Monday July 4^th 1864.

 

About two Oclock in the afternoon. I will try and write a few more words to put in your letter. I hope you will excuse me for writing with a pencil. I havent got any ink at all. not a cent of money either. we havent been paid off for over 4 months. we expect to be paid off soon. I understand the Pay Master is on the way to the Brigade. well I will tell you what we have been doing since dinner. we have been drawing Sanitary Commission. such as pickles onions dried apples &c. &c. &c. those raretys are all extra. we live the best now we ever did since we have / been out. we draw soft bread most every day which is quite nice for a change. we have beens, potatoes, rice, pork, dryed apples, pickles &c. I weighed myself today I weighed just 140 lbs quite heavy for me this time of the year. last winter I weighed 160 most of the time.

 

Well Willie do you hear any thing about the 11^th & 9^th Regts going home to reinforce the draft. that is all the go here. some say all of the recruits of the Regts will stay. all old members go. I hope it is so. one of the Regts will go any way, dont know what yet. I hope it will be the 11^th I will come down and see you if we do. (also Nelie) 

 

Well I must hurry up for the mail goes out about dark. it is now most supper time. I think I will have a cup of tea for supper. we drew tea today for the first time. because it was 4^th you know. I suppose they want to give us some rarety this is the dullest 4^th I ever see. not any thing going on. I wish we could all go into Richmond we would celebrate in great style. I would be willing to give three cheers I dont hardly think they will get Richmond quite so easy as they thought for Petersburg is a hard place to take. the Rebs are well fortified so are our folks. / there will be a great many lives lost on both sides before either places are taken. The Rebs say they are bound to fight as long as they have a man left. well I must close and put this letter in the mail. please excuse pencil writing mistakes &c. give my respecks to Nelie when you see her. Love to your Father & Mother with a share to yourself.

 

Allen is at work in Roxbury Mass. in a foundry. he is Boss. I suppose he is in Boston today to the Balloon Ascension. I wish I was there.

                                                                                   

Write soon,

Your Friend

Edmund P. French

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