Camp of the 14^th N.J. Vols.

Near Brandy Station, Va.

Sabbath evening Dec. 6^th 1863

           

Dearest Mother

                        I will write you a few lines as I have nothing to call my immediate attention elsewhere. since last I wrote you our Brigade has changed camps. we are now about a mile from the Station on the same ground the Rebels occupied before we crossed the Rappahannock the last time. it was their intention to make this their winter quarters, as they had their log houses built and everything in readiness for us to enjoy instead of themselves / but it serves them right they might have had better luck. I suppose you have seen the account of our late fight at Locust grove called by many the Battle of the Wilderness for it was a perfect wilderness, nothing but woods. I notice the Herald gives our Brigade great praise as well as our whole Corps. There is nothing of importance transpiring in camp. the general opinion is that the campaign is at an end for the winter, but whether we will winter on this side of the Rappahannock is not as yet known but I think we will fall back across the river. at any rate mother you can send the box as soon as you get it / ready. there is nothing I want in the shape of clothing except a pair of woolen stockings a tin plate & 2 qt kettle. I want the kettle to boil coffee in and make a stew occasionally. as to the eatables you can send just what you see fit and what will cause you the least trouble to procure. perhaps Grandmother would like to send me one of her sugar cakes. if you can get any maple sugar I wish you would put in a cake as it is good for the bowels, but the boots are what I am the most in need of as we will most likely have a storm this winter. the weather keeps remarkable fair. now Mother I dont want you to hurry in getting the box ready / for I am in no hurry for it. you can take your time in getting it ready. perhaps you are in New York by this time. I had a letter from Aunt Clemmy & she said you talked of coming up soon, but now I will tell you some thing a little fully she had written to you and I suppose by some mistake she

 

(Monday morn 7^th)

sent your letter to me sending mine to you ha, ha so I will enclose it in this. I read the letter over and thought it was rather a singular letter for her to send me, ha, ha. I guess she will laugh when she finds her mistake. that puts me in mind of a certain young man in our Regiment that had written a letter to his sweetheart and also one to his father, he / sent his fathers to her & hers to his Father, ha, ha. but you know accidents will happen to the best of families especially to Uncle Sams family

 

Well Mother it is a splendid morning I hope it is as pleasant in Jersey I had a letter from my old friend Tenbrook W. Morris on yesterday. he is still on the Camden and Amboy road & has been promoted to conductor, smart boy and a fine fellow. He will get along in this world where some will starve but I must make my letter a short / one for we have commenced putting up a chimney this morning and I want to get it completed before noon. the men are all busy putting up their log shanties but I rather think some of them will be disappointed although we may stay here. O there is something else I forgot to tell you that I received the mittens and your letter, also the looking glass, ha, ha. tell Susey we are getting so homely that we dare not look in the glasses now we have them for fear they will break but anyhow we will hang them up in our log cabin for ornament. there are only three of us / together now. Foster, Hartshorne & myself. Foster is putting on some pork to boil so we will have some pork for dinner. yes we are going to have beans to so you see we live yet, ha, ha. The braid is just the article so you knew better what I wanted than I did myself. My watch has been played out for some time. I sold it for old silver. I will give you a list of what I want but I hardly know what I do want.

 

Boots. 8^s

1 pr Stockings.

a flannen Bandage to go around my bowells

 

I dont think there is anything else in the dry good line. if there is I will let you know when I write again. 

 

now then I will mention what I want in the grocery line. Maple sugar, qr Tea, two or three pound of corn meal with a little buckwheat mixed in, some baking soda, 2 qt tin kettle good stout bail

 

Tin plate (tell John to put in a plug of tobacco)

 

Fork. Tin cup. Thats all in the Tin line & whatever else you see fit so I must now bring my epistle to a close hoping through the blessing of God it finds you all well

 

My love to John & any who may enquire I remain

           

Your Ever loving Son in the

Service                       

Albert. C Harrison

 

Write Soon

            ACH

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