Head Quarters, Ledlies Brigade

                                                                        South Branch Bridge, Va.

                                                                        March 7^th, 1864

 

Dear Mother,

            I received your letter with the money a week ago yesterday and your last I received the day before yesterday. You need not send any money untill I send for it. You say you have sent papers every week but I have not got only two or three of them. I should be glad to have a Buffalo paper once in a while. A certain person sends me two papers every week and they never miss.

 

            Tell Herbert that my advice to him would be to stay at home and learn a trade. He his to young to be a Soldier. They are examining all the troops around here and all under eoghteen are to be put into the Invillid Corps.

 

            You say that Father says he cant make out your writing but I can make it out verry well. I think you write well but you dont spell correct That is the trouble with me but I can spell well enough if I only take time to think. I guess you will have a time wr reading this letter as I have not mutch candle.

 

            I thought I had a good thing carrying dispatches but it aint what its cracked up to be. The other night two of the boys left here with dispatches for Norfolk. On the way they were shot at and one of them was slightly wounded. They Since then they have placed guards between here and Norfolk. One day last week an Orderly left North West Landing with a dispatch for this place and nothing has been herd from him since. It is supposed that he has been gobbeled up by the Gurillas.

 

            Last week two of the fifth Pa. Cavalry came here for a pass to go to their Regt. They were out on picket along the dismal swamp Canal and got cut off. They took the road for N.W. Landing and about a dozen Rebs after them but they had good horses and they made their escape. They say the Rebs chased them seven miles.

 

            Last Saturday twenty of out Co. went out to Pungo (tom was one of them. He his with the Co. again.). They captured four Rebs. They were home on a furlough. One of them tried to make his escape but Sam Fall a boy in our Co. shot him dead on the spot. He was shot inside of his fathers barnyard. Tom says his father and Sisters felt pretty bad about it. They brought the Prisoners here and this morning I and three moore took them to the Norfolk Jail.

 

            General Fitzpatrick arived at Portsmouth yesterday. This morning they marched toward Suffolk. I expect they will have quite a fight there.

 

            The Co. has marching orders but I suppose we will stay here at Head Quarters.

 

            The wether is fine and plesent. I thought Charleys picture verry good.

 

            I will close as my candle is allmost gone out. I am well and I hope this will find you all the same. I remain your Affectionate Son,

                                                            Geo. Booth

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