Camp Near Stafford Court House Va

Monday March 16^th 1863

 

Dear Sister

            I will now pen you a few lines not because I owe you any but because I have nothing special to do. Our Company came back from the Landing Saturday morning and yesterday we had to work all day building chimneys for our shanties. about 2 oclock P.M. yesterday it commenced to thunder and we had an old fashioned thunder shower but instead of rain it was hail. it hailed like fun till after I got to sleep which was about 9 oclock in the evening. it is very cold today does not storm now but looks as though it was not through with yet. I commenced on a large sheet of paper but am afraid I shall not fill it for news is scarce here as well as in Conn. I hear that they are going to draft in Conn tomorrow to fill up the old Regiments. I hope they will, but tell Rob if it becomes necessary to pay the required / sum ($300.00) before coming to war, for that is played out this going to war. I suppose they will begin to tremble around some, but they cant draft me you know. there's nothing like being clear of a draft in war times, dont you think so? I suppose Thomas H Seymour will be your next Govenor wont he? What do Ansonia people say about it? I suppose he is considered a traitor by the majority in Derby but time will tell. the State Election in New Hampshire was pretty close I see. But you are never posted in politics so I shall get no information from you. it will (if they are going to draft) be time for Hen Cooper & Josiah Whiting &c. to start again. But I will not make fun of that. let them get out of it that can, and wish them good luck. Has Mrs Beaches patriotism died out yet or is she ready to start herself and Aunt Rebecca too, I think the climate would suit her. Jim Blair was up here a few days ago from the 43 NH Reg^t / I suppose before this you have received letters telling you that we received the box and every thing in it good I had a piece of ham for breakfast and it was bully good. Did Uncle Ed get my letter? I am glad those dances are a success for it is time those girls from Lower Ansonia learned something. I hope people will rest easy about Judd Lewis, for his body was frozen. it was left out door's at one of the landings one night when it snowed with a blanket or two over it and them were covered with snow in the morning. So if he had not died for good in the Hospital he would have froze to death. and then his body thawing made his limbs so limpsy. But I must close and will say again tell Rob not to go soldiering out of patriotism or any other ism for I had rather give him $500.00 than have him experience a soldier's life in Va.

 

This from your aff Brother

Evelyn E Moulthrop

 

Antoinette M Stephenson

SOURCES