Camp Parole,

                                                                                                            Annapolis, Md.

                                                                                                                        Oct. 30. 1862.

 

Dear Friend Jennie:—

                        This is a very pleasant and delightful morning, and it is my good pleasure to have a letter from you, with the glad tidings that you are well, and to you I return the same important and good news of myself. So you are still discontented at times. nothing more than I can expect of you, but don’t think I blame you for it. No Dear, not all for it is natural for a person to be so who has any feelings for a friend away from home under such circumstances. I believe you truly when you say you would like to see me, and so would I like to see you, but at present I can’t afford you that great pleasure. /

 

Along with your letter came another from a friend, giving me most painful news, but such is the fate of this horrid war. Sergt. M^cCaulley, Sergt. Lehr, and Brannon of my company were killed in the last engagement the Regt. had. Poor fellows so they have been ushered into eternity a sacrifice for their country. I did consider it a great misfortune when I was taken prisoner, but my fate was better than theirs, so I will cease to complain any more, but let well enough alone. We have had a hard time of it for the last week in my little mess of 14 men. one of the boys of the mess, a member of Company E, is very ill, and is not expected to live. we have to be up with him night and day. he is entirely deranged. / his wife is here with him. she came the day before he took so bad, poor fellow. I wish he was at home, where he could be better attended to. Still we are doing our best for him, and better cannot be expected. I do feel for a poor soldier sick in Camp, for the attendance is never half so as it would be at home.

 

Good health is a soldiers choice fortune, and I thank the most high God that I possess such good health, for I have seen a number of sick since I have been in the Army. The hospitals here are full all the time, but we can’t expect anything else among so many men as we have here.

 

The boys of my company are all well. /

 

Give my Love to Lue—and remember me to your mother Aunt Uncle David and Sam Confer, and also any others who may inquire about me. I am glad to hear that Guin is at home, and if you get to speak to him give him my best respects and tell him I am well and in Camp Parole.

 

After court is over, give me all the particulars about Ellen Toole and her friends over the left—

 

Times are good in Camp yet and sport as plenty as ever We have a fiddle, fife, mouth organ and Jewsharp in our mess and when they are all in tune we have a variety of music. Nothing more but my best Love to you while I affix my name as your sincere friend until death parts us

                                                                                                John H Black

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