Harrisons Landing July 27^th/62

Sunday on the Peninsula

 

Absent Sister, Yours of the 21^st came duly to hand, and causes me to travel back in fancy’s airy halls to my old Bellville home I have been away so long that I suppose I hardly ever am thought of only as some little missive brings me for a moment to remembrance; it seems to me they ought draft bellville vicinity Gust Lobach ought to have been in the field from the time he commenced. as to young men, the women ought to brand them forever as cowards girls not go with them and maby shame might start them out. we are here none of Co H in the hospital except Dave Phelps S. Willison Sam’l Gibson The rest is pretty well considering matters & things. we are about a mile back of the fortifications 2 1/2 from James River /

 

The Monitor Naugatus Galena Teazer, all kinds of gun boats run along here The Rebs have got one they call the Richmond they brag of sinking ours but I cant see it. let them cursed papers blow about the army of the Potomac laying still they intend to lay still till they get them reinforcements or till pope gets more men, or moves. they ought to lay still till they look like men instead of corpses thined and blackened in the seatheing heat of Julys schorching season. The men look 5^c pr C^t better than when we first came here if they would lay still a month they would look like soldiers, and act the same. the road to richmond will be paved with corpses and dyed in blood the harvest of abolition & sesesion quarrels is ripe and must be reapt of human treasure and conservative blood they who wreaked the ruin of this land. Stay at home or fill high places and the people must / fight their battles for them, and another bitter pill the knowledge that we have those at home in sympathy with the Rebels is a dose for a mind already sickened with the corruption of the factions of this goverment, but I will leave the subject that only brings disgust as it vibrates through the mind. We will go do all that god and our good arms will aid us on to do. We are all Tobacoless penniless stampless & Less everything. but I dont want any thing I feel just as content with nothing as I use to with plenty I haint been in a private dwelling house since I left home which will be a y’^r now in a couple of months. We lay in camp in this way 19^th Mass on the Left 42^nd N. Y. on the right (Col Baker killed at balls bluff of the 42) 1^st Minesota reg on Right Baxter Zouaves Philadel 4^th 8^th Ohio and several others on the right Irish brigade in the rear. We are situated in a low field surrounde by woods /

 

This Harrisons landing is said to be the birth place of Gen W^m Henry Harrison you tell me not to drink cant get no whiskey or Id get ______ today was on fatigue yesterday We get wet & they give us a swallow of whiskey each at night we cleaned out a mill race 3 mils cant get no corn meal only for the sick. So I went to the doctor and told him how a little cornmeal corn meal would have a magical effect. So I closed his eye for an order and filled my haversack for 25^cts & I have some mush & sugar, makes bully preserves for us, let it get cold & fry it. we cant get it for money without an order from the Surgeon. no whiskey to sell here they give a littl pinch after fatique duty. The weather is hot rains often. Sesesh say the Yankees are on the hottest part of Virginias soil We can stand it if they can. it would be a big show if you could see a division on review Sumner looks like a brave old fellow when we move next it will be for richmond I dont think theres enough men created yet to drive this army from its present position by force of arms Send me a couple of stamps till I get pay and will write from your

absent brother             Will

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