Camp 26 Va Regt near Jacksonville Florida

Dearest Wife                                                                           March 5^th 1864

 

                        This is my first opportunity of writing since I left Savannah. We are now “away down South in Dixie” upwards of nine hundred miles from home. it will take some fifteen days for letters to reach as I propose that you write to us regularly at stated times, say once a week. I will do the same unless presented by marching or other circumstances beyond my control. You will address me at Lake City Florida until further notice We were very unexpectedly aroused about four o’clock in the morning of the 24^th Feby. whilst quietly taking our morning nap at Battery Haig with orders to cook two days rations and be ready to move at 9 oclock and march to the Savannah Railroad to take the cars for Savannah. Up we jumped, made all necessary preparations and left old Battery Haig and South Carolina. We are now at last in the field, the old 26^th has shaken the dust off from her feet and gone forth to cover herself with glory and honor. When we left Burtons Farm, some said we had had a good time doing nothing, that it was a shame for so fine a regiment to remain inactive. We were only removed to Charleston to enter into a still more inactive life. Now at last we are on the march and I trust will be kept moving till we have traversed the whole confederacy. We lack all / the comforts that a fixed camp always affords. We are afloat at last. I enjoy this roving life with all its discomforts if one can say he enjoys any thing of a soldiers life. But to proceed. We arrived at Savannah morning of the 25^th camped just outside of the town near to the cemetery, remained there two days, when we struck tents and marched some miles below Savannah to Fort Bartow. had barely gotten there, and built fires, to make ourselves comfortable for the night, when we rec’d orders to move back to go to Florida. Off we went singing—hollering—band playing &c within a mile of Savannah met a courier ordering us back again. Regt about faced and fatiguing time of it at last got back to Bartow where we had started. we rekindled our fires and laid down and slept as soundly as a post.—Rec’d orders next day to take cars for Florida so off we went again, much to our regret for we were pleased with Savannah and its people and wished to become better acquainted with them. Next to Gloucester Pt.—I think I had rather be there than at any other place we have camped. Leaving the cars at Valdosta Ga we struck out across the country to Madison Florida, the Dustiest, hottest and most fatiguing march we ever made. we were the color of negroes when we reached Madison. The ladies came out of the houses to look / at us. we cheered and hollered. We were the first Virginians that had been there. here we remained all night, near a pond in which the whole regiment went through a purifying process, with the aid of soap and dilegent scrubbing. took supper with a Virginia lady, Major F had made the acquaintance of her husband & were quite pleased with the family and with my supper. would have eaten a great one, but for the extreme modesty of Major F and F Miller & Wolfe, who bolted down in haste as much as the wanted and instead of waiting for me. I do not like to eat in a hurry when one gets a good dinner or supper one likes to enjoy it. we had waffles and of course it is not necessary to say what else. Leaving Madison we came by the train to Lake City, camped here part of the day and night. saw here some Yankee prisoners and the Yankee wounded taken in the fight a few days before we came at Ocean Pond. Some were negroes. our regiment will hardly take any negro prisoners. they have no idea of being exchanged for a negro, so to prevent any embarrasment to Uncle Jeff. in this matter, they will take no prisoners of color, as the black rascals style themselves. Leaving Lake City we have gone down below Baldwin X Roads and are now some eight miles from Jacksonville and confronting the Yankees, whose Head Qrs are there. I think that the fighting is over the Yankees were so badly whipped that they will hardly leave their gunboats again to try this route. I saw our Genls this morning, went over to Hd Qrs to see Genl Taliaferro and he was not there, having accompanied Genl Beauregard on a trip below. was introduced to Major Genl Anderson our chief officer and very much pleased with his appearance. think he will make a good fight. The county here is an immense sandy pine forest, perfectly useless for agricultural purposes. all the trees are light wood, and we are black with the smoke. It is nearly the most desolate, barren region I have ever seen. they say that there are only two plantations in the whole county (Duval Co Florida) you can see by reference to the map where we are, 8 miles from Jacksonville on the St John’s River. But south, west and north Florida is said to be very rich, plenty of cattle, oranges and every thing good to eat. should like very much to go where such things can be had. I must close—kiss my dear little daughter Grace and tell her to be a good girl and mind Mama, and love her little Brothers. I have written home several times, no news from you since yours of Feby 15^th nearly a month. Love to Mother Pa & All at home. send me socks—

 

address Lake City                                           As ever your affectionate Husband

                        Florida                                                            John T. Goryn

                                                write soon every one of you

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