Camp Suffolk

                                                                                                                        Jan 26^th 1863

 

Dear Sister

                        yours of the 4 I received by due corse of male and I was glad to learn that you are well my health is good at presant. I should have writen to you before this time but owing to our Blackwater exurtions it has ben almost imposible for me to get time to wright to any one we have had one of the hardest marches sinse I last wrote to you that I ever saw we followed General Trier for 3 days with 8 thousand men we was within 2 miles of his whole Armey and advanse exchanged a few shots with there rear gard but we couldent bring them to a fight and after 3 days hard marching/ we received word from General Peck to return to Suffolk we was 16 miles from Camp and it was dark and raining hard and the Roads was very bad and it Rained all the time and part of the way the watter and mud was knee deap as we had to pass through a swamp the men were completley tired out and about 100 of our Regiment fel out before we got to camp and laid down by the side of the Road you may think that a man could stand it to march that distance but we have at least 40 pounds to carrey with us besides our Guns. there is a large forse of Rebels about 8 miles from this place and there has ben a great deal of excitement here as they was threatning to atact this plase but they cant come to quick to suit/ me for if we have got to fight them at tall I rather they would come where we are than to half to go after them. 3 of our Pickets was shot last Tuesday night 1 of them has since died. you wanted to know what General we are under we are Brigaded in General Fosters Brigad and in General Pecks devision I have the ofice of first Sergant but as our Lieutenant has ben sick for a long time I have ben acting Lieutenant I can tell you that we have sean some hard times sinse we left home we are about 50 miles from where Jimey is and as they are going to send more troop here I hope they will send the 169 Regiment here there is 5 of the Pensylvany drafted Regiment here and there has a good many of them Run away/

 

I received a letter from Jane last night she is quite smart she hasent ben out dores yet she sas that the Baby is as smart as a Cricket. we are having warm wether here and no snow I must close for it is time to go on drill pleas wright son and excuse bad wrighting for if you new what chanses that a soldier has to wright you wouldent expect good wrighting

 

                        I remain yours a ever

                                    with Respect

                                                T.S. Rolph

 

that Book was intended for you I dont recolect about wrighting any ones name in it

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