Union Mills Apr. 16. 1863

 

Dear Parents

I recieved your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you once more we had orders last monday to be ready march Tuesday morning at 7 oclock with 3 days rations in haversacks and 4 on the teams but we have not gone yet and it is said that the order is countermanded wednesday all the Officers wall tents we and our A tents were turned over to the Goverment so that we shal live in Shelter tents after this they are not so good but they will shed rain and that is about all we want now but I think if we stay here long that we shal / get our A tents again as their was a great rain yester day and the o Officers got back their tents I have got pretty much over the cold that I took soon after we came here it was a hard one I did not eat as much in 2 weeks as I have sometimes in 3 days and nothing tasted good I think that I must have lost some flesh but cannot tell how much I was down to the Comisaries tent a few days ago and thought I would see what I weighed I was hevier than I expected I weighed 174 1/2 pounds so you see that their is something left of me yet the boys are fixing up their tents this morning so that they will be more comfortable if their should come another storm /

 

            I supose you are making tarts of sugar mak all you can for when I get home I shal want a smal tart some of the men think that we shall get home in june but I am not sure of it yet but hope for the best best when the orders came to be ready to march all the sick that were able to be moved were sent to the convalesent Camp at near Alexandria we may stay here a month for all I know but when the Rail Road is fixed so that cars can run I think we shal go a little farther on you say that you are not going to sell the oxen that is a good plan for they will to doe the work and then you can turn out and let them get fat are cattle high or not I have / thot that they were I wish I was at home to help help you this spring but never mind if nothing happens to me I shall bee at home in about 3 months at the most I dont think of eny more of interest so good morning

 

                                    from your affectionate son

                                                            Edward Grannis

 

                                                [small picture of tent]

                                    this is my house aint it a nice one

 

            when we march we cary these tents they are in 3 pieces about 5 1/2 feet square

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