Near Petersburg Va.

                                                                                                                        Jan 15^th 1864

 

My Dear Mamie

I have to day received a very good letter from you thoughtfuly enclosed I found this paper and envelope I neglect not time to answer as kind a letter I am ever anxious to apprias you of my safety. But of what a blessing in times like these are kind & encouraging letters from home you can scarely form an idea of how cheer us. I wrote you from Bermuda Hundred after our return from this place. We staid there three days. During the time half of my existence left me in the shape of one J.R.B. He started for home by way of Portsmouth & Norfolk Sunday last I supposed he would have been home ere this but I received a letter from/him this morning saying he was detained in Fortress Monroe to get his papers signed by Gen. Butler. We left B—H—Tuesday morning & came up here lay in reserve that day at night we went into the works at the front & relieved the 6 Corps We lay there 2 nights with the usual events transpiring getting pretty well shelled principely from two mortars directly in our front which they droped the shells all about us we had but two men wounded in the Regt. Friday night we fell back here being relieved. Only part of our Brigade relieved us were relieved they taking our place at the front During the night after we had left the Rebs charged upon our lines at the same place we had occupied/they were repulsed with loss we taking some 300 prisoners Our loss was slight. * * * * *

 

There has been a celebration going on & I left off to witness it We have some forts just to rear of us & they & the Rebs have been shooting a little Both together making about 20 shots a minuet keeping the air over our heads full of hissing shell You asked in yours of the 10^th if they had promoted me to Orderly they read something about it on Dress Parade while we lay at Bermuda Hundred & now I wear the Diamond the Promotion is to date from June 11^th. By the new law passed by Congress it will make quite a difference in my pay raising from $17.824 for month & I promise that you shall/see a good portion of my next Payment Being at the war do & suffering does not justify a man in my circumstances for in spending so much money as I have the past year—& I will do so no longer—How long we shall be here I cannot tell or what move Grant will make next at any rate I don’t expect to spend the fourth of July in Richmond They call Petersburg the “back door” of Richmond I think it must be on the end of a long L. I must close to send in to nights mail I do not nor never thought that you had forgotten me I am happy to think you write so often of late I will endeavor to write more often I think of the time when this war will be over & I can enjoy home & its comforts & be with the loved ones & while thinking am patient—Give my love to mother & may God strengthen & protect you both     Court.

 

[front overwitten note]            Sunday Morn  Last night we came into the front line again The Rebs raind such a fuss last night that there was not much sleep About this time to day I suppose you are going to church I wish I was there to go with you You asked in the letter you wrote while at Davises what I was doing at the time you was writing I don’t know but I have told you It was just the time we were under the hottest fire at Coal Harbor I assure you I was thinking of you          Good bye much love       Court

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