Camp Near Richmond Va

Jan 19^th 1865

 

My Dear Cousin Jimy

 

                        As Samy is to start for home in the morning I have determined to write you a few lines by him. He can tell you all the news in camp much better than I can write it but I am afraid to let this opportunity pass without writing as such an opportunity does not occur every day. For several days past I have been engaged in cuting a ditch in front of our breastworks and I wont finish in two or three days yet. There are a great many roots and stumps in the way and its pretty hard work I assure you 

 

Everything is very quiet along the lines still. This morning a few discharges of Artilery disturbed the usual quiet. Our guns were shooting at Grants negroe soldiers who were out on drill. But a few shots scattered them like sheep. Yesterday morning the darkies were drilling skirmish drill and fireing blank cartridges. It sounded very much like picket fireing. Nearly all the noise we hear now comes from the Yankee camp. They beat the bigest drums and oftener than any I ever heard before. All that they and we are waiting for is dry weather. The roads have improved some little in the last few days but from present indications they will not continue to imp / long as it is now very cloudy and almost freezeing. We have had some very bad weather recently that is in the last two weeks. I expect you have had about as much rain as we have for it seems to have been a pretty general rain judging from the number of rail road bridges that were washed away and the damage done the track. Charlie Neel got here a day or two ago. He had to walk 24 miles of the trip on account of the damage done by the rains. He was very unfortunate on the way in loseing his money 150 dollars. He says it was stolen from him. Dont ask Mrs Neel any questions about it for he dont want her to know it. He hates it worse than any little chap you ever would / wish. I could have got a furlough on date so as to have gone with Samy but its no use to grieve. I think this will be the last year of the war. I think if we can kill as many of Grants men as we killed last summer they will be willing to make peace on our terms. If Hood can make up for his bad luck we will take care of all Grant can bring against us.

 

Give my love to Cousin Lizie and Moses. Wrote Cousin Lizie last week and sent the letter by Maj Ballard to take as far as Sparta. I also sent you by mail a Richmond Examiner which I hope you will get. Excuse all errors write soon to your aff Cousin

S P Harris

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