Camp of the Fourteenth New Jersey Vols.

Near Culpepper Court House, Virginia, Nov 23^rd 1863.              

 

Dear Mother

Yours of the 20^th ult. came to hand this afternoon and I was pleased to hear from you and glad enough to hear that you were well. This leaves me in the best of health. I ate a pint of beans and not a very small piece of pork for my supper so you can imagine that I am all right. our Company came off Picket this morning but everything passed of quietly while on post. I feel rather sleepy tonight as I didn't get my full rations of sleep last night but I thought I would sit down and answer your letter as there some talk of our moving tomorrow morning but I hardly think we will. The weather dont look right tonight it is cold and / hazy. I wouldn't be the least surprised if I saw snow on the ground in the morning but let it come I am fully prepared for a snow storm with the exception of my mittens, which I told you in my last letter to send by mail. I drew an over coat today and now I am set up. you cannot begin to imagine how comfortable we feel in our little shelter tent tonight with a nice fire in our sod & stone fire places, which we built the same day we came here and have had the pleasure of enjoying it for over a week. I tell you Mother a fire place is very handy to have in the house. I should advise every family to have one if they can get up one so cheap as we Soldiers can, and theres another thing worth looking at, it dont cost us anything for our fire wood our Uncle settles all such expenses & / now whose Mothers son wouldn't be a soldier. Well Mother you say you are impatient for the war to end. we all look with more or less pleasure to the eventful day. But we must run with patience the race set before us, it will be so much the sweeter when it does come. But I dont feel that I have done enough for my Country yet. If God spares my life until my allotted time of service expires and the Country is yet in trouble, your Son intends fighting it out if the Good Lord permits, and I feel thankful that I have been spared thus far. Now Mother you see how sick I am of doing my duty. if my Country is not worth fighting for then I ought to be removed to some lone island in the ocean for it would be to miserable for me to live in. that's what's the matter. I didn't come out with the expectation of sleeping on feather beds and / living on rice puddings &c. but for the sole cause of serving my beloved Country. if she claims my life I die regretted but in a just and honorable cause. My God first, my Country & my home. I received a letter from Charlie White this morning. he is still at Convalescent Camp & on duty guarding prisoners, is expecting to be sent on to the Regiment every day. Corp Byram has not returned to the Reg^t yet. When last heard from he was in Trenton. my finger is perfectly well, it was my left fore finger the whole back of it was skinned of way to the nail but it is all healed up and the new skin shines like a niggers heel. I dont know of anything at present that I wish sent in the box, but I will want a pair of boots 8^s for one thing if we should get in winter quarters. I'll write & let you know when to send one & name the articles I want. I may not be situated so that I can get it in some time but I must close, answer to my respective name and retire.     So I remain Your loving Son Albert

                                   

My love to all

ACH

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