Camp in the field       

May 31^st/64.

 

My Dear Mother

                        Having a few spare moments I must pen you a few lines to assure you that your Soger Boy is still around about somewhere in the neighborhood of Richmond and enjoying good health as usual, and thank God for the same, earnestly hoping this may reach you and find you all in good health. We have kept on the move here, there, and all over, since last I wrote you, but there has been but little very hard fighting with the exception of the Cavalry. they have had / rather a tough time of it. we are within about sixteen mile of Richmond and I hope 'ere many days you will hear that Richmond is ours. We have one Battery at work this morning but as yet the enemy make no reply, and it is the general opinion that they will make no stand. there is some musketry now. I guess they will get at it this afternoon if they intend to at all. I was out to the front this morning & saw all the boys and had a hearty shake of the hands with them all. they are in good spirits and the most of them in excellent health. They were at work throwing up breastworks & / falling trees. They are in a thick swamp and its worse than the wilderness if any odds, but we drove the Rebs last night we can do it again.

 

The right will prevail Dear Mother & I believe God is working with us The iniquity of the enemy is fast coming upon them. This has been a long war and I dont think the Good Heavenly Father will suffer it to last much longer. You in the North have cause to rejoice to think that the enemy cannot molest you or spread desolation far and wide throughout the whole North, are you not truly blest. / The enemy are causing this rebellion to fall on their own heads. since last I wrote you we have marched many miles over fields of corn, potatoes &c. and had plenty of forage for our horses, outside of our rations. There have been barns with over a hundred bushels of corn before our Army passed through here, but it is gone now. a man can very easily save his property by taking the oath of allegiance, but if they will not their property is confiscated. We have five days rations of corn in the Train now. We get a plenty to eat ourselves, such as lambs, poultry &c. we have fresh pork for dinner today beans, hard tack & coffee. /

 

            Well Mother its afternoon and I have eaten a hearty dinner and sitting by a rail fence on the edge of the swamp where our line runs. I have three ambulances with me. I came from the Train about half an hour ago and expect to stay here until tomorrow morning if the Army dont move. The cannon balls still continue to whistle but I have become so used to hearing them that I dont notice them more than half the time.

 

            It is very warm today and I am sweating here in my shirt sleeves.

 

            I forgot to bring any ink out with me, but I guess you can make this out / if it is not too long on the road. there isn't much certainty in the mail now. our Brigade mail boy was captured with one days mail a day or two since. we have six days mail due since we I have had three letters from you since we started on the campain one about six days ago. we received a mail yesterday but I had but one, that from New York, but I must now draw to a close May God bless you. My love to you & John. remember me to enquiring friends & I ever remain your          

loving Son

Albert C

(Amb. Corps)                                      

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