Camp Near City P^t, Va.

Aug^st 10^th/64

 

My Dear Mother

                        As the will flies have gone to rest I will attempt to pen you a few lines but it is next to an impossibility to write in the day time with any peace for the flies nearly eat a man up. I am glad we are not troubled much with mosquitoes or we should surely be in a Lunatic Asylum before long. I never saw so many flies in my life and never had them bite so until this season, and the ground is litterally strewn / with dead flies. I think it is said to be a sign of sickness, but it has been very healthy with us thus far, but from what little Jersey news I can obtain, it must be very sickly through the State. I heard there was another disease prevalent that the surgeons could not fathom. I earnestly hope & pray this may find you in good health this hot weather. But I hope you are not having such a dry time as we are down here in old Virginny or the corn crops & late potatoe crops will come rather slim. Well / Mother to come right down to the substance of the matter, we have had a nice time of it here, laying off, getting plenty to eat, and a well of water some little distance from camp which is almost as cool as ice water. and it out to be for the well is 42 feet deep, with a good windless & occasionally we get a treat from the Sanitary Commission in the shape of vegetables pickles &c. today we got a barrel of onions & a barrel of these preserved tamarinds / dont we live gay. well I guesses so. probably before this shall have reached you, you will have heard that a terrific explosion took place at City Point yesterday blowing up a boat & several buildings. the boat lay at the wharf by the ordinance Dep^t to be unloaded for she had on board a cargo of ammunition, saddles &c. &c. & by some accident as yet unknown caught fire & blew up. so it soon played sad havoc around there, I can tell you & the shells sollid shots grape shot & bullets flew / in all directions. the loss of life was very heavy over 300 were killed & wounded. a great many colored men in the government employ were killed & quite a number of citizens. I can tell you it was a sad sight, although I have seen so much of the like that I do not seem to mind it. I was there after rations about two hours before the explosion took place and as luck would have it I didn't have to wait as long as I usually did for I might have / got a little worse for wear for the Commissary building was in close proximity and was minus a number of weather boards, uprights &c. I was well off out of the muss & feel very thankful. a portion of our Corps trains have taken transportation for My Maryland. the supply & ammunition trains of our Division and the above mentioned trains of the 1^st & 2^nd Divisions are now loading. we go next but we may not get off in a week or ten days yet & we may / go before the morrow & I will be glad when we get to the Corps.

 

            L^t Bookstaver has returned but he was unable to get to the Division therefore he brought us no mail but we will bear patiently until we get up in old Maryland and then we will not ask odds of them in regard to the mail Esec was up to see me today he is well & sends best respects to you all. give my love to John & remember me to neighbors & enquiring friends. you need not be particular / in writing for I cannot get any mail until we get there, unless I had you direct them to City Pt & then we might move from here & I wouldn't receive it so when we move & get in Maryland I will let you know. My candle is almost gone, I must say good night & God blessings attend you

 

Your loving Son Albert          Sergeant Amb Train   3^d D. 6 Corps

SOURCES