Camp oposite Fredericsburg Apr 17 1863

 

My Dearest Nancy, Again I seat myself to write you to let you know that I was am well & hearty, & it is my earnest wish that you & the children may be the same. I have not had a letter from you since I wrote but I thought I must write a little. we are under marching orders & many of the Cavalry, & some Infantry & lots of artillery have gone & I think that we shall go from here before long. I send a ring that I have made for George. I want he should be careful & not loose it or break it, and if it should be my lot never to see you again, you have each one but the little one, got some of my make of rings while in the Army. it is my prayer to God that my life may be spared to see you again. I do not think I shall ever go into another battle I dont want you should let anybody unless it is Horace, know anything about what I say about going home. I am quite lame & have ben for two weeks (they think so) you understand it. Captain & Officers favor me & dont put me on duty, but the Doctor I guess thinks me not so bad. they may keep me perhaps six months more, but I think I have done nearly all I shall. they (the Doctors) discharged two yesterday that have done but little for six months / what I hate the worst of all is the high Officers get beastly drunk every few days & are no more fit to be trusted with the lives of men than a mule that has not ben broke. J. H. Meader has cut his leg (knee) prety bad, not dangerous, you can guess how he came to cut himself. dont say a word, I know it all. he probably will be sent home. the Pay Master is in camp & I think we shall be paid tomorrow, but I dare not trust but little in a letter for there has ben thousands of dollars stolen from the mail here in the army. tell George to be a good steady boy & take good care of everything. Smith or Arther will advise him about some of the work. I sent a paper the other day with a hard tack in it. I think I shall send another one soon with a gun screw driver. I want you should get all out of the town that you can before you get the allottment pay which you will get in a few weeks

 

                                                                                                Saturday afternoon 18th

Well we have ben paid at last & you will get thirty two dollars when it gets round. that is 4 months allottment of eight dollars per month also I send an order from J Guthrie for you to go to his folks & draw fifteen dollars. he has written to them about it. perhaps you cant get it untill they draw his allottment of $40.00 I will send you five and some change & see whether that goes all right. now a word in private. I think I shall get prety near well of my lameness in a few days & then join the Pioneer Corps (Core) they dont have any fighting to do unless it is in self defence. they cut roads through woods build bridges &c. I may have a better chance there to make things work right. I must bid you good by please accept this from your loving husband John

 

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