-
birth date
born february 15, 1831 -
june 1861
I have an opportunity and would like very much like to hear from you a little oftener why cant Mattie write I do not have the time to write as often as I get letters which by the way is not very often from home. -
everything is quiet
Sewells Point Aug 5th 1861
Dear Mary
Your letter was recived some time since and I was glad to hear from you. I recived every thing all straight and right by Mr Prothero. I think that the blankets are marked very nicely and I am very much obliged to you for the pains you have taken with them.
I wrote to Father some time ago but did not send the letter until yesterday when Mr Johnson lef for G. There is scarcely anything to write about as every thing is quiet and dull. -
ive been sick
Your letter by Mr. Pritchard came to hand day before yesterday and I take this opportunity of replying. The reason I have not written sooner is first I have been sick or rather half sick for about a month and not yet quite well and the next is I have had nothing to write, so you see I have a very good excuse for not writing oftener than I have of late, I was truly sorry to hear of cousin Robert's death but I suppose that such things must be and we cannot help it. -
waiting
we have yet to be found where we are hiding. There is very little to be found here of interest nothing except the regular routine of camp duties of which I suppose you know enough without any telling. the boys are getting more lively and getting over the chills and we have a dance in the street evrey night plenty of fun and noise and the noise sometimes seems to disturb Judge griceThere is another noise however which is not made by the dancers which disturbs him more called the horrid buldance -
before i go to sleep
I have just been reading over your last kind letters which I found in waiting for me, and they have almost transported me home again in fact were it not for the very narrow space of this tent which compels my very eyes to take in some portion of its walls I think I could almost imagine I was there but as I am constantly reminded of my where abouts by it so am I reminded that I should write to you before I go to sleep -
little bit of oppurtunity
I have been here nearly two weeks and have not had time or chance to do any thing except march or stand guard. We are not allowed to say any thing about the army in any way whatever so you see all I can tell you must be about myself. I like this soldiering as well if not better than I did that in Va and N Carolina and would like it a good deal better if I could get some good warter to drink; the warter here is cold but awful muddy -
in tennesee
i take this opportunity to write u a short letter it being the first i have had since i first saw u i am quiet well and like this part of the country a good deal better than I like Miss. I expect to leave again tomorrow however for some other part of it We are some fifteen or twenty miles north east of Chattenoga and camped in a splendid growth of large oaks and pines mixed. I have seen the Look out Mountain but have not had an opportunity of going on top of it. -
stationed
Our Battalion is now stationed at Chattanoga and we are doing guard duty &c &c here we had us a good camp now though when we first came we took up our quarters in a very muddy place but have since moved nearer to town or I should say in town and on the side of a high steep rocky hill so you see our camp is a dry one when it is no raining and allow me to inform you that it is raining here nearly all the time. this place is the filtheist hole in the southern conederacy. -
in the front
there is no news to talk about its pretty quiet out in the front. we are having drills and inspections without number that is occasionally has varied since i had to go on guard. -
no signs yet
There is no news to write you about the Yankees. they are all over at chattanoga behaving themselves very well so far as to their troubleing us is concerned and we hwaer nothing that would indicate another fight with them soon. We have been penned up in our houses by the cold bad weather that we have had for the post work but to day it has turned off very warm and pleasant. While the snow lasted we had a plenty of fun fighting battles with snow balls. -
crops drill
I cannot write you a long letter this morning as I am expecting to have to go off in corps drill now pretty soon. I think we will have a great sham fight also I do not feel much like going this morning as I am not very well and very lazy to day. The weather is cold this morning but the sun is shining out for the first time in a week and it gives everything a cheerful aspect. Last night we saw a great light in the north (The aurora boraallis) It was very bright and looked like the rising sun in -
passsing time
our boys pass the time in playing ball and other amusements when they are not on drill or doing something else, and as every one has to wait on himself in camp it takes up a good deal of time in that way but as Prince is here with me I do not have much trouble about that. -
under orders
We are under orders to be ready to move off at any moment to meet the enemy. There was a brisk artillery duel this morning at the front and I began to think that the fight had opened certain but as it all has died out and there is a grape vine circulating that the Yankees have gone back to Ringgold I suppose that we will have a little quiet for the present at least until tomorrow morning. The rest of our brigade have gone on picket. -
ending of the war finally
Dear Family,
im ecxited to tell you guys that the war is over and i get to come home cause robert e lee finally surendurred to our commander ulesess s grant at the appomattox courthouse on a clear day sunny and warm. -
death
death of george charles harvey
