Camp 10^th Conn. Vols.

In the field Bermuda Hundred Va

June 12^th 1864

 

Dear Abbie

            Another Sabbath and the Regiment on Picket so that we are deprived of holding service to day. if they get in early we may have a short meeting to night but the men will be very tired after being on Picket for twenty four hours. And probably not many will turn out. We had quite a little meeting Friday evening, the most of any we have had since we came here but there was not much life in the meeting. we need a good stiring up, a drumming such as we are hardly likely to get when meetings are so scarce and so thinly attended. today like last Sabbath is quiet, evry thing is still on our front. off towards Grant we hear an occasional gun which indicates to us that he is still / there. during the week past we have heard but little from him. one of his staff was here a few days ago and said evry thing was working nicely. we shall probably hear from him soon in some direction. if he could throw his army acrost the James below Richmond and take the Richmond and Petersburgh and the Danville RailRoad he could take Richmond a great deal easyer than he can from the north. cut off and hold all their communications South and Richmond will fall in less than one month even if you don't fire a gun. I think it is the only way you can besiege it for it will make no difference if it is fifty or a hundred miles from Richmond where you make your stance. Lee will be compelled by necessity to come out and he can go no other way. the north you can leave all open if you please, cut off their supplies and they cant begin to hold out as Vicksburgh did. I think we see Grant around here yet it will in / my estimation save months and lives if he does move this way. he will make a sudden movement. I hear we are having reinforcements here some of the hundred day men are coming if more men are sent here the Rebs will have to send a corresponding force which will draw off from Lee. it may be however they are coming to take our place, while we are sent off to some other place. time only will determine.

 

            The Pay Master who paid us the other day came back last night and finished paying us off. he did not pay all the Regiment when here before. he was the slowest racoon I ever saw for a Pay Master worse even than Porter. Camps pay was over Fourteen Hundred Dollars a nice little pile. I received no letters last night hope I shall get some to night. I think it must be about time for that hat to be coming along. I hope I shall get it in a day or two as my old one is looking pretty rough. 

 

I received my muster-in and-out Rolls yesterday. I send home my two commissions and my muster-out Roll, retain my Muster in Roll. my muster-in as a 2^nd Lieut I never had. there was four of us on it Capt Hawkins had it he put it in with some things and it went down in Hampton Roads on the Steamer Fanny. I was never musterd out as an enlisted yet I should like to have those two papers but I hardly think I can get them.

 

            the weather appears quite like a storm it is clouding up. I hope we shall not have one now. the mud is just getting dryed up so that it is quite decent traveling.

 

            Give my love to all

                        Your loving husband

                                    Benjamin

SOURCES