Camp of 40^th Reg't. N.Y.V.

Culpepper Va. Sept. 27^th 1863

 

Dear Sister Alice

                                    We have just come in from Division Review and Inspection and having nothing to do just now I guess I will sit down and talk with you a spell. Well Alice here we are yet in Virginia and at present at Culpepper. I would by far rather be eating pepper at home in Jersey than be here but you see so it is. Well so long as we stop here and dont get peppered we are quite satisfied. We had a very pleasant visit from Garret. I tell you it did our eyes good to see our old friend again. I hope we will be able to return the visit some day, not over a year hence. Some of our boys / say we are nine months men now. But I would not be too sure of it for they can hold us until the 2^nd day of October 1864 if they are so disposed so I suppose we had better call ourselves one year men. But Alice lest I should forget it I must tell you a story. Some weeks since I was reading a copy of the "Waverly" and after I had read all of interest for amusement sake I solved the enigmas in the Childrens column. And the answer to one of them was the name and address of a Young Lady and upon getting the answer I was somewhat surprised to find she was a Sproul living up in the Green Mountain State. Curiosity led me to write her a letter, and I received a prompt reply giving me somewhat of a history of herself, family and forefathers. And the letter indicated refinement and education with a strong religious spirrit. I need not tell you I was at once / interested. And another very singular incident was, she had a brother in this Regiment, who was killed at the Battle of Chantilly Sept. 1^st 1862 which was before we came into this regiment. At my request she has sent me her Card de Visite and I should judge she was rather a pretty girl. Although she is but seventeen her letters indicate that mentally she is beyond her years. And the more I receive of them I am more interested in them. And if you have any of your cards to spare and have no objections to my sending it away I wish you would send it to me.

 

Wilson and myself are quite well as usual. We anticipate moving before long, but it is very uncertain yet. I presume we are waiting for the developments of the Army of the Cumberland.

 

When Garret went away we were anticipating moving, but as yet we are in the same camp /

 

I presume you have had gay times this last summer you have had so much company. But I suppose Mellons and fruit is pretty much through with. We are now looking for a letter from someone of you. Be assured of our love, and kind regards to all our friends. Write soon

 

                                                                                    Your Brother

                                                                                                Jonathan Sproul

                                                                                                Co. "C" 40^th Reg't. N.Y.V.

                                                                                                1^st Division 3^rd A. Corps

                                                                                                            Washington D.C.

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