Camp on the Rappanhannock. August. 18^th 1863

 

Distant Rel. I will scrape off A little more lead to day to let you know that I am well and hope this may find you the same the weather is splendid just right while we are in camp. I sent out A letter to Bill yesterday. the sick ones are on the gain. Something is going on here that I cant see into. troops are leaving here by the rairoad for somewhere every day we guess to Alexandria and from there to North Carolina but we only guess. we expect our turn every day they say Lees Army is all gone from here but A heavy Picket. According to All accounts the Rebel Army is badly discouraged. we got no papers yesterday we shall get some to day then we expect some news. do you get the State pay right along there is another $20 dollars due from the Government the next pay day day you wont draw so much my clothing Bill overruns A little. if I should stay another year it would Fall short. we have enough to eat now A day and not A great deal to do no more to day. August 19^th we had A cool night last night it is some Foggy this morning everything is mighty still here we have had no papers or news for three days but we know their is something going on somewhere, and we are anxious to hear the news I wrote Hiland Peuse A letter yesterday. I have run short of stamps and I cant send any more untill I get your next we dont move yet. we expected to have left here before this. we have soft Bread now about half the time. ink is 15 cts for small bottles here. every thing is high. cheese is 75 cts A pound wooden pen holders 5 cts Lemons 6 for A dollar. tobacco 150 to 2 dollars A Pound /

 

August 20^th we are again on Picket this morning the Regiment is strong along about 6 miles it is foggy again. the weather seems to grow A little cooler Lee has been trying to turn our left but didnt make out we found some old Mills and A few Niggers the whites are scarce along our Picket lines Cook has been trying hard to get A Furlough to go home. he has had A letter from Tinneys wife she writes that she dont think she will his wife will ever get any better and if he can get away to come home when you write let me know how it is I Mistrusted their was A little pipe laying but I may be wrong. I guess he dont worry himself very bad not so bad but he can Gamble enough. dont let on that I have wrote anything. August 21^st we are back to camp everything quiet we heard A smashing Fight going on yesterday we found it was Rebels fighting Among themselves some Regiments started to come to our lines when A larger force of rebs got around them and they had A Bully time Killing one other. 150 rebel Cavalry gave themselves up to our men yesterday Oh Jeff Davis has got the Blues these days I got A Tribune and A paper from Wilder to day dated June 20^th two Months on the road My health is fine I am putting on some more grease in the place of that I lost on the Big March I hope I shall get A letter from you to night so I can send this tomorrow I am out of stamps now. their has quite A lot of conscripts got along they aint quite all paid they 300 dollars I see some of our Men are going into the invalid Corps. how does the grass look on where I had Buckwheat last year side of the Road. /

 

August 22^nd it is cool and pleasant this morning I had 3 letters last night two from you and one from Jane hers was June 20^th and one of yours. Yours was the one that Mary Hart wrote in. we had A Division Drill yesterday. 12 regts about 6000 men we had A large level Field. just before we got through the whole 12 regts made A Double quick Charge. Such A sight you never see every Man yelled like the Devil. the Officers was Ahead and their horses went as though the Devil and his imps was all behind them I am glad to hear that your Father is done Haying. I should think Eli was whistleing A new tune he must like soft soap better than I do if that one is equal to the other two. I am glad to hear the stock looks so well Harrison Beckwith is A chip of the old Block George has got some principle And his coming out shows it. / things seem to go on in good shape and I Believe they will have it before they give it up. (I mean Charleston) When we get that we can just do what we are A Mind to with the rebs. they can hand in their harms and come in the Union or we will just raise Hell with their Concern untill every Damned Rebel is dead I have no more to write I shall write to your Father soon No more this time From Old Homespun

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