Camp 2 miles from Petersburg V^a             Nov 6^th 1864

 

My Dear Harriet:

                                    With the return of another beautiful Sabbath day & the reception of your last paper, I find myself again addressing you by letter.

 

When I wrote you before, I spoke of our being to the rear some 3 miles with the prospects of a few days relaxation from military duties & rest—I spoke of the day being drizzly &c.—well I had scarsely sealed the same before I was detailed to take charge of 400 men to work on a fort near the front & some 3 miles distant from our camp. The night was cold & rainy & after working until 1 O/c I turned over my orders to the com’dg Officer of the 2^d relief & left with the 4^th—200 men—for camp—got out of the road—& after a good deal of traveling in the rain & perseverance got in camp again, about 3 A.M. The next day had a Review of 1^st Divis & worked hard on our quarters to make them comfortable. Friday Saturday the next day had another Review by Genl Hancock & Battalion drill in the afternoon until sundown—got supper & then came the order the soldier so much dreads to hear “Pack up”—“Strike tents”—“fall in”, & away we galloped from our log houses back to our old camping ground nearby, / about one mile from the Appomattox River. The night was cold & frosty & after laying on the ground thinly clad by our gun stacks, or shivering by our camp fires until 4 O/c A.M. when we all had to “fall in” under arms & remain until day light. So you can see in a measure what the soldiers life is, & imagine in part about how we feel today, while writing this—tired & sleepy.

 

Last night was a very lively time on the Picket line & with the artillery. A constant rattle of Musketry & thundering of arty. Our generals fear the Rebs will attack our lines before election that the Administration may be damaged & the Democratic party benefitted thereby; hence our presence here as a support for the time being.

 

The church bells in Petersburg rang out their merry peal this forenoon, but I thought I would not go to church there today. I had hoped to have had a letter to peruse this morning from you but the paper assured me you would write “tonight” & hence I await with anxiety until the morrow. I hope the people at home will not fail to support our countries cause, & the armies in the field on Tuesday next. It does seem to me as if every one who votes against the Administration & the vigorous prosecution of the war until the rebellion is ended, is aiming a blow at & stabbing our National life to the heart. But we all feel confident that an overuling providence will control the contest for the good / of humanity in the future & the preservation of our National existence. I did think I would write you some news this time, but I will defer for the present. I am glad to see you have finished up the mortgage & house business—hope to hear of the renting of the Shop & the emptying of the house of your quarrelsome tenants.

 

Cap^t Church has gone home on a “sick leave” & I dont expect to see him again for some time, as he is quite poorly & dont like the service very well.

 

Do you hear anything from the Dr lately. I have not seen him for some time. I shall try & sent to Addison in a day or two. I had a letter from Mr Sprung this morning. he is in poor health it seems—the boy has enlisted—I wonder how they get along. I rec’d a letter also from Amanda Smith stating that Uncle Hanfords family were well.

 

Now H—I must close this hurried & perhaps uninteresting letter. With continued efforts for your & the childrens welfare & wishes for the health & happiness to you all I bid you another affectionate adieu.

 

                                                As Ever in love

                                                            Henry.

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