University of Virginia Library

1864-03-16

I write you afew lines This
eavning which will inform you that my
self and brother are both well and geting
on verry well. and I much hope this may
reach you in due time and find you all in
joying the best of health and all blesings that
our kind Protecter sees fit to bestow apon you all.
I have no news of importance to write. we are
having a verry still time now in camp. though I
am fearful that it will not remain so much longer
if wether keeps open. I think the spring campaign
will soon commence. and then we poor soldiers
will see a hard time. though if it is the will of
God for us to suffer why should we complain when
we know that he knows what is the best for us
and will do nothing but for the best. I feel thank
ful that I can cheerfully submit to his will
If it is the will of my maker for me to be cut down
in this war I dont ask to be spared for I beleave
that he will do what is the best for me, thare is
but few things that I would ask to stay in this
trouble some world for, one great consolation to
me is that if I am cut down, I have a hope of
a better time in the future whare thare is neither worries and troubles

thay was another lot of our prisners got to Richmond
yesterday paroled from northern prisons I havent
hird of any of my acquantance that came through
with them infact I havent hird of any Virginians
that came through this time scearsley, I hope that
thay will parole all of them soon, I have hird
that two of our Co. D had taken the Oath of iligeans
and joined the yankee army. thay keep our men
thare in thier prisons and treat them so badley
that thay become so dissatisfied. thay had
almost as live die as to stay thare then thay
will get them to take the Oath and jian thier
army, though if it is the will of God for the
South to over power the North. thier swindling
will not avail them any thing in the long run, it may
make the war continue some longer. though thay
will see that it will do them no good,

OruOur men treat the Yankee prisners bad too
though I dont beleave that it is wright I think
if thay cant treat them well thay aught to
parole them and let them go home, it is not
reasonable to sepose that thay are geting the
rite treatment, ifwe were to judge them acording
to the treat ment that we are geting, the most that

we aregeting now is corn meal thay (1 1/4) pound
and quarter of meal day which is a plenty if we
were geting any thing to go with it thay have
bin pretending to gave us sugar & coffee, though
it was as near nothing as could be to be any thing
atal, it was verry good what tha was of it
though thay gave us such a little of it,
what we get for two days rations, is not more
than enough for one mess then we have nothing
but bread the balance of the time unless we provide
for our selves, and there is no chance to buy anything
here, some time thay gave us a little picle beef or
mollasses. We drew some beef last week some bady
stole all that my mess got. though we made out
verry well I had some butter that I braught down
with me from home, some times we got afew peas
or a little rice and with all I have made out
verry well I be leave that I feal as well as I did
when we got meat I dont think that thare is
any danger of our sufering while we can get
plenty of meal, nor I dont sufer any uneasness
about some thing to eat forcause my self because
I beleave that thay will provide some thing for
the army as long as thare is any thing to be had
in the country I be leave that thay will take
from the Citerzens and leave them to suffer
before thay will let us sufer for some thing
to eat, I dont want you think that I am
either suffering or grumbling by my long
serry many about our rations. for I am not
I am makeing out verry well, I feel as well as I did
when I got a half pound of meat a day,

We are camped about seven (7) miles below Rich
mond on the chickeyhammey river we have
a goodeal of piquet duty to do. though I dont
mind that in good wether. it has bin verry
cool for several days it snowed some here yesterday
though it did not stay meny minutes. I hope
it be warmer to marrow as it is our day to go on
piquet we have to stay out three days at a time,
I under stand that the dead man has got to his command though
I havent seen him,
well I have writen enough for I havent received
all letter sence I came from home
you must write soon and gave me all the news
gave my love to all and share aportion for your
self Nothing more but