Camp near Falmouth Va June 11 1863

 

Dear Father and Mother.

                                    You will doubtless be much surprised at not getting a letter from me for such a long time, but the reasons of it I shall give will perfectly satisfy you. Last night I arrived in camp after an absence of 2 weeks on fatigue duty at Acquia Creek, and when I got in I found 2 letters from you one from G.L.W. 6 papers from you and 2 from G.H.K. so I had quite a large mail. The Lieut says that I get all the mail that the Co gets. Well this morning just before Guard Mounting I saw a Regt coming down the road past our camp and who do you / think I saw marching along all covered with dust and looking as though nearly played out. Why no less than our worthy friend Lieut Leavitt Sanderson of the 31^st N.J. Vols. I went up and spoke and was much pleased to see me. His Regt is going home their time is out and they are on the way home, tired dusty and sick some of them, but still they are looking towards that "Home Home sweet Home", which as they gaze "Distance lends enchantment to the view". He has been slightly sick for a week past but is looking tiptop, and tough as you please. His Regt numbers about 800 men. they have not had much fighting to do but / considerable hard fighting marching to do. He says that I look as if soldiering agreed with me. I told him it did. We are lying in the same old camp doing Picket duty. We are under marching orders and have been 3 or 4 times, but we havnt moved as yet. Nor do I think we shall very soon for the Army is getting smaller every day. I some think that we shall go back to Washington and reorganize, for I dont think that this army is large enough for offensive movements at present. We are having beautiful weather here we have had no rain for 4 weeks and the weather is awful hot and shade is very agreeable this day in particular Yesterday the Balloon was up about 1 mile from here up river / when the rebels threw several shells at it one burst in the immediate vicinity of the Balloon and it came down. I guess that the man that was in it didnt like that kind of sharpshooting. We have had a prize Inspection. The cleanest Regt in the Division get off of all duty except camp duty. We dont know how it is decided yet as the Inspectors report has not come in yet. Our Lieut Col has arrived. He used to be Capt of Co K. I dont like the idea of stepping over the Major for the major is a fine man. He used to be Capt of Co. F. But I am about to the end of my sheet so I will close. I expect one from you tonight and I want to answer that regular.

                       

So good bye for this time

                                   

From your Affect Son

Geo. H. Patch.

SOURCES