Fair Oak Station Va June 21 1862

 

Dear Father and Mother.

I received your affectionate letter yesterday afternoon just one week from the time I got the last letter, and I dont believe you like to get a letter any better than I do. All quiet before Richmond has been the cry for the last week, and with the exception of occasional picket skirmishes has been true. But the other day the 16 mass went out to reconoitre the enemys Pickets and got into a muss and charged upon and took a rifle pit from the rebels ransacked their picket houses and then returned with about 20 wounded. You must / remember that we have to turn out and fall into line every time the pickets fire 5 or 6 shots, and sometimes we have to turn out 3 or 4 times at night besides turning out at 3 in the morning. I have got so that I can jump up from a sound sleep and get into line in about 5 seconds. We have nothing to do daytimes but sleep and I can sleep some now, what I couldnt do at home. We are living pretty well now we have fresh beef 3 times a week salt hoss 2 times a week and beans and rice once in a while for breakfast. We have dried apples made into sauce (once a week) without sweetning according to the Dr orders, but it goes very well. Also we have potatoes 3 times and they go good in soup I tell you But we have to have vegetables / for if we dont we shall have the hospital full before long. For the last week if we can believe reports the rebels have had a desire to renew the conflict on the same old field but we have got strong intrenchments thrown up and howitzers mounted double shotted with grape and canister and if 10 regiments should come out of the woods and cross the field not 50 men of them could ever reach the breast works. I will endeavor to give you a slight idea of our fortifications around here. We are going to have patent cartridges in which the powder is enveloped in explosive paper so that the guns dont need priming. And after the guns get heated by firing the cartridges will not need ramming. Our regiment was not in the fight nor was we under fire as the papers stated we did not arrive on the / battle field until 6 oclock Sunday night. And were ordered up to the right of the field to support Ricketts battery which were planted around a house which was used for a hospital. The battle was all over when we arrived here. Our rations of whiskey have been stopped but I do not know what for. I got 3 papers with the letter as I always do. Jim knocked the nail of of his finger so he cant answer the letter he got yesterday. You tell his mother about. It will take a week for it to get well. Give my love to little mary and tell her I hope she wont be homesick. Also give my love to all inquiring friends and and well wishers. Tell Grandpa not to work to hard and get sick. It is almost 4 months pay they owe us now and I think we shall be paid 2 months pay before long. But I must draw to a close now and say good bye for now from your son Geo. H. Patch.

SOURCES