Camp Near Petersburg Va. Jany 25.65

 

Dear Father.

                        I received your letter dated Jany 20.th. this morning. I suppose that you will know all about the fight on James River between the reble rams and our Gund batterys long before this reaches you. Gen. Gibbons our former Division commander has command of the forces there. the report that we have here is that five reble rams or iron clads come down the James as far as Deep Bottom thirty miles from City Point by water and eight by land to destroy our shipping at City Point. one of the rebel boats was sunk two are aground one disabled and one escaped. our metal was too/ light or we would have captured the whole of them. I expect that they thought we were all at Fort Fisher. our army here is as large now as it ever was. Woman and children come into our lines from Petersburg every now and then. Our Col thinks that our Corps will relieve the ninth Corps in a short time. they are in the front line in front of fort Hell and Haskell. Fort Haskell is the place that Jenkins was killed and I wounded. I would sooner go into a regular battle than go to that place. it is rather an unhealthy place. If you wish to visit the army a pass will not be hard to get. all that you have to do is to speak to Mcpherson or Tha^d Stevans. they will get you one in a short time. I think/ that W^m Beuhler would come along with you if you would speak to him. David Sprenkle is not 300 yds from our camp. I could get you a pass here but according to the order just issued it would have to be signed by my camp Commander. Reg^t do. Brig. do. Div. do. Corps. do. and then approved by Gen. Meade. If you get a pass get one to visit any particular Corps. you could not visit any other one unless you would go to City Point and get a general pass of the Provost Marshell. that would be easy to get if you were here once. If you see in the news papers or find out that we moved or relieved any Corps dont start before you heere from me. if we relieve the ninth Corps/ you would never reach our front alive without a guide. the reble sharp shooters picks a man off quicker than thought. when one corps relieves another from a place of that kind one regiment or Brigade relieves each other in the front line. it might happen that our Brigade would be in the front lines about the time you would get here. if that would be the case you could not get to us without greate danger. if we stay here at our present camp every thing would be all right. I wish you was here now. you could judge how large our army is. we have Brigad Division and Corps drills.

 

                                    I think that I could get a furlough but one feels dissatisfied for a long time after he gets back to the army again. I expect to be home for good in less than one year. I need from home one novelette one dollar Magazine and one Spectator. Send the music books that I wrote about in the box that Mother intends to send and if she sends it before this/ reaches you send by mail. I will speak to the Brigade mail carrier to keep my letters &c. himself untill I call for them. if I would stay with the regiment I would carry the mail myself. I could get it in a moment. If Mother sends a box. Direct.

 

                                                                        Henry C. Metzger

                                                                        Comp. G. 184^th Reg^t Pa

                                                                        1 Brig 2^nd  Div 2^nd Corps

                                                                                    City Point, Va

 

Direct so that it wont rub out. dont give it to Boadenhamer or McCausland if you do get a/ chance unless the promise to hand it to me in person. I may not see them in five years. with Sprenkle it would be different. where ever our Division goes he is with it. If you send it keep the receipt and if I do not get it the Express Company will be responsible for the instrument. dont forget to put a letter in the box with the horn directed to me. Col Stover may not be here at the time the horn arrives here. as soone as you receive it send it and write to me at the same time. dont forget the directions.

The other day it snowed a few moments and every flake was a perfect star.

 

            I am well.

 

                                    Give my love to all. I will write some cards for Mother in a short time.

                                                                        Your Son

                                                            H C Metzger

 

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