Camp of the 97^th Reg^t N.Y.V.

near Petersburg Virginia Aug 3^d 1864

 

Mr E. S. Hughes—

                                    Being mindful of yr kindness in times past for your good letters to the Garretts, I feel it my privilege to pile up "letter upon letter" to you knowing that you possess that virtue Patience. To preface—can say we are on ground farther South than ever I trod upon before the present week. I have seen land nearer Mason & Dixon's line but at the time was at Hampton Roads and mouth of James River, then on a steamer;—We are at Reg^t H^d Qr's in a nice pine woods interspersed with oak evidently a second growth as nearly all the timber is less than a foot diameter thick, tall, straight—ground level—no cradle knolls, good well of fine cold water grateful shades, and all comfortable. 

 

You are possibly aware that HW is not with me now. I sent a letter to my Mrs "G" yesterday announcing the fact which would be to most Soldier's people a "gratifying fact" that he is detailed as a nurse to the "Corps Hospital at City Point". He left me yesterday morning at 6 and I am tenting "alone in my glory".

 

I have now time enough to read my many letters (?) and to write; have a good enough table to write on, plenty of good writing paper, good pens, and plenty of ink—by the way—I keep make ink and keep it for the accommodation of the "needy"—by which I mean those who are able and willing to pay me for it. I have not yet seen any account of last Saturday's proceedings (July 30^th) but imagine it all told is not very flattering to somebody—probably Burnside. I gave some note of the affair in a letter to my Mrs sent yesterday and possibly you may have seen it. I do not know whether you commonly / read my letters sent to my family. I do not generally intend to write anything but what the world may know. Still some things may crawl in, for I write slap dab often without proper forethought. Please give me a history of your book canvassing. What a place in "literature" S. Trenton is becoming—no use in talking—a great place for "great men". I think you said in the last letter HW rec^d from you, that "JP should be attended to soon"—Let it not be forgotten—He is ready. The flies annoy me very much as I wrote—signs of a rain—a very little fell last night. The days have been very hot and dry; I think Monday Aug 1^st was as hot a day as I ever "wintered out" in—night warm also, commonly for the last week required no blanketing over me, but sometimes just before light if I awoke would put a fold of a blanket on. We of 2^nd Brigade are situated this way two miles or less N.W. / of us is our front and there are our front line of pickets (not 2^d Brigade at present) breastworks immediately in rear of pickets, then a string of forts, yet unfinished, extending for miles. Petersburg a little to our right—there Reg^t after Reg^t encamped all through—and finally a picket line facing the other way, South, and away still further South are Rebs more or less. I heard their drums at 8½ evening before last and judge they were 3 to 5 miles away. It is well to keep the "eye peeled" under such circumstances. Now you "Man of the North", what is the news from Maryland. Do the Southern armed men pillage, burn, destroy, carry off & rob the inhabitants of that state, and the yeomanry of N.Y. & Pa. remain at home and take it all as a matter over which they have no interest, feeling in control? Can Grant withdraw a large force from this army situated as we are, with safety? Surely the Governors of these free states should use immediate measures, or let it be known that they will not—can not. One thing the northmen are becoming convinced of—the South men have the "elements of fight"—the"organs" fully developed. Send me a few stamps, do, please—

 

Respects to all my friends

Yours JPG

 

do write                                               

 

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You have my permit to call upon Mrs G once in every "great while", and you may read to her this letter—if you choose—give her the assurance of my regards.

SOURCES