Camp Sangster.

                                                                                    or rather “Camp Parole”

                                                                                                Annapolis, Md.

                                                                                                            Sept. 21. 1862.

 

            Dearest Friend Jennie:—

                                                On yesterday it was once more my good fortune to receive another of your neatly written and to me highly welcome and interesting letters, which had the tendency of bringing to me a vast amount of good news. News to me of your good health is very gratifying and in return I will give to you the news that I am still enjoying very excellent health and so long as health remains I can make out to content myself in all other adversities as well as any other soldier, either active or paroled. Since I last wrote to you about 11,000 more paroled men made their appearance in Camp, and so you may imagine that we have quite a gang of useless boys here For we are all well aware that a paroled prisoner is of no use to the goverment except to draw wages & rations and at that we are all well at. But I would far rather be in my company earning my wages and rations in doing service for my country. But so it is and cant be better /

 

I have not received a letter from the company since I have been captured and therefore I cant tell where they are and who is living and well. Rumors are afloat in Camp every day about the company but I credit none of the reports until I get the official news. In regard to Sam. O. Evans getting wounded, I would not be the least surprized, but I never heard anything about it until you wrote to me about it. About William Guin, I cannot say whether he is killed or not. But one thing I am have been informed of by a number of men whom I can rely on confidenteally, that one of our men was found dead two days after the battle. he was found about 2 miles from Manassas, and said to have the letter G on his cap. But as to whom it was I am not able to say. I have written to the Company several times for my Descriptive List and some articles I have with the Company but so far I have received no answer. whether the Captain has received my letters or whether I am forgotten by them is hard for me to tell I would very much like to hear from them for I am over anxious to know how they have been getting along since I was unfortunate enough to leave them. /

 

So Skyles has taken that to himself, that I wrote to Reeves, and sure enough I intended it for him. And many more things I will have to tell him if ever God permits me to return home. Tell Lue as she is somewhat taken with George Vaughn, that when Georgy returns at the end of 9 months service, to please for the sake of her friend John, put off the wedding until the war is over so that I can be present and at the grand festival, and then I will tell her the story of a Jackson Prisoner paroled on captured on the 26^th of August at midnight and on the morning of the 29 of August at 10 o’clock was paroled and is now encamped at Annapolis. Md. subject to the orders of the goverment. So tell her that when I last saw her she was single and that I want to have the privilege of greeting her as a single lady again still, and that I anticipate having some sport at her wedding. Sue So poor Mollie Hayman has no beau yet. I wish I was at home I would try and hunt one up for her but I suppose she would not want such a hard case as I am. still I think that if I should happen to come across a nice young fellow and send him to her that she would be kind enough to take care of him, and use the best language she could afford /

 

In order that you may know exactly whom of us are here of our company I will give the names. William K. Hollis, Richard Yost, Patrick Broms, Matthew Akin, James Funk, Barney Engle & John H. Black. 7 in number, and no more. We are all here and not a wound on either one. we are all healthy.

 

My Love to Lue & Sue, and my best respects to all others who may make inquiry about me.

 

            So you have been out at Fathers, I am pleased to hear of it and I hope you will call and see them as often as you can.

 

            I have not received a letter from home since I was captured and I cant imagine why it is for those I wrote to you, I received answers from—

 

            So in concusion with my best and sincerest wishes for you that your days in this world may be happy ones and that if I never meet you on earth that we may meet in heaven where parting will not be known.

 

            So good by for this time while I subscribe myself yours for life—

Address as before                                                                               John

SOURCES