JohnCampbell4

Transcription: 

Camp Mcclellan. March 5th 1863
Dear Father I take this advantage
of writeing to you to let you know
that I am well and havent recieved
a letter from home for some time.
I recieved Sissys letter the 19th
and answered it. feeling ancious to
here from you I write again
the snow is all gon. it is quite plesant
out here know there isent much
ware news out here in camp there
was a litte exitement the other
knight at Centervill. about twelve
miles from here. the reble cavelry
maid a raid there there was some
hard fireing but little execution
don we took about twenty horses
and five prisoners we have been
[page 2]
expecting. them along here but we
havent seen them yet. we shall be
ready for them I guess. there has
been some sickness in the Battry
there is but three sick in the hospatal
now Private Phillups from easton [1]
mass died last Sunday and also
Private carpender from Springfield [2]
mass died the some day about an hour
after they sent Phillips home but
carpender was buried out here.
they boath died with the tifoid
feaver. We dont drill much on the
pieces. but we go a targate shooting
onc in two ar three days. and
we exercise our horses by ride
ing them round in a line pretty
fast some times. We get verry
good food now if any thing better
[page 3]
then we used to get at Camp Barry
thay are fatting ous up for next
Summer when we meet the rebs
but I dont think that meny of the
Boys will get shot in the back.
The Captain is home on a furloue
now but expect him back soon
Leut Maison got back last knight
and also Horase Briggs
John Gray is well but I dont think
he likes soldiering verry well.
he got a letter from Charley the
other day. he is at new burn
he writes that he fairs rether
hard out there. how does Willam
get along teaching now. tell him
that I should be glad to here from
him. I herd that thay wass
drafting in rhode island now
[page 4]
how does rastus like the nocion of
that. do thay live as happy as ever
when is Wm goin to begin keeping
house I got a letter from danial
Turner the 29th and wrote an answer
does Cidney Hartshorn think
of comming out here again if
he does he had better go in a
battry. for I think it is much
esaer then infantry. tell Sissy
that she must write often
for I like to reed her letters
as she thinks of evry thing
to write about I dont think
of much more at the presant

love to all Yours as
ever J P Campbell

Footnotes: 
  1. easton= Easton, Massachusetts
  2. Springfield= Springfield, Massachusetts
Date: 
March 5, 1863

Author(s)

Unit: 
Battery H, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery
Rank: 
private; first sergeant
Residence (County): 
Norfolk County, MA

Recipient(s)

Name Variant: 
“Dear father”
Residence (County): 
Norfolk County, MA

From

From Note: 
Camp McClellan

To

To State: 
Massachusetts
To Municipality: 
To County: 
Norfolk

Transcription/Proofing Info

Transcriber: 
Madison McFarland
Transcription Date: 
November, 2013
Proofer: 
M. Ellis
Proof Date: 
December, 2013

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