Camp near Warrenton Junction July 29^th 1863

 

Dear Father and Mother.

                                                I received 2 nice long letters from you last night dated the 16^th and 21^st, and enclosed in one I found 50 cts for which I am grateful. This is the first time we have received a mail since leaving Sandy Hook Md. Also I received 2 True Flags. I received that money you sent before and those envelopes and paper and that pencil. We have marched since leaving Harpers Ferry, up through Loudon Valley, and to Manasses Gap where we expected to have a big fight, but fortunately we did not so we marched back and took the Warrenton Pike and reached our present camp day before yesterday. Our Colonel and 6 regts have gone home after conscripts for this Regt. We think we shall stop / until the drafted men come out to fill up the Regts. This campaign has been a severe one for the men for we have marched over 600 miles since leaving Falmouth. only think of it, distance enough to reach home if I had marched North. The 11^th Corps is camped at Warrenton Junction, about 2½ miles from here, but we dont like to leave camp for it is reported that we are going to change camp. Our last days march was 22 miles, and the sun was awful hot. I saw 12 men fall sunstruck and I know of 3 of them that never rose again, such are the hardships we have to endure. People that dont know any thing about war perhaps wouldnt believe it but it is nevertheless true as Bible. You speak about an abscence of 2 years. It seems but yesterday since I bid you good bye and shook my handkerchief out of the milk car as I was leaving. But to look ahead / through the trials and troubles of another year, it looks so dark that I pass it by and let "tomorrow take care of itself". About the drafted men I would give just 2 months of my pay to see those 3 scamps out here, you know who I mean. And I had the handling of G Law I would send him South as sure as the sun sets. Any man that dont like the Government enough to fight for it support and prolongation ought to leave it. He ought to be ashamed, American as he is to see the poor foreigners coming out here and laying down their lives for a Country new to them, while he a native born stays trembling at home and proffers a poor excuse of drunken officers and rotten Government. I am both glad and sorry that Mr Denoumandie is coming out here, glad because of his spunk and sorry that I think he is not strong enough. / I'd like to see George Knowlton out here tiptop It would take some of that lazy fatness off of him. I was very much surprised to hear of the death of Squire Dix although he had lived to a ripe old age. I remember well the time he made a speech in the town hall and was so over come that he had to sit down. Peace to his ashes, would that all men had as few faults as did he. These riots which have been stirring up the Country for the last few weeks are the most disgraceful things that ever happened. War is nothing compared to it. I am glad that the authorities of Boston executed summary punishment upon the mob. I dont believe in firing blank catridges over their heads. give them grape and canister at once. And them that can be caught hang them up without judge or jury thats the only way to handle those fellows. And if the Governer of New York had not been a Copperhead he wouldn't have had ½ of the trouble he did. I should like have the 19^th Regt at home to help enforce the draft. We would show those fellows a few tricks with bullets that they aint been acquainted just now. Those fellows that compose the rioters are not the men who are opposed to the draft, but a class of unprincipled villains who are out of money and take the present time and opportunity to make a haul. Thats why I am so hunch down on them. But I am about out of news and the sheet is most full, so with much love to you and all inquiring friends and acquaintances I will close this letter.

                                               

From your Affect Son

George. H. Patch.

SOURCES