Picket Post N. Harrison Landing

July 28^th

 

My Dear Bro. James

                                                                                                                        We are now taking our turn at Picket and has fell to our fortune today to be on the reserve, which gives us quite an opportunity to lay off for 24 hours, and I embrace this opportunity of writing you a few lines. Wilson and I are pretty well and getting along as well as things will permit. We should both like to take a furlough home for a little while But its no use thinking anything about it as it is one of the impossibilities.

 

Camp Life begins to seem somewhat monotonous now whilst everything is so still, we having been so long in the active duties of a heavy champaigne that we hardly know how to settle down to a quiet soldiers Life in camp. We have received tents again which affords shelter for us from rain and the parching heat of the sun / our rations are improving especially in the vegetable line we have had cabbage twice Onions three or four times and Potatoes as many times we have had fresh Bread once which was yesterday. how often we will receive these I am unable to tell if we received them oftener I think it would be a decided benefit.

 

We were paid off with four months pay July 20^th We sent to you per Adams Express one hundred and thirty dollars. fourty five for my friend Louis Volsen, fourty five for Wilson and fourty for myself. I hope it will arrive right side up with care. I should have paid freight at the Landing but the agent would not receive it he said it would have to be paid on the other side, so you will pay it out of the amount enclosed in the express envelope. My dear James we are longing to hear from you, but we excuse you from writing oftener on account of your driving business during the week. And your attention is occupied with one of the fair sex on sunday. Ah, James, we are at the "Wars" but we know all. I hope she is worthy of my Brothers Love. I am sorry we shall be unable to attend the contemplated visit. I should like much to become acquainted with my is to be sister in Law. Spare a moment soon to write a line. I wish you would send us a picture of the object of your affections. Our Regiment is pretty much reduced in numbers. I am unable to conjecture what they will do with us. I was in hopes they would send us soon to some place where we could recruit our numbers. But I think there is little hope of that. I am afraid of consolidation I hope it will not occur. I think my chances of promotion are improving. But still things look a little dark. I hear our Orderly J. C. Cloy is on his way to this place to resume his duties. He has been at Anapolis Md. recovering from wounds he received at the Battle of Fair Oaks. I have been acting Lieutenant ever since June / 29^th by order of my Colonel, and I have virtually had command of the company ever since the Battle of Fair Oaks until within about a week he Lieut Amerman again resumed his place in command. He has tried hard to get his discharge but as yet its a failure. Kate speaks of sending a Box or package to us if such is the case and it has not yet started, I wish you would get me a couple of woolen shirts checked or otherwise something that will not show dirt easily such as are used by officers in the army, a pair of suspenders, a doz of white paper collars, a couple of handkerchiefs. If the things have been sent you need not mind them as I can get along without them. Boxes that have been received here by some of the boys many of the things were spoiled. Sutlers are doing a brisk business just about now. Men will not eat hard crackers when they can get anything else. We are looking for communication daily from home. Father is a regular correspondent and quite prompt in writing We received a few days since five papers from some Lady friend. we feel very grateful for them. We send our love to all enquiring friends and yourself especially and Miss ____ particularly.

 

                                    Your Affectionate Brother

                                                Jonathan Sproul

                                                Co. C. 87^th Regt. N.Y.V.

                                                Kearneys Division

                                    Harrison Landing Va.  Heintzelmans Corps

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