Suffolk V^a

Aprile 27^th Sunday

Morning

 

            Dear Father & Mother

                                                I am well thank God and I hope that you all ingoy the same Blesing I Reseaved youre Letter som time ago But did not anser it at the time as we did not no wether we would stay or not we are in this plais and pretty well fortifyed all round Quite a number of fortrs put up and entrenchments all round and the Gunboats on our rite the havent past a day for three weaks without more or less shelling by the Gunboats or By Seage Guns that we have on the fortrs Som ten days ago we took four of the Rebs Brass Cannons after nite to A fue days ago we went out side of the pickets reckenoitning We burnt three large houses & drove the Rebs out of their outside entrenchments and maid them git I think we only lost in all five kild three wounded the pickets are picking one another of dayly to morrow the Rebs are going to take this plais that is foure of the Rebbel prisners report that was brought in yesterday and if so I think the will meat with a warm resepttion the War haint enny nearder over than it was last summer /

 

I havent saw Peter Brintde since I left Bell Plain we are quite a distance aparte. I should like verry mutch to call & see you all But the Furlows are only granted for ten Days and that is to short for me Cant see it Besides it would cost me twenty Dollars to go I should like to be with you when the Cherrey are ripe as in the Army we cant get Cherrys Nothing but a snack of Bacon Salt Beef Hard tack Bread Coffee Shugar Get none of youre stuff turkeys nor Fye Chicken We don go in for sutch dandy living and sleepe on Fethers not a Bit of it Eat hard tack and lay in the mud time and again I have dun it Last summer when out on the Peninsel I could tell wonders if I was with you to talk it over I have maid narrow Eskaps time & again. Still hear yet and I hope God will spare my life to return to Penn^a and see you all once more things sell Cheepe hear I will give you som of the Prices Butter 50 to 60 per lb Eggs 35 to 50 per duz Hams 18 to 20 cts per lb Potatoes 2 Dollar to 250 Raisons 40 cts per lb Candy 5 cts a Stick Sigares 10 cts a peas or no smoke & five Gingerkakes for 25 cts the sise of a peas of chalk /

 

I should like to have Jim CLendenen hear for this reson I dont think we can wip the Rebels into the Union But he mite Ly them in if he hasent chainge of late he is still a useful man

 

Geor & Levi I should like to have you hear and I would give you a trile at the sharp shooters this would be different from sneeking after turkeys nor J Ritch couldent set the frunt carreedge of a Rabbit in the grass for the Rebs as he set one for me that plaid out

 

Ale sell cheepe hear $40 a Barl 150 cts a Gallon Mary sent me a Bottle of Ry or corn wiskey and I had it two month A fue days ago I sole it for $3 Dollars offer that I could of got 5 if so mint

 

            William I want you to be a good boy and I will soon be home again and will com to se you Mr G. Jacobs I intend parte of this letter for you as well as Father & Mother & my son William

 

            I Remain Youre Afectnate Son

                                                                        J. H. Sphar

            Direct J H Sphar

            Battery "A" 1^st Pen^a

            Artilley 9^th A. Cor                   My Love to all

            3^rd Suffolk V^a

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