Camp of the Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers

Near Petersburg, Virginia

March 19^th 1865.

 

Dear Parents

                        I will pen you a few lines as the Sabbath is well nigh past I guess I can finish before darkness once more envelopes the earth

 

            I was much delighted last evenig to receive a couple of new papers from you one printed and the other written through the kindness of Dan^l Thompson who arrived safe at camp.

 

            I was happy to hear you were getting along so well. I pray you may not overtask yourself cleaning and making that house decent to live in. you work so hard when you dont have anything which really needs be done that I almost fear / you will overdo the matter. yet I am glad you have Massy with you for she knows how to take right hold and do anything in the shape of cleaning.

 

            I was surprised to receive such a long letter really you must have been tired after you had done writing. I could not tire of reading from home Dear Mother thank you much. I am glad you sent the envelopes & paper especially the stamps. The ten cents bought me a herald this morning.

 

            We have had no meeting today as we tore down our church for fire wood when we received orders to be ready to move, which orders have since been countermanded and from present appearances I dont think we will move in a fortnight or such a matter. It has seemed very dull about / camp today as the greater part of the Reg^t is on picket. I hav'nt been on picket or guard since I came to the Regiment and for the present am doing no duty.

 

            Captain Jeff Thompson Dan^ls Brother was over to see us today he looks lively with his two bars.

 

            The weather is lovely, the air is pure it seems there cannot be any such thing as sickness and if in fact there is but very few cases. If any odds its more healthy here than at home, as there is as much fever raging about the country and in the Cities.

 

            I think John is very luckey 'tis a pity town meeting didn't come every day if he could meet with the same success. $6.00 a day wouldn't be bad wages and to go to the right of the matter none too much these / times. I see gold has fell to 1.65 that is good news indeed I am in hopes we may yet live to see gold & US Greenbacks on a par.

 

            The news from Sherman Sheridan and Schofield continues good I am in hopes they will drop in and see us one of these days and salute Mr Jefferson Davis & R.E. Lee with some big game.

 

            The Boys are all in good spirits each one thinking he will see the end of this war before many more months.

 

            But it is supper time I must drop my pen and finish this evening. quite a number of Rebel deserters came in last night they are honestly welcome to come I will [?] and I dont think they will ever regret it.

 

            give my love to Grandma I expect she will be down to see you after you get moved. I am glad John White has moved in with her. It is real nice I wish that I could have the chance to fix her old house up, I would do / it with a hearty good will. but I trust they will get along together some how pretty good partners. I wish Ben would take hold and fix things up a little but he seems as if he dont care whether school keeps [faded] as the old saying is and I dont believe he cares much for his own good it seems so to me as if he was downhearted but I have nothing to say. I'm an outsider although there wasn't a grandchild that loved Grand Father & Mother more than I. I often think of him I think sometimes in my imagination that he is among the Angels in Heaven looking down upon me as I stand [?] in defence of that Dear old Flag which he too loved when with us on earth, but I must now wait until after I go to supper. I guess we have / some potato stew left from dinner O we live as gay as possible in shape of eatables.

 

            please return my best respects to Mr. Smith Conover. give my love to Cousin Clemmy, and now I must draw to a close, as it is bedtime I had company all the evening & now may God bless you all and keep you in good health.

 

            I hope to hear from you again soon

                                   

I remain your loving Son

Albert. C.

Serg^t Co. G. 14^th N.J.Vols.

            1^st Brig. 3^rd Div. 6^th AC

                        Washington D.C.

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