Camp 13^th N.H.Vol^s

Near Petersburg V^a

July 29^th /64

 

Dear Ari,

                        I wish you would send me some tobacco. my health is first rate only I want some tobacco. I received your letter of the 24^th this morning and was glad to hear from you. we are in camp to day but have got to go to the front to night and stay two days. we are in camp two days and out to the front two days. I will tell you about how quick I got waked up the other night. we come in from the front about ten oclock and laid down to sleep and about one oclock I was waked out of a sound sleep by the darndst rattleing that I ever heard. I got up on my a—ss and looked around and / the air was full of bursting shell from Johnny reb. I says to Winn by thunder I ant going to stand this. so I grabed my shoes and made tracks for the larges tree that I could find Winn bringing up the rear. well we laid down on our belleys and the way the shells did crack over our heads was a caution to old folks. well Ari you can guess how fast thay come for thay threw 50 a minute allmost one a second. thay keept it up for an hour and never hurt a man in our Brigade. it is a hard storry to tell but it is so. Oh, thay killed our Lieut Cols Grantmans horse. he was hitched close to the Cols quarters. the shell went throw his A—ss (too bad)

 

I tell you what it is Ari. it is a splended sight to see the shells go in the night. it beets fire works all out. 

 

The next morning we sent a flag of truce over to them and told them if thay shelled us again we would (slap their A—sses) shell the city and burn it, so thay have not trubbled us since. so you see that old Grant has got them where the wool is short. dont worry about me Ari, for every thing is lovely as the goose hangs high. You wanted to know if I should worry about you if you were going to have a recrute come into your ranks. it will be owing to how you get along if you get along well I shant worry at all about you. I will let you know when I find out. we have not been paid yet, send me a cents worths of tobacco will you Ari, done up in a rage.

 

Sergt Morrison is getting along slowly. when he goes home I / will let you know. he lives at N^o 6 Jackson Street Ports: N.H. when he is at home. I have no news to write so I will close. Han is the same old gal, she says it ant rained since the flood. well I guess it didnt rain here then. Winn says they never had any flood here, it was only a h—l of a freshett that was all. we are going to have an inspection and I must close.

 

Give my regards to all the boys and girls. tell Han that I am much obliged to her for writeing such a nice letter. I like to get a letter from her, then I get all the news about things. I will answer it after we get over the seige of Petersburg. there was 12 morters come up last night (hay) there will be works one day. Give my love to Elmer when you get home. Good day, From your affectionate husband

Sergt S. B. Tarlton.

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