Camp 13^th N.H.Vols

Near Petersburg V^a

July 2^nd 1864

 

Dear Ari,

                        I have just recieved your letter of the 26^th instant will try to answer it. you say it is so hot there that you had to get up early to write. I dont know what you would do out here if you were here. it is auful hot all of the time, and no rain the dust in the roads is over shoes and when the wind blows it is enough to stop any ons breath. when our Artillery opens on the rebs forts you would laugh to see the dust fly. night before last our folks advanced a little to see how strong the rebs were and of all the Artillery fighting that I ever heard, that was the Master. we found the Jonnys / very strong in three lines of battle, so we had to fall back with the loss of about 150 from the 18^th A.C. my Regt is out to the front, it has been out two days but will come in to night. there was one man killed yesterday in Co. C. by a rebell sharp shooter. I suppose you will wonder why I ant out with the Regt. Oh! no, I ant sick nor wounded but you see there had to be a Sergt. and three men left here to guard the horses, and officers baggage, so you see I was the (Chapp) to stop here. I am about 1½ miles in the rear. you asked if we are going to take Richmond this time or this summer. dont you be in a hurry Ari, we have got Generals that knowes better then you or I at the head of this army. / I suppose that some folks at home there are all the time scolding because Grant dont take Richmond. you tell them folks that thay had ought to come to the front and stop about one month. then thay would find out why Grant dont take Richmond. never shall tell why he dont take it I dont think he cares so much about takeing Richmond as he dose to disstroy Lees Army. we can disstroy Petersburg at any time we are a mind to, but that wont make Lees Army any less will it Ari. it is the Army, that is what we are after. my hands swett so that I cant write. I am setting on my gum blanket in the shad of the Cols tent, right flat on my a—s, trying to write to you. the wind blowes and the dust flies, and the swett runs, so I gues by the time that I / get through it will be a clean letter. I have not heard from Sergt Morrison since I wrote you last. Winn was all right last night. Ari, there is only three of the Rye boys left in the Co now, out of 18 that come out, Clough, Caswell and Steve are the three. dont forget to write me what that was that I ought to know, understand. give my regards to your family tell them to be good girls.

 

my regards to By and Han. you say that Elmer is getting to be too big for his briches, well some will do so. give my love to him when you write, and write as often as you can,

good day,

                       

From your

affectionate husband

Sergt. S. B. Tarlton 

 

Afternoon: Ari: I have been drawing rations this forenoon for the boys that are left here with me. there is 8 of us so I got beans, fresh beef, salt pork, sugar coffee & whiskey, and you see that I have been cooking the beef this forenoon for it is so hot here it wont keep long unless it is cooked.

 

Ask Han how things are, tell her that mine is like a millers dog, with the head on the bag. tell her that it is just like a dryed apple, it wants to be put in soke. go away fly

 

poore old soldier, tared and feathered, and sent to hell, because he was a solder

                                                                                   

rogues march /

I guess you will think that I have been drinking whiskey. I shant tell you where I have or not. I gave my ration to one of the hostlers this morning

 

Oh! I have got some paper now to write on. Mr Patterson gave it to me. Oh Uncle Sam owes me $74.00 and I think we shall get paid of this month. I ant got a cent Ari, I wish I had one, pretty little new cent. well I close Ari

           

good day

S. B. Tarlto

SOURCES