Camp on Minors Hill

Dec 30^th 1862              Va

 

Respected Parents,

A Happy New Year to all. I received yours of the 25^th on Sunday and was much pleased to hear from you. I intended to write immediately but was busy and could not attend to it, thought I would on Monday morning but about 10 or 11 oclock in the evening the long roll was beat, and we were ordered in line immediately. were soon ready with knapsacks packed and on our way for some where we soon learned the course we were to take. passing Falls Church, we headed toward Alexandria on the Leesburg road I believe. after 4 or 5 hours marching, we halted and were deployed in line of battle at Mills cross roads. we lay on the ground which was covered with a heavy frost. at daylight we learned from the General that Stuarts Cavalry numbering 3,700 were in the neighborhood, and were expected to make an attack. the Union pickets were driven in to Fairfax but the troops stationed there received them warmly and the rebels fell back. owing to the bad condition of the roads, we a half hour to late to see them they passed within a mile of our position and proceeded toward Lewinsville Our force at this point consisted of 3 regiments and a / battery from Cowdins brigade beside some 3 or 4 hundred making 3000 infantry 1 battery with the cavalry above mentioned, in which were the Vermonters and Rholde Islanders. I did not see any one that I knew among them. the pickets from our brigade took 3 prisoners straglers that got lost and worked themselves into our lines. We stopped at this point until Monday evening at 7 oclk. we had our shelter tents all pitched and had just turned in, when the assembly was beat. Tents were struck and we were ordered to proceed at once back to camp. we were soon in line and as 10 oclock or soon after the last reg was in camp they rebs were then moving beyond Lewinsville. The roads were quite bad a large portion of the way we had to march in one rank. I stood the march going quite well but for laying on the frosty ground without cover I caught cold, had the chills all day. My chest was quite sore, so much so that I could not carry my knapsack back. The Major's colored man took it on his saddle and I got back to the camp a little behind the Reg. to day I am much better. to day I used pain killer and I am well all but a slight head ache. At Revelie this morning we expected to be off again but the order was countermanded and we are still here. The rebels destroyed some property, but the amount I have not heard 

 

            If we had been on our time of arrival at the post at Mills crossroads I think we should have had a taste of battle but the state of the road alone saved us. The men stood the fatigue well and have just been out on Battallion drill. I have not yet heard from Lewis only through Edith. she has received one letter from Mary. Have had but one from Leprelate, have written to him twice.

 

There are but a very few of our reg sick in the hospital considering. at the last account there were less than 40. In the other regiments in the Brigade the number exceeds ours. We have had two deaths, one was a member of out Company was sick in the hospital but 3 days before he died. His case was brain fever. The other was the hospital steward of Typhoid Fever. I have had but a few papers from home. they fail to get here. All things that you send will get to me if you direct them as you did your letter, no matter where we are. Only let me know when you send it by just dropping a line and let me know when it started. I am not in want of anything particular at present but anything from home I assure you will be very acceptable. We have not yet been paid off. / but it is the rumor in camp that we will be on the 15 of January. Our leisure time which by the way is quite small is occupied in making bone rings. the only difficulty we have in making them nice is the want of tools I have made some very pretty ones. I have one nearly finished to send you. If you have any old files you can spare and will send them I will pay you for them. Or if you will buy some for me I will pay you as soon as we get our money. One small half round, one smooth edge float file and one coarse file, and if there is one of those old small back saws laying round and you can spare it I would like it. We lack saws and something to make the hole with. You need not bother with these things if you have sent the box before you receive this. There is a small drill in my drawer the one I made to drill those letters we put on to Whitins Loom Arches. That will be very handy also a saw file. I am glad to hear that Capt Day is Major he deserved it long ago. At present there is not much of a show for me and I hardly wish it as long as Pitman is in the Reg. I hear that Kate has gone to Port Royal I wish I was with him too. I shall write you as often as I possibly can and I wish to hear from you often. Give my regards to Mr Battey and all and Love to Mother Susan and Walter.Tell Susan to write. Hoping you are all enjoying the best of health. I remain your loving son

Albert

 

By the way if you receive this before sending a box and will get me a good two bladed knife I will pay you. want one small blade in it

SOURCES