Camp M'ch 1^st/63

 

Dear father.

                        I have just been relieved from guard, having been on for the last twenty four hours, altho' we did not stand during the night on account of the rain. We had another N.E. storm yesterday. February seems to have been very prolific in them; however the wind has changed and I think it likely it will clear up to-day. This is the first day of spring and it is not so much unlike spring as the 1^st of M'ch often is. It is not cold but it is not as warm as it was a few days ago. I received a letter from Anna day before yesterday, and wrote to Willie on Thursday I think. Yesterday we had our regular bi-monthly muster and now there is four months pay / due us from the government. Anna seems to have high expectations of my getting a furlough to go home a while. She may as well give that up for although there has been an order allowing two men in a hundred to go home at a time; in the Army of the Potomac; it does not extend to the 9^th Army Corps and if it did, it would be months before I would get off, as of course the old members of the regiment would be the first ones to get furloughs. I would like very much to get home and see you all but I dont expect to till the war is over or our term of service expires. Things seem to have come to a stand still again. The siege of Vicksburg makes little progress, also the attack on Charleston & Savannah. The armies of the / Potomac & Cumberland are both inert but I hope things will soon be in motion again That article from the Richmond-Enquirer copied into a Bulletin mother sent me the other day is very encouraging.

 

I was not very well yesterday but I am to day except the cold and it is nearly cured. The rest of "our mess" are well. "45" says truly when he says we are now better off than we have been at any time since I have been with the regiment. The whole corps is encamped along the river in one continuous line, regiment after regiment and stretches I suppose nearly five miles. Gen Wilcox is now in command of the corps I believe. Aunt Sallie asks in her letter if there could be any chance of my getting a box if it was sent to me. I intend to say yes indeed / if they will send me. Expressage is coming through quite promptly now. I have tried hard to write this letter but it is such a short time since I wrote before that material is scarce and I am afraid it will not prove overly interesting, but I suppose its with you as it is with me. I like to receive the letters often, whether there is anything in them or not. Willie has not written to me for a long time. He should not neglect me so. The sun has come out and it is clearing off—

 

With this cheering intelligence

 

I will close—

           

Your affectionate son

Matthew A Cowden

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