(Friday)                                                                       Camp 8^th V^a Regt. Feby 10^th 1865

 

My Dear Wife

            I have written to you four letters since I left home some three weeks since but have received in return only a short note If you are anxious to hear from me, how much more am I to hear from all my dear ones at home. You could certainly send a letter once in a while to Warrenton to be mailed to me. If you requested it nearly every one that takes a letter from me could call by for your answer. The weather here also has been very cold at times but as I am comfortably clad and on picket have not to stay out more than one hour at a time from the fire, I cannot get so very cold, and I have not yet been out enough in the rain to get wet, as we keep large fires on the picket and in our little cabins. I have been troubled but slightly with the Rheumatism since my return. the lugging of wood on my shoulders tries me harder than anything else, except the loss of sleep every 4^th night on picket. when I return I feel worn down and haggard. Since I returned Dick Saunders, Frank Brawner Thos. Francis from Loudon & myself fitted up another hut and are now messing in it. If we had a door we would be quite comfortable, but cannot get nails to make one, and have to hang a tent in the place of one. we are making out tolerably well—tho. in windy weather we are not so comfortable /

 

I scarcely know what to say about your sending the varnish & white Lead & Hides (has the calf skin been gotten from Deffores) to Charlottesville. I got a letter from Smith, which I inclose, but it is not satisfactory, as he does not price anything. I feel confident I could have gotten upwards of 100 $ a gal. in Charlottesville from a man who had contracted to make haversacks &c but I had not time but on reflecting about it, one gallon at that rate would only get one bunch of cotton, whereas in ordinary times it would get three bunches. without you are in need probably you had better keep both articles a while longer, they will not injure if kept tight. Let M^r Saunders take the hides and do his best with them. they will bring from 5 to 6 $ a pound dry—and bring altogether several hundred dollars—let the money be paid to Hez. Bishop. I owe him 800 $

 

Tobacco has risen very much down south do not sell what you have at the old price in Confed. I hope you have gotten the money from Amanda Halley—

 

M^r Saunders was to have the use of my wagon for three trips. he was to bring our Salt, cotton & two boxes of Tobacco. he has brought only the salt. Let him bring the 20 bunches of Cotton in place of one box Tobacco When he sells the hides he can buy the 2 bunches of cotton due from the State and the brown cotton also if not too high, also a pair of cotton cards. Urge him to go at once If you will send me a box and put socks and other things in it to sell I will endeavour to have a box of Tobacco carried to Orange or Charlottesville for you / or will get Anderson Smith to buy one for you or M^r Saunders himself can do it

 

One of our Soldier’s wives came in last Sunday night and has remained with him ever since. Cannot you pay me a visit. I can give you a slat bottom bunk to sleep on with pine tops for bedding & my coat for a pillow some gravy & corn bread for breakfast peasoup for dinner & corn bread & gravy for supper—with a mouthful of meat at each meal—will you come?

 

Four men, Deserters, were shot a short distance off in Stewart’s Brigade, about an hour since. I heard the discharge of musketry—poor men! they had better have remained faithful to the cause of their country, but there are a great many croakers and a good deal of dissatisfaction in the army. the prospect of another bloody campaign and short rations are doing its work. but let us hope for the best a kind providence, if it is his will, can soon change our prospects and give us peace, tho. now it seems gloomy enough M^r Garrison (who takes this letter and a paper to you) expects his furlough this evening, and as I have to go on Picket to night (we go out while the sun is about half an hour high, and I have to prepare and eat my supper before I go) I have not time to write you much more tho. Ill endeavour to fill out this sheet

 

I want you to keep Ernest and the Children at their books all their spare time. You can hear Ernest recite his lessons, and he can / the others. let him learn his lessons thoroughly and recite to you, even if you cannot explain fully the application of the rules and notes of Grammar. let him memorize them and apply them in parsing and correcting as well as you can—Put out some of your sewing to do this—Do the best you can in this way, and let them not grow up in ignorance

 

I have one or two kip skins at Martins too—if you pay for the Tanning—I have also paid him in Lampblack for three pounds of Sole Leather—You had better get all the Leather away, and have my boots at home footed.

There was some hard fighting below Petersburg last Monday. We heard the Canon and Muskets, while on picket very distinctly. You will see the accounts in the papers I suppose. papers cost 5 cents each. I was sorry to hear of the death of M^r Russell. his prospects for long life seemed as good as any one—truly in the midst of life we are in death. I sympathize deeply with his bereaved family. I send a letter to Mr. K. as this goes to you. I think he might go up to see you. If you go to Loudon soon, take all the bunch cotton you can spare at home as well as Tobacco, and trade off for bacon Lard or any kind of Mdze—Coffee sugar calico soda &c are all enormously high down south Your Nephew W^m Rogers of Alexandria is connected with the firm of Robinson Adams & Co of Richmond. he might be of some service to you. Kiss all the children for me and believe me ever to be yor own devoted              Augustus

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