Camp of the Amb. Corps

3^d Division 3^d A.C.

Brandy Station, Va. Mar. 27^th/64.

 

My Dear Mother

                        It is sabbath evening and I am on guard, so to make the time pass away pleasantly I will engage in writing you a few lines in answer to yours bearing date of Mar. 22^nd which came most welcome to your Soldier last evening, and Thank God it brought me the good news that you were still well or rather as well as can be expected of you. But I am truly glad the fever has not as yet invaded Red Bank, for I am sure I should much sooner fall / in with three or four thousand Confeds. than for the fever to get in the Army, for it would take more lives than those little leaden messengers that often sing out as they come along, buz, zip, you're my man, and for all they make all sorts of unearthly music, there is a sort of hankering after the same music by the old war worn Soldier.

 

            I was at the Regiment a few moments this afternoon and found the Boys all stirring around. They have a splendid camp. Every one that passes, the Boys say, remark that it is the prettiest camp they have / seen anywhere. Each shanty is built alike and the chimneys all built facing the company avenues, and a row of trees (Pine) are set out on a line in each avenue. I can tell you, it is a scene worthy of Brag.

 

            I suppose you have heard that there has or was to be a change in our Army, that is that it was to be reorganized. well I will here say that instead of belonging to the 3^d Corps as formerly, we are the 3^d Division of the Sixth Corps. still you will not alter my address until I give notice to that effect. We still remain in our old quarters, but when we / move of course we move along as a part & parcel of the 6^th Corps, Gen^l Sedgwick He is an able General but I never can like him any better than I did Gen^l French The Boys all liked him and he was in my humble opinion well worthy the old 3^d Corps. I understand he has been called to Philadelphia, but whether he is to remain there or take a new command in the field, I am unable to say. But nobody in gray clothes can scare him let him go where he may thats whats the matter. he is made of the true metal. he wasn't born in the woods to scared / by an owl as the old saying is, but enough of that old gentleman and now to something else.

 

            We still remain the first Brigade and have two more Regiments in our Brigade, the 87^th Pennsylvania and the 106^th New York, so we have a decent Brigade now. Gen^l Morris still retains command of the Brigade, the first and second Divisions of our Corps go in the 2^nd Corps. Gen^l Prince now commands our Division. Gen^l Carr has formerly been in command. you see the idea of reorganizing is to make larger commands and do away with some of / the Officers. I think I have mentioned the fact to you as to there being a bill before Congress in regard to raising the wages of soldiers, so doing away with a few officers gives the bill more of a chance to go through in our favor. But Thank the Lord I did not enlist in my Countrys Service for money, but from mere love of Country. That you know and everyone else that resides in Shrewsbury Township, Monmouth Co. N.J. There was no Township bounty raised for any of 14^th, neither County bounty. I am thinking this last call for two hundred thousand makes them think / of their money chest. let me see if I mistake not Jersey has to raise 13000 thats a cutter. I would like to have Michael Taylor and every other assemblyman down here that voted against the Soldiers in the field casting a vote for I do think I could teach them the bayonet exercise & shoulder arms &c. If the Soldier has'nt a right to cast a vote, then it is hard telling who should have the privilege thats what. I am tetotally down on Democracy now, and hope I may live to get home and see the little Jersey whose soil has been desecrated by the tread of Copperheads ruled entire / by the Republicans. I have had an idea all along that the pleasure would be mine to cast my first vote for Uncle Abe, although he will be our next President if God spares his life. Those are my sentiments if they are scattered ones.

 

            I received the paper & the needles, scissors, buttons &c. & thank you. well I am writing a good long letter and I know I can write none to long, so before I close I must tell you that I am the owner of as nice and regular a little companion called the watch as ever run. I will tell you how I happened to get it. I have /

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wanted a watch more since I have been in the Ambulance Train than before, especially when on Guard as at the present time. I think I told you some time ago that Dan^l Thompson worked some this winter at his old trade tinkering watches. so seven of us fellows Eseck Howland Hartshorne & myself the rest you are not acquainted with well we just told him that if he would get us each a par excellent watch we would give him a chance to make something on them, for we knew that you knew pretty wh nearly what a good watch was, so he raised the money & sent for the / seven watches. Patent Levers and each man is well satisfied that he wouldn't take what he gave for it, which was $20.00. one of the Boys was offered $28 for his yesterday, but he thought more of the watch than he did of the money. so closing my watch story, I will close my letter at the same time the evening has passed very pleasantly & hope you may find it a pleasure to read what I took a pleasure writing. with love to you & John & best respects & wishes to enquiring friends I will bid you a good night & may God bless my Dearest Friends & Home                                                             

Serg^t Albert C Harrison

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