Camp at Hope Landing on

Aquia Creek Va.

June 1^st 1863.

           

Dear Parients

                  Your letter with the picture I recieved a few nights since and have now found time to answer it. I am as well as ever now and we are having first rate times fishing and bathing in the creek. My sickness was of short duration but for two or three days I was as sick as I wish to be while I am in the U. S. service. I had a violent pain in my head which was first caused by a shell bursting near me at the fight of Chancellorsville so near that it knocked me down About as near as I care to have them come / and besides that I had a terrible diarhea for which the doctor gave me some powerful medicine to check it and that with loss of appetite left me very weak so that it was some time before I had strength to walk around much. That complaint and the typhoid fever kills more soldiers than any other disease. But I am all right now and ready to march as soon as Uncle Joe gives the command. I wrote you to send me some money but I shall not need it now for we were paid off two months pay last week 26 dollars. When I sent for the money I did not know we were going to be paid off so soon neither did any one else. I shall send the money back if I get it before you get this and when we / march I shall send home more if I have it for I shall not take much money with me into battle for if I was taken prisoner I dont want Mr. Reb to have my money. Lieut Cadwell has resigned and started for home this morning so you see the officers that came out with us have all left us. Who will lead Co. D when they march back to old Portland none can tell. Sergt S N Gaston is now home on a furlough. he has been home twice this makes. he was wounded . There is not much sight for one of us who have always done duty through fair weather and foul to get a furlough. I sent my last letter by him. I guess that we shall not stay here much longer for the roads are good and weather fine. 

 

I wish you and father would send me your pictures again and Dwights and Dennies too. How is Nelson getting along farming on his own hook. Another of our company died in the hospital at Aquia George B Shipmaker of Cromwell. We expect to hear every day of H. Deweys death. Mr Dennison preached in camp yesterday I walked up there to hear him 3½ miles and back. I dont like liquor a bit better than I did when at home. We have had whiskey rations several times but I never drank mine but once and that when I was sick. But I cannot write more at present

                                                                       

Your aff son

Henry A

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