Headquarters Fifth P.R.C Reg’t. Co. B
                                                                    Camp Pierpont Va Nov 28^th 1861

 

My Dear Sister;

                        Your kind and welcome letter has just come to hand. the time is almost 9 ^oclock at night almost time for tattoo or Roll call after which we have to put the lights out and go to bed. So I will commence to night and finish to morrow. You and mother need not fear for me I had the homesick when I wrote that letter to aunt L but I have got over that now. it was a cold rainy chilly Day. we could/not drill nor do annything els. So I sat down and wrote that letter.

 

I wish you could see how comfortable and nicely we have got our Cabin home as we call it fixed. We went to work and built a square of logs about 4 feet high about the size of our tent than set the tent on the top of it. Plastered the spaces betwene with clay. Our flue and chimney or fire place I should say is a trench about 1 foot wide 1 foot deep dug in the ground and covered over with flat stones but our chimne is the most novel thing of all it is an old hollow Gum tree at the outside end of the flue which answer the purpose verry well. So it can blow and snow, we are all right. The drums are beating tattoo and so I must say Good night “Dear” Sister;

 

Good Morning. on Wednesday last we marched at 4 ^oclock in the morning to attend a grand Review of troops by Gen^l M^cClellen in the neighborhood of Balls ”cross” roads. On the way out we passed/Throug Falls Vilage and by Falls church at the alter of which Gen^l Washington was married. The alter was constructed in England befor the Revelotion but nothing remains of it now for it has been broken in Pieces by the northern for relics of that Event. I could not leave the ranks or I should have tried to get something. next we came to munsons Hill where the rebels had built forts but were forced to leave them and retreat back to Bulls run. Next was “Balls ‘cross’ roads where an immense flag “Stars & “Stripes overhung the road floating frome a flag staff that had been put up by the rebels. the men greeted it with great cheering as they passed throug under it. Next we came to the review Ground where I witness one of the greatest sights I ever seen it was nearly (100,000) one hundered thousand men drawn up in Battle aray to be reviewed by Gen M^cClellen. Our Regiment was on the right and I had a good position so that I could see all that was going/

 

The Gen^l had his head uncovered he rode past me several times accompanied with “President” Lilcoln Secratarys “Cameron” and “Seward, and his whole Staff of officers. but I suppose you have read all about it in the newspapers I received the letter you sent with Chas Scout. I do not know what it costs to send a box frome home by Express. you can find out by asking Mr Wenck. I know the Express company are carring things for half price for Soldiers. A great manny of the boys has received Boxes frome home with Buter and all such notions. if you do send me one put in a pair of knit gloves one pair of stockings, a good piece of castiele soap or some other Kind enny thing but rosin soap than Liza Young could Send Jess Trumssone something he is in the same tent with me and Emma Phillips or Rich could send Will Harick something if you send it you must write to me about it so that I can be on the look out for it. You must put the full direcions on the Box the letter of the company and the number of the regiment Tell mother if she needs that money this winter to use it if not to save it and I will buy a Boat when I come home and do business for myself. I shall send my money home every two months I do not want a Blankt I have more things now to carrie than I want to Tell Elisa that Josiah sends his regards to her. Give my love to Mother and my regards to all the rest

 

                                                            No More at Present

                                                                        Frome Your Brother Jim

 

[margin]          P.S. Take good care of those Boots of mine do not let dan have them or let them mould       Jim

SOURCES