pounds I weighed that about a month ago. there are a plenty of eggs comes in camp every day. the are 20^cts a dozen. I bought a dozen day before yesterday and fried half a dozen at a time & fried them in butter at that. what better feed is wanting O there is nothing like being a soldier. (who wouldnt.) 

 

            The drum is beating for dinner, therefore I must drop this and finish it this afternoon.

 

            Well mother I have eaten a hearty dinner on pork & beans and had a lemon pie for desert & now I will finish up my letter. return my love to Uncle Charles & Aunt Lib. I am going to write them before long, perhaps this evening I am glad to hear that Aunt Sarah has joined the Church. I am in hopes the girls will follow in her tracks. I havn't heard from Adam yet. tell him he had / better answer my letter or I will send a file of men after him with sharp sticks. I dont think we will move out of Maryland this spring. I will be glad when we do make a move for I am tired of laying around loose & hardly doing enough to keep the blood in circulation

 

            I have a plenty of paper and envelopes. I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 sheets of paper and about twenty envelopes but if I get out I can buy more. my boots cost me $1.00. I thought they would cost me more my shirts are all right / yet, and I have all that is necessary for a soldier to have. The boys are all well as usual.

 

            We have had a general clering up and cleaning out today the boys out of my tent have been out after new feathers

I mean irish feathers.

 

remember me to all the neighbors and enquiring friends. I wrote to Mr. Bergen last night.

 

remember me to him & Mrs. Bergen, also to Ely & his wife & children.

 

            I have received no answer from my letter I sent Doctor as yet. perhaps I will in this evening's mail 

 

I believe I have nothing more to say at present so I close with love to you and John.

 

write soon & may Albert's God bless you all

 

            Your Affectionate Son

            Sergt Albert C Harrison

            Co. G. 14^th Regt N.J. Vols

Camp Hooker

            Monocacy Junction

Maryland

 

Union now & forever more

                                    US

 

Albert C. Harrison

I send you that little heart before I loose it

ACH

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